Page 10 of Desired By Eros

“Why are you here?” she demanded, her brow furrowing as she watched him warily.

“Why, can’t I be here?” he countered smoothly, spreading his arms as if to show he belonged anywhere he pleased.

Psyche narrowed her eyes. He was exactly the kind of person she avoided—too charming, too unpredictable, and too difficult to read. Still, she couldn’t ignore him, especially not here, when he clearly wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

Before she could reply, the twins squealed in delight and crawled toward him. Phoebe clung to his leg while Liam attempted to climb onto his knee. Eros let out an exasperated sigh but crouched to scoop them up, one in each arm.

“Really?” he muttered, though there was a trace of fondness in his voice as the twins tugged at his hair and babbled excitedly. He lifted them both easily, balancing their weight like it was nothing. “You two are relentless.”

Psyche blinked, trying to reconcile the sight of Eros—God of Love and Desire, known for his playful arrogance—patiently holding the twins while they giggled and grabbed at his face. “I don’t get it,” she said aloud, mostly to herself.

“What don’t you get?” he asked, his smirk resurfacing as he shot her a sidelong glance.

“How you can be…that.” She gestured vaguely at him. “Annoyed and affectionate at the same time.”

He chuckled, adjusting Phoebe on his hip while Liam tugged at his shirt collar. “It’s a gift. Besides, they seem to be entertaining in small doses.”

Psyche’s lips pressed into a thin line as she studied him. “You’re hard to figure out.”

“That’s part of my charm,” he replied with a wink, causing her to roll her eyes.

Still, as the twins shrieked in delight and Eros laughed despite himself, Psyche couldn’t help but think he wasn’t entirely what she’d expected. Something unfamiliar stirred within her, a strange sensation that settled low in her chest and radiated outward like the faintest ripple in still water.

She couldn’t identify it—it wasn’t anxiety, though it made her hyperaware of his presence. It wasn’t annoyance, though his smirk and ease with the twins should have irked her. Instead, it was a quiet unease, a sense of being slightly off-kilter, as if the ground beneath her feet wasn’t quite as steady as she’dassumed. It was strange, but she tucked it away, certain it wasn’t important.

The twins’ energy was boundless as they climbed over Eros, giggling and shrieking. Even Goat-zilla joined in, bleating as Phoebe tried to crown him with grass between his horns. The noise and activity amplified, their laughter echoing off the backyard’s fences until it seemed to press in on her from every direction.

At first, Psyche tried to focus on her breathing, taking steady, deliberate inhales and exhales.It’s fine, just loud. It’s fine.But the sounds didn’t fade—they layered and overlapped, overwhelming her senses until her skin prickled and her head buzzed with static. Her fingers rapidly tapped against the grass as she fought to hold herself together.

She knew the signs: if she didn’t remove herself soon, the frayed edges of her calm would disappear, and she would have a meltdown.

She stood abruptly, the motion catching Eros’s attention. “I need to go to my room to get my earphones,” she said quickly. “The noise is making me over-sensitized.”

Eros straightened, still holding Liam. “What’s up?” he asked, his brow furrowing. His tone wasn’t teasing this time—it felt curious, genuine.

Frustration bubbled under her skin as she realized she’d have to explain.Just get it over with.“I have Autism Spectrum Disorder,” she said, keeping her gaze on him. “The sounds are…a little too much right now.”

She braced herself for the look of pity, the awkward pause that usually followed when she disclosed her condition. It always came, that fleeting expression that seemed to say,Oh, I’m so sorry for you.

But Eros didn’t give her that look. Instead, his head tilted slightly, and his eyes remained steady on hers. “I don’t knowmuch about it,” he admitted. “But if you need to step away, that makes sense.”

Psyche blinked, caught off guard by his straightforward response. “Okay,” she said after a moment, the tension in her chest loosening slightly. “It shouldn’t take me long. I’ll be right back.”

Eros gave a small nod, his attention shifting back to the twins as if her explanation was simply another piece of information, not something to be pitied or dissected. A sliver of relief coursed through her as she quickly walked away.

A sense of calm settled over her as soon as she stepped into her room, soothing her nerves instantly. The walls were painted in muted tones, and her things were arranged in perfect order—her suitcase neatly tucked away, and her laptop resting on the small desk. Here, everything was predictable, controlled. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as her breathing began to slow.Safe. Quiet. Okay.

Quickly crossing the room, she opened the drawer where she’d stored her earphones. Sliding them in, she felt the tension melt away, the sounds of the world outside replaced by the comforting silence the buds provided.

Before heading back, she checked her email again—a habitual part of her routine. Her pulse quickened when she saw the new message from the dig site manager.Finally. It’s happening.She had to be at the site for orientation the next day. A grin spread across her face, small but genuine. She didn’t linger long, though—the babies needed her.

The steady hush of her earphones dimmed the world around her. The distant chatter and rustling wind softened to a muted hum, creating a cocoon of quiet as she made her way back. She saw the twins still swarming Eros, their giggles and shrieks muffled now but still visible in their bright smiles. Goat-zillastood nearby, occasionally nudging Eros with his nose as if demanding attention too.

Psyche felt a flicker of amusement at the scene. Eros looked exasperated but was clearly enjoying himself, his hands deftly keeping the twins from climbing too high or pulling too hard on his hair.

With a deep breath, she stepped into the pen, her movements calm and deliberate. The earphones helped her focus, and she felt ready to face the chaos again. As she settled near the twins, Eros glanced up at her, his expression unreadable but his smirk unmistakable.

“You survived,” he quipped.

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