Giving It Up for the Gods (6 page)

A few centuries later, Neptune threw a hissy fit and destroyed the place with an earthquake—just because one of her sisters refused to open her legs for him. After that, no other nation dared offer them asylum. Not having a homeland sucked. That made the rocky and inhospitable island of Scopuli precious to her sisters. And to her.

Maybe she should just screw Neptune and get it over with. Only, right now she found herself shacked up with a couple of Roman gods and Jase, their mysterious minion. Come to think of it, weren’t Juno and Neptune two of Saturn’s children?
Sounds like Neptune and his family are ganging up on me. Probably time I found another safe haven. One without a primal god, his obnoxious sidekick, and Jase.

She couldn’t sense any immediate danger, so for now she’d play along and agree to whatever plans they hatched. Once everyone settled for the night, she’d hightail it out of here, even if it meant she never got to fuck Tall, Dark, and Droolworthy. Feigning a yawn, she stretched. “I think all the excitement’s caught up with me. Can we postpone the discussions until the morning?”

Mercury leaped to his feet, his schoolboy crush making him stammer. “L-let me show you to your room.”

Saturn grinned. “Down, boy. She’s not yours.”

He blushed and stared at his feet, apparently overcome by new feelings. “She might be, if you give me half a chance. Okay, she’s a bit old for me, but I could go for the Mrs. Robinson type.”

“Flatterer,” Lindy snapped as she uncurled from the chair.

Before she made it to her feet, Jase pressed his hand down on her shoulder. “Save the innocent act for the boy. Sit down and listen.”

That was one surly male, but when his hand rested on her shoulder, it sent tingles running down her spine. Liquid heat flooded her pussy, making her wonder what a tender touch—maybe a loving stroke of his hand over her breasts—would do to her body. Maybe if he’d been more willing, she’d have fucked him before she took off into the night, but he’d disqualified himself earlier.

“I’m tired. That’s all.” She didn’t like lies, and now she sat in the presence of two Roman gods, Mercury and Saturn, and lied her heart out. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any repercussions later, but gods were fickle creatures at best. At their worst, they were spoiled children who destroyed anything or anyone that defied them.

The primordial god on the sofa—Saturn, aka Saul—took a swig of his coffee. “Relax, Lindy. You look like you’re in the dentist chair.”

She winced, then did the most stupid thing ever. She told him the truth. “No, I’m not tired. I’m looking for a one-night stand to give up my virginity and thwart your son. No offense, Mr. Saturn, sir, but your children really are the pits.”

“I haven’t got any children,” Saturn snarled. His lips curled as though he was sucking a lemon. The words definitely left a bad taste in his mouth. His expression hardened into clenched teeth and drawn-together brows. He ran a hand through his hair, almost spoke, then apparently changed his mind, and stormed out of the room.

For once, Mercury looked solemn, troubled even. “Now you’ve done it. No one mentions his family. Ever. Not even me, and I’m related.”

Jase shoved him aside. “Enough. You go after Saul while I talk to Lindy.”

Feet dragging, the teenager headed for the door, but when he saw the darkness flood Jase’s stern features, he stopped. “Lindy, if you want, I’ll stay.”

She shook her head, and he left. Jase loomed over her, his eyes as dark as a starless night sky. Suddenly nervous, she gave a forced laugh. “Well, since I’ve just pissed off a primal god, maybe I should go catch up on beauty sleep.”

A low growl rumbled from his throat. “You don’t need any. Sit and eat. With a mouth like yours, you have to keep your strength up for all the fights you must get yourself into.”

She stared at his broad chest, then up into his suntanned face. No man should have cheekbones like cut glass or eyelashes that swept up and down like soot-covered fans. When he stood close like this, his faint frankincense essence made her mouth dry and her body yearn for all the hot, sensual games he could teach her. Her nipples pearled and poked at the thin denim of his cut-down shirt. Damp heat flooded her cunt, and a blast of sexual energy fogged her brain. ”Sorry? I don’t need any what?”

“Beauty sleep. Damn it woman, even Cleopatra and that Troy woman pale compared to you. Now sit down, cover yourself up, and listen. Saul’s a good friend, so do yourself a favor and don’t call those snotty bastards he fathered his kids.”

Neptune’s balls, was that a compliment? From Jase, the Siren-hating minion? Maybe she shouldn’t write him off just yet. She wanted to block out the world—primal gods, mysterious minions, their horny teenager companions and all. Instead, she sank back in the chair and sighed. “My name came top of the solstice sacrifice list. Mum rang and warned me when she found out, but those mermaids had already arrived at Country and Western Heaven.”

