Goddess Secret (8 page)

What? Then her mouth fell open as understood. Some, if not all of the roses Adin had given her came from his grandma’s garden.

“Oh, that’s right.” Rose smiled, and Adin gave a short laugh, looking back down. Yep, that pretty much confirmed it.

“We should probably get going,” Adin said quickly. All this talk about roses was apparently embarrassing him, which Legacy found very adorable, so she smiled.

“Okay. You two have fun.”

They turned to walk away, but Rose called out, “Oh, Dinny?” They both turned around and faced her.

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Why don’t you invite Legacy over for my birthday party?”

Adin chuckled and nodded his head. “I was
planning
on it, Grandma.”

Rose laughed and walked back into her house. Adin escorted Legacy to the passenger side of his car before getting in himself.

Okay, she couldn’t keep it in. She was trying not to burst out laughing and frankly, it was freakin’ difficult. “Dinny?” she asked as a giggle escaped. They pulled out of his driveway.

“Yeah, that’s what my grandma calls me.” He shrugged, but chuckled too.

“So,” she started, “did
all
my roses come from your grandma’s garden?”

“Yes, is that okay?” he asked, glancing at her.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she murmured. “You had a hand in growing those flowers. That means more to me than you dropping by a florist. It makes them even more special.”

“Well, you may get some from a florist when they’re out of season.”

“I guess I understand now why you didn’t want me keeping the dead ones. You apparently have an endless supply next door.”

“Exactly.” He laughed.

“And what’s this about your grandma’s birthday?”

Adin sighed. “She wasn’t supposed to know about that. It was supposed to be a surprise party, but my mom let it slip that we were planning something. I was going to ask you about it this weekend, but she brought it up to tease me about the fact that she already knows.”

“Oh.” She smiled. “When is it?”

“It’s in a couple of weeks at her house. Since she loves her garden so much, I figured it’d be a nice way for her to show off her pride and joy, letting all her friends take pleasure in it before all the flowers die. She’s not thrilled about turning sixty-five, so I’m hoping this will ease her concern and allow her to enjoy her birthday.”

“That’s really thoughtful, Adin,” she whispered as she reached over and put her hand on his knee.

“I just want her to enjoy her day.” He placed his hand on top of Legacy’s.

They talked the rest of the way to the football field, and when they got there, Adin escorted her to the bleachers. As soon as they took their seats, he put his hand on her knee, stroking it gently. She shivered slightly, partly because of the chill and partly because he just had that effect on her. Legacy scanned the field until she found Calli. She was stretching her muscles, but waved when she saw them.

People started filling up the stands as it got closer to time for the game to start. Of course, when Ellen and Kate got here, they came up and sat on the row in front of Legacy and Adin. Zach came alone and sat next to Adin.

She saw River walk up with his cousin, Paul. He was the same cousin that River brought to the movies the night that he’d met Adin. She guessed River didn’t want to show up alone, knowing she was here with Adin.

Ellen turned around to face her. “Who’s that with River?”

“Um, his cousin.”

“Well, good looks must run in
that
family,” she commented as she turned back around.

As River and Paul walked up, they started to pass Legacy and the crew she’d drawn. “You can sit over here, River,” Adin called out.

Legacy whipped her head around and gaped at Adin. He had a small smile on his face. It was strained, obviously held there by force of will, but at least he was trying to be the bigger man.

“Umm…okay,” River responded. Zach, Adin, and Legacy scooted down, so River could sit beside her. Paul sat on the other side of River.

Ellen and Kate watched as they took their seats and then turned back around to watch the start of the game.

Legacy had noticed the weather being unseasonably cool, but sitting up in these bleachers without trees shielding her from the breezy air, she started to get really cold. She tried to ignore the chill she felt, but then she suddenly realized maybe she was the one making this weather colder—that maybe it had to do with the men she was sandwiched between.

It wasn’t as if Adin and River were misbehaving, but both of them were being really quiet. When she was alone with either one, conversations flowed naturally, but now that they were all three together, she felt uncomfortable sitting between them, as if her uneasy feelings were causing the colder air around her.

