Fallen (Daughters Of The Gods Book 3) Read online

  He slid slowly into her, each agonising inch filling her and causing the most decadent feelings to flow throughout her blood. She clasped his shoulders and groaned when he’d fully sated himself.

  His strokes were even and relentless, each one hitting that special spot within her that made her crazed. She gasped when he lifted her legs higher against his hips and thrust deeper.

  He hissed against her lips and she licked them. “From the first moment I saw you, I knew we had a future.”

  Sara smiled and took his lips in a searing kiss. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Every moment of this joining, she intended to enjoy. To savour and remember for all time. “Me, too.” Sara met his gaze, his eyes pools of heated desire. He moaned and she revelled in the sound. With every glide and stroke of his body, he brought her closer to ecstasy.

  Then his tempo changed and she held tighter to match his pace. His breath whispered against her ear, the sound harsh and laboured. Sara felt her orgasm coming over her like a wave that slowly took her, until she was tumbled into a swirl of release.

  “Oh my god, Hermes.” She kissed him as his own release followed. He groaned her name and never had it sounded sexier.

  She sat there and waited as their erratic breathing calmed. Sara held him against her, not wanting the connection to end.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  She grinned but ignored the blush stealing up her neck. “And now, I know why man wrote fables and poems about the gods. You truly are one.”

  He laughed. “Come and have a shower.”

  Sara raised her brow. “So soon? You are naughty.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After a very hot shower, both in water temperature and company, Hermes walked downstairs to make a snack for them. He sensed his father before he saw him, lounging on the settee. Again, Zeus was disguised as his younger self. Until now, he hadn’t realized before what a selfish, troublemaking ass his father was. The sisters, Chloe and Caitlin, for whom he’d caused so much stress and worry, had been right all along. He owed them both an apology and if he ever got the chance, he mentally vowed that he would apologize to his sisters.

  Zeus waved his hand and Hermes froze as he felt all of his powers course through him. His body hummed with addictive rule. The shirt and pants Sara had given him to wear melted away, replaced with a white silk robe with golden thread, court attire that was anything but comfortable. The relief he felt was only short lived, before trepidation took hold. Getting his powers back could only mean one thing. Zeus had made a decision.

  “I don’t recall hearing you say ‘thank you’?”

  Hermes continued toward the kitchen. “I’m not sure that I am fully thankful for getting my powers back. There is something quite liberating about not having anything to do with the gods and your fickle court.” He turned and faced his father. “You should try it sometime.”

  “You used to love court life. Do not attempt to fool me with your newly acquired honor. Furthermore, your demigoddess is required in Mount Olympus. Prepare her and if she refuses to heed my decree, you know what to do.”

  Hermes opened his mouth to argue, but Zeus disappeared before he could say a word.

  “Who were you talking to?” His body tightened as Sara made her way over to him and wrapped her arms about his waist. Hermes kissed the top of her head. He felt her stiffen in his arms and she pulled back, her eyes wide with shock.

  “What the hell are you wearing?”

  Hermes sighed. “Zeus has restored my powers, but of course, as all things do with him, it comes at a price.”

  Sara sat at the table and Hermes thought it was probably a good idea, especially after she found out where she was going. No matter how enthusiastic some people were about history, learning of places through time, it was another thing entirely to actually go in there and live it. He hoped she wouldn’t try to run. The last thing he wanted to do was force her to go.

  “And what’s the agenda?”

  “He wants you to accompany me to Mount Olympus. What we have to do once we’re there, I’m not certain.”

  Her cheeks paled and she frowned. “And if I refuse?”

  Hermes rubbed a hand over his jaw. The urge to tell her the truth fought with the fact that his lifestyle could frighten her beyond his reach. “Then I’ll be forced to make you.”

  “And do you force people often?”

  “I used to. Yes.”

  “And will you force me?”

  Her whispered question pulled at his heart. She was innocent in all his problems, a woman pulled into the tangled web that was his life. “I don’t want to.”

  Sara stood and came to stand before him. “If you promise to look after me and keep me safe and when this is all over, return me home, I’ll go with you without argument. I don’t know if what Zeus said about my heritage is true, but my grandmother was obsessed with your kind, and there is something to be said about that.”

  Hermes hugged her against him, revelling in the touch. “I promise I’ll not let anything happen to you. Ever.”

  She nodded, seemingly accepting the situation for what it was. “When do we have to leave?”

  “Zeus doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” And Hermes really didn’t want him back on earth causing havoc. His father’s plan, whatever it may be, would be trouble enough.

  “Will I need to pack anything?”

  “No.” Hermes clasped her hand and kissed it. “We have everything you need, you’ll want for nothing. The only thing is, I’m not sure how long you’ll be kept there.” He lifted her chin and caught her gaze. “I’m sorry to have pulled you into this mess. It was never my intention.”

  She shrugged. “From what I’ve learned and what you’ve said of Zeus, it was only a matter of time before he acted upon my supposed heritage. I don’t blame you. I just hope he holds true to his promise.”

  Hermes kissed her quickly to mask the worry he knew was etched on his face. “As do I. Now prepare yourself. The journey will be quick and may make you feel nauseous.”

