by Lisa Kessler
Tessa leaned in closer. “All these years and no one has ever connected Ida Industries with Mount Ida.”
Ted gave them a brief introduction to the Order of the Titans and their mission to free Kronos from Tartarus, but neither woman reacted. Maybe he’d been wrong about his theory. But if they didn’t believe him, they hadn’t said anything. He frowned. “Am I missing something?”
Maria and Tessa shared a silent look before Maria answered. “Tartarus is impenetrable.”
“Wrong.” He waited for a reaction. When he didn’t get one—again—he shook his head. “We’re almost to the Earth’s core. Kronos will be free soon, but we’ve hit a snag.”
Maria crossed her arms, and something in her eyes smoldered. “You have no idea what you’re trying to unleash.”
“I’m beginning to understand.” He pulled his hair back from his forehead. “Which one of you is Rhea?”
“Neither of us.” Tessa laughed, the sound like an inhuman melody. “And we’ll do her a favor by not mentioning this meeting.” She glanced up at the building. “Thankfully, it was her turn to get a haircut today. Lia is up there with her right now.”
“So Mrs. Zervos is the woman I really need to see.” Ted gestured toward them. “And neither of you are senior citizen retirees. Who are you really?”
Maria lowered her voice. “We are ‘those who sit beside the Idaean Mother.’ We have been with Rhea for lifetimes.”
Ted almost choked on his tongue. “The guiders of destiny?” He hadn’t imagined Maria’s eyes changing earlier. She was an immortal. “I’m sitting with Titias and Kyllenos? I thought you were…males?”
“Gender means nothing to us.” Tessa shook her head. “We’re simply Tessa and Maria now. We no longer guide destinies of mortals. They have attorneys and life coaches for that.” She rolled her eyes. “We live a quiet life, forgotten by the mortal world.”
Kelly nodded. “We want no part of your madness.” She stood, much too fluidly for a woman her age. “Why did you think Rhea would help you?”
“Because Philyra is here in Crystal City, and she’s hungry for revenge.”
“She was Kronos’s mistress.” Tessa frowned. “Nothing more. Why would she be involved in your scheme to free him?”
“You tell me.” Ted looked up at Maria. “She goes by Pamela Costas now, and she’s been hunting down the muses and killing them off. I think she believes that Kronos will choose her for his partner when he ascends again.”
“Nonsense.” Maria placed her hand on her hip. “Why are you so sure Rhea would help you with any of this?”
Ted raised a brow. “Because I’m told she’s the only one who can stop Philyra. Maybe she has a magical ability or special weapon of some kind?”
There was that silent look between Tessa and Maria again. This time, Tessa answered. “Rhea has nothing of the sort. Who told you this?”
Ted’s gut twisted as he scanned the garden, Mikolas’s warning whispering through his head. What if Kevin Elys really was more than he seemed? And if he was an immortal, which one would have a good reason to want to find Rhea? Only one he could think of…her husband.
No. It couldn’t be. If Kronos had escaped Tartarus, they’d know. But still…
He stood up, fighting to keep from fidgeting. “Tell Mrs. Zervos to be leery of strangers. There’s an older man, about my height, who goes by the name Kevin Elys. He’s very interested in her. And not in a good way.”
He turned to go when a younger woman slammed into him, pummeling him with her fists. “You asshole. Stay away from these women. Don’t hurt them to get at me!”
“Stop!” He did his best to protect his vital organs without fighting back. The last thing he needed was to be arrested for assault. “Please…let me explain.”
Maria and Tessa caught the other woman’s waist, dragging her off him. He coughed and looked up to see Lia, the Muse of Comedy. He’d stood in the parking lot of her improv club a few weeks ago before his enforcer ran over her Guardian with a black Mercedes. No wonder she was pissed.
He put his hands up. “I’m not here to hurt anyone.” The woman behind her was the same height as Maria and Tessa, her perfectly coifed black hair was streaked with silver highlights. Crow’s feet lined her dark eyes—the only other sign of age. She had an aura around her, not only of power but protection.