She didn’t know if she could do anything to change the temperature now, but she should try. She turned to Adin to talk. She figured if she started conversations with the both of them, maybe she’d be distracted enough to stop the chill in the air.

“H-how’s Greek w-week c-coming?” she asked as her teeth chattered.

“Are you cold, sweetheart?” Adin asked as he took his hand off her knee and wrapped his arms around her, chafing his hands against her arms.

“A l-little.”

“I have a sweater in my car. I’ll be right back.”

Adin got up and ran down the bleachers while she rubbed her hands on her arms.

River leaned over to her. “Why are you cold?”

“I-I don’t k-know.” She shivered hard. “Maybe it has s-something to do w-with the cold t-t-tension in the air.” She wanted to be sarcastic, but her chattering teeth hid her attempt at a clipped tone.

River looked down the bleachers, saw Adin running back up, and shifted to a more upright position.

“Here.” Adin handed her the sweatshirt as he took his seat.

She stood up so she could put the sweatshirt on without accidentally hitting either one of them. As she pulled the thick cotton over her head, a gust of wind caused her to lose her sense of balance. She didn’t understand why. It wasn’t like she was actually moving.

“Whoa,” she muttered as her arms flailed around, trying to keep her vertical. She didn’t want to go crashing into Ellen and Kate, which was exactly where she was headed.

She felt two sets of hands grab her, and she yanked the sweatshirt down so that she could see.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Adin asked as she sat back down.

“I’m not sure. I just got a touch of vertigo, I guess. But I’m fine.”

Adin started to slide his hands off, but River’s hands were still locked onto her. Adin shot him a look as he let go of Legacy. River grunted and slid his hands off her, too.

Once she was free, she pulled the sweatshirt all the way down and then leaned into Adin’s side. He put his arms back around her and rubbed his hand along her arm, keeping her warm.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Adin leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You’re
freezing
.” He held her tighter.

“I’m s-starting to w-warm up.” She shivered forcefully and relaxed into Adin’s embrace. She sighed as her shivering slowed.

From the corner of her eye, she saw River stand up. “It’s almost halftime,” he said, looking at her. “I’m going to the concession stand now since it’ll be packed when the quarter’s over. Plus, I don’t want to miss Calli’s routine. Do you want anything?”

“Yeah, can you get me some hot cocoa?”

“Sure.”

“I’m going to get something to drink for Calli, too,” Zach said, standing up.

“We’ll walk down with you,” Ellen said, and she and Kate stood up. They followed Zach, River, and Paul down the bleachers.

Adin turned his head so his lips were at her forehead. He kissed her there and continued to rub her arms.

“I could’ve gotten you some cocoa,” he murmured.

“No. I didn’t want you to move. You’re already keeping me warm. This,” she paused, squeezing him against her, “is better than cocoa.”

Adin chuckled, holding her tightly. “I can do other things to warm you up,” he whispered in her ear.

Her heart galloped, and she felt her blood rushing through her veins. “Mmmmmm …it’s already working.” She slid her hand up his chest and around his neck.

“I haven’t even done anything yet.” Then he traced his lips from her ear down her cheek.

“It doesn’t take much for you to warm me up.”

Adin slid his lips to hers. “I’m glad you’re warming up, but I want to make sure you’re nice and toasty,” he breathed against her lips, and then he kissed her softly.

“Yummy…that tasted much better than cocoa, too,” she said as he pulled away.

Adin laughed, leaning his forehead against hers. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“I didn’t
like
it. I
loved
it.”

Legacy caught a glimpse of Ellen walking up the stands, so she pulled away. The girls were leading, and the guys were trailing behind them. Once they got back to their seats, River handed Legacy her cocoa.

“Thanks,” she said, smiling.

“No problem.”

The buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the quarter, and the cheerleading squad ran out onto the field.

Calli was right. Their routine was awesome. Everyone in the stands jumped up and cheered when they finished.

Since the cheerleading squad got third quarter off, Calli came up and sat with them, taking her seat on the other side of Zach, so Legacy leaned over Adin, and Calli leaned over Zach while they talked to each other.

