I turned just in time to see the four demigods give up on their assault weapons and charge as they drew swords instead, since obviously bullets weren’t doing the job.

  Lynn and Zarya shifted to their monster forms, hawk-like heads with silver beaks and gorgeous golden wings the color of their hair burst from their backs, save the feathered tips which glinted like steel. Not to mention their hands which became wicked claws. They both immediately fired steel tipped feathers, and I focused my power on the other two and sent a compressed whirlwind sphere into both of their chests with focus and determination.

  The whirlwinds exploded outward, concaving their chests and sending them flying back toward the front of the restaurant. The other two cried out in pain as the steel tips dug into their armored chests, but they still looked focused and determined.

  Hali and I lunged forward to meet them.

  Hali and I both cheated. This was a fight to the death, and no longer practice. We both parried their initial sword strokes easily, and my left hand rose and sent out a powerful burst of wind that snapped back his head and stopped him in his tracks. He was also far too stunned by the attack to even think about blocking my returning blade swipe, and he went down with a gargled scream as I slit his throat and then kicked him in the chest to send him flying back onto his ass.

  Hali used her power over water to send a powerful water stream into his nose and right into his brain, picture a water blade with enough pressure to cut steel. I imagined his brain was completely scrambled as he went down.

  We had strong active powers, violent ones, and it didn’t look like any of Athena’s children did. It almost wasn’t fair, because my wards would’ve blocked the swords as easily as it had bullets, but fair didn’t come into it. They’d have cut us down easily with a spray of bullets, if I hadn’t come prepared for it. In short, power meant nothing without vigilance, and I knew I was hardly the only one with active offensive powers. Still, as long as I didn’t get cocky it was somewhat comforting to know few could challenge me.

  I’m not going to mention it constantly throughout the rest of these pages, but it’s a safe assumption from that day on every time I left my house it’d be with powerful wards that only arcane and far more powerful physical weapons than a gun or sword could threaten. Though, I wouldn’t want to be hit by a son of Ares with a sword either, those bastards hit like a cruise missile.

  Hali was a badass in her own right, far more powerful than the average monster on land, and most demigods as well for that matter.

  My twins were hardly idle, and I looked to the other two I’d sent flying back to see my twins snapping their necks with a sharp twist of their claws. Those two were probably already dead with collapsed chests, but I’d never object to mercy and putting them out of their misery sooner.

  Before I realized what Hali was doing, Jack joined Frank in the underworld as she ran the unconscious man through with her sword blade. It felt different to me with him helpless and unconscious, but it was also the right thing to do despite that squeamishness I felt. The man was my enemy, and after my life as well as whatever else they were getting into in L.A. Leaving a live enemy behind just to try again would be foolish. It was self-defense despite that circumstance.

  They didn’t deserve to die simply by being assholes to Carmine, but for attempting to take my life it was pretty clear cut in my mind. Still, it was a cold-blooded thing, and my Hali gave me a fiercely protective look that reminded me sharply that dad’s monsters might not be as bloodthirsty as land ones, but they were still monsters and capable of great violence. She was very protective of me, and there was also a small part of me that was turned on by it.

  Not Jack’s death, but the fierceness in which she regarded me, she was stunning.

  A little magic took care of the blood spatter and we piled their bodies into their own SUV which I found by pressing the unlock button on their key fob. We also emptied the basement of their crap, and then drove the truck far out of the city. The remaining gasoline, and a little magic made quite a large explosion to finish the coverup and completely destroy the bodies.

  We’d also done so in an out of the way and mostly concealed space near the river, so it was a very short walk before we headed home.

  Needless to say perhaps, our foursome that night was quite fierce, and we fucked wildly as I reclaimed all my mates again. A fierce psychological response perhaps to the danger of the evening, the adrenaline, and all the violence. An affirmation of life, not just for me, but my mates as well. What followed after that harsh and wild sex was perhaps more surprising, after the adrenaline-fueled insane lust was drained out of me.

