Poseidon's Bride (Olympians, Book One) Read online

  “You’d never fantasized about this man before?”

  She shook her head. “I wouldn’t even say I fantasize that much. But since yesterday…” Her voice trailed off as she finally noticed her surroundings. “Uh…where are we?”

  “My yacht.”

  “How did we get here?”

  He smiled. “I brought us here. I thought you might like to have breakfast in bed and enjoy a nice view of the ocean as well.” He summoned a cool breeze to open the window next to the bed and watched Layla’s eyes widen as she looked from him to the window and back again.

  “So it wasn’t all a crazy dream?” She stared out over the waves.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I meant every word I said to you. I didn’t take you lightly.” He took her chin and turned her head so he could look into her eyes. “We’re meant for each other, for all eternity.”

  “Eternity’s a long time,” she finally said.

  “And it would be agony without you.” He bent to kiss her, but she pulled away.

  “How can I be with you forever?”

  He didn’t have an answer for her. He knew the Fates were responsible for all this, but they wouldn’t be able to give him what he needed the most—immortality for Layla. That would depend on Zeus and Hera. Hera he could be sure of, but Zeus was going to be another matter.

  “The Fates brought you to me for a reason. I would not feel such love for you if we could not be together. It is possible for us to be together forever. Can you trust me for now?” As he explained this to her, he argued with himself as well. No matter what task he might have to face, he would do whatever was required to win Layla as his true, immortal bride.

  To his relief, she smiled. “Of course I can.” A teasing glint flickered in her eyes. “You’ll have to forgive me. I am new to the world of the gods.”

  “You’re a charming addition. I imagine my brothers will try to seduce you, but I daresay I’ll keep you so satisfied you won’t even give them a second glance.”

  He tried to kiss her again, but she evaded his embrace and scurried out of bed. “Hmmm…it might be fun to have a few gods chasing after me. Especially if they’re all as sexy as you are. Zeus and Ares and…oh, shoot, I’m going blank.”

  He laughed and stood up to gather her into his arms. “My brothers are Zeus and Hades. Ares is Zeus and Hera’s son. You’ll get it all straight eventually.”

  “One big, happy royal family, I hope?”

  He laughed. “On occasion.” He kissed her cheek and ran his hands up and down her sides. “Now, what does my lady want for breakfast? Any wish of yours is my command.”

  “I’m starving. Some pancakes would be lovely. And maybe some fruit too.”

  “Sounds perfect.” He held up a white silk robe for her to step into before he put a fresh pair of pants on.

  “Can we eat outside?” she asked. “I’d love to have a better view.”

  “As I said, any wish is my command.” He kissed her slowly, then whispered, “And I do mean any wish.”

  She giggled as she tied the robe around her waist, and he told himself she needed nourishment now more than sex. There’d be plenty of time to play later.

  With a thought, he conjured up pancakes and fruit, along with juice and coffee as he led her out onto the deck. When they got there, the table was set beautifully and Hera was seated in a third chair. Her long, black hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore a simple, black sundress.

  Hera turned and smiled at Layla. She stood up. “The first thing you’ll have to get used to is guests literally popping in at any moment.” She kissed a very surprised Layla on the cheek. “I’m Hera, queen of the gods and best friend to this bad boy, so I had to be the first to welcome you.”

  “Thank you,” Layla said. “I hope everyone else will be as welcoming.”

  Poseidon calmed down when he heard Layla’s relieved response. She seemed glad to meet another Olympian, once she’d gotten over the initial surprise. He’d been ready to toss Hera overboard, but now he felt that instinct had been selfish. Hera meant well, and had a wonderful way with mortals, but he couldn’t help not wanting to share Layla yet.

  Hera smiled up at Poseidon. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we could talk about our mutual friend.”

  Poseidon knew she meant Zeus. “Any ideas?” He pulled Layla’s chair out for her, and she sat down. He put his hand protectively on her shoulder as Hera took her own seat again.

  “Not yet, but the good thing is we’ll be sure to catch him in a good mood. He’s quite taken with his latest conquest.”

