Deep down, part of her had always wondered why Aphrodite and not her. Part of her had always been a tiny bit jealous that Ares kept going back to her when it was obvious they only hurt each other.
Morrigan, for her part, could see that now. Those feelings had been something she wasn’t ready to face, so she’d shut Aphrodite out. She hadn’t tried to be friends with her. She’d erected a wall not only to keep Aphrodite out, but to keep her own feelings and resentments locked away.
Morrigan was slightly disgusted. She thought she knew herself better than that. Worse, she thought she was more mature than that.
Apparently not.
Gross.
Aphrodite laughed. “I guess I should’ve kissed you first.”
“That’s how some people do it.” Morrigan was still dealing with the shift in her world axis so she wasn’t sure how to respond to Aphrodite—or what the other goddess wanted from her. She knew the Goddess of Love could be vengeful, but it wasn’t usually without reason. She seemed to be genuine…
“Will you allow it?”
“Excuse me?”
Aphrodite’s eyes glittered and her power was a halo around her. “Will you accept my blessing?”
“Why?”
“You deserve it. If I hadn’t been such a coward, I would’ve seen this a long time ago.”
“It’s not just you, Aphrodite. I didn’t realized what my feelings were, and I still don’t like them. I don’t see how any of this is going to work out.”
“Love wants what it wants, honey.” Aphrodite patted her in what seemed to be a maternal way.
“I was jealous of you and I didn’t even know it.”
“I was jealous of you and I knew it. I knew it very much. Every time you’d date someone new, he’d obsess about it—try to figure out ways to get rid of whoever the god happened to be. It made me nuts. He said it was his duty to look after you.”
Morrigan shook her head. “I’m glad he’s over that. I’ve got a date with Poseidon tomorrow.”
“Wait, what?” Aphrodite arched a brow. “But you and Ares slept together. You should realize that you’re in love with each other and et viola, happy ever after. That’s how it works.” She put her hands on her hips. “Also, he’s okay with this?”
“I finally got him to say that he wants me to be happy and he’ll stop second-guessing my choices.”
Aphrodite made a face like she swallowed rotten pomegranate. A whole one. “That is unlike him. Is he ill?”
“No. I think he’s done some growing. He said he’d had some realizations.”
“Huh.” Aphrodite wrinkled her nose. “So, maybe you should tell me how all of this came to be.”
“We got the wrong pizza. Golden apple slices. Long story—Dagda switched our pizzas in some strange revenge plot—you know how it goes.”
“Oh.” Aphrodite nodded knowingly. “I see. First, I can make him fall in love with his own feces, if you like?”
“I—” She had to admit the idea did have merit. She liked it. She liked it a lot. “The vengeful goddess of doom part of me wants to say yes, but the rational part of me doesn’t want Love to get any more of a bad rap on my account.”
“Offer is always open. He tried to hurt the father of most of my children by hurting you. I’ll end him if you say the word.”
“Thanks.” She grinned.
“Now, onto more pressing business. You two stubborn asses are going to have to keep locking horns with a mountain until you realize it’s not going to move.”
“What does that mean?”
“The way you are together, you love each other. Obviously. You always have. You had sex, but blew it off as some fluke. Probably amazing sex, since you’re both so competitive—”
Morri’s face heated. She was sure it was on fire.
“Oh yeah, I bet it was Olympus-shattering sex. You should try it again, see if it still feels the same way.”
“No. I don’t want to be with him like that.”
“You’re scared.”
It wasn’t a question.
Morrigan wouldn’t have denied it if it had been a question. She was terrified. “Of course I am. I’ve never had a relationship work out. Love isn’t for me.”
“Don’t be daft.” Aphrodite’s power flared. “I feel I should tell you that it makes me very angry when people blame Love for their own failings.”
“My failings?” Morrigan growled.
Aphrodite didn’t back down. “Yes, your failings. Your fear isn’t the fail, but your unwillingness to push past it. To jump over the ledge and trust he’ll catch you.”
“You jump off a ledge.”
“I have.” She nodded, a kind expression on her face.
“He didn’t catch you.”
“It wasn’t my ledge.”
“Maybe it’s not mine either. You thought it was your ledge, but it wasn’t.” Morrigan pressed her lips together, unsure of whether to confide in the other goddess or not.
“Go on. Tell me.”
“I’m not afraid of falling. I’m not afraid of landing on my face. I’ve done it plenty of times. I’ll get back up. But he was always the one to hold my hand after I fell. He was always the one to wipe the dirt off my face and bandage my wounds.” She shook her head. “If I jump off this particular ledge, he won’t be there anymore.”
Aphrodite pulled her close. “Oh, my darling girl.”
Morrigan, surprised, allowed the embrace. No, more than allowed it, returned it. She exhaled heavily and hugging the other goddess, it was like she’d suddenly taken all of her doubts, all of the weight bearing down on her shoulders and cast it away.
“It’ll all be okay, I promise.”
Morrigan felt a large hand—decidedly not Aphrodite’s—at the base of her head. She knew it was Ares even before he spoke.
“Now… make out,” he said.”
“Ares, if you don’t get your hand off me this minute, I’m going to smite your face off.”
