Sweet Cry of Pleasure (5 page)

* * * *

Alala found Persephone at the bar and sat down beside her. Persephone smiled and tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

“He sent me another text!” she said with a squeal.

Alala nodded and smiled. Persephone was always excited about a new guy, though she had yet to get very far with any of them. She liked mortal guys almost exclusively, which was why they had met in a bar in Los Angeles.

“And what did lover boy say?”

“Well, Hellraiser said he saw me tonight and wanted nothing more than to take me back to his lair and ravish me.”

Alala wasn’t too surprised. Persephone definitely attracted the horny ones with her generous curves and flowing blonde hair.
Ravish? At least he had a good vocabulary.
“Hellraiser, huh? And what did you text back?”

“I haven’t sent anything yet. I’m not sure what to say.”

“Just be careful. You don’t want to lose your virginity to some random mortal who isn’t good enough for you.”

“He’s been very persistent. We were messaging each other last night for hours.”

“What did you talk about?”

“He mainly asked me questions, favorite foods and movies. Things like that.”

“Don’t tell him too much.” Persephone could obviously take care of herself, but Alala didn’t think Hellraiser could be trusted. “What’s his real name?”

Persephone smiled. “Don’t know, don’t care. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“You haven’t met him? He could be anyone!”

Persephone rolled her eyes. “I met him online, yes, but he’s for real.”

“Picture?”

She shook her head. “No picture.”

“Then be careful. He could be lying about nothing or everything. Use your instincts.”

Persephone sighed. “My instincts tell me he’s the one.”

“The one? He’s mortal.”

“I mean the one to…you know.”

“If you can’t even say it, you probably aren’t ready to do it.”

“I’m older than you!”

“That doesn’t mean anything. It’s a personal choice and different for every person.”

“You sound like my mother. Imagine. A fertility goddess who wants her daughter to remain a virgin. I ought to be a symbol of fertility and fecundity and fruitfulness as well.”

Alala laughed. She knew Demeter was demanding and harsh, but she suspected Demeter might have ambitions for her daughter’s marriage. She kept Persephone away from the gods to keep politics out of the match. If allowed complete sexual freedom, it wouldn’t be long before Dionysus or perhaps Proteus deflowered her.

Or Ares.

Alala pushed that thought away. Ares thought Persephone was a ditz. He did have some standards. Persephone wasn’t stupid, but she had been so sheltered she had few social skills and was very spoiled. She whined a lot because her mother still treated her like a child. She’d been trained, if unconsciously, to complain to get her way instead of taking action for herself. She was easily bored and easily annoyed, so she had few friends. Alala couldn’t help sometimes blaming Demeter’s overprotective nature for that.

“I agree, but I’m sure you’ll take on that role in time.”

“Yeah, I guess, but she’s had Arion following me around.”

Arion was her brother. He hung around in the mortal world a lot too. He’d been in several bands, but he’d had to leave a few when they began to be widely known. He then had to change his name and sometimes his appearance. Zeus, though he had once dropped in on heads of state regularly, had in recent decades imposed certain restrictions on the movement and activities of immortals in the mortal world.

“Maybe she’s not to blame. He might be doing it on his own.”

Persephone shrugged. “Who cares?” She began texting on her phone. “Let’s see what he says back.”

“What did you type?”

“I do hope you will be gentle with me.”

Alala rolled her eyes. “That’s not very original, and he’s going to think you’re saying yes to being ravished.”

Her phone beeped. She read the message and smiled, then held it up for Alala to read.

It read, “I’m going to chain you to the wall and make you scream my name.”

Alala looked at her friend seriously. “He sounds like fun, but maybe he shouldn’t be your first. He sounds a little too intense for you.”

Persephone groaned. “That’s what I want. I just want to have sex!”

“Which is the reason I’m here.”

They both turned to see Arion standing next to them. He was dressed all in black and wearing heavy black eyeliner. His black hair fell in his face as he smiled at Alala. Despite a boyish face, he had intense, expressive eyes, and his slightly crooked smile could sent flutters over any woman.

“Hey,” he said.

She smiled back. “Hi.”

“You can’t tell me what to do!” Persephone protested.

