Page 1 of Loved By Aphrodite

Chapter 1

Aphrodite

“Thank you for letting me find him.”

Aphrodite paused, her interest piqued by the sincerity. She could see the young woman clearly in her mind—a shy smile as she lay awake, reflecting on love just blossoming, the thrill of possibility, the sweetness of new affection.

Voices drifted through the ether, soft whispers of gratitude, each threaded with the warmth and tenderness only mortals could carry. The words were a quiet ripple in the sea of prayers.

“I can’t believe I found the one,”another voice chimed, bubbling with joy. This prayer belonged to a man who had thought his time for love was over. But then she appeared—a gentle soul with laughter like sunlight through leaves, and now his heart sang with gratitude.

A third voice, older but steady, resonated in a tone that felt like an embrace.“Thank you for keeping our love strong, even after fifty years.”She listened as the words drifted up from a woman, her hands weathered but gentle as she placed them over her heart, thinking of her partner asleep beside her. Through allthe decades, the ups and downs, their love had grown richer, deeper, like wine aging to perfection.

Aphrodite closed her eyes, allowing the voices to fill her. These whispered thanks, these quiet affirmations—they were gifts, simple but precious. Though she had been the goddess of love for millennia and had seen wars fought and kingdoms crumble for love’s sake, it was these small moments of appreciation that resonated the most. She felt a surge of contentment and pride in her work, the beauty of her power not in grand displays, but in the endless, intimate ties she wove between hearts.

The goddess breathed in the gratitude of each soul, each love story playing before her mind like an old, beloved tale. Mortals might have thanked her for helping them find love, but it was she who was blessed to witness its beauty in all its forms.

She’d seen countless lovers meet and part, seen loves forged through chance encounters, bold confessions, and the smallest moments that humans cherished. But these quiet words of thanks reminded her of why she carried on—why love, despite everything, was always worth the work.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Today was a good day to be a goddess, she thought, her heart swelling with the silent satisfaction of knowing her work would go on forever.

She looked around her home in Olympus and decided she needed to be closer to mortals and revel in their glow on the Upperworld.

She teleported into her apartment, and her eyes softened at the familiar view. Central Park lay sprawled out below, dappled in summer sunlight, with the lively hum of laughter and music drifting faintly through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She soaked it in for a moment, the mortal warmth, the lightness she could never find on Olympus.

A low, off-key humming drifted toward her, and she followed the sound, curiosity blooming. As she entered her jungle room, the lush foliage of her plant sanctuary greeted her, vibrant and thriving. In the center of it all stood Adonis.

And he was wearing…a dress?

Aphrodite leaned against the door, unable to hold back a grin as she took in the sight of him. “Hello, my dear,” she called out, her voice lilting with amusement.

Adonis turned, cheeks tinged pink and his tanned skin practically glowing against the frilly edges of a black and white outfit. Somehow, even in that ridiculous getup, he looked gorgeous.

“Oh, and what, exactly, are you wearing?” she teased, arching a brow.

He looked down at himself and then up at her. “You don’t recognize it? It’s a French maid’s outfit. Vintage,” he said, a little dramatically, twirling the feather duster he’d tucked into his apron.

She pressed her lips together, hiding her laughter. “Right, of course,” she said, nodding solemnly.Why would he be wearing this?“A costume—Halloween’s still a few months away. Or…is this some new twist?” She leaned in. “Something kinky, perhaps?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Well, now that you mention it, maybe Ishouldkeep it around. Never thought about using it in the bedroom, but thanks for the idea!”

Then he leaned over, pulling up the lacy edge of his skirt to reveal frilly underwear. He struck a pose. “Does it do it for you?”

She couldn’t hold back her laugh any longer. “It would have, but not anymore.” She gave him a playful wink. “Sorry, Adonis.”

He feigned a wounded look, clapping a hand to his chest. “A woman immune to my charms? How could I let that happen?”

She smiled, the words sounding almost too close to the truth. “Oh, I don’t know,” she replied, watching him as he reached for a watering can. “But maybe you should stick to plants. They seem to appreciate your charms just fine.”

He chuckled, letting his hand drift lovingly over a large monstera leaf. “Yeah, can you believe it? I’m low-key impressed by how well they’ve thrived here.” He looked over at her, his mouth curving with satisfaction. “And here I thought you didn’t have a green thumb.”

She stepped closer, joining him by the giant ferns and palms that nearly brushed the ceiling. “That’s the secret,” she said with a playful tilt of her lips. “I don’t. I have you.”

He laughed, slipping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a warm, easy hug, pressing a friendly kiss to her cheek. “Lucky for you, then. I’d hate to see these beauties wither away on you.”

Aphrodite’s heart swelled, and she let herself sink into the comfort of his embrace. Their connection was steady and calm now, as natural as breathing. She remembered the intensity of the attraction that had first drawn them together—a passion that burned hot but had quickly softened into something she hadn’t expected to find with a human: a genuine friendship.

They had met when Aphrodite stepped into Persephone’s plant shop on the Upper East Side. She had been there to snoop and find out more about the young goddess who had captured Hades’s heart.

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