Styxx buried his face against her neck as he quickened his strokes. He knew from experience that when she made that sound and tightened her arms around him, she was on the brink of orgasm.
A moment later, her dulcet cry filled his ears. He rolled his hips against hers, driving her climax on until she laughed and kissed him passionately.
Her lips were all he needed to tip him over into ecstasy. Growling in his throat, he buried himself deep and held her close. Strange how he only found peace with her. The rest of the world could burn and he wouldn't care. Not so long as he could feel her hand on his cheek.
It felt as if he'd always known her. As if he'd been born solely to love her with every part of himself.
She sighed contentedly. "Oh, what you do to me, my sweet prince."
His heart lurched at the endearment. "I wish you wouldn't call me that."
She frowned. "Why?"
Too many people had used the title to mock him. And now ... he heard Apollo's repugnant voice saying it in his ear. It made his skin crawl.
He was so grateful that Bethany couldn't see the "wonderful" souvenir that bastard had left him with. A sun symbol between his shoulder blades so that everyone who saw it would know the sun god had violated him. Every time he thought about it, he wanted to scream and run his sword through that bastard's gut.
"I'm not a prince, Beth. I'm just a man."
"But you are so much more than that to me."
Closing his eyes, he savored those words and reveled in the sensation of her hands gliding over his sweaty back. "Your father is most likely going to kill you for your absence."
"I'm sure yours won't be pleased either."
"No ... he won't." He teased her earlobe with his teeth. "I still wish you'd run away with me, Beth. I would give you anything you ask."
"But you can't run away from your responsibilities or problems. They always follow."
"They don't have to."
"Please, Hector, don't ruin this week by asking for something I can't give you."
He ground his teeth at the pain in his chest whenever he thought about leaving her and returning to a life he hated with every beat of his heart. "All right. I won't trouble you again with it."
Someone pounded on their door. "The prince returns!" They ran down the hall, banging on all the doors to announce it.
Styxx scowled then growled as he realized it meant their army had returned home.
Not him.
Bethany traced the line of his brow. "You should be marching in with them to receive your honors."
Yes, he should. His father would be furious when he learned Styxx wasn't with the others. "I would have to leave you in order to do that. Is that really what you want?"
She bit her lip playfully. "No. I rather like you where you currently are."
"As do I."
But there would be rancid Tartarus to pay whenever he left her....
November 11, 9532 BC
It was just after midnight when Styxx entered the palace through the front door. He thought he was home free until he topped the stairs and met his father there.
The expression on his father's face was anything but welcoming. His father backhanded him so hard, it knocked his teeth loose.
"You are ever determined to publicly embarrass and humiliate me, aren't you?"