Page 11 of The Perfect Matchmaking (Cupids & Goddesses #2)

WHERE JEALOUSY REARS ITS NOT-SO-UGLY HEAD (PAR FOR THE COURSE)

H er problems were multiplying.

Her ankle was swelling quickly.

Her shoe was a dead loss.

And per every romance novel ever written, her lacy thong—because while she was a cliché, she was a very fashionable cliché—was uncomfortably wet.

She was uncomfortably wet herself.

Athena, her gentle hands, her bedroom eyes, and her strong, sinewy arms were making her tremble with desire.

Zeus, could she be more predictable? More purple prose-y?

Be that as it may, as Athena easily walked to the suite Aphrodite had instructed her to march towards, she couldn’t help but revel in how deeply affected she was. By the proximity, by the sheer, effortless strength, by the maddening scent that was always present when she came close enough.

How long had it been since she’d felt this rush of heat, this giddy excitement?

And could she trust herself to enjoy it?

To allow it to happen? Her heart and some other parts of her body were screaming for her to let go, but her mind was paralyzed by old fear.

Zeus, gods, the universe itself. Being used, being told what to do, never being allowed free will.

Was this a setup? How were the Olympians involved? And how were the cupids?

As Athena put her down on the white leather couch in her luxurious penthouse, she sighed. No, the Goddess of Love very rarely made her own choices. Epochs passed and still nothing much changed.

“Thank you.”

The considerate eyes looked at her without expectation as Athena knelt at her feet again.

Maybe it was that utterly guileless expression that made Aphrodite extend her hand and mirror Athena’s earlier gesture by cupping her chin.

The abovementioned consideration left the features she had been admiring, replaced with blatant desire and obvious pleasure.

Athena made a sound that was almost a purr and leaned into the touch, and Aphrodite smiled at the decidedly cat-like behavior.

“This is such a sexy look on you.”

Athena’s lips twitched slightly, and Aphrodite couldn’t help but trace the lower one with her thumb.

Silky soft and oh so hot. Scorching. A pink tongue reached out and gave the digit a quick lick, and she gasped at the unexpected images the gesture evoked in her.

That very tongue licking her, her body tangled in dark satin sheets, Athena holding her hips down, pleasuring her.

So sure of herself, of her power, of her skill.

Driving her high, higher, to the very peak, then pushing her over and catching her before starting all over again.

She swallowed quickly, trying to shake the vision away. As she refocused her attention on the task at hand, Athena’s eyes flew open, and the intelligent gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts, reading them with ease.

“You like me on my knees in front of you?”

The lips moved under her thumb, sending tendrils of warmth up Aphrodite’s arm.

“I can’t deny that it is an attractive image.”

“Are you playing games with me, Dite?”

And just like that, cold reason broke the intimate and decidedly sexual bubble they’d found themselves in. Well, she was dealing with Wisdom personified. Very carefully, she removed her hand, fingers tingling with the vestiges of heat as she lost contact with the gorgeous skin.

“No. I apologize. I didn’t mean to give out mixed signals.”

“You weren’t. At least I don’t think so. You can’t help being who you are. And everyone wants Love.”

Again, how very Athena-like to hit the bullseye on the very first attempt. Aphrodite’s smile tasted bitter on her own lips.

“Hence this cannot happen.”

“Because you think I’m falling for your godly persona? For Love herself?”

Falling? Hades in Hell.

Her chest was so tight she could barely breathe. But she needed to see this through before she could hyperventilate over potential feelings that Athena may or may not be developing for her.

“Well, I’d be foolish to try to escape the inescapable.

Or as you said, unavoidable. I am Love and neither you nor I can help that.

” They shared a look of such deep comprehension, a look that only two beings who had lived their whole lives by the same rules understood.

She was Love and Athena was Wisdom, and they couldn’t shed these mantles.

They had to make the best of what they were given.

“I think you are selling yourself very, very short, Love. Yes, you are that, but you are so much more. I don’t know you that well, but what I do see is beautiful and brave and vulnerable, and I want to know more. You make me want to know more. Which is rare for me.”

“Rare? You’re the epitome of curiosity and scientific method, darling!” Aphrodite tried to laugh it away, but Athena’s hands were holding hers with earnest sincerity.

