“Ares?” Kaye ran across the grass. “I looked for you everywhere. What are you doing out here? Who were you talking to?
Ares sighed and brushed the remainder of the sunflower seeds off the park bench. Best not to get too attached. He was already in way over his head, almost at the point of no return. The truth sat like a rock on his tongue. “No one. It is not your concern.”
Chapter Fourteen
In The Water
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” Kaye pulled back the curtains and sunshine brightened the room. She had to wake Ares somehow. She thought of climbing onto the couch along with him and showering him with kisses, but remembering his brusque goodnight nod, she decided against it.
Ares squinted from the couch. “What time is it?”
“Ten o’clock.” She came over and placed her hand on his forehead. “You’ve been sleeping a lot lately. I didn’t think gods slept at all. Are you feeling okay?”
“I am well.” Ares sat up and swatted her hand away.
“Okay.” Kaye sighed and went over to the drawer to fold her clothes. Had her fit of anger yesterday driven him away? He’d seemed to understand, even consoling her at the hospital.
No, it was something that happened after they left. Ever since she’d found him on the side lawn with the pigeons, he’d been in a bad mood.
“What is on the agenda today?” He stretched his arms, flexing his enormous biceps.
Kaye tried not to stare. He was such a tease. “The aquarium. It’s one of Grammy’s favorite places.”
“An aquarium?”
“Yes. It’s a big tank of water with a whole bunch of different fish species. You don’t have one on Mount Olympus?”
“No.” Ares pulled on his shirt. “The ocean and everything in it is Poseidon’s realm.”
“Oh, Poseidon. Isn’t he the god with the trident?”
Ares grimaced as if disgusted. “Yes.”
“I take it you’re not fond of him?”
Ares walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. “No. He’s made several attempts to attack my father’s kingdom.”
Kaye had already showered, but that didn’t stop her from dreaming about going in there with him and rubbing soap suds all over his glistening muscles. “Why?”
“When my father overthrew my grandfather, Cronus, he drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the gods. Poseidon got the ocean, and Hades the Underworld. Poseidon has never taken it well.”
“I see.” The more he spoke of the god realm, the more she decided it was not a place she’d like to visit. Even if he was hot.
“But you’ll still go to the aquarium?” She called after him as he closed the door.
His voice echoed from the shower stall on the other side. “If you wish it, I will come.”
…
They pulled into the parking garage and found a space on level three. Kaye turned the engine off and glanced at Ares. The God of War stared at the dashboard.
“You seem nervous.” She touched his arm. “Don’t worry, Bradley and I worked everything out yesterday at the hospital. There won’t be another scene.”
Ares waved her off. “I’m not worried about that.”
Kaye wasn’t letting him off the hook. He’d been acting strangely the whole ride down. “What are you worried about?”
Ares unbuckled his seatbelt. “Let’s just say I’m not fond of the sea.”
Kaye collected her purse and opened her door. “Well, this isn’t the sea. It’s a representation of it.” Maybe if she explained more about the aquarium, she could get him excited too. “It’s really neat, when you think about it. The aquarium siphons water from the ocean into the tanks. Thousands of gallons go in and out every day.”
Ares touched her hand, stopping her. “So this place is connected to the sea?”
“In a way, yes. But I hardly think Poseidon and his army could fit through a water pipe.”
“You are right.” He smiled and opened his door. “I am being foolish.”
Thank goodness he saw the light. Why an aquarium spooked the God of War was puzzling. Wasn’t he pretty close to all-powerful?
They walked inside, where Grammy sat with Kaye’s parents. Kaye embraced them and turned to Grammy, kissing her on the cheek. The familiar rosy smell of her skin lotion automatically made Kaye smile. “How’s the birthday gal?”
“Tired.” Grammy laughed. “I stayed up late watching a marathon of I Dream of Jeanie.”
“You didn’t know we were meeting here at eleven?” Kaye shot her parents a questioning glance. Sometimes when they made plans, they forgot to tell everyone involved. Like when they invited only half her friends to her high school graduation party and forgot her favorite teacher.
