Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(67)

"You're mine," he said with a growl, moving his mouth from hers to trail down the slope of her neck, where his teeth teased and nipped, as if he actually was a virile male animal marking her as his own. Intensely aroused by his possession of her, Venus lifted her hips, meeting him with equal passion. She was still stroking him when his shaft began to spasm, and he pounded against her so deeply that he found the pleasure center within her, finally releasing a gush of overwhelming sensation as her cries of ecstasy mirrored Griffin's.

Chapter Twenty-Two

A couple days earlier Pea would have found it utterly bizarre that she wasn't feeling one hint of nerves while she puttered around the kitchen getting ready for a date that had the potential to be amazing.

"I've gained confidence," she told Chloe, whose attention was focused solely on Pea, as if the Scottie could will her to drop something.

Chloe sighed, disgruntled at Pea's neatness.

"Well, it's true. And it's not just about the hair and the clothes and the makeup." She chattered at the dog, ignoring Chloe's grumpiness as she tossed the salad. "It's about the goddess I've found in here." She pointed at herself with a long leaf of romaine lettuce. Chloe woofed softly at her and Pea laughed, tossing her a dog biscuit.

"Try to behave yourself tonight. There's something special about this one. I can see it in his eyes...."

Pea carried the salad out to the deck, putting it on the little picnic table that was already set with a cheery red-and-white-checked tablecloth and matching napkins. Her good china look strangely perfect mixed with the casual chic of the little Italian picnic she'd set up. The Chianti was open and breathing - the garlic bread was keeping warm in the oven, and the spaghetti sauce was ready. Pea lit the candles on the table and added more pinion wood to the large chimenea. Then she completed the finishing touch by plugging in the minilantern lights that she'd strung along the inside of the lattice woodwork of the sides of the deck. Pea smiled. Everything was perfect. Even the weather had cooperated and stayed as unseasonably warm as the Channel 6 news guy had predicted.

"How magical," she whispered. "To eat outside in February."

Pea decided it had to be a good omen.

She was stirring the sauce when he knocked on the front door. Her stomach did get a little flipfloppy then, but it was more anticipation and excitement than nerves. Pea scrunched her curls one last time, quickly reapplied her lip gloss and opened the door. He was wearing a black cable knit sweater and a dark shirt under it, with a pair of jeans that fit him well enough to make Pea's mouth water for more than spaghetti.

"Hello," he said.

"Hello," she said.

Then they just stood there, staring at each other and smiling until Chloe's insistent barking registered on both of them.

"What do you call her?" he asked.

"Chloe. I'm sorry her manners aren't better. She doesn't really like men, but hopefully she'll get used to you and then be quiet."

He crouched down and reached his hand slowly forward, palm down, offering Chloe a sniff.

"It is good that she is protective of you," he said to Pea, and then turned his attention back to the disgruntled Scottie. "You are a fierce advocate for your lady, aren't you?"

Pea watched him curiously. His tone was completely serious. He didn't sound coaxing or cajoling, as so many people did when confronted by a growling dog. Instead he sounded appreciative, something Chloe seemed to instinctively react to. She'd quit growling and was cocking her head attentively at the tall man.

"I would never allow harm to come to her. I give you my oath on that, little protectress."

Chloe sniffed his hand and wagged her tail. Then she sneezed and went in search of her cat.

"Well, that's truly weird. Chloe doesn't usually like men." Pea smiled at him. "So you winning her over must mean it's safe to let you in."

Victor stepped into her home and lifted her hand, pressing his lips to it in greeting while his eyes met hers.

"The hours passed slowly." He let loose of her hand reluctantly.

"I thought they would for me, too, but I had to help my, uh...friend" - she floundered over what to call the goddess - "get ready for her date tonight, so time passed really fast. I had a lot to do."

He smiled and sniffed the air. "Something smells delicious. Are we not going out for dinner this evening?"

"I thought it would be nice to eat in." She almost added, If you don't mind, and then thought better of it. The old Pea would have worried and fussed and stressed about whether she was being too forward taking charge of their date. The new and goddess-improved Pea believed she had a right to choose the venue of their date - that her desires were important. She wanted to eat in, so they were going to eat in. If he didn't like it, and her fabulous food and her amazing home, then he wasn't the man for her. Period.

"I'm honored that you would cook for me."

Pea beamed at him. Victor had given her the exact right answer. "I like to cook."

"You also like to make a comfortable home," he said, glancing around her living room.

"Yes, it's important to me." Pea was pleased that he'd noticed. She'd brought men home before. Not a lot of men, but a few. A couple of them had had "eloquent" comments like, "nice house"