“Why are you wearing a sweater?” Calli asked.

She shrugged. “I got cold.”

Adin rubbed his hand on her back, and she felt him lean over her toward River.

“How’s school going?” Adin asked River.

Her hand was already on Adin’s leg to support her while she was leaning over talking to Calli, but when she heard him talk to River, she rubbed her hand on his leg and squeezed it. Calli saw her smile, and she cracked a smile too.

“Umm…fine, I guess. Legacy and Calli showed me around. How about you? Er, I mean how’s it going for you?”

“Okay.”

Legacy wanted gush and praise the two men in her life for trying to have a civil conversation, but she kept her trap shut.

After several minutes of everyone engaging in individual conversations, Calli’s break was over and she stood up, announcing she had to get back down to the field to cheer.

When the game was over, Adin drove Legacy home and walked her to her door. He stroked her cheek while he leaned down and kissed her.

“I’m glad you were able to come with me tonight,” she whispered as he pulled away.

“Me too. I’ll probably be busy all weekend, though.”

“Okay.” She pouted, and he chuckled. She smiled at Adin while she put her purse down. “You want your sweater back?”

“You can keep it.” He shrugged as he put his hands in his pockets.

Hmm… she felt a little challenge coming on. She lifted her arms and gazed into his eyes. “You can take it back.”

Adin laughed nervously, pulling his hands back out and grabbing the bottom of the sweater. He leaned his head to her ear. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get cold again.”

“I’m sure.” She slanted her head back and stared into his eyes with her eyebrows raised and a half-smile on her face, waiting for him to take the sweater off.

Adin slowly pulled the sweatshirt up while staring into her eyes. Then he pulled it off her. Once the sweater was free from her body, his eyes peered into hers. The act of taking an article of clothing off her clearly thrilled him.
Good.
He dropped the sweatshirt and twisted his fingers into her disheveled hair. He pressed himself against her and rubbed his lips against hers.

“Oh,
Legacy…
” He moaned as he nudged her lips, not kissing her.

She threw her hands around his back and pulled him against her. Since Adin’s lips were against hers, but he wasn’t kissing her, she delicately traced his lips with the tip of her tongue. That action caused him to lose what little control he had. His hands knotted in her hair, and he kissed her forcefully. Yes! This was what she wanted—Adin to let himself loose. Gods, he tasted so good. She was practically crawling up his body to get even closer to him.

But Adin pulled away, breaking their connection. She could still see desire burning in his eyes. Rather than push him for more, she let him leave. She smiled to herself as she watched him drive away. Yeah, he left, but very reluctantly.

After she watched him drive away, she walked into the house and up to her bedroom in a daze. It amazed her that she’d had nervous thoughts about being a virgin and taking the next step with Adin when they were totally absent right now. She wasn’t completely naïve, though. She was sure those feelings would return from time to time until they did the deed. Though those feelings didn’t change her resolve.

She was ready to be with Adin in every way possible.

She just had to figure out a way to stop him from resisting. Um, without coming off as a ho. A goddess needed to have a certain level of refinement, right?

Chapter Six

She woke up Saturday morning from the same two dreams that she’d had before. She knew she was going to inherit Zeus’s powers, and she knew Medusa was River’s mom, so she couldn’t understand what she was missing about these two dreams.

But that would have to wait. Since Adin was busy with fraternity hazing, she planned on using the weekend to research Aphrodite and Venus.

Calli came over and brought her laptop so they could double-time their efforts. They barricaded themselves in her room to conduct their research.

“I don’t think we’ll find anything specific on V.D., so let’s see what we can dig up on Aphrodite,” she suggested.

“Okey dokey.”

Legacy and Calli started hammering away on their laptop keyboards, trying to ferret out information on Aphrodite.

“Did you find anything yet?” Legacy asked after several hours had passed.

“Well, it seems like different religions had different names for her. She was known as Cerigo, Acidalia, Pandemos, and Cytherea, but it looks like the powers that be settled on calling her Aphrodite.”