Grammy waved her concern off. “Oh, I did. Just want to get them all in before I leave this world.”
Her mom took the handles of Grammy’s wheelchair and pushed her forward in the line. “Honestly, Mom, don’t talk like that. Many people have gone on to live to a hundred. You might be here a long time to come.”
“I certainly hope not.” Grammy rolled her eyes. “Just long enough to watch all my favorites all over again. Next up is Leave It to Beaver.”
Ares raised an eyebrow, and Kaye smiled. That was Grammy for you. Ninety years and she still had her sense of humor.
They bought their tickets and met her relatives inside the lobby. Bradley walked up and clapped her arm. “I’m staying away from the railings this time.”
Kaye slapped her hand on her forehead. He’d never let her hear the end of it.
“I’m only joking.” Bradley punched her in the arm. There was something different about this teasing, like for the first time, he laughed along with her.
Ares put his arm around Kaye. “Good. Otherwise I’d have to hold her back.”
Kaye turned to him, stunned. The God of War, Mr. Stone face, just cracked a joke. “Careful, you’re next.” She poked her finger in his chest.
“I’d like that.” Ares raised both eyebrows, and Kaye blushed, hoping Bradley had moved too far away to hear.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Grammy tugged Kaye’s shirt as her mom wheeled Grammy by her and Ares. She turned in her chair and raised a finger. “There are some beautiful green turtles you have to see!”
They walked into the main room, where the massive, three-story fish tank cut through the center of the building. A family of stingrays longer than Kaye’s wingspan passed by, followed by a school of small black fish and a hammerhead shark.
“By the Gods.” Ares spoke in a hushed tone as he glanced up to the highest level.
“I’ve finally found something to impress you.” Kaye squeezed his arm. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’d be better off saying wow.”
He furrowed his brow. “Wow.” The word came out awkwardly flat on his tongue.
Kaye nodded and laughed. “Yeah, but say it with more excitement next time, okay?”
They made their way up to level two, reading the smaller exhibits on one side and watching the giant tank on the other.
Grammy wheeled herself toward the glass. “One, two, three… Where’s the fourth one?” She peered down at the bottom of the large tank. “Oh, there he is! Why isn’t he with the others?” Her voice sounded oddly melancholy, as if the turtle were part of her family.
“He’s probably just taking a break, Grammy.” Kaye walked over. One green turtle sat at the bottom. He seemed to be staring right at them, unmoving.
“No, I’ve never seen one of them act like this. His coloring isn’t right either. He might be sick.” She put her hand to her neck and pulled at the wrinkled skin.
“I’ll take you down there.” Kaye took the handles of the wheelchair. “Maybe we can find someone who works here and ask some questions.” She looked back to Ares. “Will you be okay for a while?”
Ares nodded. “I’ll follow the others to the third level. I’d like to see the surfa
ce of the tank.”
“Great!” Relief mixed with delight spread through Kaye. Finally, he was starting to enjoy himself. Now, if only this mood will last until tonight…
…
Ares followed Kaye’s parents to the third level. He’d never seen the bottom of the sea before, and this tank showed him the beautiful world Poseidon had inherited. The creatures’ graceful movements amazed him, reminding him of a trained warrior moving on the battlefield. Why couldn’t Poseidon be content with what he had?
He moved toward the railing. It was high enough to keep out children and most adults, but at Ares’ height, he could lean over and see the ripples in the surface.
The water distorted the shapes of the fish, making them appear bigger and smaller than they were. If only this refraction of shadow could be applied to combat.
Something large came up from the bottom of the tank. It wasn’t swimming in circles with the others. It swam directly toward the surface.
Mrs. Underhill pointed beside him. “Would you look at that? It’s coming right up. John, get the camera.”
As Kaye’s father reached in his bag, Ares recognized one of the green turtles. Was it the one at the bottom of the tank that Kaye and Grammy had gone to check on?