  A sharp protective feeling, warm affection and wonder for my mates, had me making love to all of them one at a time. The intimacy and vulnerability of it was mind-boggling, as my heart felt like it might burst, even as they looked up at me in undisguised joyful devotion at being so cared for. I’d only been with my twins for a little over four days at that point, but I felt a strong awed wonder and deep affection for them. I cherished them that night, and they were as breathlessly sweet and awed for me in their submission under that tender loving as they’d been wanton and wickedly debauched in my earlier claiming.

  It was too soon for a true and lasting love, but that didn’t make the affection and warmth I felt for them any less impactful on both of us. All of my mates awed me, and those feelings were far from just shallow.

  Of course, with Hali we truly made love, and my green-eyed beauty was magnificent in her exquisiteness, sensuality, and loving devotion.

  Lastly, I wasn’t sure what would happen next, but I knew Athena’s children weren’t done with me. I also knew they’d up the stakes next time, come at me with bigger weapons, or stronger active powers if they had any. I’d be ready.

  Chapter Eight

  The crackling of the goddess’s hearth and her warmth in my lap greeted me as I found sleep in the mortal world. Her potent scent and aura drowned me in contentment of mind, while her soft and warm body snuggled in my lap with her head on my chest caused my body once again to react in the typical way. Typical at least, when a man had a goddess in his lap, and it was barely a moment later that I started to grow and push up against her supple rounded ass.

  Her smile was warm on her adorably beautiful face, and it reached her lovely doe brown eyes. Her honey-brown hair was like silk, as I started to run my fingertips through it while I teased her back through the sundress she had on. That night it was white with pink and violet flower designs, linked together by green vines.

  I felt no need to caress and stroke her body, like last night, but I knew she enjoyed it, so I did it. One hand teasing her back and hair, the other one lightly exploring her legs while I cradled her against my chest. I felt no need to do anything really, but I wanted to for her, our conversation and touches a source of comfort and a low-level humming pleasure that made my body feel alive and stimulated me, without forming wishes or desires to necessarily take things further. It also felt good to have my hands on her, caressing her, even if I didn’t feel the need to do it.

  That said, I most certainly would go farther, if she wanted it and gave me the green light.

  Her body was a perfectly balanced hourglass at five feet and four inches, with lovely rounded B cups and a rounded ass, with a delightfully thin waist. She was a goddess, and so very beautiful. Her adorable heart shaped face had a soft angelic beauty and cheekbones just short of strong, giving her a mix of classic and innocent beauty that was somehow both.

  She was in short, adorably hot.

  She caressed my face, and stared into my eyes, “I’m sorry, my champion. For what you had to do tonight. I feel your worship, and how you adore me, and I wish to be your ease and welcome. Not the cause of such unease in your heart.”

  I smiled, and returned the favor, caressing her cheek and neck lightly with my fingertips as I looked into those warm brown eyes filled with compassion.

  “I love you, Hestia. It is not you, but the world that makes it so. I will always protect what’s yours, if you ask it of me. I am not a violent man, yet the abuse of power and your children, and even others to an extent, will always hang heavier in my heart than delivering the violence they have earned. For the sake of those in need. Plus, you are my ease, and I feel very welcome in this place.”

  That wasn’t exactly her mantle, and it wasn’t about bringing the violence for me either. It was about preserving the warmth of Carmine and his restaurant, and of the bed and breakfast. I took no pleasure in the violence, but there was a satisfaction in knowing Carmine once again felt safe in his hearth and home business.

  I also did love her, very much. This was our sixth night together, the five previous nights equaled three hundred and sixty hours of time together, or so it seemed to me. More than long enough to fall hard for my goddess. I loved and worshipped her as a goddess, but I also loved her as a woman, and if I wasn’t reading her eyes wrong, then she loved me as a woman as well.

