Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(69)

"May I?" he murmured.

She looked up into his dark eyes, and didn't care what he was asking. Anything, she thought. Tonight I want to give him anything and everything.

"Yes," she said.

Surprising her, he lifted her so that she was sitting on the ledge, then he turned her, so that instead of facing him, Pea was leaning back against him, and his strong arms were braced on either side of her. When he spoke, his lips were beside her ear, his cheek resting softly against her hair.

"Fire tells stories of ancient times - ancient peoples - ancient beliefs." He pointed up into the night sky. "For instance did you know that the full moon for this month has been known for ages as the quickening moon?"

Pea looked up, following his direction. "The quickening moon? Sounds beautiful."

He brought his hand down and let it rest on her thigh, where he began to caress her softly, as if his touch was part of the story he was weaving for her. "Generations ago it prodded people to look inside themselves for dormant possibilities as the creatures who slept deep in the womb of the earth felt the pull of being on the cusp of spring's awakening."

"What else does it tell you?" Pea asked, as she gazed at the full February moon, mesmerized by his deep voice and the heat that radiated from his touch.

"The fire of this world calls to mind the brilliance of the constellations - those distant stars that have their own cold fire."

He looked to the south and pointed just above the visible horizon. She turned her head and felt a delicious shiver of sensation as he swept back her hair and kissed the curve of her neck.

"Do you see the small constellation there?" His lips moved against her skin as he spoke. "The one that has the double star?"

"Yes." She breathed the word so that it sounded more like a moan than an acknowledgment. She could feel his lips turning up in a smile as the tip of his tongue flicked out to tease her skin.

"That is the constellation of the ram. The story goes that the king of Thessaly had two children, Phrixus and Helle, who were abused by their stepmother. The gods heard the children's cries, and Hermes sent a ram with a golden fleece to carry them to safety on its back. Helle fell off the ram as it was flying across the sea known as the Hellespont. Phrixus was heartbroken, but was carried to safety on the shores of the Black Sea at Colchis, where he lovingly sacrificed the ram to the gods in thanks, and its fleece was guarded by a terrible dragon. The gods honored the ram by sending its soul to the heavens."

Pea gazed at the beauty of the stars as Victor kissed and caressed her, his strong hands sliding up her thighs while his deep voice painted images of an ancient past. She leaned back into him, reaching up to lace her hands together behind his neck, giving him complete access to her br**sts.

"More," she whispered. "Tell me more."

"I'll tell you the story of my favorite constellation." One hand briefly left her body to point to a group of stars that was actually familiar to her.

"It's the Milky Way and the Southern Cross," she said.

"Look deeper," he said, sliding his clever hands up under her sweater and cupping her br**sts. She couldn't suppress a moan and she felt him smile against her skin again. "In the ancient world that group of stars is known as Centaurus. The stars are the soul of Chiron." His thumbs grazed over her sensitive, puckered ni**les. "He was one of the most gifted teachers who ever lived, and in honor of him, the mighty Zeus placed the centaur's soul amongst the stars."

Pea was entranced by Victor. It was as if he had created a mythical world for her, filled with the magic of his deep voice, and the passion of his warm touch. She felt languid and very, very sexy as she turned so that she was facing him. His eyes were shining with desire, and his hands still caressed her body intimately, as if he was memorizing each curve.

"Your stories are beautiful," she said breathlessly.

"You make me want to share my world with you," he said.

"I like the way you see the world." Pea touched his face, and then brushed her thumb over his bottom lip, remembering how his mouth felt against her body. Then she moved her hand down, so that it lay flat on his chest, pressing against the place over his heart. She could feel it beating, strong and steady, as she leaned toward the warmth of his body.

"I want you to see my world. I want you to always be with me," he said, then bent to cover her lips with his and desire chased all thoughts of the stars and eternity from her mind. When they finally broke the kiss, it was to stare at each other. Pea touched Victor's cheek again.

"You said I could have anything I desire tonight?"

"Yes."

"Then what I desire is you."

Chapter Twenty-Three

P ea's bedroom reminded Vulcan of her. It was soft and inviting - just as it had been the night he had watched through the thread of fire as she pleasured herself. The remembrance made his manhood grow even stiffer, and the blood that already drummed hot and thick through his body had his loins aching with need for her.

They hadn't spoken since she'd told him of her desire. He'd kissed her again hungrily. She'd broken the kiss, but only to take his hand and lead him to her bedroom. Now she was moving around the room lighting moon-colored candles that scented the air with the sweetness of gardenia. He watched her with a longing that had become a familiar, tangible thing. Then she stood before him, soft hair curling around her face and down her shoulders. It caught the flickers from the small, perfect candle flames so she appeared to be gowned in a veil of her shimmering tresses. He longed to sink his hands in her hair and pull her to him. He must have made an involuntary move toward her, because her whispered words caused him to halt midstride.