December 5, 9529 BC
Bethany smiled at the sensation of Hector curled against her back as he slept with his arms wrapped around her body. Her head rested on his hard biceps, while his face was buried so deep in her hair that she could feel his breath against her neck. He'd made love to her for so many hours that she still wasn't sure if she'd be able to move later.
Not that she ever wanted to leave this bed, or him again.
In all her life, nothing had made her happier than her mortal. And while the war with the Greeks had ended before they'd been able to spear Prince Styxx's head to the wall, she honestly didn't mind. She wouldn't take anything, even the prince's throat, in exchange for the last few months of having Hector with her in peace.
Nothing compared to these lazy afternoons of being cocooned by his long, hard body. Of tasting his lips that drove away all thoughts except how much she adored him. How much she wanted to have his child....
Don't go there.
She couldn't help it. The more she was with Hector, the more she wanted to have him permanently in her life. Worse, she'd even started dreaming of a future with just the three of them as a family.
How stupid was that? She was a goddess, not some farmer's daughter.
And still those dreams tortured her.
Dynatos started whining and scratching at the door. He'd been so quiet for the last few hours that she'd forgotten he was in the room with them.
The instant she moved to tend him, Hector came awake with a start.
"Beth?" He breathed her name like a beloved prayer.
"Dyna wants out."
He made a disagreeable noise in her hair before he pulled back. "I'll put him outside. You stay in the bed where it's warm."
She smiled at his consideration. "You sure?"
He grumbled under his breath as he rolled away from her. "Yes."
Laughing at his subdued irritation, she pulled the covers up higher. "You don't sound it."
"Keep my place warm and I promise I won't murder your dog for disturbing us."
She listened as he let the dog out then stoked the fire before he returned to bed. He piled the pillows up and reclined against them. "I'm sorry I fell asleep. I hate to squander even one heartbeat of my precious time with you."
She draped herself over his chest so that she could rub her hand against the sharp ridges of his abdomen. The scent of his skin made her crave him inside her again as she dipped her hand lower to stroke him. "I don't mind." Honestly, she adored the fact that he trusted her so completely. She knew how rarely he slept.
He brushed his hand through her hair as he sighed contentedly. "It's late. Well past dark ... can you stay the night with me?"
Bethany hesitated. They rarely spent nights together. Although here lately, they'd done so a lot more often as their days were so much shorter.
Still, she was supposed to be searching for Apostolos. "How late?"
"I'm not sure, but the moon was rather high."
"Will you not be in trouble with you father?"
He didn't hesitate with his answer. "I would brave a thousand angry fathers for more time with you, my Beth."
"Then I shall stay."
Styxx smiled in relief. He never liked for her to travel late on her own. Not even with Dynatos as her guardian. He didn't trust the world to leave his Beth unharmed.
Fingering her cheek, he savored the sensation of her breath falling against his skin. This was what he'd craved most while he'd been at war. What he'd tried his best to hold onto. Not just the ability to make love to her, but the closeness he felt whenever her limbs were tangled with his. The feeling that they, together, formed a single, whole heart. It was the emotional intimacy that meant as much, if not more, than the physical. The fact that he could talk to her about anything and not have her judge him.
That she, alone, loved him and welcomed him to her life.