Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning #3)(38)

He watched them, amused and flattered by their show of affection. He had long been popular with the little semi-deities. They were like beautiful, erotic flowers, easily plucked, their sweetness easily enjoyed. But this time he was not tempted to taste their charms. If they were flowers, Pamela was the Earth - sensuous and lush. What he desired foremost was to bury himself within her richness.

"Perhaps another time, my beauties," he told them.

"Begone!" A sharp voice that was the feminine version of his own shot from the doorway. "The God of Light will be otherwise occupied tonight."

The nymphs flitted from the room, casting nervous glances at Artemis.

"There was no need to offend them," Apollo said, pulling his fingers through his hair.

"Let's just say I am a little distracted right now, and I have more things on my mind than the honey-sweet feelings of nymphs. For instance, right now I feel shackled to a mortal woman with chains that Prometheus would find heavy to bear. "

Apollo laughed. "It can not be as bad as all that."

His sister's face remained tense and serious. "I feel the weight of her need and desire. Both are great."

Her words stilled Apollo's laughter. "Has something happened to her? Is she well?"

"The silly mortal is perfectly fine. She's just filled with lust and need and desire and anticipation. It's overwhelming."

"Pamela isn't silly," Apollo said after the drowning sense of relief rushed through him. She was safe. There was nothing wrong with her... nothing except a fierce desire for him.

"I hope that the ridiculous grin on your face is because you will be taking the mortal to bed tonight - and ridding me of the burden of her invocation."

"That is my intention," Apollo said. He didn't bother to stop grinning. By all that was sacred, he was happy!

"I am exceedingly glad to hear it," She gave him a disgruntled look.

Apollo linked his arm with hers as they walked toward the Great Hall of Olympus and the portal to the modern world. "Have I thanked you for making me visit the Kingdom of Las Vegas with you?"

"I certainly never intended for all of this to happen." But she had to return her brother's smile. "Although I did sense that you needed a diversion."

Apollo was silent until they faced the portal. Then he looked at her with eyes that held an expression that Artemis couldn't quite identify.

"I believe you have provided me with much more than a diversion, Sister."

Hiding the unease his continued odd behavior made her feel, she said, "Just be certain that I'm unshackled. Soon."

"Not to worry, Sister," he said, voice and body fading as he stepped through the portal.

Artemis gazed after him, her smooth forehead wrinkled in consternation. She sighed in disgust. She was going to have to check up on him. His head was definitely in the clouds. He needed a push to make sure what must be done was actually done. She shook her head and glared at the portal. Sometimes she simply did not understand her brother.

Pamela hadn't seen him yet, so he purposefully stayed in the shadow of the large column so that his eyes could devour her. She was sitting at the same table she'd been seated at the night before. She sipped from a crystal goblet of wine. She looked magnificent. Her dress was red, a rich, brilliant shade that complemented her dark hair and fair skin. Its design was simple and elegant. The sleeveless length of soft fabric hugged her body like a second skin, and it left a long, seductive length of leg exposed.

He smiled and shook his head. She had on those shoes again. Not the same pair as last night, of course. The ones she'd chosen to perch precariously on tonight were golden sandals melded to daggers. He could hardly wait to see what walking in them would do to her legs and her shapely bu**ocks. He felt his loins begin to become tight and heavy as he watched her. He wanted to take her right then - to sweep her away from the crowd and up to her room where he could show her what it is to be loved by a god. He even took half a step towards her before he stopped himself short.

No. He didn't want just to ravish her. He wanted more, and in order for him to have more, she had to know him, the real him. Whether she had been intoxicated by the invocation ritual or not, if all that was between them was sex, his relationship with Pamela would go the way of all of his other lovers. They would part when their bodies were sated.

Apollo thought about Hades and Lina and the happiness they had found together. He wanted his own happiness, and he would never find it if lust was his only focus. He stepped out of the concealing shadows, moving towards his future lover with strong, purposeful strides.

He knew the instant she saw him. Her eyes widened, and her luscious mouth curved up in a sweet smile of welcome. Apollo's heart thudded. What was it she made him feel beyond the white-hot lust and the yearning? Nerves? This petite modern mortal had to ability to make the God of Light nervous.

As he got closer to her, Pamela felt tension and excitement course through her. She was seriously glad she'd bought the new Chanel dress, and at that moment she didn't even care that it hadn't been on sale. At least she was sure she looked good. Now all she had to worry about was opening her mouth and babbling like a moron.

His eyes were more beautiful than she'd remembered; they were Paul Newman blue times five. And he was tall. So. Damn. Deliciously. Tall.

"Good evening, sweet Pamela," Apollo took her hand and raised it to his lips. He made sure his lips lingered against her skin for just a moment longer than necessary, but not long enough to make her feel uncomfortable, and was pleased by the response that flushed her cheeks. He was inexperienced with falling in love - but the God of Light was definitely not inexperienced with making love. "You look as if someone should paint a picture of you, or write a poem in honor of your unique comeliness."