With that Aphrodite stood and clapped her hands sharply. Several beautiful young priestesses appear out of the shadows to attend her, bowing before the two goddesses.
"Bring me my silver spider-web gown," Aphrodite said. "And prepare my bath. I have an errand to run, and I want to look my best."
"What about me?" Athena asked. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yes," Aphrodite said. "I want you to go to Zeus and ask a favor. I want him to grant Kalliara immortality. That way, no matter what happens, the two of them will be together. He's willing to give up everything for her. Let's give her the chance to pay him back for that gift."
"I'd rather she stay mortal," Athena said tightly. "Then she can go to the underworld and exist in peace, no matter what happens.”
"Well, she's not your child any more, Athena," Aphrodite said coldly. "She wouldn't have gotten into this situation if you hadn't held her to your impossible standards, denying her a family and husband. She's mine now, and she's in love. I want her to be able to stay with her man no matter what happens."
"Why should I go to Zeus?" Athena asked, disgusted.
"Because I'm the only thing that stands between you and all-out war with Dionysus," Aphrodite replied coldly. "So right now, you'd better focus your attentions on keeping me happy. Understand?"
"Yes," Athena replied softly. "I understand perfectly.”
"Dionysus, may I speak with you?" Aphrodite said softly. She walked into his private room, careful to roll her hips as she walked, but no too much. She didn't want to appear too obvious…
He turned to her, his face expressionless.
"My attendants told me you were coming to see me," he said coolly. "Any particular reason you chose today? Usually you seem to avoid my company."
She pouted her lips, and he laughed.
"You never change, do you?"
"Would you really want me to?" she purred, lifting one arm sensuously. The silky fabric she wore was nearly transparent; she could feel it pulling tight against her nipples.
"No, not at all," he said softly. He glided across the room, and lifted one of her slender hands to his lips. "I would never want you to change a bit, Aphrodite."
Then he dropped her hand, and his expression grew mocking.
"I suppose it's entirely coincidental that you've come to see me so soon after my discussion with your bitch sister."
She laughed throatily.
"I've heard you accused of many things, Dionysus, but stupidity has never been one of them," she replied, allowing a soft smile to play across her lips.
"I'm here about Sabiniano and Kalliara, of course."
"They're really none of your concern," he said, turning away from her. He walked across the room to a window overlooking the hills, and she followed.
Calculatingly, she allowed herself to stand so close behind him that her nipples grazed his back; his muscles tightened in response.
"But theyare my concern, Dionysus," she sad softly. "They're in love, and all lovers are under my protection. What will it take for you to let them go?
There are other ways for you to fight with Athena."
"That's true," he said, turning to face her. He lifted one finger and gently ran it along her face. "But this is about more than Athena. It's about my son betraying me."
"He can't help his betrayal," Aphrodite whispered. "Love is more powerful than any of us. I couldn't give him back to you if I wanted to."
"Why did you have to take him in the first place?" he asked, and for one moment she glimpsed pain in his heart. It startled her; she'd never known Dionysus to care about anyone but himself.
"I didn't have to take him," she said, willing him to believe her. "I don't create love; I merely encourage what's already there. For some reason, Sabiniano and Kalliara were meant to be together. You need to let him go."
"But I don't want to let him go," Dionysus said mockingly. All traces of emotion were gone; once again, his cool, uncaring façade took over. "I want my son back, and I want Athena's bitch human dead."
She stepped back from him, allowing her seductive mask to slip off.
"Is there anything I can do to convince you to take your fight with Athena elsewhere? She's already lost, you know. Her priestess is mine now. Kalliara will never be able to go back to her service. Isn't that enough?"
"It would be enough if I hadn't lost my son, too," Dionysus said harshly, turning to face her. "He's chosen her over me. That I cannot accept."
"What if I offered to compensate you?" Aphrodite asked, taking a deep breath.
"What kind of compensation?" he asked, his face cold.
"Me," Aphrodite said quietly. "I'm offering you me. Or rather, use of my body for the day."
"What makes you think I want you that badly?" he replied, his voice expressionless.
"Oh, you want me," she replied, pressing closer to him. She ran one hand up his chest lightly, drifting across the hard nipples beneath his tunic. He was motionless beneath her touch. Laughing throatily, she rubbed her body against his. His erection jutted against her; she purred in response.
"All men want me, Dionysus," she said. Standing on her toes, she breathed light kisses against his neck. "I'm Love incarnate, and every creature secretly wishes to have me for their own. Whether they admit it or not. I've seen the way you watch me."
"I want to fuck you, I'll admit that," he said coldly. "But I'm hardly interested in love. My realm is physical pleasure. That's all I want, and all I'll ever need."
"You can call it whatever you want," she replied, laughing. "It still comes down to the same thing. Me and you. Naked. Together. Whatever you want, for one day only."
"Let's make it more interesting," he replied smoothly. "I'll make you a bet.
You claim that you—love—is more powerful than lust—me. But I'll bet you that I can make you beg for me before I'm done. If I win, I keep Sabiniano and the human. If I lose, I'll give them to you and take my fight with Athena elsewhere. Do we have a deal?"
"All I have to do is make you beg?"
"Easier than that," he replied with a dark smile. "All you have to do is hold out on me. You don't beg, you keep Sabiniano and the human."
"One night only," she said, searching his face for signs he was telling the truth. As usual, she had no idea what he was thinking.
"Yes."
"Then we have a deal," she replied.
He laughed, the sound deep and mocking. What had she done? she wondered. He didn't even seem worried that he'd lose the bet. He must have tricked her in some way…
Before she could challenge him, he thrust his hand into the carefully arranged mass of blond curls on her head, twisting it and pulling her mouth up to his.
His lips crushed against hers, and his other hand dropped to her butt, pulling her against his erect cock. His tongue invaded her mouth, and she moaned.
This bet might not be the sure thing she'd thought it was…
Chapter Eleven
He swung her up into his arms, carrying her across the room to his bed, lips locked against hers. Heat built in her body.
Why was she responding to him so quickly? He was handsome, of course, but she had had many handsome men in her lifetime. But there was something about the hard tone of his muscles under her hands that made her want to clutch him tightly to her, to open before him.
Truly, he was the god of lust…
From his first kiss she would have thought he'd be rough, yet by the time they reached the bed he laid her down tenderly, brushing the hair away from her face as if she were a fragile and precious creature. He sat next to her, trailing his hands up and down her body over the fabric of her gown, and she twisted.