  Poseidon didn’t think catching him in a good mood would matter because, as soon as he found out Poseidon had moved on and recovered from the loss of Gloria, Zeus’s good mood would go right out the window, as would his desire for Gloria. He felt his chest constrict as he thought of Zeus showing up unexpectedly, possibly spiriting Layla away somewhere. His brother wouldn’t understand how special she was or what she meant to him. He’d only think of her as Poseidon’s latest plaything and try to take her for himself.

  Poseidon finally sat down. “I think our best strategy is to be prepared for anything. He can’t deny me outright, so he’ll have to set a challenge of some kind. I’m sure I’ll be able to meet it.”

  Layla had been pouring syrup on her pancakes, but she seemed to lose interest in them. “How hard will this challenge be? Are we talking about harrowing Hell and lightning bolts blowing up mountains?”

  Poseidon stared down into the bowl of fruit in front of him. “Let’s start over. We don’t want to alarm you, but I will have to do something…well…out of the ordinary. I don’t want you to be afraid though. I can’t be killed.”

  Layla nodded and smiled. She seemed reassured, but Poseidon still felt bad for alarming her.

  Hera speared a slice of pineapple, then joined him in soothing Layla. “Poseidon can handle anything. He is second only to Zeus in power, and the Fates didn’t work all this out for nothing. If Zeus does anything treacherous, it will backfire.”

  “It sounds like you and your brother don’t get along very well,” Layla said as she turned her attention back to her breakfast.

  Poseidon shrugged. “It comes and goes. We both get a bit too high and mighty every now and again, so we balance each other. However, he seems to have a sore spot when it comes to women. For one thing, he’s jealous of my friendship with Hera. He has problems, at times, understanding a relationship between a man and a woman being successful without sex. He also can’t stand it when a woman prefers me to him. He wants to prove he’s better, more to me than to the women.”

  “Have you two had sex though?” Layla asked.

  “What?” Poseidon looked at Hera to make sure she wasn’t doing anything, but she was eating her fruit as though this were a normal conversation.

  “I mean, well, you know.” Layla seemed to fumble for her words. “Isn’t there a lot of sex between all of you? Or is that just part of the legends?”

  Hera smiled. “I’ll let Poseidon answer that.”

  Layla turned red. “I’m not prudish or anything, but I think it’s something I should know, considering how serious you seem to be about us.”

  Poseidon took a deep breath. “I’ve slept with many women, mortal and immortal. I have slept with Hera and Aphrodite and many other goddesses many times, very recently in fact. I had a wife once, Amphitrite, but we separated centuries ago.”

  “I’ve never heard of her,” Layla said.

  Poseidon stared down at his fruit again. Instead of having a jealous fit, Layla was interested in his little mythology lesson. He took a deep breath. “Her father was Nereus, better known as the Old Man of the Sea, so she was sea nymph and the most beautiful of his fifty daughters. We were from the same world, so it worked out for a while, but we grew apart.” He looked up into her eyes. “I could continue to ramble, but the point is I’ve had lots of sex. I will say I was faithful to my wife while we were married
. Our kind doesn’t marry often, and we are almost always unswervingly faithful.”

  “Almost always?”

  “He’s talking about me and Zeus,” Hera said. “We oscillate between being madly in love and trying to make each other insanely jealous.”

  Poseidon laughed when Layla smiled at Hera. “Hera and Zeus are different, but I really meant that if I say I will love you and be faithful to you forever, I mean it. This did all start just yesterday, but we were brought together by the Fates.” He took her hand in his. “Not even Zeus can fight that.”

  “That’s reassuring, but it sounds like you have rough seas ahead, if you don’t mind the expression.” Layla squeezed his hand.

  “There are three of us for a reason. Zeus is supreme, but Hades and I are very powerful. We know how to rein one another in.”

  Hera nodded between bites. “It can be very entertaining.”