  It was hard to really feel that in the moment, at least the longing parts of love. The love I felt here for her was purer as a result and content, lacking the enhancements of possessiveness but there was plenty of cherishment. But it was in the daytime hours when I felt it more fully in my heart, a longing for her and a deep desire to bring her pleasure and joy. A big part of her was her mantel, she almost defined hearth and home, but she was also a woman with needs.

  I had hopes we’d become lovers as well, but in that moment, I was contented with just holding her, and worshipping her with my contentment.

  She smiled, “I love you too, Evan. I know you meant that. Your hands feel wonderful on me.”

  I smiled back, “My hands are pretty happy too.”

  She giggled, and then sighed softly as she lifted her head and kissed me softly on my neck, before squirming a bit and snuggling into me. A warm spark of pleasure went through me, at the way her ass stimulated my sex through our clothes, not to mention the soft silken feel of her lips on the sensitive skin of my neck.

  I no longer gave a second thought, to my sometimes teasing words to my goddess, she seemed to really enjoy it.

  Her next words would’ve shocked and thrilled me, had I been capable of such in her presence.

  She asked warmly, “Would you like to see my bedroom, my champion?”

  An open doorway appeared on the left-hand wall I’d never seen before. I felt warmth, love, and a curious desire at the idea of making love to her while in perfect contentment. In answer I scooped her up bridal style, and I stood up.

  She giggled, “I’ll take that for a yes, my love.”

  The goddess seemed delightfully bemused at me carrying her as I headed into the bedroom. The room held a warmth with a bright red bedspread and silver white pillows on a king-sized bed. There was also a waist high and wide nine drawer dresser, with vases of flowers on it and a mirror just as long mounted on the wall. The other wall held another fireplace, with a merrily crackling fire.

  I gently lowered her to her feet, and I looked down into her eyes as I stroked her adorable cheek lightly with one hand, while the other gently squeezed her waist and pulled her toward me. Again, I felt no need to rush, no huge tension to bury my cock in my exquisitely sexy and adorable goddess. But there was a very calm desire to pleasure her, blow her mind, and fulfill her every need even as I drowned in the ease of her aura.

  Her breath caught slightly and her lips slightly parted as I bent down to kiss her. She let out a sweet moan of desire as our lips met, and hers conformed to mine in a lingering sweet kiss, so very soft and loving, while at the same time I caressed her lower back and down onto her ass, giving that rounded ass a firm squeeze for the first time.

  The kiss got a lot breathier at that. The conflicting sensations of soft and loving above, and a little firm and demanding below really worked for my sexy goddess. I slowly kissed off her lips and onto her neck. The scent and the taste of her sweet skin had me drowning in pleasurable bliss, as did the feel of her nubile and soft body against mine and the warm heat she gave off. She tilted her head to give me better access, as her hands went around my neck and pulled my head into her as she rubbed her sweet sexy body against mine.

  My hands found the zipper, and she moaned sweetly as I pulled it down, then chased it off her shoulders with a light brush of my fingertips. I teased her skin with my fingertips, while chasing the fabric down her body, and she increased the heat of the kiss as it flowed down her body and pooled around her feet.

  I stepped back for a moment, her eyes wide with desire and her body revealed to me fully as I pulled the shirt over my head. The goddess had already opened up my pants, so I pushed them down and stepped out of them, as I drowned in her beauty.

  Her skin was flawless, every part of her, and her B cups were full, proudly high, with large light brown nipples on her fair light tanned skin. Her sex was perfect, generous and perfectly symmetrical on her petite and sexy mound. She returned the favor and looked me over with a warm sultry smile and wide lustful eyes.

  I moved forward and we were kissing again, while my hands teased and stroked her body. The feel of my fingertips stroking her ass was like luxurious silk and so supple against my fingertips, and she let out a sweet needy moan as she ground her soft stomach against my cock and her breasts against my naked chest.

  So warm and sexy, luxurious in my arms, and I was more than simply aware of her effect on my body, of the pleasures of her skin against mine, and of her lips sweet taste as we languorously and teasingly played with our tongues. The pleasure of her touch rolled through my body and engendered light euphoria, but I still felt no hurried need to couple with her. I was content with the absolutely overwhelming bliss she was having on me in the moment.

