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Chapter 9

Psyche

T ime flew quickly as Psyche worked on the dig, and before she knew it, it was time to go home for her father’s sixtieth birthday. They took a commercial red-eye flight out of Anchorage, then rented a car for the drive to her parents’ home on Vancouver Island.

“So, do you prefer flying with me or on an airplane?” Eros asked as they settled inside the crossover SUV after securing their luggage in the back.

“Both have their advantages and disadvantages.” Mirrors. Seat. Steering Wheel. Air. The mental checklist helped ground her as she prepared for the long drive, as well as seeing her pack after such a long time. But at least she would see her parents. She had missed them, and they were the main reason she was coming, after all. “On an airplane, I don’t have to worry about bugs in my mouth or face.”

“And me?” His lids drooped, which indicated he was thinking about sex, though that pretty much happened every hour of the day. The God of Love and Desire truly didn’t disappoint in the bedroom.

“With you, I don’t need to go through airport security.”

The signature smirk—one that she recognized as playful and teasing—appeared. “Don’t worry, I’ll still strip search you.”

Rolling her eyes, she put the car into gear and backed out of the spot. Soon, they were driving along the highway, which would take them to the ferry that would transport them across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.

“Ah, but this is pretty nice.” Eros linked his hands at the back of his head and leaned back, stretching his legs. “I think I like having you transport me around for once.”

She chuckled. “Are you enjoying being a passenger princess?”

“Passenger prince,” he corrected. “And yes, I’m very much enjoying this.”

The trip was long and took a few hours, but Psyche was glad for the extra time. The ferry had surprisingly not been crowded for a Saturday morning, and Eros managed to secure them seats in a quiet corner. She sat by the window seat, looking out at the gorgeous sights and the calm water, drinking tea.

After the ferry docked, they drove out and made their way across the island, toward the territory of the Vancouver Pack. They lived in a remote corner of the island, far from humans, though they were still close enough to the Greater Victoria area so they could conduct their normal, everyday business. The familiarity of her surroundings was like a soothing balm, calming her anxious feelings. There was something about driving to the place she grew up in that she couldn’t explain, like as soon as she saw the familiar, sprawling driveway that led up to the house, her body and mind told her, this was home.

“You grew up there?” Eros pointed up ahead.

The mansion at the end of the driveway was made of glass, steel, and concrete with a clean, angular roofline. There was a well-manicured lawn in the front, but minimal landscaping everywhere else. It didn’t need it though, as the stunning coastline and vast ocean views made a dramatic backdrop.

“Yes. It’s my parents’ house,” she said matter-of-factly. She was about to ask him about his childhood home when she remembered his story about growing up with his biological father. Her heart ached for him, thinking about what had happened to him and what he had gone through. She was just glad his stepfather and mother were able to get him away from that situation.

“We’re here,” she announced as she parked the car next to the walkway leading to the front door, turning the engine off but leaving the fob on the dashboard. “Someone will park it for us and take our things to my room. Let’s head inside.”

They walked up to the door, but before Psyche could reach for the knob, it flew open, revealing a petite, curvy woman with brown hair cut into a chic bob, hazel eyes, and rounded cheeks.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Psyche, darling, welcome home.” She opened her arms, and Psyche stepped into them. Her mother’s familiar scent filled her nostrils, settling her even more. “I’m so glad to see you.” The embrace wasn’t too tight, nor was it too short or long, but just right. Plus, she didn’t wear any cloying perfume or itchy fabrics or loud jewelry that irritated Psyche.

“I’m glad to be home, Mom.” She stepped away from her embrace and turned to the man behind her. “Hi, Dad, happy birthday.”

“Welcome home, Psyche.” Her father’s embrace was equally tender, if a little too tight, and the stubble on his cheek chafed her skin, but she didn’t complain, seeing as it was his special day. Being a tall and burly man, he practically engulfed her, but she didn’t feel claustrophobic in his arms at all. “I’m glad you’re back. How is work?”

