Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(36)

He turned disbelieving blue eyes on her. Kat sighed.

“When you sleep do you lay flat on your back like that?”

He thought for a moment, then said, “No.”

“How do you lay? What position makes you comfortable?” He hesitated, then lifted his left arm over his head and cocked his left knee up. His right arm he rested loosely over his waist. Achilles tilted his head a little, looking marginally more comfortable.

“That’s better,” she said, thinking how utterly sexy he looked lying there with no shirt on, his thick mane hanging around his shoulders, his gorgeous blue eyes trained on her and all of that lovely, toned muscle with those dangerous scars muted by the flickering lantern light.

“It is difficult to relax while you stare at me like that.”

Shit! She jumped guiltily. “Try harder. Ignore me.” Then she remembered that the wife of one of the couples she’d counseled used to hold her husband’s hand all during their sessions. No, she hadn’t just held his hand. The woman used to rub it gently and her husband, who was ridiculously nervous about going to a counselor, always relaxed under her ministrations (they had actually stayed married—they’d just needed some communications help). “Okay, give me one of your hands,” she said suddenly.

Achilles frowned at her. “What do you want with one of my hands?”

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Kat said with an ironic lift of one brow. “You don’t need to be scared of me.”

“I am not afraid of you.”

“Then give me your hand.” She held out her own in invitation.

The frown turned into a scowl, but he gave her the hand that had been resting behind his head. Kat held it in both of hers, and slowly began to firmly massage it, working on the callused pad. She glanced up at him. He was watching her with hooded blue eyes. The scowl had been replaced with a carefully expressionless mask.

“Tell me about your favorite place,” she said.

“What is it you wish to know about it?” he said after a moment’s hesitation.

“Describe it. Close your eyes and pretend like you’re taking me there.”

He watched her for a few more breaths, and then—to her surprise—he actually closed his eyes.

“There is a hidden cove off the coast of Phthia.” He paused and opened his eyes. “Phthia is my birthplace.”

Kat nodded and kept rubbing his hand. He looked down at it, then back up at her. “Go on,” she prompted when he didn’t continue. “Tell me what the cove looks like.”

“The water there is calm and clear,” he said.

“Close your eyes and take me there,” she said.

He frowned again, but closed his eyes. “The sand of the beach is white. The rocks that jut from it are dark. The water is a distinctive blue.” Probably just like your eyes, Kat thought, but kept the notion to herself. “It is a shallow cove, and there is a hoof-print shaped ridge of coral in the middle of it.” At first he spoke self-consciously, in short, halting sentences, but soon he seemed to forget she was there, and as he painted a picture of his favorite place while she rubbed first one hand, and then the other, Kat could see his wide shoulders relax and his breathing deepen. “My mother, the sea goddess Thetis, comes there often. Oysters that grow black pearls live there, beneath the coral, and I have often retrieved them for her. The fish there are fat and lazy, like the sea birds that perch on the black rocks…”

He paused, and Kat spoke in the calm, steady voice she used to help induce a hypnotic state in her clients. “Think about being there, Achilles. Let my voice take you back to your cove. You’re laying on the beach… the sand warm against your body… the gentle waves are kissing the shore… rhythmically… Listen to me… let my voice take you there. You’re totally at peace… completely relaxed. Your feet are relaxed, warm in the soft sand. There is no anger in your cove… no war… It is warm and protected. Your legs are completely relaxed…” Kat went on, methodically taking Achilles through the relaxation exercise as she gently released his hand and watched him closely as his warrior’s body finally let loose and his breathing became deep and regular.

With no change in her tone Kat asked, “Are you there, Achilles?”

He paused, and then said, “Yes.” His deep voice was slightly slurred.

“Good. I want you to know that no anger can reach your cove, or you while you are there. Your mind is at peace. Your body is relaxed. Do you understand?”

"Yes.”

“Good. You’re in your cove tonight, which means you are going to sleep deeply. As I count I want you to become more and more relaxed. Your body is heavy… ten… you need to rest it… nine… the sand is warm… eight… inviting your weight… seven… you are safe… six… completely relaxed… free of rage… five… it cannot find you there… four… tonight you will sleep in your cove… three… and not awaken until past dawn… two… until then your heavy body will rest peacefully… one… safely…”

Kat let her voice trail off. If she were any judge, and she definitely was, Achilles was extremely susceptible to hypnosis. Which, she decided, made sense. This berserker thing that possessed him had to screw with his state of consciousness, and once that was messed with it left his subconscious open to suggestion. She smiled, totally self-satisfied. He was definitely hypnotized, which actually meant he was in what amounted to a trance state. He would awaken from the state, presumably after dawn, as she had suggested, feeling completely refreshed.