Sunburn (18 page)

Her curiosity got the better of her. “Does it hurt? When you glow like that?”

He smiled. “You see? That’s what makes you special. I scare the shit out of you, and you’re worried if it hurts me.”

Patience giggled along with him, feeling true happiness, possibly the greatest happiness of her life. And she knew in that moment, she would fight for him as hard as he wanted to fight for her.

Screw Uncle Underworld. She wasn’t going anywhere.

* * * *

Several hours later, as Apollo and Patience joined Angie and Doris for a late dinner, he watched Patience talk to her friends and marveled at her.

She wasn’t afraid. In fact, she’d been fascinated by his change. During their afternoon together, she’d peppered him with questions. That is, when their mouths weren’t busy. After they’d exited the hot tub, they’d spent the remaining time making love in his room. Part of him kept expecting her to wake, realize she was actually terrified of him and run screaming. But she hadn’t. She’d seen him, really
seen
him, and still accepted him. Not once had that ever happened with any other lover. Now, all those others paled in comparison to Patience O’Connor from Buffalo. None of them held a candle to his Travel Chick.

It defied reason and made perfect sense at the same time.

And now, as they sat in the resort’s Mexican à la carte restaurant, he clutched her hand as they sat with her friends and he looked at her. She was incredible. Wearing cute Bermuda shorts and a sexy knit top, one that had lots of interesting holes to show off her pretty skin and drive him mad. She looked divine. Mostly because she darted little seductive glances at him, making his cock stiff. Yet again.

Damn. He was a god and acknowledged his sexual stamina was better than that of mortal men, but this was insane! He couldn’t stop wanting her.

Okay, concentrate
. They were here for a reason. Patience was bound and determined to let her friends know of their new relationship, and he was there for moral support. She wasn’t sure how they’d react.

Being the god of prophecy, he already knew it wouldn’t be good. He’d warned her, but she wanted to be honest with them. Knowing she wanted to speak privately with them, he decided to make himself scarce, while staying close enough in case the demon showed up.

“Ladies,” he said at the end of the meal. “I’ll go get some new drinks for all of us.” He stood and then leaned over and kissed Patience on the lips. “A Cinderella for you?”

Her face was made even prettier by her happy smile. “Please.”

He walked fifty feet away to the nearest bar and made the drinks, keeping his eye on the women. And keeping his ears on them too. With his abilities, he could hear them just fine over the dinner din.

There was a tense pause while Angie looked at her plate and scraped at the remains of her burrito. “So, we haven’t seen you much the past couple of days.”

Patience frowned. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Angie looked up, serious. “You and Apollo are acting like a married couple.”

Patience blushed, but he could tell it was with stifled delight. So the idea of marrying him pleased her.
Nice
.

“I’ve been trying to spend as much time with him as I can before…” She paused, and he could tell she was thinking of the demon. “Um, before we have to go home.”

“What the fuck?” Doris demanded, her voice raised.

Patience gawked.

“You’ve known him all of twenty-four hours and you’re all kissy-kissy, smoochy-smoochy. It’s disgusting.”

“Doris,” began Patience, her lips tightening.

“What’s happening to you?” Doris continued. “This isn’t like you.”

Patience let out a huff. “Uh, if I recall correctly, you guys
told
me to sleep with Apollo. You encouraged me.”

Angie made an awkward face. “We know. But we didn’t think you’d listen.
We’re
the ones who sleep around, not you.”

“You’re supposed to be the good influence,” Doris chimed in, and then she downed the dregs of her martini.

“Look,” Patience continued, taking a deep breath. “I know this is unusual for me. But this is different. Apollo and I … we see into each other. I realize it’s crazy, but I’ve never felt anything like this before. I need you guys to understand. I don’t think I’m going home to Buffalo. I think I love him.”

Angie and Doris stared. Apollo watched from the bar, unable to move, unable to breathe.

She loves me? Fuck. She loves me.

“You love him,” Doris eventually repeated, flabbergasted.

“Yes.”

“Well, that is just the craziest bullsheet I’ve ever heard.” Doris exploded with incredulous laughter. “Did something big heet you in the head? Did you forget Foster?”