“Great, Dad, I’ll tell you more later. But, first,” she stepped away from him and gestured to Eros. “Mom, Dad, this is Eros. Eros, this is my dad, Leo Gialamas, Alpha of the Vancouver Pack, and my mom, Jean Gialamas.”

“Alpha, Mrs. Gialamas,” Eros began. “Thank you for inviting me to your party and your territory.”

“Thank you for coming and gracing us with your presence, Lord Eros.” Leo bowed his head. “I’m glad you accepted our invitation.”

“Welcome, and we’re happy you decided to come,” Jean added. “Psyche has told us all about you.” Psyche emailed her mother regularly, so she mentioned that she and Eros were dating. She didn’t call him her boyfriend outright, as, even though he continued to tick off more boxes, after she brought it up that time, he didn’t give her an exact answer. At first, it bothered her, but she figured they didn’t need labels.

The corner of his mouth tugged up. “All good things, I hope?”

Jean laughed. “Very complimentary. I hope you enjoy your stay with us.”

“I’m sure I will. Your home is very beautiful.” He gestured around them. Indeed, the inside was just as stunning as the outside, with its high ceilings and polished floors. The contemporary decor was done in shades of blues, grays, and whites to mirror the stunning natural beauty outside, which was visible through the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. “It’s like the inside extends into the ocean.” A wistful expression crossed his face. “It reminds me of a very special place.”

“Mom designed and planned the whole house,” Psyche said. “She’s an architect, one of the best in the country.”

Jean’s cheeks turned pink. “You’re probably used to much grander surroundings.”

“Nonsense, this is stunning work, Mrs. Gialamas,” he said. “You obviously put a lot of time, effort, and love into it.”

“Thank you, Lord Eros. And please call me Jean.”

“Then do call me Eros.”

Leo clapped his hands together. “Well now, Psyche, you probably need some time to yourself before the pack swim.” Indeed, while Psyche’s shifter side needed that socialization with her pack members, she had to mentally prepare herself before with a routine, something she had practiced many times before.

“Swim?” Eros said.

“You know how the Alaska wolves have pack runs? We’re sea wolves, so we do swims,” she explained. “It’s the same idea, though, a bonding experience that brings the pack together and makes us stronger.”

“The entire pack will be there. It’s basically like a little pre-party celebration,” Jean said. “We’re doing it all before the human guests come tonight.”

“The swim is where the real fun begins,” Leo chuckled. “Do join us, Eros, even if you just come and watch.”

“I’d be honored, Alpha.”

“Are Theo and Perseus home?” It just occurred to her that it had been a long time since she’d seen her brothers. They were busy running the East Coast office of the company, and so were rarely home.

“Theo’s flying in from New York tonight,” her mother said. “He’ll arrive sometime in the middle of the party. And as for Perseus—oh, great timing!”

“Welcome home, Psyche.”

She whirled around. “Perseus,” she said as her elder brother approached her. “It’s been so long.”

“It has.” Strong arms wrapped around her, and she allowed him to embrace her because, much like their mother, it was neither too long nor too tight, but just right. “I’m glad I decided to come home earlier.”

Stepping away from him, she craned her neck back to look up at him, as he was quite tall—over half a foot over six feet. Light green eyes twinkled at her, and a set of pearly white teeth appeared even brighter against his olive skin. “It’s good to see you.”

“Same here.” The sunlight filling the room glinted off his unruly golden curls. “And who is this?”

“Perseus, this is Eros,” she introduced. “Eros, this is my brother, Perseus.”

“Nice to meet you.” Eros took the hand he offered.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Mom.”

“As I said earlier, all good things,” Jean assured him.

Eros’s eyes narrowed at him. “Are you?—”

“I hope you enjoy your stay here.” Perseus pulled his hand away from him. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to make a phone call.” He nodded at his parents and Psyche before turning on his heel and striding off.

“He’s really busy, especially this time of year.” Jean turned to Psyche. “It’s a pity you couldn’t come earlier or stay longer.” She clucked her tongue. “But I know how much your work means to you.” She gave her an affectionate smile. “So glad you’re home. We’ll see you later.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Psyche! You’re here.” Agnes appeared from the doorway to the left, followed by Christine and a third figure—a middle-aged, balding man dressed casually in a sweater and chinos. “Oh, so you did come, Lord Eros.” A line appeared between her eyebrows.

