Page 138 of Zeus

He shakes his head, a smile on his handsome face as he lowers his mouth to mine.

This kiss is different, and I don't know if it's finally letting go of hope and settling into assurance that makes it better, but there's no rush. I don't have this urge to take what he has to offer as quickly as possible because I know the rejection will come sooner than I want.

There's no fear of him changing his mind, no worry that he'll ever walk away from me again.

I told him to forget the past, that the history of what has happened to him and between us that caused us pain is no longer relevant, and I have to do the same.

This is our journey.

Our story.

And it was always meant to lead us right to this moment.

This kiss.

But I don't have to focus or dwell on the past to know that every single thing that happened was always going to bring us right here.

I press my tongue to his lips, demanding entrance, and with a moan and a hand at the back of my head, he grants it readily.

Our tongues tangle, the warmth of his lips against mine, the place I always want to come back to, no matter the kind of day I've had. I want this with him with every breath I breathe for the rest of my life.

And true to form, he fucking pulls back the second I let my hand roam over the front of his fucking jeans, seconds away from pulling his zipper down and gaining access to his hard cock.

"Nope," he says as he stands.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I growl. "Change your fucking mind already?"

He steps in closer, positioning himself between my legs, both of his huge hands cupping the sides of my face, urging me to look up at him.

"I want nothing more than to take this further than we've gone before," he whispers, making my heart race with the possibilities. "But dead or alive, hatred or seeking revenge, I'm not fucking you on my parents' bed."

He presses a chaste kiss to my forehead before once again stepping out of my reach.

"Your old room?" I offer.

He shakes his head.

"I don't want any of our new memories tainted by this fucking house, but I do have a hotel room. It's not a luxury suite or anything."

"But it has a bed? A couch at least? Hell, just a simple bench for you to bend me over would be acceptable."

His laughter booms around the room, making me wonder if he has ever laughed so hard in this fucking place.

He holds his hand out to mine, concern in his eyes when I grimace as I stand.

"No," I tell him, already reading his mind. "I'm fine."

"We can wait," he says. "You're hurting."

"This hurts more," I say, reaching down to grab my erection over my jeans.

"Let's go find a solution to that," he says, tugging me gently from the room.

Chapter 42

Zeus

"You can just leave your car here," I say as we walk hand in hand toward the front door. "I can call and have it picked up."