The turtle broke the surface and splashed the onlookers. As the mortals fell back in shock, the turtle reached its head toward Ares. A deeper intelligence shone in the creature’s eyes. For a moment, the hardened turtle skin turned into the shimmery porcelain face of a merman.
That’s not a turtle. Before Ares could react, the turtle’s flipper morphed into a longer extension with fingers. It’s a god in disguise.
Ares raised a hand to ward the creature off, his reflexes dull and slow. The turtle grabbed Ares’ shirt and pulled him in the tank. Cold water shocked him. Ares fought as the turtle grabbed his sleeve in its jaws and pulled him deeper and deeper, past hovering stingrays and dark-skinned sharks.
Bubbles of air spewed from his mouth. Ares hadn’t gotten a good breath before he went under. Normally, as a god, he could stay submerged for quite a while. But without his powers, he had a mortal’s fragile lungs.
He fought the beast, punching its shell, but the hard casing bounced off his attack. Pain exploded in his fingers, and he clenched his fist while fury roiled through him. In the Sea God’s realm, he was weak as a fish on the sand. The water slowed his movements and muddled his senses.
His lungs screamed for breath. Ares pulled at his shirt, trying to tear the sleeve, but the fabric wouldn’t budge. He’d have to undo every button, and the turtle thrashed, making it hard to focus.
The magic waned, revealing the human face with the iridescent blue eyes and the shimmery skin. Triton. It had to be Poseidon’s son, come to finish him off in his debilitated state. To die as a man in a mortal’s entertainment park vexed him. He should die in glorious battle in a golden field, wielding his sword!
Kaye entered his mind, and his heart changed. He didn’t want to die at all. He wanted to be with her.
A hand closed over his, infusing him with a fiery strength.
Ares whirled around. Kaye heaved him toward the surface. Her dark curls spread from her face like an angel’s halo, and fierce determination hardened her gaze. She would not let him die.
With her power, his shirt ripped from the turtle’s jaws. They ascended as Ares’ lungs burned. Never had he experienced such desperation. He clamped his lips closed, refusing to give in to his urges.
The turtle pursued them, and he kicked at its jaws. He hit the beast square in the forehead, and the shimmery skin appeared and vanished as the magic dissipated and Triton left the body. In a gleam of current, the Sea God was gone. Triton was aggressive, but he wasn’t foolish. He would not risk exposure to the mortals to further pursue his target. The last thing Poseidon needed was more scientists poking and prodding his domain.
The beast regained its senses and flopped lazily to the edge of the aquarium, rejoining the others.
Kaye and Ares broke the surface, and he gasped in air. She pulled him toward the edge, where crews dressed in wet suits jumped in. The aquarium workers lifted them out of the tank. Onlookers snapped pictures, the flashes disorienting him.
“Turn off your cameras,” Kaye shouted, grabbing at a camera. “The show’s over.”
Ares lay against the tank, regaining his strength.
Kaye turned toward him. “Are you all right?”
“I am unharmed, thanks to you.” Ares smiled. Never had he thought a mortal woman would save his life—with his own powers.
As Kaye reassured her parents and Grammy, a man in a business suit broke through the crowd. “Are you two okay?”
Kaye nodded. “What the hell happened?”
The man placed his hand on his chest. “My sincerest apologies. Usually the barrier is high enough to keep people from falling in.”
“He didn’t fall in, that turtle pulled him in.” Kaye pointed her finger at the tank. “I saw it myself.”
The man placed both palms in the air. “The green turtles are a peaceful species. They’ve never shown any type of aggression.”
“Maybe you should have them quarantined.” Anger tinged Kaye’s words. “They could have killed him.”
“It’s okay.” Ares held Kaye back before she grabbed this man’s throat. “I am certain this is an isolated incident.” He did not want them to punish the beast. It was the god, not the turtle, who’d attacked him.
“You are not pressing charges against the aquarium?”
“No.” Ares stood and rung out his shirt. Honestly, these mortals were silly. On Mount Olympus, there was no such thing. You either took your revenge, or you did not.
