Seth’s constant movement nearly did me in. Frustrated, I jumped up from the couch and walked over to the window. We’d been waiting for the first visitation for hours. Adonis was keeping watch, while Seth tried to sleep. An activity he’s terrible at because his body isn’t made for it. None of the angels’ bodies are, but when they fall, they become human and distorted in their needs, wanting food, sleep, intimacy — only it was much worse for the cursed. Their emotions and desires are so blindingly strong that many of the Fallen became so tangled in debauchery, they no longer remember their origin.
Apparently, Seth was no exception to the sleep rule. You’d think he’d been wrestling with Hercules. I shook my head in dismay as he nearly fell off the couch. He looked at Adonis, who wore his typical bored expression.
I turned back toward the window, taking in the view, or lack of it. The apartment had the feel of a high-rise penthouse, but we were still far below the city. The window looked out on a tunnel that I guessed was used for the old subway, which used to run downtown. Luckily for us, nobody ventured down here anymore — except monsters like the Titans.
Would they knock? Announce their presence? Earlier, I’d armed myself with five throwing knives as well as two pearl-handled.45s, in hopes that if my anger gets in the way and the wisdom of the gods doesn’t descend upon me like everyone hopes, I’ll at least be able to defend myself.
“Where are they?” I asked, slightly defeated, as I leaned my head against the glass-paned window. Everything was dark and dead-looking, except for a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. My vision couldn’t reach that far. All I could see was the blinking light. It had been on ever since I’d been standing there. My guess was it was as bored as I felt.
I sighed and turned to look again to where Adonis was sitting. He was gone. Within seconds, I felt his breath on my neck. “Nervous, Thena? My, my, you are a little jumpy, aren’t you?”
Slowly I turned to glare at him, but once my eyes met his, I was rendered mute. All the glory of the Heavenlies was on display for me to see. Adonis was beautiful, no doubt. But his grace, the way he moved, the way he licked his lips, everything about him was sensual. I took a laborious breath, cursing myself for the weakness I felt descend upon me like a cloud. Adonis inclined his head to the side, reached out, and ever so lightly touched my arm.
Seriously, the man could charm a streetlight.
I made a move to slap his hand away, but he grabbed it, and, with a quirk of his brow, brought my fingers to his mouth and began kissing them. His beautiful lips curved into a seductive smile. Those dangerous lips pulled and then he licked at one of my fingers. I thought I would pass out from ecstasy.
How could I ever for one second think Seth was attractive when I have a man like this standing next to me?
His body was rock solid, his eyes predatory and sensual at the same time. I was transfixed by his eyelashes and how they fanned across his high cheekbones. Suddenly I wanted to slit Aphrodite’s throat for ever touching him, not that they were anything but old partners, but still.
Jealousy and possessiveness threatened to overwhelm me, and then with a moan, his hands were in my hair, drawing my face closer to his. His lips felt hot. Desperately I clung to him, wanting — no needing — to be as close to him as possible, wanting to breathe his air, needing his oxygen, needing his scent. Sandalwood and honeysuckle teased my senses. I opened my mouth to drink him in.
The room faded away.
His hands were all over me, touching, pulling, kneading.
“Adonis…” I mumbled.
“Not now,” he snapped, then picked me up and slammed me into the wall by the window. He pushed my hands above my head and trapped me. His assault continued. Drugged by hunger for his mouth, I allowed myself to drown in the feeling, not wanting to ask questions as to why he was being so forward.
I wanted to possess him like he possessed me. I felt out of control as my body reacted to every single one of his touches, as if he was setting me on fire. And then it hit me.
The jerk was enticing. My back arched against my better judgment, curving into him.
“Selfish jerk,” I muttered as he took my mouth again.
He laughed against my lips and took my tongue into his possession.
As suddenly as the kiss started, it ended, and something hit my head.
I shook it, and my vision became cloudy. Adonis was gone. Confused, I realized I wasn’t against a wall; I wasn’t being trapped by him. I could still feel his breath on my neck. Hadn’t I turned around? Hadn’t I? Had I imagined the whole thing? I touched my lips. They were still buzzing from his kiss. My entire body felt like it was on fire.
“I promise,” Adonis whispered, pulling me back into the comfort of his body. “I have never enticed you… until now.”
“So that wasn’t…”
“Real?” I felt him tense. “No, but, Thena, it could be, you have no idea how many times I’ve—”
“He’s here,” Seth said, jumping off the couch like he was ready to pounce.
My heart pounded in my chest. What exactly did Adonis wish? And why was he enticing me? Naturally, it was a good distraction, but what did he mean about it being real. He couldn’t just distract me whenever he thought I needed it, and he couldn’t maul me and then not finish his sentence. Arrogant man.