Page 37 of Loved By Aphrodite

She turned around and kissed him, slow and tender, before resting her head on his chest.

“Feeling better?” he teased.

“Yes, very much so,” she said, sitting up. Her fingers trailed lightly down his chest, tracing some faint scars, and then down to his leg. “When did you make this version of your cybernetic leg?”

“The past year or so,” he replied, watching her closely.

She tilted her head, her fingers gliding over the polished surface. “It still makes the same sound as the one you used back when we were together.”

“Yeah,” he said with a small shrug, “I like the sound. So, I still use a lot of metal, not plastic.”

“I like the sound too,” she admitted, her voice softer now. Her fingers lingered on the mechanism, reverent in their touch. “It’s one of those things that’s just you.”

She shifted, kneeling between his legs as he adjusted himself to sit back on the headboard. She looked at the god before her, wanting to explore him, to learn him, to wallow in him. A wicked smile spread across her lips as her hands traveled up his thighs. “Time to feel good.”

Hephaestus’s eyes gleamed with a hunger that she swore she could feel on her skin before he reached for her, drawing her into a kiss that was searing and demanding.

“I know what you like,” she whispered, her lips lingering above his. “We can do whatever you want.”

He leaned back slightly, his eyes locking with hers. “No.”

“No?” she asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

He shook his head. “No, I don’t want the goddess of love.”

She stilled, her breath catching. “Then what do you want?”

“I want Aphrodite.” He took her hand in his, his thumb tracing slow circles on her palm. “Se thélo.”

Her heart gave a strange lurch as he brought her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to it. “The woman who is fiercely protective of those she cares for.” He kissed her hand again.

“The woman who fought the Titans.” He leaned in, pressing his lips to her shoulder.

“The woman who drives me absolutely crazy,” he said, his voice dropping into a low, teasing tone.

She laughed, the sound bubbling up before she could stop it.

He smiled, his gaze warm and unflinching. “The woman whose smile and laugh are what I want to see and hear for the rest of time.”

A surge of feeling filled her, and she kissed him before he could say anything more. The kiss was soft yet consuming, a meeting of passion and something deeper, something steady and enduring. Her lips moved with his as her head went fuzzy from the dizzying way he was kissing her. His hand cupped her cheek, his touch grounding her despite the rush of emotion within her.

When they finally parted, Aphrodite’s breath came in shallow gasps, her forehead resting on his. “You have me,” she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of her truth. “Íme dikí sou.”

Hephaestus’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smile. “Good,” he said, smoothing a strand of hair from her face. “Then we should make the most of it. Can’t risk getting kicked out of this bed just yet.”

She laughed, the sound light and unrestrained. “I like the way you think.”

Before he could respond, she leaned in and kissed him again, this time with a playful urgency that made him chuckle against her lips. His arms wrapped around her, holding her closer as if to say he wasn’t letting go anytime soon.

Chapter 9

Aphrodite

Aphrodite lay against Hephaestus, her cheek pressed to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her. Her body was still humming, a pleasant ache from the sheer number of times he had brought her over the edge.

She stretched lazily, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “Well, it’s official. We really were idiots for not saying how we felt. Think of all the amazing sex we could’ve been having this whole time.”

Hephaestus let out a deep, rumbling laugh that made her grin wider. He tilted his head to look down at her, his fingers brushing along her arm. “You’re not wrong,” he said, amusement glinting in his eyes. “But in my defense, I thought you’d laugh in my face if I told you how I felt. And not the kind of laughing I enjoy hearing.”

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