Aphrodite's Flame

57.

Zeus big fists grab a hold of Hephaestus, who looks rather unfazed given the situation. As Zeus squeezes his breath out of his throat and lifts him off the floor, I can't take it anymore. I'm not sure if he can or cannot kill him, but I'm not going to wait to find out.

Slowly, I walk into the light that falls down through the skylight.

'Okay then,' my voice sounds low. 'You have proven to me how badly you want me. Please, let Hephaestus go.' Zeus doesn't turn around yet, but his hand relaxes the tiniest bit.

'Let him go,' I press. He lets go of the man I love. I offer Hephaestus a defeated smile, before I turn my gaze toward Zeus.

'Don't do it,' Hephaestus croaks, his larynx crushed. Ignoring him, I never take my eyes of my assailant, who is starting to circle me. 'Aphrodite, please. It's okay, I don't mind.'

But I do.

'There is one thing in this entire world you cannot have, and you can't deal with that,' I softly tell the God that desires me. 'I can give that to you. You don't want my body, you want what only I can give to you.'

'Don't go crawling around in my thoughts now, Aphrodite. Just - come here and undo your dress.' Bored, Zeus sighs.

'I don't need to get into your head. From here I can see your soul just fine.' Zeus stops dead in his track, his gaze abhorred and intrigued at the same time.

'You lie,' he hisses before resuming his predatory behaviour.

'I don't. The moment lust and pleasure were not clouding your judgment - what was it that kept you going? Was it your drive for power? Your inherent kindness? What was it?' His soul flares up to a crackling blue.

'Ah, I see,' I smile. It was fear. Slowly I walk over to him, interrupting his circling, breaking his dominance. I'm not afraid of him anymore. I place my hand on his stubbled cheek, and he leans in, letting me caress him.

'Isn't it easier not being such a brute?' I whisper as I touch his chest with my other hand, following his muscles as I suck my bottom lip in. When I raise my eyes up at his, I find him to be studying me up close, trying to read my mind. He knows I can't hurt him - I'm not near strong enough - not even Hephaestus and I together would be strong enough to take him down. I stand on my toes and lean into him, smelling his horrible recognisable smell, something I feared for so very long.

But I don't fear him any longer. My hands move to his neck and find each other at the back.

'Aphrodite,' Hephaestus whispers urgently, defeated. Ignoring him, I move my lips to Zeus' ear.

'Your soul burns the hottest of all,' I breathe, causing the hairs on his neck to stand up. I feel his hands on my hips, gripping me tighter. 'It is a light blue, like lightning. There is none able to defeat you. Metis is dead. No prophecies tell of another soul to ever come for you. But I can see them. I will know.'

I feel his mouth turn up in a slow smile. I release my hold on him and he lets me go, so we can look at each other.

'I think we have reached an understanding, then,' he tells me cheerfully. 'You clean up here? I will see you when I need you. Or - when you want some of this,' he adds, moving his hands up and down in front of him. I barely manage a smile before he leaves.

As soon as he is gone, I fall down on my knees and release all bodily tension I was feeling. Hephaestus walks over to me, still unsure of whether it would be appropriate to touch me. I can see his insecure little flame, darting around, white sparks igniting his dark purple fire.

'What was it?' he asks, 'what could you possibly give to him he couldn't take? What was more valuable to him than your body?' I send him a sorrowful smile.

'My allegiance.'

He ponders over this and eventually he sighs.

'I'm glad you're okay.'

'Can't you just... hold me for a bit?' I manage to choke out, as I hug my own body. He shakes his head no, but his feet are already pointing in my direction.

'Please, Heath. You came for me. Now, please hold me.'

'I actually scoured the Earth, looking for you.' He lets out a humorless chuckle. 'I should really just let go.'

'Why did you look me for if it isn't because you still love me?'

'I do. Love you. The moment you released Love again and it touched me- I realised you were all I ever looked for. That you were- and I-' he stumbles, tripping over his own tongue.

'You are with Aglaea now,' I state, interrupting his train of thought. Embarrassed, he looks away from me.

'Just for a moment. Only because she was with me the bloody second you decided to accept yourself, the second you thought better of yourself.' He shakes his head, laughing. 'You have impeccable timing. But, Aphrodite, loving you is not enough. I am not the sharing type.'

'And I am not the jealous type,' I tell him with a tiny smile.

'Then it is not Aphrodite telling me this, it is Love.' Frustrated, he pushes the palms of his hands against his eyes. I get up and pull them away, holding his hands in mine.

'I am Aphrodite. Aphrodite is Love. If you can accept that, I can accept the fact that you love me.'

'But that's the thing, I don't know if I can.'

'Take me home,' I plead, 'let's find out together. Forever is a mighty long time to keep rejecting me.' I kiss his hand, his wrist.

'I love you, Hephaestus.' He looks down at me as I snake my arms around his neck.

'I love you.' I jump, clasping my legs around his waist. His strong hands keep me up. He is resisting, but only a little - only because he feels like he has to.

'I love you,' I whisper against his lips, before I kiss him lightly. He may be unable to help himself, but I can feel his longing grow. He moves toward the tall door behind me.

'I love you.' My tongue glides over his lips, and he sighs, surrendering. I trail my kisses down his neck. Then I feel his hands up my sides and he pushes me against the wood. His hand moves under my chin and he pulls me away from his neck. Desire flickers in his dark eyes when he looks at me.

'I love you,' he says, his lips slamming into mine. He groans as he keeps kissing me desperately, hungry for more. He slowly sinks to the floor, holding me close against his body. He lays me down on my back as his kisses flood my body.

'I love you,' he says before his hands move under the fabric of my dress.

And he loved me a dozen times more that night.