  She wrapped her arms about his waist. “How does it work, this travelling between worlds?”

  He pulled her close. “By thought. With one thought of home and I’m there. You’ll see. Now hold on.”

  ***

  Sara stood staring up at the vision of beauty and incandescent structures that made up Mount Olympus. Hermes’ home was unlike anything she’d ever seen or would ever see again.

  Tears pooled in her eyes and she blinked them away. “This takes my breath away.”

  Hermes pulled her to his side and kissed her soundly. Sara gasped when he deepened the kiss and her body melted into his arms. With just one touch, she wanted him again, needed to feel his touch, to be loved and only by him.

  “You take my breath away.”

  She fought not to start crying in earnest. Their future wasn’t certain, and she was determined to enjoy what little time they may have had left. Dating a god was never going to be a long-term commitment.

  They stood atop a mountain, with Mount Olympus stretched out before them. The massive edifice was bordered by jagged cliffs and endless sky. Waterfalls cascaded over the mountain, seemingly running to nowhere at all. The buildings of white marble stood tall and majestic. Untouched by man for a millennia. At the very top, stood a circular building, much like the Colosseum, but on a smaller scale. The throne room perhaps?

  “Will you show me your home, Hermes?”

  He took her hand. “Of course.”

  Within a moment they were within the home of the gods. Sara looked over the ledge and beneath the clouds stood a city she assumed to be Athens. Hermes pulled her away from the enthralling view and headed toward stone stairs that wound up on the outside of the building. At the top, a circular room without walls only pillars greeted them, two large chairs gracing one end.

  The throne room without doubt. All that was missing was Zeus and his wicked wife Hera. Not a soul was about and
Sara wondered where everyone was.

  “It’s the middle of the night here even though the sky is light. We never have storms or variable weather, it’s always the same. Perfect.”

  Sara couldn’t imagine lying in bed and never hearing the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, or the sound of an approaching storm. “That must get boring.”

  “After spending some time on earth with you, I have to agree, it would now. Come.” He pulled her toward an arch, which led into a long corridor.

  Doors that led into other areas of the palace were closed and Sara couldn’t help but wonder what famous deities slept behind the walls. Walking beside Hermes was surreal enough, nevertheless the prospect of seeing deities such as Aphrodite or Veritas. It was beyond thrilling.

  He stopped at his door, and with only a wave of his hand, it opened. Sara walked in to what she assumed to be Hermes private quarters. The room pulled her toward the view, through the glassless windows and she looked out over the magnificent city and the world below.

  The slight breeze held the smell of a fragrant flower she’d never encountered before. “What is that beautiful smell, Hermes?”

  He stood near a stone table and poured them some wine. “Ambrosia. I’m sure, with all your study, you would have heard of it.”

  “I have.” She walked over to where he stood and took the glass offered. “Does it really make you immortal?”

  Hermes shrugged and finished his drink. A droplet of wine sat on his lip and Sara considered licking it away, but he spoke before she could act on her impulse. “I was born immortal, but during my long life I have heard of others taking the wine and becoming like us. I don’t particularly like the drink and I don’t know if I’d recommend living forever. There’s something comforting in knowing life is ticking past one hour at a time. To make you live every second of your life to the fullest.”

  Sara frowned and noted his youthful features, although his eyes spoke of endless knowledge and age she would never match. “How old are you?”

  “Old.” He grinned.

  Sara laughed. “How old? Tell me.”

  “I wouldn’t know for sure, but I know I’ve been around for thousands of years.” He clasped her jaw and ran his thumb across her chin. “And now, you’re here with me.”

  With him forever, if I pull off Eros’s plan. “There is no other place I’d rather be,” she said, as he leaned down and kissed her gently. It wasn’t a kiss of desire or need, but a kiss that said more than words ever could, that what they’d come to feel for each other was true.

  He pulled away and headed toward another part of the room. Sara blinked away tears, her feelings over what was to come and the love she felt for this immortal playing havoc with her emotions.

  “It’s late and you’ve had a long day. Come with me and I’ll show you the rest of my quarters and my bed.”

  She chuckled and looked about his marvellous home. The furniture was mostly made of stone, although the cushions, tapestries, and rugs softened the look. There was no kitchen, no television or electrical equipment, only candles and books.

  His bedroom was the only place that seemed completely opposite to the rest of the house. This room encompassed a mahogany four-poster bed and grey silk shawls that swung in the breeze and gave the bed an air of privacy and decadence.

  A large woollen rug covered most of the floor. In here, Hermes had even more books stacked against the walls and shelves. Sara read the spines of the books. She noticed that he had a grand collection of novels, books on philosophy, architecture and history. Even Shakespeare had made it onto his TBR pile. And she supposed, with all the years he’d lived, one must occupy oneself when there was nothing else to do.

  “Have you read all these?” Sara turned to find Hermes pulling off his robe, his stomach muscles rippling with the action, his hair sticking up on end. She bit her lip. He was as magnificent as the first time she’d seen him. Even more so, since she’d gotten to know the person beneath the veneer. “Like what you see?” Hermes raised his brow, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes proving to Sara that he knew exactly what he was doing to her and how.