“Rhea,” he whispered. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “You need to go inside.”
The muse put her arm around Mrs. Zervos’s waist to turn her back toward the building. “Yeah, you don’t want any part of…” Lia froze, looking back at him over her shoulder. “Wait a second. Did you just say Rhea?”
He raised a brow. “You didn’t know?”
Lia eyed each of the older women. “This is my Wednesday poker group. I cut and color their hair.”
“They’re more than that.” Ted crossed his arms, protecting his middle. He added softly, “And I think the man who told me Rhea could help us stop Philyra was setting me up.”
“Wait, who wanted you to find Rhea?”
“You don’t know him, but I’m starting to think he’s another immortal.”
Lia filled in the blank. “Shit. We just found her for him.”
“Exactly.” He glanced around for any sign of Kevin. “Get her back upstairs. I’ll be in touch.”
Mrs. Zervos shrugged Lia’s hand from her shoulder. “I’m standing right here, and last I checked, we were the immortals here.”
Ted ground his teeth, struggling to keep his voice down. “If I’m right, Kronos is already free.”
“Oh gods. The explosion on your Oceanus rig last year released him.” Lia’s gaze flitted around the open garden.
“What?” Ted’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?”
“Apollo told us.” Her gaze met his. “Kronos found you already?”
Ted’s thoughts were jumbled as he tried to keep up. Apollo was talking to the muses? “I think so.”
Mrs. Zervos raised her chin. “I had hoped to avoid this day.” She glanced at Maria and Tessa. “Let’s get back upstairs.”
“I’m going with you.” Lia pointed at the residential high-rise. “Agnes is up there alone.” Her gaze locked on Ted. “If Kronos shows up, stall him.”
“You have to keep your eye on the nail head, no matter what. It’s when you blink or get distracted that you’ll whack your fingers.” Mason’s lips brushed her ear as he stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her, helping her hold the nail.
“I’m more worried about hitting you than myself.”
“I trust you.” He chuckled. “Besides, I’ve been smacked with a hammer before. Put some oomph into it.”
She held her breath and hit the nail head once, then twice. It almost slid off on the third swing, but the fourth made progress. Mason released her and took a step back. “You’ve got this.”
A few more swings and the nail was flush with the beam. She spun around with a grin. “Done!”
He clapped, a gleam in his eyes. “You’re a natural.”
They worked side by side for another hour as the sun sank lower in the sky. The silence wasn’t awkward; it was almost…sacred. Sure, the work was hard, she was sweaty, and her shoulders were starting to ache, but Mason hadn’t been lying when he’d said it was fulfilling. Being able to tangibly see the progress they were making with their own hands made pride swell up inside her.
Mason wiped his brow. “How long is Trinity going to be at Reed and Erica’s tonight?”
“She’s spending the night there to help Erica with Hope.”
He hooked his hammer back on his belt. “Let’s get out of here and get a shower, then.”
Clio unhooked her tool belt, enjoying losing the extra weight. “Before we go, I owe you an apology.”
He shook his head and started gathering his tools. “Nah, we’re good.”
She strode over to him and stood on the air hose as he reached for it.
He stopped and met her eyes. “I don’t
want to talk about it. Water under the bridge.”
“It’s not.” She slid her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “You have been nothing but good to me, and I’ve felt shitty ever since I realized what happened at the hospital.”
He unlatched his tool belt and slung it over his shoulder. “I dumped a lot on you at once, and your friend just had a baby. I’m fine, Clio.”
“But I’m not.” Usually words came easily to her, but staring into his eyes, she wasn’t sure where to start. “I grew up an only child, so no siblings to get attached to. My mom was allergic to pet dander, so no pets, either. My dad traveled for work and left me with my mom, who was always a little distant when it came to me. I’m not trying to make excuses; I just want you to understand that I’ve never done anything like this before. Ever.”
