Love's Forge

  Aphrodite’s talent for bringing about “happily ever after” despite numerous obstacles has never helped her straighten out her own love life. She’s been keeping her estranged marriage to Hephaestus a secret from everyone, but his determination to finally make it work and regain her heart has convinced her the time for secrecy may soon be over. But when Hephaestus catches her with Ares, he decides his wife needs to be taught a lesson. Aphrodite stands very little chance against his erotic assault, but she still refuses to promise to be his forever. As he continues making her live out all his fantasies, she must ultimately decide if she only wants his body or if she can truly return his love.

  Love’s Forge

  Olympians, Book Seven

  by

  Marie Medina

  MF, SEX TOYS, FORCED SEDUCTION,

  & LIGHT BONDAGE

  Twisted E-Publishing, LLC.

  www.twistedepublishing.com

  A TWISTED E-PUBLISHING BOOK

  Love’s Forge

  Olympians, Book Seven

  Copyright © 2010, 2015 by Marie Medina

  Second E-book Publication: November 2015

  Previously Published 2010

  Cover design by K Designs

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2015, Twisted Erotica Publishing.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  All characters engaging in sexual acts are over the age of 18.

  Chapter One

  Aphrodite watched Eris and Hermes mingling with their wedding guests. The ceremony had been lovely, and they both seemed very happy. Even Eris’ mother Nyx, a primal deity not known for showing any emotion but anger, looked happy as she stood with her son Hypnos and his lover Daphne. Everywhere Aphrodite looked she saw happy faces, not to mention more happy couples than she’d seen among the gods in a very long time.

  She listened to her son Eros attentively, but she found it hard to keep from smiling. When he’d still lived with her, he’d had little interest in decorating. He’d always kept everything simple. When he’d been married to Psyche, a former mortal, domesticity had been the last thing on his mind. Psyche had never settled into immortality and life among the gods, though no one could blame her after all the fuss that kicked up when Eros fell for a mortal the gods had other plans for. Eros had never adjusted that well to being married, despite how hard he had fought to win immortality for Psyche so they could be together. His new wife was Iris, Hera’s messenger and the goddess of rainbows, and she had changed him in more ways than Aphrodite could count. He wasn’t likely to adopt a dog or try to have children, but his attitudes toward love and life had certainly improved. He was telling Aphrodite all about the new kitchen theme now. He hadn’t mastered every decorating term yet, but he certainly knew what he was talking about in general.

  Iris spoke up when Eros paused for a breath. “The black and white tile for the floor is beautiful. The squares are very tiny, and the white ones have traces of silver in them. The floor really sparkles.”

  Aphrodite nodded. “That sounds lovely.” She glanced back over at a group she’d been watching for several minutes.

  Ares stood with his fiancée Alala. His mother Hera was talking animatedly to them and her other son, Ares’ half-brother Hephaestus. Hephaestus wore a black suit and looked very handsome. He rarely socialized, but he’d been attending all the weddings lately. Aphrodite glanced around at all the couples. Many of them had not been together or even considering each other when her son Eros got married, which hadn’t been that long ago. She turned back toward Hephaestus. His dark hair and eyes contrasted sharply with the white scar on his face. It was shaped like a lightning bolt, and it proved that one Greek myth had been passed down with a decent amount of accuracy.

  Hephaestus had been born to Hera without a father being involved. Such births had happened before, though goddesses such as Persephone and Eris were typically the products of sex-free conceptions. A male child being born this way had seemed odd to everyone, especially Zeus, who suggested Hephaestus did have a father but Hera was hiding the fact because she’d cheated on him. Hera had become angry at his comment more than anything because Zeus had cheated on her far more often than she’d even thought of cheating on him. Hera had seen her son’s birth as a way to rankle Zeus, at least temporarily, and prove she could do something without him. His suggesting she’d cheated had been the last straw. In a fight, Zeus had flung Hephaestus off Mount Olympus and struck him with a lightning bolt. Hephaestus thankfully lived but he carried the scar from the lightning bolt, and the fall had left him with a slight limp. Aphrodite hardly noticed it now, but it certainly got people’s attention. To most of the beings in the immortal realm, the royal family was as entertaining as any primetime drama or reality show, and many had probably been disappointed that Hephaestus was exactly like other one-parent deities and not the product of a scandalous affair.