“I can’t, that’s true, but I’m not going to let anyone hurt you or take advantage of you. You’ve never been vain, which is good, but because of that you don’t realize how attractive you are to men.”

Her phone buzzed again. She read the message and smiled. “Just leave me alone.” She walked away, and they both saw her disappear as she reached the crowded dance floor.

Arion smiled at Alala again. “Sorry to ruin your evening.”

She shrugged. “That’s okay. I was just bored. Ares is in a weird mood, so I thought I’d get out of the house.”

“Isn’t he always in some kind of mood?”

She laughed. “Yeah, when you get right down to it, but it’s the stuff with Aphrodite.”

“I heard about all that. Is he pissed?”

“I think he’s okay. Deep down, I believe he knew it was true. I think it will give them some closure.”

Arion shook his head. “Not sure how he put up with her. She’s unbelievable, but still. Too much baggage there.”

Alala studied Arion for a few moments.

“What?” Her scrutiny seemed to make him nervous.

“You wouldn’t fuck her?”

He considered for a moment, and then shook his head. “I guess it’s how I was raised. I’d feel like it didn’t mean anything.” He seemed embarrassed.

“I know what you mean. Don’t be embarrassed with me.”

He smiled, though she saw he was blushing a little. “I guess I feel out of place at times. I can’t be so casual about sex.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” Two couples jostled by them. “Do you want to get out of here? Go home and walk through the gardens or something?”

His handsome face lit up. “I’d love to.”

Alala took his hand and led him out of the bar, not sure what she was doing, but feeling bolder than she had in a long time.

* * * *

Arion’s soft lips brushed against hers. His hands stayed at her waist, holding her gently. She had to give Demeter one thing. She’d raised a true gentleman like no mortal could. She tilted her head so he would move his lips over her neck. His touch was so sweet it made her want more.

She unbuttoned her shirt and moved his hands to cup her breasts, opening the clasp at the front of her bra so he could touch them. He pulled back and looked down at her chest, running his fingers over her nipples as his breathing quickened.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he bent to kiss her breasts.

His mouth was tentative, as if he didn’t know what would arouse her the most. How had he kept those groupies away? Maybe he’d ducked out and avoided them altogether. His touch was nice, but he didn’t seem to know what he was doing.

“Arion?”

He looked up at her, his hands moving over her breasts.

“Are you…?”

He colored again. “A virgin? Yes.”

“We don’t have to do this.”

He blushed an even deeper red and pulled his hands away as if he’d done something wrong. “I wouldn’t have pushed you.”

She shook her head. “I’m not talking about me. I was the one who made the first move. I meant we didn’t have to if you aren’t comfortable. Your first time should mean something. I don’t care what any god says. It should.” She thought of Apollo and how he had tricked her. It made her want to lose herself in this sweet man’s arms, but she wasn’t going to use him like that.

He ran his hands over her stomach. He seemed to enjoy the feel of her so much she became more aroused.

“I’ve always thought you were beautiful, and I thought you wouldn’t care I was a virgin. You’re very sweet. You’re different.”

“What do you want?”

He ran his hands over her breasts again, but then he pulled her shirt closed. “I want to keep kissing you. I want to see you again.”

She put her arms around his neck. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

He smiled. “Yes. Hope that isn’t too mortal and boring.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s refreshing. I’m tired of all the drama. Sex and relationships seem to do nothing but hurt people here.”

“Not always. And things go wrong for mortals all the time.”

“I know, but I guess I mean I’d like a break. I’d like to have a date, not a romp in the garden.”

“Guess this ruins my tough guy rocker image, huh?”

“I never bought into that. The image has nothing to do with who you really are. I was surprised, but I don’t mind or think of you differently.”

“Not at all?”

She smiled, thinking he might enjoy a bit of teasing. “Well, maybe a naughty thought or two. I could teach you all the things I like.”

He laughed and pulled her close. “I’d like that.”

His innocent response was refreshing. For the first time, she wouldn’t have to worry about who her man was fucking. She liked that.

* * * *

Ares hit another baseball over the fence. He threw another into the air and hit it into the bushes. The next one went into the pond. The next one fell to the ground because someone was holding his bat.