  Both women laughed. Poseidon was amazed how at ease Layla was. Hera could have been gossiping and joking with Aphrodite. Then inspiration hit him. “Perhaps you should talk to Aphrodite,” he suggested. “If she comes up with a satisfactory challenge and you back it, I think Zeus will have no choice but to accept it.”

  “That might work. This is her department, after all. It even makes sense the challenge should come from her, and I’m sure she’ll be more than willing to help.” She wiped her mouth and stood up. “I’ll leave you two alone for now. I just wanted to let you know someone is on your side.” She smoothed her dress, then moved toward the side of the yacht. She looked back and winked at them. “I have a date with Proteus. I’ll catch you kids later.” She jumped over the side and disappeared under the water.

  “Where’s she going?” Layla asked.

  Poseidon smiled. “Proteus is another water deity. He can change his shape at will.”

  “Oh,” Layla said. After a few seconds, she blushed, obviously having realized the implications. “Well, sounds like she’ll be busy for a while.”

  He took a strawberry from her plate and brought it to her lips. “So will we.”

  Chapter Four

  Layla moaned. Her hands were wrapped around a wooden bar with her wrists chained to it. She hung suspended against one of the walls in Poseidon’s underwater home. The sea seeped into the room from above, trickling over her body in a gentle waterfall.

  If she hadn’t loved the sea before, she would certainly love it now. The warm water felt incredible against her skin, as though dozens of fingers caressed her. She smiled, imagining that, through the water, Poseidon really could be touching her all over her body. The salty taste on her lips reminded her of his kiss, and thinking of that reminded her of where he was kissing her now.

  His tongue moved in and out of her pussy in strong, fluid strokes. His hands kneaded her ass as his middle finger glided in and out of her anus. Her thighs trembled as his tongue and his finger delved deeper, causing her to writhe in his arms. Her feet just barely touched the ground, and she had to pull herself up by her arms to maintain her balance as he pleasured her.

  He brought her just to the brink, then his lips and tongue stopped and he looked up at her. She whimpered, looking down into his blue eyes and seeing the mischief still to come.

  “What does my beautiful captive want?” He flicked his tongue out so that it just barely grazed her clit.

  “I want to come,” she said.

  “Hmmm,” he said, running a finger up her thigh. His other finger was still partly in her ass, so he wiggled it just a little bit. “I think I could grant such a favor, as it would please me as well.” His other hand moved up to her pussy and one finger slid inside it. She sighed and his thumb began to work her clit. He slid two more fingers in, moving them quickly in and out.

  Layla tightened her pussy walls, trying to take his fingers deeper. Her entire body hummed as her orgasm began slowly, then hit her deep in her core. She threw her head back and let the water flow over her face as Poseidon removed his fingers and lapped at her pussy, prolonging her pleasure by gently running his tongue around her clit.

  When her orgasm had subsided and she hung limp on the bar, Poseidon took her down and cradled her in his arms. She felt silk on her skin and opened her eyes to see him placing her on a canopied bed and lying next to her. She smiled and cuddled close. Being a captive of the great god Poseidon wasn’t so bad after all.

  She ran her hands up his chest. “I seem to have gotten free somehow. My keeper must have a special task for me.”

  He kissed her sweetly, running his tongue across her lips. “Perhaps I do. The nights can be so long and lonely. I need someone to make sure I stay warm and see to my every need.”

  She wrapped her fingers around his cock. “I can think of one thing you need.” She leaned closer, running her hand up and down his shaft. “A royal taster.”

  Poseidon laughed and squeezed her ass. “Your resourcefulness pleases me. You shall be rewarded.” He kissed her neck, then whispered in her ear, “Over and over again.”

  She moved down his body and positioned herself between his legs, unable to hide her delight. She’d never played out any kind of sexual fantasies with a man before, but she could feel herself developing a taste for it. She liked their domination and submission game. It began with him bending her to his will, playing the powerful seducer taking what he wanted. Then she would turn on him and become the master, having been awakened by his passion and then bending him to her whims. She imagined Poseidon chained to the wall the way she had been as she ran her tongue over his cock and then took the head into her mouth.