  As Hera talked on, Aphrodite sighed. She didn’t like them talking together for many reasons. First and foremost, Hera was determined to find out who Hephaestus was in love with, and she had enlisted Aphrodite’s help, not knowing Aphrodite was in fact the mystery girl. Hera also did not know Aphrodite and Hephaestus had been secretly married for years. It wasn’t a true marriage at all, but Hephaestus had made it clear he intended to change that. His determination not to give Aphrodite her freedom from the marriage had caused her more than a little anxiety, which in turn had made her confide her secret in Alala. She hadn’t been concerned until Hephaestus had admitted that during an argument he himself had confessed to Ares that he was in love with Aphrodite. They were half-brothers, of course, but no one would know that from observing them together. Ares was a lot like both of his parents. Hephaestus rarely resembled Hera in any way. He kept his distance from everyone, even his mother, though Aphrodite knew her love and approval meant more to him than he let anyone know.

  Aphrodite sighed again as she watched Hera talking. Ares and Alala looked so tense she knew not only that they had probably confided in each other and discussed the subject but also that Hera was probably on the subject right this moment. She wondered what they had said. Ares was Eros’ father, though he and Aphrodite had long ago decided they were wrong for each other. They had been lovers for many years, and in some ways they would always be close, despite some residual issues. He understood her and her weaknesses. After their final break up, Aphrodite had tried to help him see how much Alala loved him through a spell, which then backfired and nearly killed him. Everything had turned out fine in the end, but her friendships with him and with Hera had been severely tested by her mistake. Alala had reached out to her first, and she’d been grateful Ares had found someone so kind and forgiving.

  Hera laughed loudly and walked away from the group after kissing both her sons on the cheek. Once she was gone, all three of them looked down, but after a few seconds Ares looked up and met Aphrodite’s gaze. She turned away before Hephaestus looked up and noticed her watching.

  “Mother, what’s wrong with you?”

  Aphrodite looked at Eros. His eyes had narrowed, and for a moment he looked a lot like Ares. She decided to tell the truth. “I’m sorry. I was thinking of Hephaestus.”

  “Why is this such a big deal? No one else is allowed as much privacy in the romance department. It’s impossible to get involved around here without everyone knowing about it. I couldn’t get a moment’s peace for people giving me advice about Iris once the news had spread.”

  “You’re right, though
I seem to recall you seeking Hermes out to get information about his fellow messenger. The gossip train runs at top speed around here,” Aphrodite said. “He shouldn’t be treated differently, but I gave my word. I won’t tell anyone who she is.”

  Iris watched her keenly. “He still must mean a lot to you. Keeping a secret from Hera and Zeus is a heavy responsibility.”

  Aphrodite looked into her eyes and didn’t blink. “He does. He’s one of my closest friends.”

  Iris paused. “I do wonder what kind of woman he’d like. He’s so quiet and private. Is that the kind of girl he goes for? Or do opposites really attract?”

  Aphrodite smiled, even as she wondered if Iris was fishing for a clue or maybe even suspected the truth. “I think everyone will be surprised, if things work out.”

  “Pleasantly surprised?” Eros asked. “The unpleasant surprises tend to end in ways much uglier than divorce.”

  “I hope everyone will think it’s pleasant,” Aphrodite said. She felt grateful neither of them had commented directly on her long ago and supposedly over and done with affair with Hephaestus. She glanced back and saw the group that had held her attention had dispersed. She spotted Alala spinning slowly on the dance floor with Hephaestus, and a moment later someone touched her shoulder.

  “Wanna dance?” Ares asked. He winked at Iris, and then he nodded at Eros.

  Eros nodded back and took Iris’ hand as they turned to mingle again. Ares and Eros would never be close, but Aphrodite was relieved the tension between them had dissipated. At least that part of her life was drama-free for the moment.