He crouched beside her, one hand on her shoulder as he held her gaze. “You’re safe now, I promise.”

She hadn’t realized how isolated and vulnerable she’d felt. His touch warmed her deep inside, and with a small sigh, she rested her cheek on his hand. “Seriously, my best option is to screw someone before Neptune can get his hands on me. I hate to pass the problem on to one of my sisters, but most of them aren’t too bothered by who they bed. Sometimes it feels like a contest to see who can collect the first scalp. Some even think fucking with Neptune’s an honor, but that’s just wrong on every level.”

Jase did that growling thing again, and flames glowed in the pupils of his eyes. His skin heated beneath her fingers as his anger flowed into her shoulders and her cheek. Her defenses crumbled, and she admitted, “When I left Scopuli still a virgin, a few of my sisters suggested there was something lacking in me.”

Before Jase answered, Saul strode back into the room. “Actually, it’s something lacking in them. You’re a throwback to when Sirens had feathers and wings. How much do you know of your origins?”

Is it my fault I never knew my father? Damn it, even a first name would be good, but Mum can’t remember
. She sat up straighter, face blank, and recited as if she read from a textbook. “We were once winged maidens born of the earth but able to take to the skies.”

She grinned when she realized how solemn she sounded, and forced herself to relax. “Juno shoved us into a singing contest with the Muses. Then the bitch skewed the result. As part of the victory celebrations, the Muses stripped us of our feathers and wings, but they couldn’t touch our immortality. As we plummeted to earth, our forms changed. Guess what?” Her smile was all mischief and charm. “Now we’re every man’s sexual fantasy rather than flightless birds. We’ve neither forgiven nor forgotten the pain and humiliation, but we’re tougher than anyone expected. Okay, we’re mouthy creatures with a vicious streak a mile wide, but we’re sexy as hell. See, we make the best of what the Muses and Juno left us.”

Chapter Six

Lindy blinked hard, determined not to cry over things that had happened centuries past. Not only had the Sirens actually lost their singing contest, but Juno’s cheating had gouged wounds in their psyches. Jase squeezed her shoulder, but she stiffened and stared at Saturn—Saul, or whatever name he was using today. Had he just called her a throwback? Was that like calling a human a Neanderthal? Whatever he meant, it didn’t sound good.

What with the stark expression and the downturned corners of his mouth, he looked so dejected that for once she kept her lips zipped. His voice, formal if a touch arctic, chilled her as much as her earlier bike ride. “Please, Lindy, accept my apologies and let me explain. Neptune’s an ass, but he’s a powerful one. Along with his two brothers and his sister, Juno, he stole something very precious from me. I despise the lot of them, but Jupiter was the ringleader.”

Shocked that a parent could hate his own children, Lindy couldn’t meet Saul’s gaze. His naturally pale complexion turned translucent. Maybe it was a good thing her dad hadn’t hung around after all. Whatever Saul’s kids had done, they’d hurt him deeply, and after his last outburst, she didn’t dare ask for details. Not that it was any of her business, but Sirens were as curious as they were irresistibly sexy.

Saul’s shut-down expression and utter stillness scared her more than his rage. “They almost destroyed me, and for a while, life didn’t seem worth living. I grieved for centuries, but now I’m functioning again, I intend to obliterate the lot of them. For you, I’m willing to start with Neptune.”

Saul’s pain pulsed around him so strong she could feel it. She ached to comfort him, but he’d raised barriers she didn’t dare breach. Instead, she offered a smile. “Apology accepted, and for what it’s worth, you don’t have to explain.”

He reached out and patted her hand, then pulled back as if touching her had burned him. He swallowed hard and said softly, “I think maybe I do. If my loss hadn’t weakened me, I’d have wiped Neptune from the face of the planet, but Circe intervened. She knows Indian mysticism and ancient magics—as well being a sorceress and minor Roman goddess. Thanks to her, Neptune’s become a watery version of the Green Man. He’s reborn during the summer solstice, as long as he fucks a virgin. Apparently his sacrifice of choice is a Siren. In this case, you.”

