Dark Goddess (11 page)

My breath was ragged and pulse jumping erratically.  I couldn’t let him win this little game though.  I tilted my head up to peer into his face.  “Oh yeah?  What are you going to do?”

The corners of his lips twitched as he slid his hand across my torso, his touch burning through the material of my shirt.  He started to move again, dancing slowly.  In response one of my arms lifted, winding around his neck.  I arched my back until I knew he had a good view of my cleavage and shifted my hips in circles against him.

A deep growl tumbled out his mouth.  “Naughty little demigod.”  Hayden bent down and trailed kisses along my neck, his hot breath dampening my skin.  “Are we really starting this game again?  Because if we are, just know I won’t play fair.”  He nibbled the sensitive spot behind my ear, pulling a tiny moan from me.  “I know all your sweet spots now.”  His voice had deepened with power and desire.

I shivered against him, unable to resist his dark charm.  But I wasn’t finished playing yet.  I tilted my head up again, batting my lashes at him and letting my mouth form a pout.  My fingers slipped into his hair, massaging his scalp.  “Hades, baby, what makes you think
I’ll
play fair?”

The fire in his eyes flashed brighter, roaring with longing.  Not only did I pout and call him baby, I called him by his real name.  He was about to be putty in my hands.

It was his turn to shiver and moan, his fingers curling in my shirt.  “Screw this.  Let’s get out of here Hartley.  I’m about to explode.”

Oh hell yes.  Unfortunately the universe had other plans.  I noticed the person standing a few feet away, watching us with a bemused smile on his face while waves rolled through his aquamarine eyes.

I cleared my throat and let my hand fall from Hayden’s neck.  “Your brother’s here.”  My voice was entirely too breathy for a sentence like that.

He stiffened and let out a deep, threatening growl. 

I probably should have clarified which one first.  “Not him.  Poseidon.”

His body relaxed again mine, but a curse still left his lips as his oldest brother strolled toward us.  “I was really ready to leave,” he mumbled.

“Yep.”

Every female—and a few males—followed Poseidon through the crowd, sex appeal oozing out of his every pore.  Khaki shorts didn’t do much to hide the nice curve of his ass and the short sleeve white shirt was barely buttoned, showing off his tan, ripped torso.  I could actually see girls licking their lips like they were licking him.

I was sure they wanted to.

Si’s golden blonde locks were pulled back into a messy ponytail, a few strands falling around his carved, smiling face. 

“Hartley, littlest bro,” he drawled.  “That was quite the show.”  His blonde brows wiggled suggestively.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Hayden snarled.  “We were just leaving.”

Si pouted.  “Awe.  Come on.  Spend a little time with me.  I came all the way to see you.”

I slipped out of Hayden’s arms and turned toward him.  “It’s okay.  I should probably hang out with the girls a little longer.”

He grimaced.  “Are you sure?”

I nodded.  “Yeah.  Hi Si.”

He pulled me away from Hayden and hugged me, the briny scent of the sea and sweet coconuts surrounded him. 

When he held on a little too long Hayden gripped my arm.  “Okay, okay.  That’s enough.  Give me back my girlfriend.”

Si wore a lopsided grin.  “My bad.  I couldn’t help myself baby bro.”

Hayden rolled his eyes.  “Stop calling me that.”

Si reached out and pinched Hayden’s cheek before he could swat his hand away.  “But you
are
my baby bro.”

I unsuccessfully stifled a laugh.

Hayden gave me a narrowed glare.  “You think that’s funny?”

“Yes.”  I giggled and shoved him toward Si.  “Now go play with your brother.  Be good and share your toys.”

Crimson flashed in his eyes.  “I’m never good and I don’t share,” he growled before capturing my lips with his.

My heart fluttered uncontrollably for a moment.

“
You
be good,” he whispered with a wink before trailing Si into the kitchen.

Boys.  I shook my head and started walking out the living room.  I could use some fresh air or maybe a cold shower.

I ended up on the deck in Callie’s back yard, staring out toward the pool glistening beneath the moonlight.  The gas fire pit off to the side casted shadows over the teenagers swimming or lounging on chairs, several in serious lip locks. Reese, Jake, Will, and Vaughn were sitting at a round table, the umbrella drawn closed, playing poker while several girls watched. 

Reese’s dark eyes glanced up, spotting me and motioned me over.

I shook my head.  I didn’t feel like being around a ton of people, even the girls despite what I told Hayden.  Honestly, I wished the party was over already. 

Reese’s gaze suddenly shifted to the spot behind me, a wary expression crossing his face.  A presence coalesced behind me and I turned to find Zeke, the start of a hopeful smile forming across his mouth. 

“What are you doing here?”  My voice came out harsher than I meant, my thoughts purely focused on Hayden’s inevitable reaction to his middle brother. 