  “Sure.” She followed him out onto the floor. She knew the teasing would start in no time.

  But it didn’t.

  “The breeze out here is nice. I like receptions that are held outside,” he said as they swayed to the music.

  “Yes, it is nice. It was pretty the day we had Eros’ reception here.” She looked around as she tried to think of more small talk. It seemed absurd she and Ares would ever spend any time making small talk. That absurdity further proved he wanted to say something about what he knew. “Where are you and Alala going to have your reception?”

  “On the beach. Iris and Layla are arranging everything.”

  Aphrodite nodded. Layla was Poseidon’s wife and a former mortal. Unlike Eros and Psyche, she and Poseidon had found real happiness and considered the immortality Zeus had granted her a blessing. Layla and Iris did seem very close, though Aphrodite hadn’t gotten to know Layla that well yet. “Well, after you and Alala make it official we’ll only be waiting for Hypnos and Daphne to set a date.”

  Ares looked down into her eyes, and she felt as if her face was on fire. “I think they’re opting for a private ceremony, and then a party afterward at Daphne’s father’s house.” He twirled her around and then brought her back into his arms. “There might be another wedding, you know.”

  “I’m not sure Apollo and Harmonia want to get married. They’re moving in together but have no other plans. As mother of the bride, I guess I’ll be first to know.” She pushed back a giggle. She would not let him see how nervous he was making her. Alala and Hephaestus were across the dance floor, but what if someone else heard them?

  “I wasn’t thinking of them.”

  “You weren’t?”

  He shook his head slowly. “There’s one I’d like to attend though, if the girl says yes.”

  She scanned the immediate area for Hera. Satisfied the queen of the gods was far enough away, she asked, “Why did he tell you?”

  “I reprimanded him for hurting you.”

  “You did?” She found it hard to believe. Hephaestus’ confession had come very shortly after Aphrodite had nearly killed Ares. Why would Ares have cared? She’d told him how Hephaestus’ words had hurt her when he’d broken things off with her and refused to see her for years. She told Ares about their fights the same day she’d finally confessed to Ares that Eros was his son. She’d felt so vulnerable that day she’d been relieved to confide in Ares, but now she wished she hadn’t been quite so open. She’d wanted her freedom, which had been the subject of all her arguments with Hephaestus. She still, in ways, resented how much his words had hurt her, even when they’d been in response to her saying she wanted nothing to do with him. She’d let everyone believe he’d dumped her for cheating on him with Ares. It had made life easier for a time, and it had helped her keep her secrets.

  She thought back to those confusing days. For a very long time, Eros’ paternity had been a mystery. He’d been conceived while she was officially with Hephaestus but still infatuated with Hermes and sleeping with Ares. Most had always known the truth, but her unwillingness to confirm it had made it fun for others to speculate. All three men had reacted differently. Hermes, though sure he was not the father, had never denied it. He’d deemed it a petty argument, a situation not worthy of his notice. Ares was stubborn and proud. Though sure he was Eros’ father, he had never fought to prove it. Hephaestus had told her to leave, told her he didn’t care. She knew it had been said in anger, since she was wearing his ring but carrying another man’s child, but it had still hurt. Considering the long weeks of begging for her freedom, the pain she’d felt at his angry rejection had surprised her. It still did sometimes. Only recently, after Hermes had fallen in love with Eris and Hephaestus had told her he still loved her, had Aphrodite told Ares and everyone else the truth about her son. Both Eros and Ares seemed happier now, and that was what had mattered the most to her. She wished it could be so easy to make herself happy.

  “Stop torturing yourself,” Ares said softly.

  “Don’t do that.” She hated it when he said things like that. It felt like an invasion of her privacy. Being lovers for so long had given him the ability to read her far too well. She felt he only meant the best, but she wanted to think through all of this for herself.

  “Cheer up. You look incredibly sad, and this is a happy occasion. People will notice.”

  She tried to smile. “You’re right. The last thing I need is people thinking I still have feelings for Hermes. Especially considering what happened at Eros’ wedding.” She laughed, glancing into the woods where she and Hermes had wound up having sex. He’d been under a lust spell, and she’d been trying to help, but it had been the final blow to her affair with Ares. She hoped he would tease her about that instead of pursuing the subject of her and Hephaestus.