“Science, experiments, knowledge. But knowing someone, really knowing, seeing and being seen? That is an openness I have granted few. And I believe you’ve granted it to even fewer. What are you afraid one will see if you open up? You gave me glimpses and I saw nothing but beauty, inside and out.”

Well, if Aphrodite had been apprehensive before, these types of declarations usually did her in and sent her running for the hills.

Her ankle precluded her from taking flight, but while she sensed she was gearing up for the fight response, it was freeze that took over.

Athena wanted to know her, to see her. And Wisdom liked what she had seen so far.

Aphrodite’s heart thudded loudly in her ears and she tried desperately to find something to say, something that would divert Athena and herself from the possibilities that were surely impossible. Painfully so.

“Darling, Athena, you are overthinking this.”

Athena, undeterred, just smiled.

“You can’t accuse me of being the brains in this room and not allow overthinking!”

“I see all those platitudes have gone to your already big head.” Aphrodite couldn’t help but run her fingers through the silk-soft strands. Why couldn’t she keep her hands to herself?

“I’ll admit that my ego isn’t small in certain aspects, but neither is yours, Dite.

You are who you are, and you were always unapologetic about it.

Why are you hesitant now? I’m by no means an expert…

” Athena’s eyes flitted away for a second, her palm tracing up and down Aphrodite’s calf, in what she suspected was an entirely unconscious caress.

“For all the clumsiness in dealings of the heart that you profess, I would say you aren’t a novice at all. In fact, some things speak of quite the contrary…” Aphrodite trailed off, her eyes watching Athena’s hand suddenly stop and retreat in a hurry.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize?—“

“Involuntary inappropriate touching aside, I too keep hearing about your game, Athena.”

Flushed bright pink, Athena stood up so quickly, Aphrodite had to crane her neck to continue watching in fascination as the color spread from her cleavage to her cheekbones.

“Now who has been listening to gossip?”

“Oh no, don’t turn this whole thing around on me, player.” Athena ducked her head, and Aphrodite again marveled at how such a beautiful creature could be so completely oblivious to her own attractiveness or reputation.

“Clio…”

“Yes, Clio. Very much Clio. By way of Erato, but you know how muses talk.”

Wringing her hands, even more flushed than before, Athena stood in the center of the room, seemingly lost for words.

“Ah…”

“You are so utterly adorable. Honestly, can you blame me?”

“Blame you for what?” Athena turned to face her, that earnestness and guilelessness back on her features.

“For wanting to rip your clothes off? Or let you rip mine off, whichever you’d prefer. Though, I suspect you are very much the hold you down, fuck you blind kind of woman.”

“Dite…” The name came out as a low moan, and Aphrodite wanted to jump her.

Right there and then. Forget her doubts, forget her concerns of being cornered, being used again, about her free will and her own choices.

Athena was everything in this very moment.

Shy and awkward and gorgeous and strong and smart and beyond sexy.

Aphrodite could drink her up, one greedy gulp at a time.

Like ambrosia. Like Veuve Clicquot. She wanted to get drunk on the long slender lines of Athena’s body, wanted to make her lose all trappings of that time-honed control and make her howl at the moon.

But she couldn’t. Her fear was too great.

Her concerns were too real. Her freedom was still worth everything and more.

And taking a chance… She didn’t think she had it in her.

Not anymore. All her chances had been thrown in her face, resulting in her becoming a prisoner of her own circumstances or of her own desires.

“Go, Athena. We can’t…”

And just like that, like erasing a whiteboard, the lost, earnest expression on Athena’s countenance was gone, leaving only ruthless, cold reason.

“You mean, you can’t. And you won’t.” Well, add inner strength to the list of all those attractive characteristics. But, of course, Athena had a spine of steel. And Aphrodite was always honest, even in moments like these.

“Yes.”

Aphrodite turned away from the all too knowing gaze. In front of her, the garish lights of the Strip cut at her eyes with their brightness, but she kept looking, relishing the pain. In the background, the door opened and quietly closed. She was alone. She always had been.

“You know this is very chic. You might even start a new trend.” Erato patted her forearm as they slowly made their way down to the ballroom.

“I’d rather you not mock me in my hour of need.” Leaning on sarcasm usually worked for her. However, of late, Erato seemed to be utterly immune.

“I thought Athena carrying you to your suite would’ve taken care of all your needs. Don’t tell me Clio exaggerated when she raved about the Goddess of Wisdom’s natural abilities.”