Hurt flashed through his round, sky blue eyes, dulling them.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean—I didn’t come to upset you.”  He shook his head as if he should have known better.  “I’ll go.”

“Wait.”  I gripped his arm, halting him.  He had to be here for a reason and I could only hope that reason wasn’t strictly me—or more importantly our nonexistent romantic relationship. 

Zeke’s dark blonde brows lifted in surprise.  “Yes?”

“What is it?  Is this about Hayden?”

Disappointment entered his face before he could mask it.  “Um, yeah.  It is.”

I mentally sighed.  Was he ever going to get over this prophecy thing?  Or me?  “Well, what is it?”

Zeke leaned against the balcony, his gaze pensive and distant.  His dark blonde locks blew gently in the breeze, brushing along his brow bone and cheeks.  Reese continued shooting glances our way, his attention on the game completely nonexistent.  It was kind of sweet the god of war was losing because he was worried about me.

“I went to a few seers,” Zeke said.

“And…?”  My heart was suddenly racing, desperate for information on Hayden.

Zeke shrugged.  “They don’t know anything.”

I sagged against the railing, disappointed.  He came here to tell me he didn’t have any information?  Was this just a ploy to see me?

As if reading my mind Zeke continued.  “I wanted you to know I was trying for you, that I cared.”

I looked away, disliking the intensity in his eyes.  “Okay.”

“Has Hayden added any new information?”

“He said it could be the Underworld needing him or something like souls trying to sneak into Elysium.  Probably something simple.”  Unfortunately nothing was ever simple with us.

“Do you believe him?”

I bit my lip hesitating.  Hayden would hate that I was discussing him with his brother.

Zeke’s fingers unexpectedly gripped my chin, turning my face toward his.  “Do you?” he asked again.

“I want to, but…”

“But…?” he prompted.

“But it’s never something simple.  I’m really worried about him.”  My voice cracked with emotion.

“Hey.”  Zeke inched closer, his voice softening.  “I’ll keep looking Hartley.  I promise.”  His blue eyes were too intense, flickering with tiny bolts of lightning.

I swallowed hard, moments away from pulling back to put more of a comfortable amount of space between us when a familiar growl hit my ears.  My gaze snapped to the side, already knowing what I’d find.  Hayden was standing on the porch, jaw clenched and eyes flashing with crimson flames. 

“You never give up do you?” he snarled.

“Hayden, nothing was going on.  Calm down,” I pleaded.

“Don’t Hartley.  Just don’t protect him.”  His eyes never left Zeke who was standing rigidly beside me, arms crossed against his chest defensively.  “Go inside and let me talk to my brother alone.”

“No,” I snapped.  “I don’t want you two fighting, especially at Callie’s.”

Hayden stalked closer, danger emanating around him like a furnace.  “What are you doing here Zeke?”  His voice was deep, sending chills across my skin.  “Don’t tell me you’re here to visit
me
.”

My gaze shifted toward Zeke, silently pleading.  If he told the truth—he was here because I asked him to find information about Hayden’s malfunctioning powers—Hayden would probably burst into flames. 

Zeke sighed.  “You got me little brother,” he responded dryly.  “I was here to make a play for Hartley.  She of course turned me down, gently though.”  A smile twitched his lips.  “I guess her anger for me has subsided.  It’s only a matter of time before she realizes I…”

Smack!

Hayden punched Zeke in the mouth with so much force I felt the deck vibrate beneath my feet.  I jumped in between them, but Hayden gently forced me back and gripped Zeke’s shirt. 

“You son of a bitch!” Hayden snarled.

“Well, we are both sons of the same bitch brother.”

People were starting to notice the impending fight, eyes from the pool drifting toward the deck.

“Whoa, whoa.”  Si grabbed Hayden, yanking him back while Reese—who had made a mad dash, jumping lithely over the railing of the deck—pulled Zeke away.  “No fighting little bros.  Chill.  Chill.”

Hayden’s lips curled back, a vicious, threatening growl snaking between his teeth. 

“Get off me.”  Zeke shook Reese off, shooting him a narrowed glare.  “Oh, it’s okay for him to be near Hartley when he tried to
kill
her, but I can’t?”

“Hey!  I took my punishment for that,” Reese said, indignant.  “I said I was sorry.”

“And Ares isn’t trying to constantly make a move on his girl.”  Si shook his head, shifting the golden strands surrounding his tan face.  “So not simpatico bro.”

Zeke rolled his eyes.  “Whatever.”

Hayden slipped out of Si’s grasp and stalked toward the house.  I ran after him, grabbing his arm. 

“Hayden, wait.”

He turned toward me, his eyes still flashing with flames.  “I need to cool off Hartley.”  His voice was still deep with power and filtered with fury.

