Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(77)

Chloe rushed into the room, paws sliding on the tile floor, barking manically.

"Now see what you've done," Pea said, with tears spilling down her cheeks while she bent to comfort the agitated Scottie.

Venus drew in a deep, calming breath. Then she cooed at the Scottie, "Chloe, darling, I'm sorry for raising my voice at the horrid God of Fire. I didn't mean to upset you." She walked over to Pea and the dog and ruffled Chloe's fur. Then she smiled at Pea and tugged on one of her curls.

"I didn't mean to upset you, either."

Pea sniffed and gave her a watery smile.

"You shouldn't have made her cry," Vulcan said. His tone was back to normal, but he was frowning sternly at the goddess.

Venus threw up her hands in irritation. "Would you please tell me what in all the levels of the sexless Underworld you're doing here?"

"You might be interested to know that rumor has it there's sex going on in the Underworld or at least in the Elysian Fields part of it," Vulcan said.

"Vulcan..." The goddess's voice dropped in warning.

"No zapping!" Pea shouted, causing Chloe to growl.

"Then he'd better - "

"He's Victor!" Pea blurted.

Venus blinked. "Victor? As in the cunnilingus Victor?"

"You told her that?" Vulcan said.

"As if she had to tell me," Venus said.

Vulcan snorted.

"Yes, that Victor," Pea finally said.

"Explain this, Vulcan. And know that if you hurt this mortal child you will suffer my wrath, that I promise you."

The God of Fire drew himself up and met the Goddess of Love's piercing gaze. "I commend you for being protective of her, Venus, but you need not worry. I love her. I would never harm her."

"How could you possibly love her?"

Pea turned to Venus. "Don't you think I'm worth loving?"

"Darling, that's not what I meant at all. It's just that Vulcan and I are..." She hesitated, choosing her words more carefully. "Vulcan and I have known each other for a long time, and love doesn't exactly come easily for him."

"She knows we're married," Vulcan said.

"Then she also knows it is a marriage in name alone."

"Love didn't come easily for him because he hadn't met me yet," Pea said. Venus looked at her mortal friend. Her eyes were still bright with tears and her face was flushed, but Pea met her eyes steadily.

"You know me," Pea said. "And you know him. Can't you see how alike we are?" Pea's gaze moved from Venus to Vulcan, and she held out her hand to him. Vulcan took it and lifted it to his lips. Until that moment Venus could have never imagined him doing such a thing. Still looking at Vulcan, Pea continued, "Can't you see that we belong together?"

"Yes, Goddess of Love," Vulcan said, while he gazed adoringly into Pea's eyes. "Really look at us and then tell us what you see."

Venus looked at them - not with the eyes of a shocked friend or an in-name-only wife - she looked at them through Love's eyes, and what she saw had her drawing in a sharp breath. They were the same. They had the same sweet, displaced souls that had apparently finally found their way home.

"You belong together," she said.

"Oh, Venus, I knew you'd understand!" Pea threw her arms around Venus and hugged her tightly while Chloe barked joyously until Max sauntered into the room, sniffed in disdain at all of them, then exited quickly with the Scottie hard on his heels.

"I'm going to need a cup of coffee," Venus said, when Pea finally let loose of her.

"An excellent drink, almost as delicious as ambrosia," Vulcan said.

"I'll get it for you." Pea wiped her eyes and began puttering happily about her cupboards. Over her shoulder she said, "And how was your date with Griffin?"

Venus wasn't sure where to look, especially when she realized her cheeks felt warm.

"Griffin? Isn't he the fireman who was so attentive in your class?"

"By the tits of - " she began sputtering, but Pea's steady hand squeezing her shoulder had her biting back the nasty reprimand and accepting the cup of excellent coffee.

"Yes, Vulcan has been observing the modern mortal world," Pea said, in a calm, reasonable tone of voice.

"I watched a good part of your class. It was really quite interesting and informative," Vulcan said.

"I'm pleased I could be of help," Venus said, with only a hint of sarcasm.

"The date?" Pea prodded.

"It went well."

"Well?" Pea said. "'Well' as in I was kinda bored but it was fine, or 'well' as in he rocked my world?"

"Well as in..." Venus looked at Pea, and instead of saying something flip and clever, she had the sudden desire to tell her friend what was really in her heart. "...as in I think I'm in love."

She ignored Vulcan's shocked look and returned Pea's hug as the little mortal threw her arms around her.

"Oh, Venus! I told you so! I told you that you were here for yourself as much as you were here for me."

"You were right, darling." Venus smoothed her hair back. "I honestly believe you were right. But loving a modern mortal can be complicated." She looked at Vulcan. "For instance, how are you going to make this work with Pea?"