Lesson in Love (Olympians, 2) (6 page)

Aphrodite objected. “We’re only
tricking him into paying attention to you. After he accidentally
fell for Psyche, I made him immune to love spells. He cannot be
made to love anyone or anything.”

“
Like you?”

Aphrodite narrowed her eyes, and Iris
wondered if she should have said anything. She didn’t want the
goddess angry with her at a time like this.

“
If a spell were strong
enough, even I would fall under it. Or if any god or man were
worthy enough.”

Hera stood. “We’re just stressing her.
Let’s go.”

“
Oh, I suppose,” Aphrodite
said. She hesitated, but then finally stood up. “Do call us if you
need to.”

“
I think I’ll be
fine.”

“
Suit yourself,” the love
goddess said before she and Hera disappeared.

Iris watched two children playing by
the slide. She sighed and started to stand up so she could head
back to work, but then she saw someone watching her. It looked like
Ares, but she couldn’t be sure.

A man kissed her on the cheek. “Hello,
kitten.”

She turned to see Ares sitting beside
her.

“
Shouldn’t you be chasing
your ladylove? She just left.”

He chuckled and his dark eyes
sparkled. “She can wait. I wanted to see you.”

“
I’m getting so much
attention lately. I just don’t know what to do.” She liked Ares,
but he loved teasing, and she didn’t feel like being teased about
Eros.

“
You could always have
this much attention, if you wanted it.” He ran his fingers through
the ends of her hair.

“
Why so interested
now?”

He settled his arm behind her. “Just
testing a theory.”

Iris scowled at him. “Oh, I knew it,
you arrogant bastard! You’ve come to see if I’ll sleep with
you.”

She blushed as an old couple passing
by looked at them and then laughed together. Ares grinned at
her.

“
I’ve tried before with no
ulterior motives. Can’t blame me for trying now. If this all works
out, I might not get another chance.”

“
All of you are
unbelievable. Really unbelievable.”

“
Well then, prove me
wrong.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her
passionately.

Every nerve in her body went electric.
Pleasure pulsed all over her, concentrating in her core. One touch
and she would fall apart in his arms. She’d always wondered what it
would be like to be with the god of war, and now she was getting
quite a taste. She melted into his arms. His power washed over her,
and her mind filled with visions of the two of them making love.
She could almost feel his cock surging inside her.

He broke off the kiss and looked at
her. The moment she opened her eyes, it all faded away. She
blinked. “I don’t understand.” She’d been ready to come and cry out
his name, but now she felt nothing.

“
A little test.” He ran
one finger down her neck to just over the curve of her breast.
“Very enjoyable. Eros will soon see how fortunate he
is.”

“
What did you just do to
me?” She wanted to slap him, but she didn’t want to attract any
more attention than she already had.

“
You wanted me when I
forced my power on you. The moment I released you, you didn’t want
me anymore. It means another holds your heart. If that were not so,
you would still be feeling the physical desire I ignited.” He
shrugged. “Aphrodite taught me to do that.”

“
Ever tried it on her?”
She wanted to tell him off for doing that to her, but she knew the
personal comment would do more damage and be more likely to get his
attention.

His eyes darkened, but in a whisper he
said, “I wouldn’t dare. I don’t want to know, honestly.”

Iris stared at him. Why wasn’t he
angry? She felt bad for purposely hurting him. “I’m
sorry.”

“
Don’t be. Love is as
complicated for her as it is for her son, it seems.”

“
Looks that way.” Iris
sighed. “Everyone knows I’m in love with Eros. It’s no
secret.”

Ares looked at her seriously.
“Everyone doesn’t know that. He certainly doesn’t.”

“
He’s not going to fall in
love with me.”

“
You keep saying that.” He
shook his head and smiled. “You have many charms more precious than
your beauty. You are very intelligent and stimulating, in more ways
than one. You have many human virtues as well, some of the rarest
ones at that. Who could appreciate them more than him?”

He made an interesting point, but she
still refused to get her hopes up. “We’ll see.”

“
Yes, we shall. The Fates
may have something amazing in store for you.”

“
And what do you think
they have in store for you?”

He surprised her by answering. “Maybe
they’re going to teach me a lesson I’m not expecting. Eros can’t be
the only one the lovely Fates are seeking to reform.”

She didn’t fully understand what he
meant, but she nodded anyway. “Maybe so. What you want today may
not be the same as what you want tomorrow.”

“
That’s a nice thought.
Here’s hoping, then. Take care, sweetheart. Have a nice, naughty
dream about me tonight.”

“
I’ll see what I can
do.”

He vanished, and she stood up to
finally walk back to the restaurant. She’d only wanted attention
from Eros, but it suddenly seemed all of Olympus was fighting on
her side. She wished that could make her surer of the
outcome.

Chapter Four

Eros knocked on the office door. He
glanced back at the mirror hanging in the short hallway. He looked
good, but he also looked like he hadn’t made too much effort. Just
jeans and a black shirt, untucked at that. He looked like he was
just dropping by. At least, he hoped he did.

“
Come in,” Iris
called.

He opened the door and stepped inside,
closing the door halfway. Again, an effort to seem casual. “Hi. I
just wanted to see how you were.”

Iris looked up from the computer, and
he couldn’t read her expression. “I’m fine. How are
you?”

“
I’m good. I just wanted
to see how your visit went.”

“
My visit?”

“
To your mother. After our
little, uh, outing last week.”

“
Good,” she said, nodding.
“Very nice. She was happy I came by.”