“Let me go with you.”

He shook his head.  “I need a few minutes alone.”

My lips formed into a pout as I gazed up at him, hating we were fighting.  “You’re mad at me?”

He sighed and pulled me closer, gently caressing my cheek with his thumb.  “No.  It’s just a difficult situation with my brother.  He really knows how to piss me off.”  He gently pressed his lips against mine.  “I’ll be back.”  He turned and stalked deeper into the house.

I trudged outside, my heart still giving a painful thud for him.  Zeke, Reese, and Si were standing around, talking.  Girls down at the pool were unabashedly drooling, gazing up at them, even the ones with boyfriends still trying to suck their faces off.

“Why did you have to do that?”  I crossed my arms, my eyes narrowed as I fumed in front of Zeke.

“Did you want me to tell him the truth?”

Si’s brow rose questioningly.

“No, but you didn’t have to push him like that Zeke.”

He shrugged noncommittally.  “He’s just so easy to rile up Hartley.  I couldn’t help it.”

I shook my head.  “If you were smart and really wanted me to forgive you, you’d be nicer to him.”

He tossed his hands in the air, lightning flashing in his eyes.  “He’s not nice to me!”

“He doesn’t have to be,” I yelled, stepping closer.  “You’re the one who screwed up.”  I jabbed my finger in his chest.  “You’re the one who messed with our lives with that damn spell.”

“But he’s the one who stole you from me!”

Reese and Si both winced, knowing he’d stuck his foot in his mouth.

“Shut up while you still can,” Reese mumbled under his breath.

“Nah bra.”  Si plucked at the shells on his necklace as if he was playing a tune.  “You went too far.”

I took a deep breath, attempting to quell the anger flaring up inside me.  “Zeke, I was never yours and you know that.  When are you going to come to terms with it?”

His jaw flexed hard, nostrils flaring.  “I’ll never be okay with it.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t come near me if you can’t handle my relationship with your brother.”

He pulled up short, the anger fast melting and face washing of color.  “That’s not fair,” he whispered.  “I can’t see you at all?”

“Not if you keep this crap up.  Hayden didn’t steal me from you.  You need to remember that.”

A sadness so deep it cut my heart filled his sky blue eyes.  “I’m sorry.”  His hand reached out, wanting to touch me, but dropped before connecting with my face.  Desperation twisted his expression as he attempted to find a way to fix his mistake.  Then his gaze shifted between Reese and Si, remembering other gods were privy to his weak moment. 

Zeke’s face suddenly hardened, hiding the pain he was feeling behind a thick mask. “I better go.”  He stalked off down the deck, heading toward the front yard.  A flash of lighting exploded as he disappeared.

I fell onto the bench, staring up at the night sky.

“I’ve never seen anyone get to Zeke like you do,” Si said.  “Either of my brothers actually.”

“Yeah.”  Reese ruffled my hair.  “It’s kind of funny.”

“Shut up.”  I smacked his hand away.  “I better go find Hayden.

Si clamped down on my shoulder and shook his head.  “Give him a little longer.”

I slumped lower, drained from the drama.  “Fine.”  It was difficult not going after him when my body and heart were screaming to do that very thing.  I wanted to give him the time he needed, but the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was wrong only grew bigger the longer I waited. 

Hayden

I wiped foam from my lips after chugging my second beer, grabbing the tap to refill the red plastic cup for a third.  It would be great if I could actually get wasted off this crap.  Maybe I could steal some wine from Dionysus or hit up Isaak’s stash of lotus flowers.  But then that would have me leaving Hartley here alone.  I was sure my brother was still here somewhere, hiding in the shadows, waiting to make a move the moment I disappear.

I stood in Callie’s garage, wallowing in my dark mood.  The smell of motor oil and exhaust filled my nostrils as I breathed deeply, trying to prevent myself from bursting into flames. 

I was fucking pathetic.  Why was the god of the Underworld hiding from a little teenager?  Of course said teenager was also daughter of Hera and part siren.  She had me by the balls.  Even knowing that I still couldn’t give her up.

My hand crushed the empty cup, popping echoing through the vacant garage until small bits of plastic littered the concrete ground.

“Damn dude.”  A stoner guy from Northwood High strolled into the light, smelling like Cheetos and heady weed.  Luckily he was a mere human and unable to detect the flames dancing in my eyes.  “You are like wicked pissed.”

“You have no idea,” I snarled.

The kid repositioned the beany on his head, his shaggy dark brown hair obscuring one of his bloodshot, glossy eyes.  A pungent scent floated from him as he pulled out a joint and lit it, the cherry burning bright.  “Want a hit?  It might mellow you out.” 

I doubted anything could mellow me out at this point.  “Sure.”  I reached for it and inhaled the strong, bitter flavor.