He turned to see Eris staring at him as if he was smashing priceless antiques.

“What?” he asked curtly.

“I could feel your anger so strongly it woke me up. It’s five in the morning. What are you doing?”

“Just working out a little energy.”

“What happened?”

He finally managed to jerk the bat from her hand and threw it to the ground. “You can give up your matchmaking. I saw her with Demeter’s simpering little emo boy last night.”

Eris laughed. “Arion? You’re jealous of Arion? Well, at least it proves you care.”

“It proves you were wrong. There’s nothing there. We aren’t meant for each other.”

“Then why are you so angry?”

“Because I can’t get her out of my head.” He picked up the bat and started hitting balls again. He didn’t know what had happened or how long they had been together, but that kiss on his back porch had definitely had some heat to it. And if he wasn’t mistaken, her blouse had been buttoned wrong, as if she’d taken it off after leaving the house. The idea of that simpering weakling taking her or even touching her made his blood boil.

“Have you ever met Arion? Had even one conversation with him?”

“No. I will confess to being completely uninterested in soulless, gutless boys.”

“He’s very sweet and kind. He would never hurt her.”

“He better not. I’ll have his head on a pole in his mother’s blessed cornfield.”

Eris burst into a fit of laughter. “I love you when you’re jealous. And this is even funnier.”

He threw the bat down again, sending several baseballs scattering. “Why?”

Eris leaned forward and whispered. “That boy’s a virgin. He’s unsullied. Pure as the driven snow.”

“They kissed.”

“That’s probably all they’ve done. She’s never said a word about him. They can’t have been together long at all.”

“Well, the point is something has happened. End of your plans.”

“Why are you calling them my plans? You came to me with a question. I merely expressed an opinion.” She took a breath and waited for him to look at her.

He finally did. “What? What momentous proclamation do you have for me?”

“No one loves you as much as that girl does. Your mother and I could never compete.”

He wanted to pick up every single baseball and hurl them at his sister. “You’re impossible.”

“You’re stubborn. She kisses another man, and you think that means the end of any possibility with her.”

“She’d be better off with him. I might not like it, but I’m not meant to find love. I’m just not the type, and she deserves a love that will outlast eternity.”

Eris smiled at him. “That’s a lovely thought. Since when do you think things like that?”

“I want to fuck her. That’s it. And if you like, I’ll admit I’m a macho jerk and feel like she’s mine and no one else should have her. She’s always been mine, and I don’t want that to change. But I can’t be a husband. I’m not the sort to fall in love.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Believe what you will. Leave me alone.”

“I won’t.”

He sighed. “I know.” He found it mostly disconcerting, but it gave him some comfort. He’d get his lust for Alala out of his system eventually, and perhaps Eris would eventually see that the two of them weren’t meant to be. Then she would help him. He just had to wait it out.

So that kid was a virgin? He smirked. It didn’t surprise him. He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Alala. She was so beautiful he’d probably be nervous the whole time, fumbling and unable to please her. He would never manage to stir the passion deep inside her and bring her a thunderous climax. She needed a skilled lover who would touch her just right and bring her exquisite pleasure every way possible.

He picked up the baseball bat, but he hardly saw the ground. He saw Alala on his bed, naked and opening her legs for him. She ran her hand over her wet pussy and then reached for him. He licked her wet fingers before running them over her own lips and kissing her roughly.

“Ares? Wake up!”

He looked at his sister, stunned. What the hell was happening to him?

“Sorry. Just thinking.”

“Of her?”

“Shut up.”

“It’s a good thing she knows how to deal with your temper.”

“Give it a rest,” he said as he walked away. “She deserves to be happy. Why don’t you ask the Fates? They’ll tell you I’m meant to be alone. I won’t hurt her trying to have something not meant to be mine.”

“I just might do that.”

“Fine,” he called back.

The morning air suddenly felt cold and damp as sweat ran down his face. He wanted to get home before Alala got up. She worked in the garden some mornings and got up at about this time. He didn’t want to see her again. He was too afraid he’d pull her to him and demand to know what that faint-hearted boy could mean to her when she was a goddess of war and had a fire to match his own deep within her.