“I thought the whole point of this trip was to forget Foster,” Patience argued.

Apollo gripped the bar. She was getting upset. He wanted to go to her, but she’d made him promise to stay back while they talk. He had to keep his promise.

But she loved him…

“Honey,” Angie said, wagging her finger at Patience. “Don’t you think this is just a teeny bit premature? What if you get hurt again?”

“No.” Patience shook her head. “Apollo would never hurt me.”

Doris rolled her blue eyes. “And you know this because of your
long
history with him.”

“That’s enough.” Patience stood and pushed in her chair. She faced her friends, resolute. “You may not like it, but it’s reality. Apollo and I are together, and when I’m with him, I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.” She looked toward the bar and their eyes met. Waves of warmth flew between them, penetrating him, making him need to touch her skin and whisper her name again. “I love him, and I know more about him than you could ever guess. And it’s beautiful.”

He grinned. By the straying cock of Oedipus! He loved her too.

“So,” Patience finished, looking back at her friends, “I understand what you’re saying, but I have never, ever judged you for any of your booty calls and one-night stands. And if this affects our friendship, so be it. You can like it or lump it.”

Both women looked like school children who’d been scolded by the teacher for swearing in class.

With a proud smile, Patience turned and walked away from her pals, and headed toward Apollo at the bar. He smiled back, so proud and grateful she’d chosen him. He was going to show her exactly how grateful he was.

At that moment, one of his staff members walked up to Patience. He recognized the man. Nico. He was a young local, hired on as one of the recreational staff. Nico put a hand on Patience’s arm.

Apollo moved.

With inhuman swiftness, Nico produced a huge carving knife from under his jacket and plunged it into Patience’s chest. He stabbed and stabbed.

In that nanosecond, she looked over at him, mouthing the word, “No.”

Apollo felt his heart break. It was a hundred times worse than seeing Daphne die, worse than anything.

He didn’t stop to consider his broken heart. Apollo was already there, reaching for her at the same time he reached for Nico. Willing everyone else there to forget what was happening, Apollo held onto his bleeding lover, and onto the demon who had tried to kill her.

Together, they disappeared into the night.

Chapter 15

As they rematerialized in Apollo’s bedroom, Nico squirmed in the god’s arms. “Let me go, you big, blond bastard! Do you have any idea who you’re pissing off here?”

Apollo tossed him to the ground, just as Artemis and the Muses appeared. Each dressed in the glorious raiment of a Greek goddess. Artemis reached for one of her silver arrows and launched it at Nico. The arrow pierced his arm, pinning him to the floor. The demon yelped in pain, like a dog on its last legs. As he writhed on the floor, the demon’s facade, that of a handsome, young Mexican man, vanished. He became the gnarled gargoyle he truly was.

“Nicodemus,” Artemis purred. “Hell’s most putrid underling. How is it we didn’t smell you coming?”

The demon screeched. “Frigid bitch!”

Uma the Muse calmly walked over to Nicodemus and slapped him across his pockmarked excuse of a face. “You don’t get to talk to a goddess like that. Say you’re sorry.”

The demon just howled.

“I said, say you’re sorry, demon,” Uma countered in a sweet voice. Then she grabbed his balls, and yanked.

“Ow! Sorry,” Nicodemus bawled.

Apollo had already laid Patience on his bed. She was conscious and drenched in her own blood. As much as he wanted to pulverize the demon, he concentrated on her. Her breathing was shallow. Her hand was on his chest. He had to act quickly.

Ignoring the others, he laid a hand on the knife that was still protruding from her chest. She recoiled but he held her fast. “It’s okay, baby. I’ll make it go away.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Apollo touched the weapon and it disappeared. Patience sucked in a huge breath as if the knife had been cutting off her supply of oxygen. He looked at the wound. He could see it through her shredded knit blouse. The flesh on her chest was puckered and raw, carved up like a beast from the hunt.

She gasped again, the horrible, labored choking sound of one who could not breathe any longer.

He laid a gentle hand over her wound, and tried to stay calm for her sake. Even though he wanted to wail with his own pain. “I’ve got you, Patience. I’ve got you.”