“So, is it your girl that’s got you so stressed?” he asked, reaching in his pocket and pulling out a bag of Twizzlers.

My brow arched questioningly.

He shrugged.  “I saw that shit with your brothers on the deck.  It must be hard being with Hartley Walker.  Everyone wants her even your brother.”

I nodded and handed him the joint.  “Yeah.  I’d like to knock out every guy that even looks at her let alone touches her.  But I’d rather be the with her than without.”  I’d take all the shit times ten if I got to have her.  Obviously I was whipped.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, smoke trailing out his mouth as he tried to hold in his hit.  “I’d drop everything if Hartley walked up to me and ask me to be her man.”  The smoke finally trailed out in one long white, curling exhale.  “I’d be her little bitch boy if she asked.”  A laugh tumbled out his mouth.  “Hell, I’d lick her feet if she asked.”

A half-smile cracked my lips.  “She doesn’t like that.  She’s ticklish.”

“No way.”  He laughed again. 

“I thought I smelled you Wade.”  Blake strolled in, carrying a bottle of liquor in one hand and giving Wade daps with the other. 

“’Sup dude.”

Blake turned his green eyes on me and bumped my fist.  “What up Hayden.”

“His temper,” Wade said, sucking the last bit of the joint away.

My eyes narrowed at him.

Blake snorted.  “Trouble in paradise?”

“No,” I snapped.

“His middle brother wants his girl.”

“Ah.”  Blake nodded with understanding.  “Pete and I fought over a girl once.  He got her.”

“That’s sucks.”  Wade bit off the end of a Twizzler.

A grin split Blake’s mouth.  “Yeah well that dumb ass cheated on her and guess who she came to for a little payback.”

“No way dude.”  Wade touched his fist to Blake’s.

I shook my head.  “It’s not exactly the same situation for me.”

Blake shook the bottle of liquor, the clear liquid sloshing temptingly.  “Come on Hayden.  You need to loosen up.  Have a little fun with the guys for a while tonight.”  A mischievous twinkle lit his green eyes. 

“Sure I guess.”  What was the harm? 

“That’s my boy.”  Blake swung his arm over my shoulders with some difficulty from my height.  “You coming Wade?”

“Nah.  I’m good.”  He nodded a goodbye as he spun and trailed out the garage probably on a mission to score more weed.

Me on the other hand, I was on a mission to drink away my troubles like any human male would.  Except I wasn’t human.  And I couldn’t get drunk.

Hartley

A commotion from the house drifted outside, Hayden’s name lacing the chaos.  I glanced between Reese and Si, both looking wary.  We got up and headed inside, Hayden’s name being chanted from the kitchen.

WTF?

When I entered the room Hayden was standing at the island, tossing back shot after shot until he reached the end of the counter, slamming the last one down with enough force to smash the little plastic cup into bits.  He held his fists in the air as people cheered.  His face was flushed, eyes glossy, clothes rumpled, and hair disheveled.  A lopsided grin curled his kissable lips.

“Who’s the king?” he shouted, licking those lips.

“Dude, that was epic.”  Blake clapped him on the shoulder.

“No shit.”  Hayden climbed up on the island and pumped his fists at the crowd surrounding him.  “Who else wants to challenge me?”

Vaughn was nearby, looking a little green and I was guessing he was on the losing end of a shot contest with my boyfriend.  Normally I would have scolded Hayden for getting him wasted, but it seemed like Hayden was three sheets to the wind as well. 

I glanced at Si and then at Reese on my other side.  “Is he drunk?”

“Not possible,” Si said, shaking his head incredulously.  “Not on regular alcohol.”

Reese rubbed his stubble coated chin.  “He definitely
looks
drunk.”

I nodded in agreement.

Hayden’s glossy gray eyes suddenly found me, his face lighting up.  He pointed.  “There’s my girlfriend.”  His words were slurred.  “Isn’t she beautiful?”

All eyes drifted toward me, smiling.

“Hayden, baby, what are you doing?” I asked, trying not to sound as worried as I felt.

“If you think Hartley’s hot now, you should see her in
my
world.”

Uh-oh.

“She’s got fire in her eyes and can throw flames.”  He demonstrated by opening his palm and throwing the invisible fire.  Thankfully he didn’t pull real flames.  “There was this one time she almost caught Hermes on fire.”

Everyone looked at each other amused, assuming he was simply drunk and talking out his ass.

“All right little bro.”  Si stepped forward and held his hands up.  “Let’s get down from there before you break that handsome face.”

“And she’s so good with the souls,” Hayden said, knocking Si’s hands away.  “She should be the queen.”  He met my eyes.  “Baby, will you be my queen?  I’ll get you a throne and I’ll make you a crown with ruby’s and diamonds, and onyx…”