Page 44 of Artemis

“I didn’t, obviously. I... Oh, this sounds silly when I say it out loud.” Artemis flushed, turning away from Finley’s riveted expression to look around the cozy living room.

“Nothing you’ve said is silly. It’s something that is important to you, and I am willing to listen if you are willing to tell me.”

“I asked the moon what I should do,” Artemis whispered. She sank onto one of the couches, practically being enveloped by the plushness of it.

“That makes sense, you being the Moon Goddess,” Finley said when she didn’t continue, sitting beside her on the couch. “What did the moon say?”

“The moon doesn’t reallytalk, exactly. It’s more like feelings. It feels content, or sad, or angry.” Artemis rubbed her hands on the knees of her leggings. They were still wet; she’d forgotten about that and wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant feeling.

“I went out into my backyard the night I found out I was pregnant, and I asked the moon what I should do. The feeling of warmth, of love, that I felt from the moon for my barely conceived child was overwhelming.” She smiled, remembering the sensation. “I knew I had to keep the baby.” Her smile wobbled. “And now he’s—” She cut off, unable to continue.

“Come here,” Finley murmured, wrapping an arm around her shoulders when she followed his instructions.

His warmth and strength surrounding her once more, Artemis let her tears go, sobbing into his chest until she had nothing left. Exhausted, she let the darkness take her.

CHAPTER12

Finley’s heartwas breaking for the beautiful woman asleep in his arms. The person she loved most in the world was missing, and there was absolutely nothing that anyone could do until the kidnappers either called or made a mistake.

God, Goddess, whatever deities existed that could grant his plea, he hoped the kidnappers made a mistake.

He looked down at the Goddess sleeping. She seemed younger, more at peace. Her glasses were slipping down her nose, so he carefully removed them with his free hand and placed them on the side table next to the couch. He could just barely reach it, but had to stretch.

Artemis whimpered in her sleep, an adorable furrow appearing on her brow, until he cuddled her close again and she burrowed deeper against his chest.

The movement shifted her sweater further off her shoulder, dropping down her arm and revealing the creamy white skin of the top of her breast. A hint of the pink of her areola was visible at the edge of the neckline and his mouth watered. He loved women that went without a bra. Even better when he couldn’t tell through the clothing that she was naked underneath, and then the shirt slipped off the shoulder to reveal no strap.

So sexy.

Finley averted his eyes, not wanting to get aroused. She didn’t need him pawing at her when she was so torn up about her son.

“Did you take my glasses off?” she asked, her voice slurred by sleep.

“Yes. Sorry. They were falling off.”

“That’s okay.” She curled against him more and the sweater’s neckline slipped further, exposing the edge of her dusky pink nipple with the silver barbell through it.

“Artemis,” Finley ground out through clenched teeth.

“What?” She blinked up at him innocently.

He blew out a long breath. “Either fix your shirt so that I can’t see down it or take it off,” he growled.

“Oh!” Artemis glanced down at herself.

He waited patiently for her to make up her mind, not wanting to push her one way or the other.

“I don’t think I’m up for sex,” she said at last.

“That’s totally fi—” Finley cut himself off when she sat up and whipped her sweater off over her head. His fantasies, his memories, had not done her justice. He drank in the sight of her as she swung her leg across his, settling herself in his lap. “Even more stunning than I remember,” he murmured. “Can I touch you?”

“Not yet,” she replied, a coy smile playing at her lips. She ran her hands up her belly and over her ribs. Instead of cupping her breasts the way that Finley would have, she trailed her fingertips up her sternum, bypassing them completely.

Finley groaned. “Artemis, darling, you’re killing me here.”

She smirked at him. “I think you deserve to wait. Just a bit. You did ditch me when I—” Her breath hitched. “When I said I have a son,” she soldiered on. Her fingers traced the outside fullness of her breasts before circling underneath, only to skitter up her sternum again.

“Okay. Valid,” he said. It was a cruel form of torture, to have her weight heavy on top of his swelling cock, her being half-naked, and yet not being able to touch her. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He could be patient.

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