“Come on,” he grumbled. “Not even a little peck? I promise I won’t ask again.”
“You wouldn’t ask at all if you knew what was good for you,” Aphrodite said. “I mean, you’re good, but say we did make out—”
“I like where this is going.”
Aphrodite’s arm was still around her and Morrigan decided to play along and put her arm around Aphrodite’s waist.
“And we ended up liking each other better than we like you. Then where would you be? All alone.” Aphrodite grinned.
But Ares’ own smirk didn’t waver. Not in the least. “Not a chance. I’d be in the corner watching.”
Morrigan shook her head. “For the first thirty minutes. Then what?”
Aphrodite giggled.
Ares straightened. “I’ll have you know I’d go out for beer and pizza. Then I’d come back for another round.” He narrowed his eyes. “Or, see… there’s this really cool spell that I heard about while I was on Avalon. It’s this thing that Morgan Le Fey does. Lancelot said it was amazing.”
Aphrodite shook her head. “I’m still pissed at you for Aeron.”
Ares shrugged. “That guy is a dick. Always braying on about his mighty dragon or whatever. Not nearly good enough for either one of you. Let alone both of you.”
“I want to be mad,” Aphrodite said.
“But I can’t,” Morrigan finished.
They sighed in unison.
“So… is this a thing that can happen?” He nodded to both of them, the grin on his face a mile wide, but obviously teasing them. In all the years they’d known each other, he’d never suggested such a thing or even joked about it with them.
That wasn’t to say Ares hadn’t had his share of threesomes, that he and Aphrodite hadn’t invited other people into their bedroom every now and again—they definitely had. But with Aphrodite and Morrigan being not so much at odds, but not really friends either, it would’ve been a trespass.
“No. Not this century, anyway.” She slid a sideways glance tow
ard Ares. “I am trying to get her to accept my blessing.”
Ares cocked his head to the side, missing Aphrodite’s point completely. “Why wouldn’t you? The Goddess of Love wants to give you something, you take it with a smile. Why are you being difficult?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Morrigan stared at him.
“Look, Dagda is a fucking dick and that motherfucker is going to get what’s coming to him, but that’s no reason not to let Aphrodite bless you. It’s a kiss. She’s a rather good kisser.”
Aphrodite shook her head. “Okay, I get it. I do.”
Morrigan couldn’t help it—she laughed.
“Where’s my blessing? Pucker up.” He pointed to his cheek.
“No. None for you.” Aphrodite teased.
“You’re the Love Nazi.” Ares crossed his arms. “Wait, is it too soon? I didn’t—”
Aphrodite game him a soft smile. “No, it’s not too soon. Look at you, growing feelings and empathy.”
“I guess we really are better apart.”
“Yeah.” Aphrodite nodded. “But back to this kiss business…”
“Give Ares your blessing first, and I’ll accept.”
“I was kidding. I don’t want to be in love.” Ares wrinkled his nose.
“What happened to ‘if the Goddess of Love wants to give you something’?”
“I wanted to watch you guys make out and put it in the spank bank.” Ares rolled his eyes. “As if you didn’t know that.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Morrigan sighed and grabbed Aphrodite, tangled one hand in the long spill of her blond hair and bent her backwards over her arm—gothic romance style, and laid one on her.
When their lips touched, a spark of lightning passed between them, literally. Aphrodite’s power zapped her hard. She had to say, it didn’t suck. Aphrodite was indeed a good kisser and tasted like conversation hearts.
When she released the other goddess, Aphrodite looked a little dazed.
So did Ares.
Morrigan, for her part, felt a little dazed herself. When she looked at Ares, there was no denying her feelings now. She’d been booted over the ledge kicking and screaming.
Aphrodite recovered quickly and said to Morrigan, “Remember what we talked about. The fluke? It wasn’t.”
“Give him his blessing, too. I don’t want to be the only one flailing over the side.”
Aphrodite smiled. “You’re not, but I will anyway.” She tugged on his shoulder and Ares leaned down. Aphrodite kissed his cheek and said, “I give you my blessing. Be happy.”
“You too, Aphrodite.” Morrigan meant it.
“Right now, happiness is Jean Pierre’s. I’m going to get a facial and a manicure.” Aphrodite took her leave of them.
Ares watched after her as she walked away, looking like someone had just punched him in the gut.
“Did that just happen?”
“I think it did,” Morrigan said. The competitive side of her nature was more than pleased to have struck him stupid. She was feeling intensely satisfied and victorious.
It was better to concentrate on that than what Aphrodite had said.
“I can’t even remember what I came back for.” Ares shrugged. “I had a reason, but it escapes me.”
“Did you finish your errand earthside?”
“No.”
“Maybe you needed something from your temple?”
“No. That’s not it.” He was still staring after Aphrodite.
“Maybe you need a kick in the face?”
“Maybe.”
Morrigan debated taking the shot. He’d said he might need it and well, she was always looking to assist.
“That doesn’t mean kick me,” he added.
“You know I’m a fixer.”
He turned to look at her. “How do you feel about all of this?”
