Page 32 of Poseidon's Island Flower

I had my own secrets, hell, a big one for sure.

Yesterday, when the rapid knock at the door sounded, my heart leaped out of my chest and Zeus smirked, walking to the door and opening it, only to find not Lani and Candice but two other women I’d never seen before.

I squeezed the phone in my hand, nearly cracking it while Zeus let them in to clean. I typed a message, asking what she was doing today since we were in frequent contact. She replied she was grocery shopping.

It was her day off.

Then the same thing happened again today. This morning, the same two women came in to clean. I wouldn’t let them near my room, for fear that they may touch my pillow and wipe away her scent.

Did I want her to clean, though? Did I want her to come in and clean my room when she was no longer required to do so? I was her mate. She was going to be the queen of the sea, and she was a mere maid among the humans.

No wonder her hands felt so calloused in mine. She scrubbed tubs and toilets and who knew what else? This line of work was too much for her, not worthy of her.

That wouldn’t do, and I’d see to it she would clean no one else’s room again.

A wave of determination rolled over my body as I picked up the hotel phone and ordered both her and her friend to be given a month’s holiday. I would pay for their salaries while paying off the management to make it happen.

I couldn't help the smug grin that spread across my face as I felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Wow, you held a full conversation,” Zeus said as he buttoned up his white-collared dress shirt.

He left the three top buttons opened and ran his hand through his hair.

“Yeah, I guess I did.” I smiled, putting the phone away.

Lani and Candice would be here any minute. Lani suggested we should do a double date, so I had someone familiar with me, and if I felt like I needed to leave, that I could.

How thoughtful.

But it wouldn’t come to that. Our lighthearted conversations over the two days had helped me tremendously. Lani did most of the texting, asking questions—easy ones at first to break the ice. My favorite colors, animals, a game called “Twenty Questions” she said would help us both get more acquainted.

Zeus chuckled in the corner when I told him the game we played. “She did it so you wouldn’t feel overwhelmed with hard questions. She did easy stuff so you would feel comfortable.”

Hmm. I liked that. It was thoughtful. And it truly did “break the ice,” as she called our beginning conversations.

Lani was most attentive during our text conversations and steered clear of anything serious to Zeus’s dismay. He tried to get me to do this “flirting” thing with winking emoji faces and such, but I knew that was not my style. Not me.

And when I refused, he understood and helped explain anything I had questions about. And it felt good, it felt downright amazing to have someone by my side other than my creations. To have my blood brother sitting beside me on the couch and have every day conversations and poking and prodding with each other would be…fun.

Even if it meant I was to be the butt of his jokes, I would welcome it. To be the butt of one of Zeus’s jokes was the norm.

It was just how Zeus was.

The knock at the door wasn’t the rapid beating like the housekeeper’s knock, and jellyfish floated in my stomach as I stood.

Should I get the door? Should Zeus? Do I look too eager if I answered it right away?

Zeus patted my shoulder, walking toward the door while I kept my hand firmly planted on the dining room table. I feared if I let go, I might sway and faint from the eruption of excitement rushing through my veins.

Zeus opened the door. I could see a wide grin on the side of his face when he saw Candice. She rolled her eyes, her arms crossed as she stepped in. But then my heart stopped when I saw Lani.

There was only her.

She was dressed in a beautiful white floral dress with plumeria flowers scattered over it. Her neck was adorned with Puka shells, and her beautiful thick, messy curls were wrapped into a loose bun covering her slender neck.

I admired the soft sway of her hips and the fabric dancing across her skin. Random strands of curls framed her face, tickling her collarbone and shoulders. I wished I could be the ringlet of hair that rested so delicately against her skin.

Lani’s tanned skin was a beautiful contrast against the gentle lace that dipped with the swell of her breasts and the cinched waist only complimented her figure further. Her hips were wide, and I could almost feel the smoothness of her skin beneath my fingertips, my arms wanting to embrace her, yet my body remained still. The task felt insurmountable.

---