to touch me, Erin," he whispered, trailing her hand down the length of his shaft. He shivered from her softness. "I need to know that this is real and not... not a dream."
Because deep in his heart he was afraid this was nothing more than Hades tormenting him already. Perhaps he was dead and this was the way they intended to torture him.
Erin quivered at the sensation of his hard, hot manhood in her palm, and his strong, tapered hand leading her strokes. In her dreams, she'd always been uninhibited with him. Her phantom lover had never been real, only a figment of her imagination.
But it was a living, warm body she touched now. One of flesh and blood. A beautiful, masculine body that made her quiver and burn with something more than lust.
The look in his eyes scorched her. And she knew what he wanted. He wanted comfort. He needed to know that she still cared for him. Even in this world that was alien to him.
Was he as afraid of all this as she was?
How long could they be together before their respective worlds tore them apart?
V'Aidan knew he should release her, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. He needed her. Needed her touch in a way that defied explanation.
She rose up on her knees and, to his utter shock, placed her mouth on him. He moaned at the feeling of her lips against the tip of his shaft, of her hot tongue stroking him. She cupped him gently with one hand, stroking his sac in time with the flicks of her tongue against him.
Never had anyone touched him like this. He felt weak before her. Powerless against her.
And in that moment, he knew he would never again be able to let her go.
Dear Zeus, what was he to do?
She was mortal and he...
He was cursed.
Erin stroked and soothed him, and when he released himself she didn't pull away.
Only when he was drained and weak did she pull back and look up at him. Then slowly, meticulously, she kissed her way up his body until she stood before him.
"It'll all be okay. V'Aidan," she whispered. "I promise."
No, it wouldn't. He knew better. There was no way to hide from the others. Sooner or later, they would come.
But he didn't want to scare her. Someway, he would protect her. No matter the cost to him.
He gathered her into his arms and held her close. If he could, he would fly her away from here. Take her back to the Vanishing Isle and keep her forever.
And then he felt it. Felt the evil presence of his sister. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. In this condition he would never be able to stop Krysti'Ana.
The phone rang.
"I'll be right back."
He released her; all the while he looked around trying to find Krysti'Ana. Her malevolence washed over him. Somehow she knew he was here.
He reached out with his thoughts, but in his weakened, wounded state he couldn't contact her.
It didn't matter.
He knew his sister's unspoken promise. She would be coming soon and he would have to find some way to protect Erin from her clutches.
Erin returned. "Sorry about that. It was a friend from work." She headed toward her bathroom. "I'm going to take a quick shower, then buy your clothes, okay?"
He nodded but didn't speak. He couldn't. Not when thoughts of his siblings occupied his mind.
He walked around Erin's small apartment, trying to find where his sister could be hiding. He found nothing, and as the minutes went by, his sense of her grew weaker, though whether from her leaving or from his own diminishing powers, he wasn't sure.
Erin left the bathroom, her face bright and rosy. "I can't believe I have you here." She threw herself into his arms and held him tight. "Oh, V'Aidan, tell me they can't get you here."
He opened his mouth to answer her honestly, then stopped himself. He didn't want to steal the happiness from her bright brown eyes.
"We're safe," he said, the word sticking in his throat.
She kissed him then, hot and passionately, then left him alone while she went for his clothing.
V'Aidan returned to lie on the bed and rest himself. If he could sleep, he could replenish his strength a lot faster, but he didn't dare close his eyes. Didn't dare fall asleep where he could reenter his world.
They would be waiting for him. With Erin's help, he had escaped them before. But he was sure there