  “He seems hopeful. Are you two going to try again?”

  “Hephaestus?” she asked. She’d rather have talked about her former schoolgirl-like crush on Hermes, actually, but she thought it would be senseless to argue. Even teasing him about his immature reaction to finding her with Hermes probably wouldn’t work. Stubbornness was one thing they would always have in common.

  He laughed. “Unless you have another secret husband.”

  “Shhhh! Do you mind?”

  “I mind you being so stubborn. He only told me he loved you. Alala told me you two are actually already married. It was a bit of a shock, but you could be happy if only you’d try. We’re not close, but he’s a good man. He’ll certainly treat you better than I usually did.”

  She didn’t want to think about that. Not yet. As much as she cared for Hephaestus, something was missing. Something kept her from giving her heart to him. Did the Fates have other plans for one or both of them? She couldn’t be sure. His friendship meant so much to her, and it had been a hard relationship to work through, given their circumstances. She thought nothing could ruin it, and he’d even assured her she would always have his friendship, yet she was afraid to take the chance by changing their relationship too much. She had told him they could try again, even as she’d warned him she didn’t have his confidence regarding them as a couple. His refusal to free her from the marriage even after sending her away while she was pregnant with Eros proved his patience and determination and perhaps even the depth of his love, but would they be enough in the end if she couldn’t already return his feelings?


  “My stubbornness isn’t your problem anymore.”

  “Oh, I’m very glad it isn’t. I wish him all the luck in the world.”

  “What about me?”

  “You don’t need any.” He kissed her cheek and walked away as the music ended.

  She looked across the dance floor at Hephaestus, but then turned away. She had no intention of running into his arms simply because Ares thought they were right for each other. That was a question she needed to answer on her own.

  * * * *

  Lachesis watched Aphrodite walking away from Hephaestus. He watched her for a few seconds and then turned away with Alala to talk to someone else. He wanted to pursue her, but he didn’t. Lachesis did not like having her plans stalled so needlessly. Her sisters Clotho and Atropos foresaw where each individual’s destiny began and where it ended. Lachesis determined everything that came between those two points, and thus she had far more power than they did. Rarely, they could alter the start or end of a destiny, when the circumstances allowed. She could alter an entire destiny with the tiniest changes. She looked around at the wedding guests. She smiled at Eris and Hermes, the two deities most devoted to the Fates. Despite some occasional willfulness, they both served the Fates well and always put their faith in them, unlike most of the other immortals. Their finding happiness together had made her incredibly happy. They were perfect for one another in a way that was incredibly rare.

  Lachesis’ gaze roamed over every face. No one dared look her in the eye. Most of them feared the power of the Fates even more than they did the wrath of the Furies. Lachesis didn’t care about that so much. She cared that despite their fear most immortals didn’t give the Fates the reverence they deserved.

  Lachesis had already told Hephaestus once that he had to fight for his bride. He’d said that he understood, but his idea of fighting simply wouldn’t do. Did he truly intend to be her ‘best friend’ until he finally wore her down? It was a beginning, she could admit, since they had spent so much time not talking after their secret marriage and the fights that had led to them not talking for years. She smiled. That marriage scheme had been a wonderful plan in the beginning. Hephaestus had chained her to the bed during sex, and then he had slipped a ring he had forged onto her finger, refusing to let her go until she agreed to be his forever. She could not break free of the chains or remove the ring. He’d made her exchange vows with him before agreeing to finally free her. She’d fled, and Lachesis had expected Hephaestus to pursue her. He hadn’t. She’d come back weeks later to beg for her freedom, but he’d refused. Again, Lachesis had expected him to take more action, and again she was disappointed. His inaction had resulted in a fight that drove her into Ares’ arms. Eros had been conceived that night, and his birth had made Hephaestus lose hope. He’d sent her away when she told him, and then he’d left her alone for a long time, giving her the illusion of freedom after months of trying to gain it.