“You invited me, didn’t you?”

“Lord Eros,” Christine greeted. “It’s nice to see you again.” Strangely, there were no flirty glances or coy smiles from her today. In fact, the tone of her greeting mirrored Agnes’s.

“Allow me to introduce my husband and mate, James Springfield,” Agnes said. “James, this is Eros, Psyche’s, uh, friend.”

A pang plucked at her chest. The word friend didn’t quite fit what she and Eros were, at least, not anymore if she were going by her checklist. Yet, Eros didn’t correct her sister.

“Nice to you meet ya.” James held out his hand, which Eros shook. “And Psyche, welcome back. How’s those dinosaurs?”

Psyche quite liked her brother-in-law as he was affable and funny, which was the complete opposite of Agnes. Despite this, her sister’s wolf chose him, a human at that, to be her mate . “It’s all great, James.”

“Can’t wait to hear more about it later.” He placed an arm around Agnes. “Should we go get you ready for the pack swim, babe?”

“Sure, but I need to speak with Psyche first.”

“Yeah,” Christine chimed in, her gaze flicking toward Eros. “We both do.”

“About what?” she asked.

“It’s private,” Agnes insisted. “Let’s go to the library.”

Her chest tightened, as the last thing she wanted after a long day of traveling and being assaulted by all kinds of sights, sounds, and textures was to be pulled into a private conversation with her sisters. But Agnes was already reaching for her arm, and she braced herself for the contact.

“I’m sure it can wait.” Eros deftly maneuvered her away from Agnes’s grasp. “Psyche, which way to your room?”

“It’s upstairs.”

“Alpha, Jean, thank you for the warm welcome. And I accept your invitation to the pack swim. We’ll see you later.”

Psyche allowed Eros to guide her up the stairs before she led him down the hall to her bedroom. Like the rest of the house, it was sleek, modern, and clean. Some people might think it looked cold and impersonal, like going to a hotel room, but this was just how she liked it. There was no clutter, few sensory distractions, and clear visual boundaries. Her mother knew her exact preferences when it came to her living space and ensured everything was just right whenever she came home to visit.

“Psyche,” Eros began. “Your brother…there’s something about him…”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Perseus is adopted,” she explained. “It’s not a secret or anything, and it’s pretty obvious since he doesn’t look like the rest of us.”

He had been the son of Jean’s childhood best friend, who had died giving birth to Perseus. The identity of his father was unknown, and with no one else to take care of him, her parents had adopted him. But blood or not, he was part of the family, and anyone who said he wasn’t faced the wrath of the entire Gialamas family and Vancouver pack.

“I see.” Stepping toward the balcony, he opened the door that led out onto the terrace overlooking the ocean. “Stunning.”

“It is.” This was her favorite part of her room. Growing up, whenever she was overwhelmed, just looking at the clean, clear blue water of the Pacific Ocean was enough to calm her nerves.

“It reminds me of?—”

“Thessaly?”

“Yes. It’s a different ocean of course, but still…” He cleared his throat. “Your parents are lovely.”

“They are. They’re my biggest supporters, and I know I’m lucky that they could afford for me to go to the best schools and therapists. But they were also there, you know? Never missed an appointment, a recital, parent–teacher conference, competitions. They were just hands on with everything and really did their best to understand my needs.”

“I know what you mean.” His eyebrows drew together in an expression that wasn’t quite a frown. Pensive maybe? Psyche wasn’t sure because she’d never seen it on his face before.

“Are your parents?—”

“So,” he said, cutting her off. “Have you ever fantasized about sneaking a boy in and having sex in this room, right under your parents’ noses?”

“What makes you think I haven’t?”

This time, his expression completely changed—his eyes darkened and he had a full scowl. “Who the hell—wait a second. Did I just witness you, Psyche, teasing me ?”

