Page 56 of Loved By Aphrodite

“And at least they let you keep the power to retract your wings,” Aphrodite added.

Eros’s nostrils flared. “Fine. At least I still got what I wanted.” He grinned at them. “If it wasn’t for me, you two would still be miserable and apart.”

“I’ll give you that one,” Hephaestus said with a resigned sigh.

“Why don’t I take you to your quarters and show you around?” Artemis tugged at his arm.

Eros shrugged. “I suppose I should take a tour of my new prison.”

“We’ll come visit,” Aphrodite promised him. “And you’re still allowed your Olympus phone, but you can only use it to text or call us.” Hephaestus had made the modifications himself so that Eros could not access coding software and do more damage.

“Whatever.”

“I’ll introduce you to everyone. I think you’ll really like it here, Eros. It’ll be nice to have another god around….” She led him out of the office, chatting away as Eros looked back, mouthing ‘save me’ to Hephaestus before disappearing.

“Thank you again, Cade, for doing this,” Hephaestus said.

“You’re welcome. It’s the least I can do after you helped with Arcane,” the Alpha said.

“I suppose your mate’s persuasive arguments didn’t have anything to do with you agreeing as well?”

Cade sighed. “At least she didn’t bring out the whiteboard and markers.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this, Alpha?” Aphrodite asked. “I know it’s a lot, and Eros…he can be unpredictable.”

“As long as he obeys me, he’ll be fine, my lady. I don’t know if I can set him straight, though.”

“I don’t expect you to.” After all, Eros had to do that all by himself. He had towantto change. “But if it becomes too much, let us know.”

“Will do.”

“We should get going.” The two men shook hands and with a wave of his hand, Hephaestus transported himself and Aphrodite back to Thessaly, where the sun was already low on the horizon, painting the sky with various shades of pink, purple, and blue.

“Beautiful,” Aphrodite sighed.

“I know. The sunset’s nice too.” He caressed her cheek, which had gone all flushed. “Are you blushing at my compliment?”

“Of course I am,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. The most beautiful woman of all creation. And wasn’t there something with an apple that caused a war?” he teased.

“Oh, ha ha, you know that’s a bunch of lies. I won that apple fair and square, and Hera and Athena can, as the humans say, ‘suck it.’”

“I don’t need an apple to tell me that you’re the most beautiful woman on earth.” He kissed her full on the mouth. “How did I get so lucky with you?” he murmured against her lips. “I don’t deserve?—”

“Stop. You deserve me.” Her voice shook. “Don’t ever think you don’t. Yes, you did a lot for me and Eros, but that only proves what a good, caring man you are, worthy of love.”

He blinked. “Love?”

“Yes,” she giggled, tweaking his nose playfully. “I love you, in case you didn’t know it.”

His chest swelled with emotion, and he remembered Eros’s words. “Damn, I should have said it first.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “You can still say it, you know. It doesn’t matter who said it first.”

She was right. So, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. “I love you, Aphrodite.”

She sighed against his mouth as he kissed her, as if this was the moment she’d been waiting for all her life. And if he were honest, it was for him too.

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