A crease formed on his brow. “Done what?”
“Fallen in love.”
His heavy tool belt hit the concrete foundation with a loud thud. He closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms. His lips fused to hers. Clio laughed into his mouth when he lifted her feet off the ground, holding her tight.
He walked her over to the workbench and set her on the edge, kissing her over and over. When he finally pulled back, his gaze locked on hers. “It’s my first time, too, darlin’.”
Her pulse raced, her body aching for his touch, and her brain struggled to engage. “Are you saying…”
“I’m saying I love you, Clio Clarke.”
“Oh.” Gods, hearing him say the words… After reading about love for so many years, it didn’t even hold a candle to the real thing. She might never stop smiling. “You should take me home.”
“Definitely.” He stole another kiss and scooped her into his arms. She laced her hands behind his neck. “What about the tools?”
His eyes flashed with shock for a second before it was replaced with laughter and…
Clio grinned. “Mason Knowles, you’re blushing.”
“I’ve never forgotten to put my tools away.” He set her feet on the ground, pointing a finger at her with a playful glint in his eyes. “And if you tell a soul, I’ll deny it.”
She crossed her heart. “Your secret is safe with me.”
CHAPTER 14
Cleaning up a jobsite wasn’t ever fun, but it had to be done if he didn’t want people walking off with his tools. With Clio helping, though, Mason had never enjoyed picking up at the end of the day so much.
Clio had been tasked with collecting and tying up all the extension cords while he was putting the power tools in the chain-link cage to be locked up for the night. As he bent over to retrieve a reciprocating saw, she passed by him, swatting his ass and laughing when he dropped the saw.
Two could play that game.
He kept his eye on her as she unplugged the last power strip. When she walked by the air compressor, he shot her with a blast of air. She squealed and smacked him playfully. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her into submission.
He caught her lower lip with his teeth, losing himself in her eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”
After he locked the cage, he hit the lights and took her hand. The simple gesture warmed him from the inside out. She loved him. He hadn’t realized the words would mean so much or feel so right.
Real. No more hiding.
Part of the thrill of falling was the risk—the knowledge that he’d let her in and the fear that she could hurt him. But the fear was now replaced with an acceptance that made him feel bulletproof. She was magic, pure and simple.
And he loved her, too. The words weren’t big enough for the emotions building inside him, but they were all he had.
He parked his truck at Clio and Trinity’s place and followed Clio inside. Knowing her roommate was out for the night, he didn’t wait to get her into her bedroom. He needed her now. All of her. She was his.
Mason grasped her hips, pulling her back to him, her ass against his groin. His lips brushed her ear. “Wash my back, and I’ll wash yours.”
She reached up to cup his cheek, wiggling her hips. “I’ve never showered with a buddy.”
He grinned, nipping at her earlobe. “I’ll be gentle.”
She looked back at him with a sexy gleam in her eyes. “Or don’t be.”
Damn. His erection went from hard to raging. He picked her up and jogged down the hall to the bathroom, enjoying her squeal of surprise. Everything about her fed his soul.
He set her down and pulled off his shirt. She bent over to turn on the water, treating him to an irresistible view. He ran his hands up the back of her thighs, gripping her ass in her tight blue jeans. Instead of laughing, she moaned, working her hips into him. He slid his hands around her waist to unbutton and unzip her jeans. He pushed them down her legs, feasting on the image of her in nothing but black satin panties with lace trim.
“You are so damned sexy,” he growled as he moved his hands along her bare legs to remove the last barrier between them.
With her panties on the floor, he caught her ankle, moving her leg into a wider stance. He stroked her inner thigh. “Arch your back for me.”
She did as he asked, and he traced his fingertip along her opening. Her hips worked into him. They weren’t going to make it into the shower. He needed her. Now.
He stripped off his pants, and suddenly, it hit him. They were at her place, not his. “I don’t have a condom.”
