For The Love Of A God by Rosanna Leo (ebook reader for comics .txt) 📕

"Did you escape?” she asked. “Is she looking for you?"

"We're safe, trust me."

"But how...?"

"I may not be a god anymore,” he answered. “But I still have friends in high places."

Her eyes widened, and he watched as a tear spilled from one of them. Unable to help himself, he leaned forward and kissed it away. Loving the feel of her against his lips, but hating the tiny, salty drop for being a vessel for her pain. As he leaned against her, she rubbed her cheek against his, like a lonely cat seeking comfort. Gods, they still couldn't keep their hands off each other, try as they might!

"The others helped you?” she whispered against his neck.

"Yes.” Steeling himself against the overpowering need to take her, he put his hands on her shoulders and set her a little away from him. If he didn't, he wouldn't even be able to finish a sentence. He breathed in deeply. “I should start at the beginning. Nemesis kept me captive for the better part of several months. She did,” he swallowed, “unspeakable things to me. How I didn't die, I'll never know. Something kept me going, and that something was you. My need to see you again gave me strength I never even possessed as a god."

When her face crumpled, he permitted himself a small touch. A light brush of his fingers along her cheekbone. And even such a tiny touch inflamed him to a violent degree. He took another bracing breath and continued. “Luckily, during that time, Dionysus and the twins were trying to help. They called for a council of the gods. They knew the only person who could help me was Zeus, and that he might listen if the other gods got riled up too. But first they had to find them, which took some time. We've been a scattered bunch for so long now, you see. Why, finding Poseidon alone, digging him out from the ocean depths, was a daunting task. I think Dionysus is still water-logged over that one."

Maia blinked a few times as if to clear her head.

"Anyway, they finally got them all together and pleaded my case. Apparently, the debate raged for days on end. Dionysus finally won them over by convincing them if Nemesis could get to me, she could get to any of them.” He chuckled, still incredulous himself. “I'd never have believed it, but they began to side with me. And when the others heard I'd sacrificed my immortality for love, they were enraged. They couldn't believe I'd be driven to such lengths.” He made a face. “We tend to be a cavalier lot, but most gods appreciate a love story. And the mere thought of relinquishing immortality is enough to scare the pants off any of them. My mom and dad were particularly angered, and demanded justice from Zeus."

Maia tried to envision Ares and Aphrodite fighting for their son, but the image only made her head hurt even more.

He continued. “Thankfully, Zeus became pissed at Nemesis. I don't know what did it. Maybe he finally realized he should take some responsibility for his crazy daughter. Whatever it was, it made him mad enough to summon us. Right there, in the middle of the council. I don't know how, but he dragged us up from the hole she'd been hiding me in. And along with us, he summoned Nyx, the mother of Nemesis."

"I thought you said he was afraid of angering Nyx."

"I always thought so, but something changed that day. Whatever it was, Nemesis's parents obviously decided my punishment didn't fit the crime. They figured I'd suffered enough. And somehow, using magic I'll never understand, Zeus and Nyx released me, and decreed their punishment for Nemesis."

She waited.

"A thousand years as the object of someone else's unrequited love.” He paused, grinning. “Have you heard of Pan, Maia?"

"Of course. One of the gods. Part man, part goat. Plays the pipes."

"And he's a randy son of a bitch. Always a little unlucky in love, poor guy. Well, Zeus basically told him he could have at it, as far as Nemesis was concerned. He bound them, man and wife. And she's a beautiful woman, so Pan was more than happy to oblige. The last I saw of them, he was chasing her out of the council chamber, sporting a rather large hard-on.” He laughed. “I think he'll keep her running for some time."

"Oh, dear."

"Indeed.” He watched her begin to laugh quietly, and dared to touch her still-wet cheek. “I missed you so much, Maia. You have no idea how your memory tortured me."

"I missed you too. I've never felt so empty. I wanted to die.” She fell into his arms. “And all I could think was I didn't tell you how much I loved you before you were taken from me."

"I'll never leave you again,” he promised, kissing her lips.

She dragged her face away from his and stared down at her lap through eyes so sad and heavy with unspoken regret. “You gave up everything. For me."

He gathered her to him in a fierce embrace. “I could be stronger than all the gods in the pantheon, Maia, but without you it means nothing. Nothing.” He tipped her chin up to make her look at him. “I knew exactly what I was doing when I made my choice. I'd rather live a human lifetime with you, than live forever without you."

As if unable to hold back any longer, she slid her small hands under his T-shirt and eased it up over his head. And then Maia began to kiss his chest. Eryx closed his eyes as he felt her lips and tongue trace a path over his pecs and stomach. He knew what she was doing. She was kissing his scars. There were a great many of them, but she caressed each one. And with the sweet attention she was lavishing on them, Eryx would not have traded his battered skin for his former unblemished skin. Not