“Who are you? The police?” Kaye put a hand on her hip. Ares had seen that look in her eyes before. She meant business.
“My apologies, again. Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Nathan Hamil, the manager of this aquarium.”
Ares shook his hand. “No harm done. Please do not punish the turtle.”
“Are you sure?” Kaye whispered beside him.
Ares nodded. “They’re Grammy’s favorite. Besides, I just want to leave as soon as possible.”
“Of course.” Kaye took his arm. “We can’t stand here dripping wet anyway.”
She told her parents and Grammy to meet them back at the resort, then she and Ares returned to the car. Kaye laughed unexpectedly as she unlocked the door.
Ares studied her. Was she going mad? “What is the cause of your amusement?”
Kaye shook her head. “Here you were, worrying about the aquarium, and then this freakish accident occurs almost drowning you.”
Ares pursed his lips. He could not let on to the fact Poseidon wanted him dead. She’d ask more questions, and eventually all answers led back to the curse. “Perhaps I had a premonition in my gut?”
“Maybe. But what are the odds of something like that happening?” She got into the car. “Grammy’s seen those turtles a hundred times, and they’ve never so much as acknowledged human existence.”
Ares sat in the passenger seat. Even after riding several times in the metal frame, he still felt claustrophobic. “Let us not dwell on the past.”
“You’re right.” Kaye turned on the ignition and pulled out.
He sighed, relieved the subject had dropped. The longer the curse went on, the harder it was to keep the truth from her.
Kaye remained silent, chewing on her lower lip until it looked as though she’d draw blood.
Ares reached for the radio. Perhaps the mortal noise they called rock music would calm her.
Kaye held his hand, stopping him from turning on the station. “There’s just…one more thing that doesn’t make sense.”
“What concerns you?”
She scrunched her nose. “I’ve never been a good swimmer. But, back there, I felt like I could hold my breath forever, and I knew exactly what kind of strokes to use to get to you. I swam like a fish.”
“Interesting.” Ares dru
mmed his fingertips on the dashboard. “You must have improved.”
“Without any practice?” Kaye shook her head. “No. Something’s up. There’ve been numerous occasions where I’m more athletic, more graceful, faster, stronger, better. Something’s different about me. I may not know what it is right now, but I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Motivations
Kaye adjusted the Versace halter-top gown she’d worn at Syrinx’s wedding and looked in the bathroom mirror. Her flat mid-section contrasted perfectly with the curves of her hips. Had her breasts grown firmer? The dress fit even better than it had before, and she’d been gorging herself on food all week. Just another anomaly alerting her to the fact something had drastically changed.
She thought she knew why.
It took one overnighter of thinking, tossing, and turning while Ares slept on the couch to figure it out. All of the changes had started happening when she met Ares, so it had to do with him. His attention must have given her the confidence she’d needed to reach her potential. All she had to do was work up the courage to tell him how she felt at tonight’s farewell dinner for Grammy. She wouldn’t be so transformed unless he had feelings for her too, right?
Kaye opened the bathroom door, waltzed into the room, and twirled.
“You look gorgeous.” Ares stood from the couch while he fastened the bowtie on his tux. The coat accentuated his broad chest and the muscles in his arms. “I remember that dress well.”
“I hoped you would.” After another night of separate beds, she’d pulled out all her cards—her sexiest dress. Tonight would be their last night in the hotel, and their last chance to be together. Kaye may have not been ready that first night, but she was now.
He offered his arm. “Shall we?”
“We shall.” She wrapped her arm around his and grabbed her present.
“I hope you don’t mind,”—Ares tapped his coat pocket—“I took the liberty of buying my own present for your grandmother.”
“Awww. You didn’t have to.” Could he be any more perfect? The more she’d gotten to know him, the less godlike he’d become—in a good way. She could almost picture him living the life of a normal man, visiting the floral shop, going on a pizza date. But he was a god, and she had to remember their bargain was at an end. Unless he felt the same way…She’d know soon enough.
Ares' Temptation Page 10