“Maybe? Hey!” In a split second her world turned upside down as Eros rushed at her, picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder. “Eros!”

He dropped her unceremoniously on top of the bed and then began to unbutton his shirt. “I’ll show you teasing.”

The long, leisurely bout of lovemaking was enough to settle Psyche’s nerves and calm her after the long trip. She still went through her usual routine, which consisted of a shower, making her bed, getting dressed, and, of course, marking off everything in her daily tracking notebook. Eros hadn’t said a word as she went through it, but then again he was already used to her morning rituals.

Once they were both ready, they headed out to the private beach area behind the house. When they got there, almost everyone was there in their wolf forms, already frolicking and diving in the frigid ocean.

“That looks uncomfortable,” Eros said. “I think I’ll stay here.”

“It’s not for everyone. I’ll see you later.” The smell of the ocean filled her senses and lungs as she took a deep breath. Shucking her clothes off, she shifted into her wolf form and joined the rest of the pack.

The swims usually lasted an hour or so, so Psyche made sure to quietly sneak away before that. When she reached the rocky shore, Eros was there, holding a towel to wrap around her.

“Thank you.” The soft, dry towel was a balm to her chilled skin.

“You’re welcome,” he murmured. “Have I ever told you that your wolf form is magnificent?”

Warmth pooled in her belly, dispelling the chill from her bones. “Really?”

“I like any of your forms. In fact?—”

“Psyche!”

The wind carried the voice over to them. Glancing back, she saw Agnes near the shore, water to her knees. As she waded out toward them, James intercepted her, wrapping her in a towel.

“I think that’s a sign we should get out of here,” Eros said as he began to usher her away.

She completely agreed, and they trudged off the rocky beach, walking back into the house in comfortable silence. Once they got to her room, she turned to him. “I need to get ready.” There was also her post-swim routine that she needed to get through.

“Do you need some time alone?”

“Yes. But I mean, you can stay here. I’ll be fine in the walk-in and bathroom.”

“No worries then, I’ll just get ready here.”

Psyche breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. And I’m sorry if I’m so?—”

“Shh.” He caressed her cheek softly. “You never have to explain yourself to me, Psyche.” Leaning down, he kissed her mouth. “I’ll be right here.”

That warm and fuzzy feeling returned to her stomach, though at the same time, there was a strange twinge in her chest. Figuring it was just an aftermath from the long day and the swim, she ignored it and went about her post-swim routine: shower, scrub, toothbrush, face care, clothes, daily tracker.

I’m still me, no matter where I am.

Of course, she had to make two deviations—one was in addition to her face routine, she had put on some makeup, and instead of her usual comfortable clothes, she put on an emerald green, off-the-shoulder dress, and a pair of low heels. With one last glance at herself in the full-length mirror, she stepped outside.

“Eros?”

“Yes, Psy—” He was seated on a footstool, one sock pulled up halfway when she walked in. “You look…” Slowly, he got up and padded toward her. “Gorgeous.”

“Th-thank you.” The faintest hint of heat crept up her cheeks. “You look nice too.” Of course he looked great in anything he wore, but this was the first time she’d seen him all dressed up so formally. The charcoal gray suit fitted him perfectly and made his eyes appear even more silvery.

“I try.” He flashed her that mischievous grin. “Are you ready? Let me put on my shoes, and we can head downstairs.”

“Take your time.”

Once he finished, they headed downstairs. The doors to the expansive balcony had been opened up, extending the dining and living area all the way outside. Tables had been set up, and the guests were already arriving.

Psyche girded herself for the onslaught of the evening—most things would be new to her. Her routine helped, and she already had all her tools and coping mechanisms.

One step at a time. Stick to the plan. You’ll be ? —

“You’ll be okay.”

“What?” She blinked. Was he able to read her mind? “What did you just say?”

“I can feel your anxiety,” he said. “But you know what to do. You’ve got this.”

Oh, Eros…

“Psyche!” her mother waved to them, her father next to her.