She looked back at him, her face flushed with color, her eyes hungry. “I don’t care.”
“Are you sure? What if…?” He stopped the exploration of his fingers and gripped her hips.
She straightened up, and he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She rested the back of her head against his chest, his erection rock hard between them. “When Pamela tossed me into the ocean, my only regret was never telling you how I felt. And if Pamela comes for us again tomorrow, I’m not going to regret that I didn’t have condoms.”
He smiled against her shoulder. “And if she doesn’t come for us tomorrow…?”
“Then we’ll stop at the drugstore.”
He kissed her shoulder, his hand moving down her abdomen. “It could be too late by then.”
She caught his wrist, guiding his hand even lower, her voice husky with desire. “Do we need to stop?”
He fingered her core as he shook his head. “No.”
“Good.” She bent over into the steam from the water, her back arched, opening herself to him.
Mason rocked forward, sinking all the way inside the heat of her body. He gripped her hip with one hand, the other still stroking her sweet spot.
Clio moaned. “Yes. Right there.”
The desire in her voice had him more turned on than he’d ever been in his life. He drew his hips back until he was almost free of her before slamming his hips into her again, faster and faster, in time with his other hand on her core. She felt so damned good. It would be so easy to lose himself and explode inside her.
But he wanted to see her face, to look into her eyes.
He slid out of her, and before she could protest, he turned her around to face him, picked her up, and placed her on the edge of the bathroom counter. Standing between her open legs, he entered her again, enjoying the passion burning in her eyes.
She wrapped her legs around his waist as her hands explored his chest. He pounded into her and pulled off her top. After unhooking her bra, he bent forward, taking her breast into his mouth. Her fingers slid into the back of his hair, pulling at it. Damn, he was right on the edge.
He licked the tip of her taut nipple and lifted his head, staring into her eyes. He slipped his hand between them, teasing her again.
She gasped, her fingernails digging into his shoulders, a delicious ache. “Don’t stop.”
“Not a chance.” He rubbed her faster, his hips thrusting into her until her entire body tightened around him. She cried out his name, and he slammed into her one last time, trembling all over as he exploded deep inside her.
&nb
sp; He enfolded her into his arms, cradling the back of her head as he kissed her hair. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She tipped her head back, her cheeks flushed with color and perspiration on her forehead as her gaze locked on his. “I really need a shower now.”
He laughed, embracing her tightly. “You and me both.”
Clio had never had such an intense orgasm in her life. Maybe it was the extra emotions churning, or the thrill of her first time bent over a bathtub, or just because Mason wanted to please her. The reason didn’t matter. Even though a crazed immortal wanted her dead, she was still the luckiest woman on the planet.
Maybe that was the afterglow talking…
He helped her into the warm water of the shower and treated her to the best head massage ever. “Oh gods, I’m never showering alone again,” she groaned.
“I’m game for that plan as long as I get to be your shower buddy.” He chuckled.
“Only you.” She finished rinsing her hair, and they swapped places so he could wash his. The water sluiced down his torso, drawing her in to touch his chiseled abs. She succumbed to the temptation, sliding her splayed fingers up his chest. “You are way too sexy for your own good.”
“Glad you think so.” He opened his eyes and gave her a smile that melted her heart. “I’ve never worked shirtless so much in my life.”
“I thought that was your standard construction uniform.”
He shook his head. “Nah, I usually wear at least a tank, but I was hoping to get your attention.”
She grinned. “Oh, I’ve appreciated it.”
“I wasn’t sure you even noticed.”
She stretched up on her tiptoes to shampoo his hair. “Well I didn’t want you to see me ogling you.”
“Why not?”
She ran her soapy hands along his shoulders and down his arms. “Because I didn’t want to find out you had a girlfriend or that you wanted me to introduce you to Tera or something.”
“Tera’s not my type.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “After a while, I figured you weren’t interested, but it didn’t stop me from hoping you might be eventually.”