He whispered the ancient words of healing and dropped a kiss onto her brow. He lingered there, grazing his lips over her forehead, holding her, and waiting for the magic to take effect. Before long, she was breathing normally again. Apollo looked at her. The color was back in her face. The blood had dried and there was no evidence of any wounds.

“Apollo,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be. You healed me. Again.”

Gazing into her trusting, appreciative eyes, a burning rage tore through him. He nodded to his sister, who came over to cradle Patience. Apollo then turned his hawk-like stare upon the demon, and his eyes blazed. He walked toward the creature.

Nicodemus shouted, his unfeeling eyes bulging, “You can’t kill me, Apollo! It’s against the rules. I’m just doing my job.”

“And well I know it.” Apollo growled. “Hades offers you his protection, in return for you being his assassin.” He advanced another step.

The demon sweated in fear, oozing a rank, green liquid from his brow. “It’s not personal, you know. People have to die. It was her turn.”

“So I keep hearing.” Apollo ripped his sister’s arrow from the demon’s arm. Nicodemus shrieked. The god then yanked at the demon’s collar, pulling him up so he could stare him in the face. “I’m not going to kill you, as much as I would relish it.”

“You’re not?” Nicodemus sputtered.

“No. You’re going to do something for me now.”

The thing scoffed. “I don’t do your bidding, sunshine!”

Apollo cocked an eyebrow, and the demon whimpered. “Oh, you will. You’re going to go back to Hades and tell my dear uncle all bets are off. He doesn’t get Patience. And if he has a problem with that, he’ll be dealing with me. You got that?”

Nicodemus gave his head a belligerent nod.

“And just to make sure you go straight to hell, my Muses are going to accompany you. Aren’t you, ladies?”

The Muses smiled. “It would be our pleasure,” they answered as one.

As the demon uttered another pitiful howl, he disappeared along with the Muses in a pungent puff of smoke.

Apollo hurried back to Patience. She was still very pale and was shaking in Artemis’ arms. She needed to rest properly. Smiling at her, pressing his lips to hers, he uttered an incantation to help her fall asleep. Her body would recuperate better that way. He’d healed her, but it had come close and she needed precious rest.

He held her until she dropped off. Once she did, he glanced at his sister. Artemis’ brow was creased and there was fear in her eyes, something he’d never seen there before.

“Sister?”

Artemis stared at him. “What have you done?”

Apollo stared back. Whatever he’d done, it was bad.

* * * *

Apollo was thankful when Artemis left some time later. She hadn’t found their father yet, and was determined to do so. Where Zeus was holed up was any god’s guess.

Apollo was eager to wake Patience, but let her sleep for a while. He was just happy to be with her. Now he’d dispatched Nicodemus back to hell, the resort seemed a quieter, less threatening place. For the first time in a while, he could relax. They didn’t need to worry about strange accidents or unusual injuries, at least for the time being. They could just
be
in each other’s company, oblivious to the world and all concerns.

However, he couldn’t forget what she’d said to her friends. She loved him. It defied reason, but she loved him.

Upon waking, she, too, must have realized they’d crossed an important threshold, because she seemed a little shy now they were alone in his room.

He held her on his bed, running his hand over her hair, down her arm to her hip. She still wore her torn blouse. With a blink, he removed it from her body. Her body was too beautiful to be marred by ripped clothing that reeked of demon. Apollo’s gaze fell to the soft swell of flesh over her rib cage, and then moved to her newly healed chest. The skin there was so delicate, so pretty, it just invited the caress of his grazing fingertips.

She gazed at him, as lost in the sight of him as he was in the sight of her.

“Agapi mou,”
he said, sighing.

She smiled. “That sounds nice. What does it mean?”

He tipped up her head. “It means ‘my love.’” He grinned, happier than he ever deserved to be. “I love you, Patience.”

She gasped, and he knew sheer joy was tearing through her gut as effectively as it was in him. “I love you, too.”

They kissed, sealing their unexpected love. After millennia of disappointment and bitterness, Patience O’Connor and her simple faith in him had restored his beliefs. He’d given up on himself, but this woman made him want to soar and excel. He didn’t ever want to stop kissing her, couldn’t envision a day in which he didn’t get to touch her.