Page 33 of Artemis

His fist sped up on his cock as he braced himself on the tile of the shower. The hot water hit the back of his neck and trickled down his body, heightening every sensation.

Finley wasn’t sure when she’d started glowing. Before she’d told him she was about to come.

The burst of light when her orgasm hit had been blinding, both in intensity and beauty.

And she’d been as surprised as he had, which meant it hadn’t happened before.

That thought brought him down from the edge a bit, so he pushed it aside and focused on what she’d looked like after, her skin glowing silver, her hair mussed, and her glasses slipping down her nose... Her shirt gaping open, exposing her perky breasts with those gleaming barbells piercing the tight little nipples... Her skirt rucked up and her pussy dripping her juices...

Finley’s own orgasm caught him by surprise. He gasped, leaning against the wall as his release pulsed through him, legs shaking with the force.

I shouldn’t be surprised.It’s been like this every time.

Every singledamnedtime he thought about her.

Finley shook himself out of the afterglow and finished his shower. He couldn’t keep doing this, but he also couldn’t stop thinking about her.

“That settles it,” he muttered to himself as he got dressed for the day. “First thing on Monday, I’ll reach out to Aphrodite. See if she knows Artemis. And then I’ll beg for forgiveness, on bended knee if I have to. Whatever it takes.”

Mind made up, Finley ate without tasting it and left for the daycare. The sun had barely risen; the last wisps of fog still lingered in the air giving the Underworld a dream-like quality.

* * *

He lookedup from his intense study of the desk in Maddie’s office when she entered. She sat in the chair and pulled a piece of paper toward her.

“Any questions?”

“Not that I can think of,” Finley started, but then hesitated. “Are you sure I should come to the birthday party tomorrow?”

Maddie frowned, tilting her head to the side. “You were invited. Alexander loves you. Of course you should come.”

“I don’t know his parents at all. It feels weird going to a kid’s birthday party without knowing them.” Finley shifted awkwardly in the chair.

“Don’t overthink it. Just be yourself,” Maddie advised.

Finley chuckled. “I can’t do both of those things. Pick one!”

Maddie offered him an understanding smile. “The most important thing is to be there for Alexander, right?”

“Right.”

“Look...” Maddie crossed her arms as best as she could over her pregnant belly. “Alexander’s father is... Okay, you know how you think you’re bad with kids?”

“Yeah.” Finley squirmed internally.

“You’re not, by the way. Trust me, I know kids. I’ve seen them with you. You’re fantastic with them.”

Finley blushed. He wasn’t used to so much praise.

Maddie smiled sadly. “Anyway, this guy, he left Alexander’s mom when she told him she was pregnant. Like, not cold feet, keep in touch, I need to process this big change. He full on left the Underworld and moved topside, never to be heard from or seen again.” Maddie growled a little. “If I ever get my hands on thatbastard— How can hepossiblynot want to be in Alexander’s life? He’s a fantastic kid! Everyone loves him.”

She seethed quietly for a minute while Finley tried to figure out what to say, but she continued before he managed it.

“He was a con man, honestly. He only wanted money to gamble it away, and it didn’t matter where he got the money from, always looking for the next big score. I don’t know what she saw in him, but she waswaytoo good for him.”

“Sure sounds like it,” Finley said, heart heavy for Alexander. Obviously his mom was doing a fantastic job raising him by herself, but sometimes a kid just wanted his dad. Heck, Finley himself was how old now, and he still wanted his dad sometimes.

Ask him if he could be a good potential dad even though he didn’t know how one acted.

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