Page 36 of Heroines of Olympus

Aphrodite laysin the enormous bed in Zeus’s chambers, satisfied, lazily staring at the ceiling. Zeus and Ares are already getting dressed again, but she is in no hurry, choosing to take this time to relax in post-coital pleasure.

Ares says his goodbyes, the door closing quietly behind him as he leaves.

Once Aphrodite and Zeus are alone, she turns to him, fixing a pout on her face.

“What is it, my pet?” He asks, pausing from combing his long grey beard.

“Well,” Aphrodite answers coyly, eyes widening to convey the youthful innocence that she knows he has a weakness for. “The search of Hestia’s rooms found pages of coded notes that appear to line up with everything our informant said. You can’t possibly be thinking of releasing her.”

Zeus shakes his head. “I’m not sure what I want to do with her, aside from making sure she can never contact those fucking rebels again.”

His eyes simmer with anger at the betrayal, likely more to do with his bruised ego than any sense of loyalty to their institutions.

Moving to the edge of the bed, still naked, Aphrodite begins lightly caressing up and down Zeus’s arm.

She leans up onto her knees, bringing her lips to his ear, allowing her warm breath to stoke his desires and make him more compliant.

“Let me play with her,” Aphrodite croons. His gray hair is rough as she threads her fingers through, letting her lips brush the edges of his earlobe.

Zeus groans and grows hard again, making Aphrodite smile at her skills.

While lightly stroking his erection, she continues, “I will make sure she suffers, I promise.”

He reaches for her breast but she pulls back, not letting him have his fun until he gives her an answer.

“Fine,” he replies, and she nods, giving him access to her body, nothing more. It is fortunate that Zeus cares little for feelings, since Aphrodite will never have any for him.

He wraps his arms around her, lifting her up and placing her on his cock in one swift movement.

The sudden penetration makes Aphrodite yelp, but she enjoys the slight sting that comes with it. Zeus grips her hips, and her arms circle behind his neck for support, as he slides her up and down roughly.

Moans spill from her lips as he hits a steady rhythm. She adjusts the angle of her hips slightly, crying out when she finds that perfect angle.

Zeus roars his orgasm as he comes inside of her. She stays in place until he is thoroughly spent.

Dropping her onto the bed, indelicately, Zeus moves to his bathing chamber, apparently finished with her.

The hint of rejection fails to take root. She lies back, twirling her flaxen hair in between her fingers as she plots just how she will make Hestia miserable.

22

MEDUSA

Psyche catches up to Medusa at the top of the stone steps, staring out at the Isle city silently as the wind whips around her. She turns to Psyche, struggling to breathe, as her heart races. This has just been so much. Three days ago, Medusa woke up on her island the same as every other day and almost every moment since has been filled with chaos, confusion, violence, questions, upheavals.

Psyche takes her hand. “Close your eyes.”

Medusa silently complies, clinging to the feeling of Psyche’s touch. “Open.”

They are in the Oasis, and all is quiet, calm. The wind is no longer whipping against her skin, her breathing steadies, and she finally begins to recenter. Medusa is so grateful for the abrupt lack of excess stimuli, and Psyche knew that is exactly what Medusa needs.

Looking into each other’s eyes, hand in hand, Medusa is back on solid ground. They turn and look around and both gasp at the same time. Neither of them noticed the sky is no longer twilight and now has a sun that is either a rising or setting, the deep orange color with hints of maroon blending with pinks and purples.

“It’s never changed before.” Psyche turns back to look at Medusa with a startled but excited expression. “It might have something to do with you. I’ve never been here more than once with the same person. Sometimes I come back on my own - which is very nice, by the way. I can’t thank you enough for the idea - but the scenery has never changed. I’m curious to see what other changes we might see.”

“You’re not worried about it?” Medusa asks, concerned she may have caused a problem. How can she so easily mess things up, even in her own mind?

Psyche waves her hand dismissively. “Not at all. I’m positive something would feel off if anything was wrong. I think this is simply our minds interacting with each other on this plane.”

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