“You mean Aphrodite giving her blessing? She means well. I’ve learned there’s more to her than I previously thought. I used to think she was selfish and cruel, but I realized that was me.”
“No, you’re not. You’re one of the best goddesses I know. Both of you are.”
“I feel guilty that it took you splitting up before I could be her friend.”
“Are you friends now?”
“I guess that’s what we’re doing.” Morrigan shrugged.
He nodded. “Good.”
“So what are you doing here?”
He stared at her for a moment longer. “Yeah. I needed to ask you if I could steal Corvinus for a guy’s night out.”
“Hey, look at you making nice, too. Looks like sex is the universal bandaid.”
“It was just a thing that happened, right?” He tossed her words back at her.
This could’ve been her moment to say they should try it again. See what happened. That they should throw caution to the wind and…
But the look on Ares face told her he wasn’t looking for that answer. He wanted reassurance.
All of that talk of falling on her face and she was careening down the side of the cliff alone. “Yeah, Ares. It was just a thing that happened.”
13
ARES
Back at Morrigan’s place, he kept thinking about red hots and cinnamon kisses.
He knew he shouldn’t be, because like Morri said, that was just a thing that happened. Really, through no-fault of their own.
Corvinus, Poseidon, and himself were going to make Dagda pay for that. Even though he and Morrigan had always been curious about each other, the god had violated them both. He’d taken away their choice and their agency.
It wasn’t to be tolerated.
He wouldn’t let anyone hurt Morrigan. If he’d still been with Aphrodite, he’d have had to choose between them. Aphrodite wouldn’t have been comfortable with them being friends after something like that.
The thing that blared in his brain like a siren is that he’d have chosen Morrigan.
Aphrodite and Morrigan.
His cock was at attention thinking about that scene between them, that kiss. Gods, but that would be beautiful, seeing them naked together. Not just for his own pleasure, but for theirs as well. He imagined it would be Valentine’s Day all year long with conversation hearts and red hots on his tongue.
Shit, he had to stop thinking about Morri like that. Aphrodite, too, for that matter. She was obviously so over him. To be honest, what he thought his feelings were for her… weren’t. He loved her, he’d always love her, but more like a she’d-given-him-children sort of love.
She seemed to feel the same way. She’d given her blessing and her kiss.
To him.
To Morrigan.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Morri said when they got inside.
“I can’t believe you kissed Aphrodite.”
“Why? You used to do it all the time.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re not funny.”
“Yes, I am.” She nudged him with her hip.
“I don’t want to spar right now.”
“What?” She wrinkled her nose. “I laid one on your ex, at your insistence, now you don’t want to play with me? Are you going to take your toys and go home?”
“Yes, and I’m taking Corvinus with me.”
She laughed and hip-checked him again. “Come on.”
“This is not the road you want to take, Morrigan.”
Her eyes glittered with the challenge. “You think not? I’m not scared of you. I can still kick your ass.”
He grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall, with her hands above her head, and the evidence of his arousal pressed against her. “I told you, this isn’t the road you want to take.”
Her lips parted and he saw her pupils dilate. “You think not?”
“Not everything is a competition.”
“Yes, it is.” Her mouth crashed into his.
“How is it you still taste like Aphrodite?” he groaned. “It’s a heady mix of conversation hearts and red hots.”
“Keep kissing
me.” She strained to get closer to him, but didn’t try to break his hold on her wrists.
“We can’t.” He kissed her some more.
“We shouldn’t,” she murmured against his mouth.
The feel of her against him, her body so lush and receptive. He couldn’t stop remembering what it was like to be inside of her. Those little gasps of pleasure she made while riding his cock. The way she’d taken all his power from him and hell, he’d give it to her again. Only, he wanted to touch her, explore her. He wanted to make her come so hard she forgot what century it was. “All I can think about is fucking you through this wall.”
“Mmm, yes. Let’s do that.” She wrapped her legs around his hips.
He pushed his hand beneath her t-shirt and cupped her breast, thumb stroking over the nipple until it was hard. Ares buried his face in her neck, pressing his lips softly to her throat while working his way down to her other breast, but still holding her aloft with his other hand.
“How strong you are is such a turn on.”
“The way I don’t have to worry about breaking you turns me on, too.”
“You could try. Gods, I think I’d like it if you would,” she gasped.
“One more time then, and we’ll stop.” Only he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to do this to her until the stars were nothing.
“Uh-huh.” She squirmed against him.
He took her nipple into his mouth, nipping lightly. Ares decided she needed both hands and as much as he liked the idea of her submissive to his will, right now he wanted what it was that made her Morrigan. He wanted her fire, her power, the way that she always matched him.
When she was free, she pushed her hands through his hair and pulled him closer to his task.
She used her power to strip them both bare.
Again, he wanted to look at her, to devour the bounty before him, but he neither of them wanted to wait. Neither of them wanted to take it slow.
That was when he knew he’d lied.
One more time? No. It wouldn’t be enough. He needed time to explore her, to learn every curve, taste every inch of her. Her skin like silk, her hair a dark sea of ivy and cloves, he wanted to drown in her.
The heat of her touch burned him, but he wanted to burn. He wanted to be incinerated with her.
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