‘Yes and what we are doing is too important. And … I care about myself too. Besides, the gods aren’t going to let her get away with it for too long. They all love sticking their tongues down the necks of the humans far too much to let her continue starving them all.’
‘So … you’re fine with this?’
‘Of courseI’m not fine with this. She just did her usual thing of smothering me in love while berating me and twisting me towards what she wants. And I have no idea how to get her to stop hurting the humans. It feels very pointed given I love those mortals. It’s like she knows how much it means to me.’
‘We’ll figure it out,’ he says.
I nod. ‘Yes, I know we will, which is why I am fine and would very much like to go back to that kissing thing.’
‘You’re sure you’re all right?’ he asks.
‘Yes!’
And finally, after what seems like an eternity, he kisses me again.
WE KISS UNTIL OUR LIPSare swollen, hands reaching and breath catching, and I don’t know how anyone gets anything else done, ever. His lips are buttery soft, sliding over my own, his air in my lungs, the urge to press him closer. I yearned for this so terribly I thought it might tear me apart but I never imagined this grasping need to become one, to have his heart beat inside my chest, my own pulsing beside it.
I peel layers off him and my hands run across his bare chest, trace the sharp bones of his hips. I could tug the fabric there further; I hesitate only out of fear that I’m doing this wrong, that this isn’t how it goes. He grabs my hands before I can decide, entwines our fingers, kisses me like it’s an art form. He breaks away only to trace his lips over my neck. My body arches like it knows what to do even if I don’t.
He runs a finger over the strap of my dress and his warm breath tingles against my skin.
‘Can I take this off?’ he whispers. My heart is beating so quickly I can’t believe he can’t hear it, as close as he is.
‘I … um …’ Why am I hesitating? I want it off. I want everything off. But … but …
I feel safe with him.
I have no reason to hesitate.
But it doesn’t change the fact that I am. Some instinct is sayingnowhile every other part of me is screamingyes!
He lets go, smoothes my hair instead and kisses me again.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘I just need some time.’
‘Don’t apologize.’ He bites his lip like not kissing me is taking all of his concentration.
‘It’s just …’
‘No doesn’t need an excuse, Persephone.’
‘Thanks for waiting.’
And now he lets go, takes a step back. ‘I’m not waiting. We’re not moving slowly or whatever cliché you want to throw out there. There’s no end point here, no expectation. We can do what we both want, if and when we both want it.’
‘And if I finally want it and we do it and I hate it then –’
‘Then we stop. Then we never do it again.’
‘I love you.’
He grins. ‘Well, I don’t think my statement warrants such a response but I will certainly never grow tired of hearing it.’
‘Then can you come back over here and kiss me again, please?’
‘I like this,’ he says, holding me close the next morning and nestling his head into the groove between my head and shoulder.
His arms are round my waist and my hands rest on top of his. I think I could live a very happy life if we never left this bed.