  Words didn’t really suffice, to say how sensual, pleasurable, and loving I felt in that moment, and the strongest desire I had was to cherish her, love her, and bring her pleasure as she most assuredly would bring me mine.

  I picked her up by her ass cheeks, and lifted her onto the bed, then leaned down and took one of her sweetly tightened nipples into my mouth.

  She gasped lightly in pleasure, “Harder, but not too much.”

  I worked them a little harder, suckling and nibbling, light bite and pull, while I rolled her other nipple between forefinger and thumb while giving them a firm squeeze. That made her gasp. It was also the first moment I took in the heady and powerful scent of her arousal, and I let out a deep moan of approval into her perfect breast.

  She caressed the back of my head, arched her back, and pushed her breasts into my hands and face harder, “Perfect. Just like that, love.”

  I was in no hurry and took my time on those delightfully sensitive and supplely soft breasts. She wasn’t nearly as sensitive as my twins and Katerina were, but nor was she up for having them mauled like my Hali. My goddess liked a very firm touch, right in the middle of those two extremes.

  When I had her breathy and panting for it, I stroked a hand teasingly down her side, and over the lovely curve of her hip and onto her outer thigh. I had no real need to move forward, so in my blissful contentment I was allowing the neediness of her body and my experience to interpret it to fully dictate my pace.

  She let out a needy moan as I started to tease her inner thighs with my fingertips, while squeezing one breast and pinching her nipple while I continued to lavish the other one with my lips and tongue.

  Her whole body bucked and trembled for me, and she let out a sexy gasp when my thumb teasingly grazed her silken folds. Satiny smooth folds which were deliciously moist and so very hot for me. She left one hand behind my head, entwined with my short hair as she teased the back of my neck with her fingernails, while the other one caressed down my chest, teasingly along the six pack of my stomach, and then she took me in hand.

  I gasped sharply into her breast, as she stroked me slowly yet firmly. I still felt no major need to hurry, but my body was definitely making its desires known to me, as the pleasure I took from her touch and in giving her the pleasure of my touches rolled through my body in waves of gentle euphoria and sharp bolts of pleasure both that made my cock twitch powerfully in her hand.

  I pulled my cock out of her reach, as I started to kiss my way down her stomach, but I was brought up short by her begging words.

  She said breathily, “Later, Champion, you can explore my body all you want. But right now, I need you in me, filling me. I need to feel you take your ease in me, and feel you fill me with the bounty of your pleasure.”

  There was no disappointment or conflict in that. I’d wanted her to feel the pleasures of my tongue, but I could certainly wait for that privilege.

  I rose back up to kiss her, and I picked her up by her ass as I crawled forward onto the bed. Her legs went around my waist, and she looked up at me in heated desire and lustful need, along with a deep abiding love that would’ve no doubt blown my mind if I was capable of it. As it was, a deep need to cherish and pleasure my goddess rose in me, and I did feel the urgency of my own body’s sharp lustful need.

  I laid her down somewhere in the middle of the bed, and her body rocked and hips swiveled as she ground her sex against mine, leaving a dirty trail of arousal along the bottom of it. Her soft silken folds felt like an oven of pure pleasure against my hard length, and I let out a gasp that mixed with hers.

  She reached down and lined us up, taking a moment to rub my sensitive head along those luxuriously satiny and hot silken folds to gather up her liquid anticipation and need. Her eyes were wide with pleasure, need, desire, and love, and she let out the sweetest little gasp of pleasure mixed with slight discomfort, as I pushed into her body firmly.

  The sensations of her body opening up for me and taking me into that snugly hot paradise sent a powerful gust of pleasure storming through my body. She was so tight around me, hugging my sensitive tip and providing wonderful silken friction as I slid into her body. She rocked hers a moment later, taking the next few inches into the soft and heated depths of her paradise with a hungry and needy look in her eyes.