Page 74 of The Seducer
Finn tickled me until I took my words back, and with the tickling we were back to touching and kissing again.
“I was thinking we should do a second test round, you know, just to be certain that the curse is really lifted, and maybe try some of all the positions we never got around to.”
I didn’t object to the idea.
CHAPTER 23
Love
Finn
Athena wasn’t in the bed when I woke up. I was confused when I came down to the kitchen and found her behaving as if nothing had happened between us.
When I tried to touch her, she moved away and it was impossible for me to lock eyes with her.
“I’m afraid it’s going to be a quick breakfast,” Hans said. “We have a busy schedule, with all the catching up we have to do, so we need to get going as soon as possible.”
Athena shoved a bowl of oatmeal with fruit on top into my hands. I put it down on the table next to me. “Hans, would you mind giving me a moment alone with Athena?”
“Sure, I’ll just put our bags in the drone, and leave you two to your goodbyes.” Hans gave Athena a big hug before he picked up our bags and left the house.
“Athena,” I said and moved in front of her. “What happened between us last night, it was…” I lifted her chin and drowned in her amazing green eyes that were tearing up.
“It was beautiful,” she whispered and the first tear ran down her freckled cheek. “I’ll never forget you, Finn.”
“Forget me?” I frowned.
“When I first heard you wanted to come here and apologize to me, I had this idea that I wanted you to experience the same loss of control that you submitted me to. I wanted you to reach a new level of empathy and maturity.”
“Athena, I…”
“I know it hasn’t been easy for you, Finn, but you have learned to trust and last night you opened up to me, showing me a new and more vulnerable side of yourself. I consider that a breakthrough in your personal development.”
Frustrated with her clinical way of characterizing what had happened between us, I covered her mouth with my hand. “Will you shut up for a moment?”
Athena’s eyes grew wide, but at least she was quiet enough for me to say my piece. “Ask me your stupid question again,” I said and pulled my hand away.
“What question?” she asked.
“Would I rather sleep with one woman for the rest of my life or a new one every night?”
Athena blinked away a few tears. “I think I know the answer. You should know that it makes me happy that you feel that way.”
“I do. Last night was the best night of my life.”
“Oh, Finn.” Lifting up on her toes, Athena wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. “I want you to be happy. I want you to find that special someone and be happy with her.”
My body stiffened, and my throat grew thick. “I thought you…” Heat was spreading in my body and not in a good way. Shifting my balance, I took a step back, holding on to her hands. “When you said that you loved me – I mean, was that a lie?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then why can’t it be you and me? Why are you talking about someone else?”
“I’m a priestess, Finn. I took a vow and I can’t leave the Motherlands.”
I squeezed her hands tighter. “Then I’ll stay here with you.”
“You would be miserable. And what about your friends, alcohol, and meat?”