They made their way to the main table in the center, where her parents sat with another couple who was around their age. “Come and meet our friends, Senator Williams and his wife. Senator, Irene, this is our daughter, Psyche, and her date for the evening, Eros.”

“Hello.” Her voice didn’t sound too flat to her ears. “How do you do, Senator? Mrs. Williams?”

“Lovely to meet you, young lady,” the senator said. “We’ve heard all about you. Your parents are so proud.”

These tricky social situations never failed to trip her up. Unsure how to respond to such compliments, her mouth felt as if it was filled with thick molasses, and her tongue was unable to move. Dread snaked into her chest like an unwanted intruder as she braced herself for the awkward silence, followed by pitying looks these situations usually brought on.

“Senator, it’s nice to meet you,” Eros said smoothly. “I’ve heard great things about your recent vote on the climate bill.” He turned to Mrs. Williams. “And Mrs. Williams, I saw the pictures from the art show you co-curated at the Met. I must say, the choices you made were very bold.”

The Senator’s wife’s face practically glowed. “Really? And what did you think of the inclusion of the up-and-coming graffiti artists from Los Angeles?”

“Again, I would never dare, but you know, street art is all the rage in Europe…”

Her stress level went down a notch as Eros deftly managed the conversation. While that anxiety never truly went away, between her coping mechanisms and Eros’s intervention whenever things got too hairy for her limited social skills, the evening went much smoother than she’d anticipated. Eros didn’t seem to mind, either. In fact, he was in his element, charming guests left and right, and people naturally flocked to him. It became almost too overwhelming, but she did not want to interrupt him, especially since he was having a good time, so she excused herself to go to the bathroom and take a breather.

“Everything okay, Psyche?” Her mother was waiting for her just outside the guest bathroom. “Maybe you can go lie down? We can delay your father’s speech and the blowing out of the candles.”

“I’m fine, Mom. Thank you for checking in. I don’t want to delay the program.” When it came to parties, her mother ran a tight ship. “Are we about to start?”

“Yes, but there’s no hurry. You know how boring these things can be, and I’ve listened to your father practice his speech the entire week. Nothing new there,” she said wryly. “We can take a few minutes.”

She took a few calming breaths, grounding herself as the oxygen flowed into her lungs. “Alright, I’m ready.”

Following her mother, they headed out into the party area where the program had already begun. Her father was in the center, microphone in hand, already starting his speech by thanking and mentioning all the important people in the room.

“Doesn’t he ever get tired of saying the same things over and over again?” she asked her mother. “And don’t you get tired of listening to him?

“Not really.” Her lips spread into a smile; her eyes fixed on her husband. “I mean, yes, I get tired of the content, but not listening to him speak. There’s just something about the way he stands, the sound of his voice, that confidence he exudes…he’s the same man I fell in love with years ago, the one my wolf chose as my anami ekarde. ” Her hand clutched at her chest. “The pain of the mating bond was worth it.”

Right . In her pack, when one’s wolf chooses its mate, there was a metaphorical ripping of the heart and soul that was felt physically. She recalled Agnes talking about it at first, how the pain was unbearable like she was literally being torn into two. However, that went away and all that was left was the bond.

When the cake came out, her mother walked to the center to join her husband. Suddenly alone, Psyche scanned the room for Eros and spotted him all the way on the other side by the bar. Since she didn’t want to interrupt the candle blowing, she remained in her spot as the room erupted into song.

“Psyche, there you are.” Agnes’s sharp voice cut through the singing as she came up behind her. As usual, Christine was right behind her. “We’ve finally got you alone.”

“Alone? Why—hey!” Her protests, however, went nowhere as Agnes dragged her away from the party and hustled her into the nearest empty room—the informal dining room. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“We’ve been trying to talk to you all night,” Christine hissed. “But your boyfriend keeps dragging you away.”

“We need to speak to you about him.” Agnes’s tone became hushed. “There’s something you need to know.”

“About Eros? What is it?”

“I have a few friends in the pack,” Agnes began. “And they’ve been telling me all about Lord Eros. Did you know he’s down here because he’s being punished?”

