Aphrodite's Flame

48.

July is almost past, August is creeping up on us when I awake next to Adonis. He must have had the strangest life, growing up under the watchful eye of the King and Queen of the Dead, before dying in the arms of Love. 

The past seven weeks have been sweet. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

'You're up,' he smiles without opening his eyes. I return the smile and curl up.

'How did you sleep?' I ask. He slowly opens his eyes and takes me in, still smiling.

'I always sleep better when I sleep next to you.' We remain silent for a bit while we look at each other. His fingertips follow my facial contours.

'I'm meeting with Artemis today,' I whisper, reluctant to break the comfortable silence.

'Is she coming here?' he asks, excited. I shake my head no.

'I'll ask her to visit you soon, okay?' He nods eagerly. I give it another minute before I get up and climb out of bed. I get dressed quickly and move to the other side of the lake, where I'm supposed to meet her. I haven't seen Artemis since the birth of the last hero. We don't often go without each other for such a stretch of time. So when she spots me, she breaks out in a smile and runs over to me.

'Oh my Zeus, you look great,' she tells me, twirling my light blonde hair around her finger, caressing my cheek. My best friend has always been a bit touchy-feely when she missed me.

'You too,' I return the compliment before we start walking into the woods. She has come to see Callisto, but wanted to see me and Persephone while she was down here.

'How is your time with Adonis?' she wonders. 'Is it true? Did he go to Corinth last time?'

'He did. Tell Callisto that her sister is alright.'

'And what about you? Are you alright?' 

I let my head hang back. 'Really? What is up with you all?'

'I'm worried about you. How are things between you and Heath? How is life beneath the mountain? Are you sure about what the two of you are doing? You seem...' I snap my head, looking in her direction. She was never degrading in Hephaestus' case - she even was his friend. 

'Why does everyone think that has to do with my marriage?!'

'Because,' she retorts calmly, 'you've been out of it ever since.' I roll my eyes.

'Maybe it is because I have been forced to enter a marriage - Maybe it is because my new marriage overlaps with a promise to an undead boy - Maybe it is because of something else entirely.' I sigh deeply. Had I known our rendezvous would be like this, I wouldn't have accepted an invitation. 'I should head back.'

'Aphr-'

'Adonis asked me whether you'd like to visit someday. For a hunt.'

'Of course.' I start walking away, when I hear her catching up to me.

'You can't pretend with me, Di. I know it's you. Don't shut yourself off like this. You can be both. You can be Love and Aphrodite.' A deep sigh escapes my lips.

'I can't, Artemis. Don't you get it? You have never loved like I have. You don't know what it is like to feel the love and longing in everyone around you. I can't always be on the receiving end of things and I sure as Hades can't always be on the giving side. Aphrodite can't.' And with that I leave her.

***

I move through the tiny slits and crevices of the cave, following the sound of his heart. Now that I know, it is much easier to find the grand halls where my husband resides. I move from the shadows when I find him at work in his smithery. I sneak toward the massive table and hoist myself on it. Leaning back, I enjoy the view of him hammering on a piece of metal. The fire behind him throws a golden glow over his shimmering skin. His muscles ripple beneath the surface. 

I am getting turned on.

Suddenly he freezes and turns around. He throws his hammer on his work bench before he walks over in less than ten big strides. I jump off the table to meet him.

He looks at me like he is unsure I'm real. His hands push the strands of hair from my face. I expect him to kiss me, but he doesn't.

'Is it really you? Why are you here?' he murmurs. 

'I missed you,' I pout. 'I'm going back tonight, but I needed to see you, if just for a minute. It's been two months- I feel like you and I didn't even get a fair chance.' I put my hands on his chest, allowing them to wander to his shoulders, his biceps. I want these arms to hold me.

'Do you need something the mortal boy can't give you?' he asks under his breath, while his eyes flicker to my lips. I shake my head no.

'It's just that I want you. You. Not him. Just you,' I whisper, leaning into him, sniffing his deliciously divine scent. He mutters something inaudible before lifting me on the table, pushing my legs apart.

'Kiss me,' I tell him.

'Ask me. Nicely.' I bite my bottom lip.

'Kiss me, please?'

'Oh, you can do better than that,' he growls. Pink heats up my cheeks. I don't beg. I never beg.

'Heath,' I whisper, my lips almost touching his, 'please kiss me?' And our lips collide in a whirlwind of passion and lust.

His hands are everywhere, pushing up the fine fabric from my virginly white peplos, diving under the piece of clothing and touching the centre of gravity. His other hand grabs at my neck as his lips wander off, kissing my jawline, my neck, my shoulder. He pushes my dress aside, cupping my breast before dipping his head low. His tongue circles my nipple.

'What do you want to do?' he asks in a low rumble, pulling me closer against his body.

'Give me everything,' I breathe. He lifts me up and carries me to his chambers, where he lays me down on a bear fur carpet on the ground. I squirm under his look.

'Gotta be more specific, love.' I pull his face toward me, kissing his lips. I pull out my headband, the one that held my loose curls together. Smiling, I blindfold my husband. Then, I reach for a small glass with honey behind me on the low side table. 

'I want you to find the honey,' I whisper.

'You loved that game, did you?' he whispers, kissing my breasts, pulling my peplos down lower.

I really did. I really do.

***

Afterwards, we lie on the palace floor. I stretch my arms over my head and turn toward him, smiling satisfied. 

'You're amazing,' I tell him. He is not smiling.

'You can't leave,' he murmurs in response. 'Not like this.' My smile falters.

'I have to. I'm sorry.'

Sighing, he sits up right and grabs his shirt to put it on. I sit up as well, hugging my legs to my body, resting my chin on my knees, bracing for impact.

'Then promise me one thing, Dee. Don't ever come back to me between acts again. Come back to me when you mean to stay - for a little while at least. I can't handle this.' He gets up and walks back to his smithery without looking back.

***

When I finally reach the cabin, it is rather late. I see there is still a fire burning inside. Adonis is waiting for me to come back. I swallow my grief before opening the door. He takes one look at my face to realise I'm not in the mood to be happy. Smiling without meaning it, I close the door behind me, leaning against it for a minute.

'Hey,' I softly say.

'Hey,' he says, making room for me on the bed. I go and lie down next to him, closing my eyes. I can feel he respects my silent wish not to talk. He leaves me alone for a bit while he massages my shoulders and presses kisses on every inch of visible skin.

After a while I will shed my humanity and become Love again. Love is rarely sad, rarely broken on itself. It may very well lead to the one or the latter - but Love in itself is good and happy. And therefore - I will be good and happy.