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“Do you regret it?” I step back to study his face.
“I can’t say that, but it’s a big change.” He picks at the tiles on the kitchen counter instead of looking at me.
“Did you tell Mercy about me?” I ask. That will be a good indicator of where his mind is.
“I did.” His body tenses, and he doesn’t look happy about this conversation.
“You okay?”
He nods, then he finally grins. “Just a lot’s happening. You know how I am. It’s hard for me to process change quickly.”
I know how he is, but something feels off.
18
WORK
Itold Carl we need to ease into this relationship and not have sex yet, but I’m not sure why I’m thinking of it assexand not making love. Maybe it’s because I’m still feeling awkward about our new dynamic, or because I don’t feel connected to Carl in the way I hoped we would be. He also hasn’t pledged his undying love for me. Oh well, baby steps.
It would also be nice if he took me out on a proper date.
Hell, Eros took me to the most romantic restaurant I’ve ever been to an hour after meeting me.
Carl has left for work, and now that I’m alone and able to think about my life beyond Carl, I worry about Eros and my godly contract again. I’ll have to face the god eventually to clear the air about what’s really going on with my soul and this game.
I sit on my bed and fiddle with the ring. “Eros?” I say just above a whisper.
He pops up right in front of me, looming over me. His eyes look dark and foreboding, and his arms are crossed. Is he angry because it’s been so long since I called him back or because he’s worried he’s going to lose his prize?
“Hi,” I say weakly.
“Hi?” Eros repeats. “I’m trying to be cool about you blowing me off, but dammit, I worry about you.” He runs his fingers through his already disheveled hair. His clothes aren’t as impeccable as they usually are, and I notice bags under his eyes.
“I didn’t intend to worry you, but I needed time to figure things out with Carl.” I smile, but it feels false. “It seems your plan worked.”
With a grumble, Eros draws my office chair over and sits down. When he faces me again, his expression softens. His hand lifts as if to touch me, but he must think better of the familiar contact because he pulls it back to rest on his own knee. “Tell me everything that’s happened to you since you banished me.”
“I didn’tbanishyou!” I roll my eyes and then blush at the idea of telling himeverything. To stay on his good side, I smack his knee playfully so he knows we are okay—or as okay as we can be without me knowing his true endgame for me. “You’re so dramatic.”
“I’m a Greek god. It’s what we do.” He shrugs.
“Well, after you left, I went back to Lovers’ Bluff to clear my head. Hermes showed up?—”
“What?” Eros jumps up and paces my small room. “What did he do to you?”
I recoil, pulling my legs up to my chest, and stop talking.
Eros turns and sees the worried look on my face. “Sorry. I’m just worried he might hurt you. Please, go on,” he encourages gently.
“A suspicious gust of wind almost blew me off the cliff, but Hermes appeared and pulled me from the edge. Then, he more or less said I needed to go after what I wanted.”
Eros freezes abruptly. “You’re kidding.”
“No. Why?”
He rubs his mouth, holding something back. “Never mind. Go on with your story.”
“He demanded that I choose, but it was a good thing since it made me realize I’ve wanted to be with Carl all this time, so I should go for it and see where it takes me. Like you said, I need to know if our relationship can work.” I suck in a breath and blurt out, “So… Carl and I fooled around.”