She sat, left hand entwined with Jase’s, but if anyone ever looked like they needed a hug, it was his motorcycle-riding buddy. If she touched Saul, he’d probably blow a gasket. She’d worked that out when he practically shoved her off the back of his bike. Then again, who was she to hug a god? Besides, she didn’t want to let go of Jase’s hand. “We don’t all go willingly. Neptune broke something in the Sirens’ collective psyche when he destroyed Atlantis. My sisters claim they screw anything in trousers to preserve our species, but sometimes I think they’re just scared.”

Jase sat on the chair arm and draped his free hand around her shoulders. His smile set off small electric charges down the length of her spine. Gorgeous or what? Maybe he preferred her softer, more sympathetic side to her warrior nature. Not that she cared. She liked herself just the way she was, and she wouldn’t change—even to please him.

He seemed to realize he held her in his arms, and shot to his feet. With an angry growl, he started pacing.

He’ll never get past his hatred of Sirens. Give up on him and charm Saul.

Jase froze when he reached her side. He refused to meet her gaze, just towered over her, gritted his teeth, and told her, “I always knew Juno was a bitch, even back when she was playing daddy’s little darling, but all the time she was feeding information to her brothers. Don’t worry, I won’t let Neptune or his minions near you.”

His touch was a catalyst that set off a chemical reaction inside her. Her pussy creamed with molten honey, but her wanton side battled her common sense. She should up and leave. She knew that…really. Only, with Neptune’s goons on her trail, she’d nowhere to hide.

She sat straighter in the chair and glowered right back. “Some of my sisters preserve their virginity in the hope they’ll be chosen to mate with a god. Of course, there’s never been any offspring, and if their lot’s chosen, at least they’re mentally prepared, and above all, they’re willing. I was stupid not to give up my virginity sooner.”

Another furious rumble rolled about Jase’s throat, and for the first time, she noticed his horns. Short and spiky, they emerged from his hair in sexy little points that she wanted to stroke. She’d thought his hair was black, but against his ebony horns, it was more the color of the midnight sky.

Neptune’s balls, I’ve never seen a more attractive male.

If Saul was a god, Jase was a demon—one with dark eyes, pupils that burned like tongues of flame, and wicked, lickable horns. And she definitely wanted to be the one doing the licking. Her sisters had told her how much demons liked that. Not that the Sirens bedded demons often. Demons were strong willed and almost immune to Siren song. But those horns… They made Lindy’s mouth water, and she needed to run her tongue over them. Maybe if she did that, Jase would groan with satisfaction. Yeah, she’d really like to make him do that.
And why am I wasting my time fantasizing over a male who hates Sirens?

No wonder Jase had seemed deadly and dangerous as he plowed his way through the country and western club—because that was exactly what he was.

Saturn—
damn it, I can’t think of him as anything but Saul
—moved like he was allergic to a feminine touch. He shot out of reach, blinked, and forced a smile. “Your throwback genetics make you stronger than the other Sirens, and whatever Neptune broke in your race’s psyche, it didn’t affect you.”

Did he just call me a Neanderthal again?
She’d always known gods came with a built-in arrogance, but he took condescending up a gear. At least he seemed happy she didn’t join the queue to leap into Neptune’s bed. And Jase… Jase was a fascinating mix of anger, intensity, and sex appeal. Who knew demons came packaged in a gruff exterior and give-me-your-panties grace—not that she was wearing any.
Hey, Jase, easy access guaranteed
. And despite the size of his erection, he’d ruled himself out when it came to sex.

“Lindy? Are you still with us?” Saul laughed.

Great
. Now she’d detoured off into her own world, and thank goodness her inattention hadn’t insulted a primal god. One who kept his sunglasses and gloves on in the house. Maybe he thought touching her defiled him in some way, which sort of scotched a Siren-and-god combo later. Or maybe tossing lightning bolts left scars, but she’d only find out if he pulled off his fingerless gloves and blasted her.
Yeah, really trying not to go there
. Besides now that she’d met Jase, she knew exactly where her virginity was heading.

She stiffened her spine and tried to pretend she was as strong as Saul thought, but she couldn’t meet his gaze. “Okay, Mr. Saturn, sir, I get that Neptune’s toast if he doesn’t fuck a virgin on the summer equinox, but they didn’t draw lots this time. Why me?”

She shot a quick glance at Jase when he gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze.
He’s turned friendly all of a sudden, not that I’m complaining
. The whites of his eyes glowed black, and the irises flickered as if filled with flames. All that latent power, sexuality, and strength gave him a dark, seductive edge that she found…enthralling. She almost moaned and kissed his fingers, but when she remembered he’d already told her he wasn’t interested, it turned into a whimper.