Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(79)

I know he wants me. He proved that last night. I wish Asterius would burn for me so much that he couldn't stay away - couldn't let our differences separate us.

She stood before Nera. "Let your element ready our bodies for the sweet intrusion of accepting a lover. Hot and wet and ready - that's what I wish for each woman who desires a man in her bed, so each will experience the physical thrill of the consummation of love."

I want him in my bed. I want his body joined with mine, and I don't want to be afraid of my desire for him anymore.

Almost without knowing how she got there, she found herself in front of Gii. "Earth is rich and wild, fertile and lush. Let your element fill the senses of the lovers. Let them know the fullness of love that is as deep as an ancient forest and as ripe as the sweetest fruit."

Help me not to fear loving him so Asterius can finally know a love like this with me.

Back at the Spirit flame, Mikki's body felt flushed. Her ni**les prickled against the soft fabric of her chiton, aroused and ready.

"Hecate, I ask that through your power and the powers of the elements that this realm be a place of passion and love, as well as peace and enchantment. So I ask of thee, and so mote it be."

Mikki closed her eyes against the rush of liquid desire that slid through her body, and she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning his name aloud.

Asterius . . .

She shouldn't have been surprised at the speed with which the handmaidens made their excuses and drifted off to their separate rooms. By this time Mikki knew that the women of the realm lived in the west wing of the enormous palace, so far from her own room she could have gone ages without knowing they were there had Gii not told her. Mikki smiled to herself as she walked dreamily up her balcony stair. She could definitely imagine what was going to go on in the women's wing tonight. I wish the same thing was going on in my room - only with more growling and biting. A little bubble of laughter escaped from her mouth. She still felt hot and flushed - giddy. No. That wasn't right. She felt hot and flushed - horny. Mikki looked around her balcony. Empty. She'd hoped he would be there. He was male. He had to have felt the spell, and he had to have known she was the only one who could have cast it.

What if he thought she was opening the realm to men so she could call someone else to her? But how could he think that? She'd used his name during the ritual; she'd thought only of him.

The truth had to be that he was staying away because he thought he'd hurt her. Or maybe because he was afraid he would hurt her if he came to her.

Just the thought made Mikki shiver with erotic pleasure. All that power - a beast barely harnessed by the soul of a man. It was delicious beyond belief. And so damn poisonously seductive.

Okay, she could call him to her. He'd have to come. But is that what she wanted? Of course not. She wanted him to come to her of his own free will and . . .

. . . And that was it. He needed her to come to him. If she did, she'd be showing him she wasn't afraid of him and she cared enough - desired him enough - loved him enough - to come to him.

Gii had said his lair was below the baths. Mikki didn't stop to primp or to think; instead, she followed her gut and her heart. She hurried from the balcony and down the path that led to the hot springs. From the top landing, she descended the stairs that connected the large bottom pool to the separate baths on the landing above. She hadn't been down on this level before, but it didn't take long for her to find a second stairway, one that clearly was not as well used as the others. It declined sharply, turning to the north. The end of the stairs emptied into a grassy area that hugged the side of the cliff on which the palace and the springs sat. To her right the grounds opened up to the labyrinth of Mikado Rose beds that were, by far, the healthiest roses in the realm. She knew her private temple sat in the middle of the spiral arrangement of beds; she'd been through the whole area with Aeras and Asterius the day before. So she also knew that there was no lair stuck out there.

Mikki studied the wide patch of grass. It ran along the base of the cliff, just like a path. She smiled and followed where her instincts led. Turning the corner, the cliff wall abruptly opened into a smoothed out entrance to a cave.

"Or better yet, a lair," she whispered.

She held her breath, stepped inside and was instantly surprised. The entrance had only been a little larger than an average-size door, but inside magickally smokeless torches lent a warm, yellow light to the area, making it look very un-cave-like and welcoming. The cream-colored walls were high and smoothed like the baths of the hot spring. They were also covered with lush paintings. Awed by the talent of the artist, Mikki gazed at the walls. The scenes showed a rocky island surrounded by white sand beaches and water that was a brilliant turquoise. The only person in the landscape was the faint outline of a tall, golden-haired woman.

Crete - these have to be images he remembers from the island of his birth. And the woman? Is it his mother, or the Empousa who rejected him? Not sure if she really wanted to know, she turned away from the beautifully decorated walls. There was a large wooden table in the middle of the room. On it was a bowl filled with cold meat and cheese and a pitcher of wine. There were also several rolls of parchment and glass bottles filled with a thick, dark liquid. Intrigued, Mikki came closer and realized the liquid was ink. One of the parchments was unrolled and held into place with smooth stones. An almost-finished ink drawing was on it. She walked around the table to see what he had been sketching - and gasped. It was her in the ritual dress she had worn her first night in the realm. She was standing in Hecate's Temple, in front of the Spirit flame. He'd somehow captured the aura of power she felt within the sacred circle, as he depicted her hair flying around her and the look of rapture on her face. It was a beautiful sketch, obviously drawn with loving attention to detail as well as a master's talent.