Page 52 of The Demigod Complex
Whoever was at the door knocked again. Only louder. She glared at the door and wished whoever it was on a long trip across the river Styx. “Just a second.”
“It’s me.”
She paused mid-dab at the deep, unmistakable rumble of Castor’s voice. What was he doing here? More importantly, she couldn’t take another round with him tonight. She was too emotionally drained.
She slowly went back to working at the stain. “What do you need?” she called.
“Let me in, please.”
She ground her teeth. Rag clenched in her fist, she hopped up and crossed to the door, which she unlocked and opened a crack. By Olympus, he looked good. Edible. She loved it when he rolled back his sleeves. “I’m not in the best mood right now. Can it wait?”
“No.”
Stupid question anyway. This was Castor. Patience was not his gift.
“Does it have anything to do with my replacement? I talked to Delilah today, and she’ll be at the office tomorrow to get things rolling.”
“I’m not here to talk about your damn job.”
She opened the door wider and put her hands on her hips. “There’s no need to swear at me.”
Rather than answer, Castor stepped inside, invading her space and forcing her to back up. He kicked the door closed and yanked her into his arms. His lips covered hers in a kiss that blasted her senses and chased her questions and exhaustion to the back of her mind.
When he encountered no resistance, Castor framed her face with his hands and the kiss gentled—both reverent and drugging at the same time. Her body came alive beneath his scorching touch. Eventually, reluctantly, he pulled back. His blue eyes were almost navy, eyes she could drown in.
“I can’t let you go.” The words seemed ripped from a dark place within him.
Hope surged, but experience taught her not to trust it. She gazed at him warily. “Why?”
He swallowed. “Because I’m in love with you. And I think you’re in love with me.”
His words stole the breath from her lungs as happiness and relief poured through her like a tidal wave.
He gave her a little shake. “Say something.”
She gave him a broad grin. “Something.”
“Not what I was going for.” While his lips twitched at her teasing, a worry lingered in his gaze she’d never seen before. She didn’t like it.
She slipped her arms up through his and around his neck and gave him a sweet, lingering kiss. “You’re right. I love you, too.”
The shadow in her heart must’ve reflected in her expression, because he didn’t celebrate. “But?”
She swallowed. “I thought you’d shut out love for good after your wife.” There. She’d said it.
“Ah.” He smoothed the hair back from her face and ran a tender finger down her cheek. “I thought I had, too. But I’ve never felt for anyone what I do for you. It borders on irrational. I’ve been waiting thousands of years to find a love like this.”
Leia’s heart swelled. She went up on tiptoe to place a light kiss on his lips, inhaling his now- familiar scent. “So have I,” she whispered.
“Thank the gods.” His arms tightened around her almost painfully, but she didn’t protest. He leveled a strangely intense look on her. “Be my wife, my partner in this unending, extraordinary life?”
She blinked, both her emotions and her mind still catching up, not expecting either a declaration of love or a proposal, let alone in the same night.
Before she could answer, he rushed into speech. “Don’t say no. We can relocate. I’ve already started searching for property close to your spring.”
She shook her head. “I’ll trade with a nymph closer to here. A spring in Greece is a real find these days, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
The tense muscles of his shoulders relaxed slightly. He searched her gaze. “Are you sure?”