  “You know I do.” Sara came to stand before him and wrapped her arms about his waist. “How long do we have before we have to face Zeus?”

  “We have all night…”

  She sighed. “Fabulous.”

  With one thought and Hermes made Sara as naked as the day she was born. And with another thought, he had her pinned beneath him on his bed. He kissed away her gasp of surprise, enjoying his powers and making use of them in the most delicious way possible.

  She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever beheld. He never wanted to let her go.

  She chuckled as he kissed his way down her neck, paying homage to the little mole that sat on her shoulder. She smelt divine, like a rose and he revelled in every touch, every sigh she made.

  Her breasts rose and fell with her ragged breathing. He needed to taste her, licking the rosy peaks, making them stand erect, begging for more of his mouth. Sara sighed and squirmed beneath him.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He rolled onto his back and brought her to sit on top of him. Her hands ran along his chest, her fingers outlining every muscle on his abdomen.

  “You’ll make me addicted to you if you keep treating me so well, Hermes.”

  “It’s only fair if you’re as addicted as I am.” He sat up and kissed her hard, lifting her slightly to take him. Her small frame fitted within his arms and he rocked into her, her hot core wrapping around him like a glove.

  She rode him and he cursed the idea to let her have control. This way, he had none. His body was hers to do with as she wished. Sara pushed him to lie back down and he clasped her hips, helping her to roll and ride them both to orgasm.

  His balls grew tight and he fought not to come. Her fingernails clawed into his chest as she threw her head back and gave herself to her pleasure.

  Satisfaction pounded through his veins, that he’d given her such enjoyment. If he could spend every hour for the remainder of eternity making Sara happy, he would be truly content.

  She met his gaze and sighed before leaning down and kissing him. Hermes took advantage of her mouth and captured her tongue. She moaned again and his cock grew harder still.

  She pulled back and grinned. “Now, it’s your turn.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She kissed her way down his chest and he shut his eyes. The thought of what he hoped she was about to do made him ache. Sara clasped his balls and rolled them in her hand before her mouth captured the end of his cock.

  She licked around the engorged head and then took him fully in her mouth. Hermes swore and watched as her mouth brought him to ecstasy. She took him deeper than he thought possible, her tongue swirling along his member and pulling him ever closer to completion.

  “You’re going to make me come.” Hermes clasped her hair, not wanting this to ever end. The thought of spilling his seed down her throat, made him more horny than he’d been in a century.

  Her hand ran along his stomach while the other took turns playing with his balls and cock. His breathing hitched when her teeth lightly grazed his dick.

  Sara released him with a pop. “I want you, too. I wouldn’t be down here otherwise.” She grinned and continued her exquisite torture. He groaned, his body taut and his heart hammering hard against his ribs. As her pace increased, he fought for control, to show some stamina, but he had none. Lights blazed behind his lids as the orgasm took hold and flowed throughout his body. Still, Sara kept her relentless pace and he spilled his essence into her welcoming body.

  Hermes sat up and pulled her to sit before him. He kissed her and tasted the salty residue that was him on her tongue. He thought of his bathing quarters and within a moment, they were having a shower.

  She laughed, the carefree sound making him smile. “You suit this life.”

  He started at her words, not having expected her to say such a thing. “What makes you say that?”


  “This place makes up who you are. Who you were born to be and who you’ve become. Although you were a very good farmhand, you really did look a little odd shovelling horseshit.”

  Hermes laughed, lathering soap on his hands. “You don’t mean that at all. What you’re really saying is that I sucked as your worker.”

  “You did the best you could, considering this is where you’ve come from. Where I doubt there was a minute of your life where you had to lift one finger for anything other than to eat a grape or drink ambrosia. I think you were a marvellous farmhand.”

  “High praise.” Hermes laughed before sobering. “There are some things you need to know about me though, Sara. And some of them I fear you’ll be disappointed with.”

  A small frown line formed between her eyes and he wiped it away with his thumb. “What things?”

  “Let us finish the shower and I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

  Sara nodded. “Okay.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Sara sat on a chair in Hermes bedroom and watched as he paced the large space. Tension radiated from him like an aura and a knot of dread formed in her gut.

  “As the son of Zeus, you know that I have many brothers and sisters. Many I’ll never know due to Zeus’s lust for seduction.”

  “I know.” She smiled to try and dispel his unease, but it was of little use. He continued to pace and run a hand through his dampened locks.

  “I’ve been Zeus’ henchman, I suppose you could say, for a very long time. I’ve fought wars, created conflict and killed people, all at the orders of my father when the need arose.”

  Sara didn’t say anything as she tried to make sense of what he was telling her. It shouldn’t surprise her that he’d killed people, and yet it did. How could someone so loving be brutal?

  “The woman you saw disappearing in New York was, in fact, a goddess and my elder sister, Caitlin. I was ordered to track down the Titan with whom she fell in love and kill him. I succeeded in finding him, but by then Zeus had changed his plans and wanted to keep him alive.” He paused and stared outside for a moment. “I imprisoned him in the cells deep below Mount Olympus, with the notion he could rot there for all eternity and when my sister joined him, my task was complete.”