  He groaned and reached down to place his hands over hers, lacing his fingers with her own. She took his cock as far into her mouth as she could, surprised how far she could let it slide down her throat. She’d always been afraid of gagging before, but now all she cared about was giving him pleasure. He squeezed her hands as she swirled her tongue, then began to move him in and out of her mouth slowly. She licked the head, alternating long strokes with playful nips at his cock. She could tell from his breathing and the thrusting of his hips she was driving him wild. She soon quickened her pace as she listened to him moaning in ecstasy. His hot cream poured into her mouth, and she licked up every drop as it flowed tangy and salty onto her tongue.

  It seemed to take him a long time to catch his breath, and she couldn’t help teasing him. “Have I pleased you?” she asked in a whisper.

  “In every way.” He looked into her eyes, cradling her face. “My love.”

  * * * *

  Zeus ran his hands through his long, blond hair and looked from Hera to Aphrodite, unable to hide his surprise. “Three days ago, we were fighting over another woman. What happened?”

  “The Fates stepped in,” Aphrodite said. “Ask Lachesis, the assigner of destiny, if you doubt it. I’ve never seen Poseidon like this. You could offer him a hundred beautiful women, but he’d hardly look at any of them. He is truly happy, and he deserves to be so.”

  Zeus waved the suggestion away. The Fates didn’t like to be disturbed, and he certainly wasn’t going to anger them for something so trivial. “I don’t doubt you, but I think your proposal is too easy.”

  “Not so easy as you think,” Hera said. “It would take Layla several years to bear Poseidon three sons. She would still be mortal and able to die from any number of things before that was accomplished. Therein lies the challenge.”

  He considered this, then shook his head. “But, if she dies, Poseidon would never forgive me. And he’d be miserable for all eternity.” When Zeus looked back up at Hera and Aphrodite, they were staring at him. “You want to say something, ladies?”

  Aphrodite spoke up. “You only begrudgingly grant immortality, and you’ve often said you’d love to see your brother miserable until the end of time. You mean you actually care about Poseidon’s feelings? A mortal girl aspiring to wed a god? You want them to be happy?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? Don’t act so surprised.” He knew exactly what had helped to recently change his
feelings on such things, but he wasn’t about to bring it up. His fling with Gloria had come to an abrupt end when he’d called her Hera as she licked honey off his cock. He and Hera had their rough spots, but he had to admit he didn’t like how accustomed she was getting to finding other men to play with. He’d always been jealous, but lately those feelings had become uncontrollable, and he could find nothing that would give him relief. If Poseidon had found a woman he could love for all eternity, as he most likely had since the Fates had a hand in it, who was he stand in their way?

  “It’s not like you. You should be licking your lips for this opportunity to torture Poseidon, but instead you’re worried he might not get what he wants,” Hera said, narrowing her eyes at him.

  He imagined him and Hera making love on a cushion in his mirrored bedroom and looked into her eyes so she could see what he was thinking. She smiled slowly and licked her lips.

  Aphrodite cleared her throat. “I get it now. You’re feeling generous because you’ve realized you still love your wife. Happens every hundred years. Let’s move on.”

  Zeus laughed. “You could join us.”

  Hera wrapped her arms around Aphrodite’s waist. “Or he could watch us.”

  “Whatever my love desires, she shall have,” he said.

  Aphrodite rolled her eyes, but then she smiled and played with a lock of Hera’s hair. “If he’s a good boy…and gives us what we want.”

  “I already know what I will do. If the Fates ordained this, nothing we could do will stop it, but I want to satisfy my own doubts,” Zeus said. “So the challenge is this. She must prove she really loves him.”

  “How?” Aphrodite asked. “I won’t allow you to read her mind. That wouldn’t be fair, and it’s no way to welcome her to our world.”

  “You’ll be pleased, I assure you. Can’t you just let me handle this?”

  The women looked at each other. Hera finally said, “If your heart is in the right place, maybe you won’t foul it up.”