“He messed around with some kind of dating app that destroyed relationships and tore families apart,” Christine added. “What do you think of that?”

Psyche crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve known that since the beginning.”

“Th-then why didn’t he tell us?” Christine stammered. “Why keep it a secret?”

“Because it’s none of your business? Besides, whatever deal the Alaska pack struck with the gods and goddesses of Olympus regarding his punishment is between them. I’m sure the Alpha would be interested to know who was telling pack secrets to outsiders.”

“He’s a manwhore,” Agnes said. “He’s slept with nearly every female member of the Alaska pack, and he doesn’t care about using them or breaking their hearts.”

A knot in her stomach twisted, and that pain in her chest returned. However, she had to think logically. “Of course he did. He’s the god of love and desire. He’s thousands of years old and been with many women over the millennia. And so what if he’s slept with other women in the pack? He’s not sleeping with them now. I can’t be mad at him for things he did before he met me. Now tell me why you’re saying these things about him? Are you trying to get me to break up with him?”

Agnes clucked her tongue. “Psyche, use your head. You said it yourself. He’s thousands of years old and a god. He’s only here temporarily, and soon he’ll go back to Olympus and continue living his immortal life.”

“We’re just thinking of you, baby sis.” Christine attempted to touch her cheek, but Psyche flinched away. “You don’t really think he’s going to stay on earth and mate with you? And give up his immortality?”

She almost said, but Artemis did , but bit her tongue. Artemis was a different person, and just because she gave everything up for Cade, didn’t mean Eros would do the same.

“We’re just looking out for you, Psyche,” Agnes soothed. “We don’t want you to get your heart broken.”

“I—”

“Girls, there you are!” their mother called as she rushed toward them. “Your father wants pictures before we serve the cake. Come on.” She ushered them back toward the main party area, to the center where their father waited, all smiles, waving them over as the photographer waited, his camera raised.

“I’m so happy to have all my children home.” Leo nodded at Theo and Perseus, who were coming up to join them. As her mother said earlier, Theo arrived after the party started, something during dinner. “Smile, everyone!”

As the photographer and his assistants directed them where to stand and how to pose as he clicked away, Psyche couldn’t help but think about what her sisters said. She refused to let the words sink into her brain, and instead searched the room for Eros with her eyes, as if the very sight of him would block those intrusive thoughts from forming. She spotted him sitting at a table with a couple of guests, laughing and chatting. Well, he was the one chatting anyway as he waved his hands as he told what was probably some fascinating story or witty remarks. Most of the guests surrounding him were also women, listening in rapt attention as their eyes practically devoured him. That jealous ache returned to her chest once more.

He wouldn’t even call himself my boyfriend.

It was much too early, anyway, she reminded herself. They’d only known each other for a few weeks. And boyfriend was just a label, she reminded herself. Besides, she was the one who started it, the one who came onto him after his near-death experience too.

But her one-tracked, laser-focused mind kept going back to that list. Almost every single box was ticked on it. Except for the last two.

Puts your well-being above theirs

Plans for the future with you

Everything suddenly felt too much—too noisy, too bright, too overwhelming. She needed to get somewhere quiet. Once the photographers were satisfied, Psyche quietly slipped away from her family and headed out of the living room. She was about halfway up the stairs when she heard a familiar voice.

“There you are.”

The soothing tone made her pause. “Eros,” she said, turning to face him.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Step by step, he drew closer to her.

“Really? You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”

“Enjoying myself?” he scoffed. “You know, I’ve been around for thousands of years, yet I can truly say mortals haven’t changed at all. Some are bad, some are good, some annoying, some truly marvelous.” He frowned. “But you looked overwhelmed. Are you being mindful of your triggers? Have you had time to take deep breaths?”

“I…” She paused as her worries—as well as her sisters’ words—melted away. “It’s been a long night. Long day, actually.”

“Then let’s get you to bed.”