He nodded too. “Great. I hope you had
a good time with me, too.”

She smiled, but he still couldn’t tell
how she felt about him showing up. “Yes, I did. It was nice to just
take a walk and talk with you.”

Nice. Just nice?
“So how about dinner tonight? Nice and casual.
Wherever you want to go.”

She looked back at her computer and
clicked the mouse a few times. “I don’t see why not.” She stood up.
“I skipped lunch. Are you ready now?”

He thought quickly. His actual plan
had been to seem nonchalant, and then come back dressed up and
carrying flowers. If he stalled and came back later, she wouldn’t
be as receptive no matter what he showed up with, so he nodded.
“Yes. Wherever you’d like to go. What are you in the mood
for?”

“
Hmmm. Just someplace
quiet and out-of-the-way.” She thought for a moment. “I’d actually
love pizza if you’re up for it.”

He nodded. “Sure.” Pizza didn’t sound
romantic, but it could be very intimate. They could find a nice
little place and sit in a corner booth. It wasn’t what he’d had in
mind, but it might still work just fine.

“
How about the little
place down the street? It has great specialty pizzas.” She walked
to her coatrack and started putting on her sweater. “Is that
okay?”

“
That sounds good. I’ve
never been there. I’d love to try it.”

“
You’re certainly being
accommodating.”

“
I am?”
What’s she getting at?

“
Yes. You are. You must
want something.”

He tried to keep his face blank. “I
want to take you to dinner.” If he said he wanted her, she wouldn’t
believe him. Either that or she’d take it as a cheap come-on. If he
let the hurt show on his face, she’d think it was faked. He didn’t
know what to do.

“
I know that. You must
want something more?”

He didn’t think being
completely honest would get him too far, so he decided to be a
little honest. “I still want exactly what I told you. I want to
show you who I really am. And yes, to be blunt, I do want to sleep
with you. Anytime you’re ready, so am I.”
That should give her something to mull over.

She nodded. “I see. I knew that. Is
that all?”

I want you to want me. I
want you to like me.
He came so close to
saying it, but he didn’t. Saying he wanted to prove he was likeable
was much safer than saying he wanted her to like him. That
statement would have too many implications and leave him too
vulnerable.

“
Are you going to answer
me?”

“
Hmmm?” It took him a
moment to realize he hadn’t replied to her at all. “Sorry. I was
thinking.”

“
Must be something
serious.”

He resented the implication he never
thought about anything but the next girl he’d bring to his bed. He
knew that was what she thought. “I don’t seduce every woman I meet,
you know.”

She looked confused. “I never said you
did, and I don’t think that. I promise I don’t.” She looked down
and then took a few steps forward. “Look, I’m sorry I teased you.
You came to take me out, and all I’ve done is give you grief. You
should be angry with me.”

As soon as her apology sank in, he
felt terrible. How could she do that? He’d been angry, but now he
felt like he’d made the mistake. He still thought he was right
about what she thought of him, but she seemed willing to give him a
chance. She had recognized that he’d gotten angry because she’d
hurt his feelings. That had to be good. A few weeks ago she’d have
been reluctant to believe she could hurt his feelings.

“
I’m not angry. Just
frustrated. I’m sorry too. I don’t like doing this every time I see
you.”

“
Doing what?”

He sighed. “Having to banter back and
forth for twenty minutes before we really talk.”

She bit her lip and didn’t say
anything.

What the hell is she
thinking? She can’t deny she gives me a pretty hard
time.

“
That’s my fault. I guess
I’m used to handling you that way.”

He was stunned. He’d pointed out that
two different things she’d done made him angry, and she’d not only
listened but also apologized. He wasn’t used to this in a romantic
relationship. They hadn’t exactly made it to the romance part yet,
but he hoped they were on their way.

“
It’s my fault too. When
we met I didn’t even know who you were. I guess I deserve this. Why
shouldn’t you handle me that way, considering how you’ve seen me
behave?”

Iris’ eyebrows went up.

Why did I say that? She’s
not going to believe a word of it because it’s just what she said
to me before. She’ll think I’m just repeating it to manipulate
her.
He groaned to himself, sure he was
making things worse with every word he said.

“
Wow. It’s nice to hear
you admit it.” She looked down. “Why don’t we go back to my place
and just cook there? I don’t want to keep talking about this in a
restaurant with an audience. What do you think?”

Keep talking about this?
What else did she want to talk about?
“Yeah. That’s fine.”

He had no idea what he was getting
himself into, but he was determined to see where the Fates were
leading him.

* * * *

Iris opened her front door and ushered
Eros in. He stood in the foyer and looked around.

“
Nice,” he said. “Very
simple.”

While other goddesses like Hera and
Aphrodite moved or redecorated every few months, Iris had a very
ordinary condo, complete with boring white walls and simple,
contemporary black furniture. She spent so little time at home she
only had more personal touches in her bedroom, and even those were
very few.

“
Thanks. I don’t stay here
that much except at night, so I do keep it simple.”

“
Yeah. I’m not home much
either. Of course, I still live with my mother.”

It was true, but Aphrodite’s house was
so big there was no telling how many people lived there.

He looked at her, studying her face
for a moment. “I like your hair.”

“
It’s just normal today.”
She touched it self-consciously. If she didn’t do anything with it,
her hair was naturally white blonde.

He reached out and touched it. “It’s
very pretty.”

She froze as he held a lock of her
hair between his fingers. He wasn’t doing anything special. He
wasn’t even really touching her, but she felt like she couldn’t
breathe.