Slipping an arm around her waist, he guided her upstairs, his gaze never leaving hers. Calmness washed over her like a gentle wave, and she allowed him to take the lead. Once they entered her room, he began to undress her, unzipping her dress and letting it fall into a pool of fabric around her. Then, she stepped out of it and her heels. The bra was already built into the dress, so she stood there in nothing but her silk panties.

“I was wrong earlier.” He kissed her neck.

“Wrong?”

“Uh-huh. What I said about the view out your window” Warm lips nuzzled at her before he stepped back, his eyes roaming over her. “ This is stunning.”

His mouth devoured hers in an urgent kiss, and she found herself being lifted into his arms. As he lay her down on top of the mattress, his lips never left hers until they began to trail down her chin and neck. He moved lower, to her right breast, licking a path to her nipple. She gasped as the warm wetness of his mouth wrapped around the bud, sucking hard. Meanwhile, his hand found her other breast, cupping it, and rolling the nipple between his fingers.

She raked a hand through his hair, eliciting a moan from him. It drove him wild when she did this, so she scraped her nails into his scalp, which only made him suck at her breast harder and pluck at her nipples until she, too, was mewling with pleasure.

Shifting her position, he stood up and removed the rest of his clothing, and she scrambled back toward the center of bed, watching him. Gods, she’d seen his naked body so many times already, yet it didn’t fail to stun her—the smooth tanned skin, muscled chest, the perfect set of abs, and the distinct V line of his hips that pointed enticingly down his pelvis, as if showing the path to his beautiful cock, which as of the moment, was already erect and bobbing up and down enticingly.

The mattress dipped as he placed a knee on top of it, then made his way toward her, eyes dark with desire. He caught her mouth with his again as he covered her body, his erection rubbing at her belly. She pushed her hips up at him, wanting him so bad inside her.

“Not yet,” he whispered. “Not until I’ve tasted that delicious pussy.” Hauling himself down her body, he gently slipped her panties off and positioned himself until his head was between her thighs. “Just as I thought. Wet already.”

“Eros!”

There were very few sensations that Psyche liked, but she could absolutely say with 100 percent certainty that she loved Eros’s tongue on her body, especially her pussy. It was pure perfection, the way he teased and tantalized her, pushing her just close enough to the edge before pulling back and then giving her even more. He did it over and over again, and truth be told, as she grew more frustrated, the sharper the sensations felt. And finally, as his mouth closed around her sensitive clit and suckled, she let go, her body shaking with a powerful climax.

“Beautiful,” he declared. “You come for me so beautifully, Psyche. But now…” Grabbing her hips, he hauled her under him. “I need to be inside you.”

She held her breath as the blunt tip of his cock nudged at her, and began to enter her. The stretch, the feeling of being filled, his weight on top of her—everything about this part of sex filled her with anticipation. They began to move together. Hips pushed back and forth. Skin slid against skin. Arms tangled around each other as they pushed together in a dance of desperation and pleasure. At some point his forehead touched against hers, and their eyes locked, his silvery eyes burned like flames.

“Psyche, I lo?—”

He groaned and closed his eyes, a guttural groan smothering whatever it was he was going to say. But she didn’t even notice as her own climax hit her, the spasms wrenching through her, robbing all thought from her head and motor functions from her body.

“Eros.” Did she speak it out loud? She wasn’t sure. As she came down from the heights of her orgasm and sensation returned to her limbs, she sighed in contentment as his body settled on top of her like a weighted blanket. When she felt him move and his soft cock withdraw from her, she shifted to her side, ready for him to press up against her for some post-sex cuddling.

To her surprise, however, he quickly slid off the bed. “Eros?” She sat up and gathered the cool sheets to her chest. “Is anything wrong?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong.” He averted his gaze. “It’s just…I’m unbearably hot. I need to shower to cool off and wash off this sweat. I’ll be right back.”

As she watched him retreat to the bathroom, her sisters’ words once again intruded into her mind. Their words rang in her head over and over again and buried themselves deep into her brain.

She made lists for herself because it helped her understand the world. Yet, she never wondered if Eros had his own list.

Did he have boxes for what makes a girlfriend?

And did she check any of them?