"I won!" I smile out of breath as we reach the top of the hill near the abandoned temple of Aphrodite. I look up at the mosaic skylight as we attempt to regain our breaths. My feet move to rest against a broken pillar where the breeze from the ocean cooled my sweaty skin. I push my fingers to the soil to secretly produce pink bed of lilies.
"You cheated" Heclimides finally admitted as he came over to rest his head against my lap. I run my fingers through his soft brown hair and place the dainty lilies through his luscious mane. Each time I stopped, he would kiss my wrists with care.
"A pretty crown for an ugly loser" I tease him.
"Or a pretty crown for a pretty maiden" he lifts the piece off his head and places it onto mine. He turns my chin to face his, caressing my supple lips. I look at his warm emerald eyes as we each stare with hesitancy.
Heclimides was just one of my many suitors. Each man had no choice but to be enamored by my beauty once they laid eyes on me. It was only when they met my protective mother did they retreat with fear.
He stood up to observe the marble statue of Aphrodite at the center of the temple.
"Aphrodite. Goddess of love and beauty." he felt the soft surface with his fingers, "She is a beautiful goddess indeed" he smiled at the figure, "do you ever wonder if a statue like this could come to life with the touch of a kiss?"
"Maybe? Try it and see" I tempt him.
He seductively approached the statue, placing his strong hand against its neck. Only inches were left between them before he pulled away and turned to me.
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"How silly of me to kiss a statue of a goddess when I have one standing in front of me incarnate?" he grins handsomely. He sauntered over and pulled my chin towards his once more. I knew he was ready to part my lips with his but I reluctantly pulled away.
"Heclimides" I whisper. I was always the most innocent of my friend group, never knowing what it meant to be kissed or held by a lover; to be given a rose in secret admiration.
He snapped my jawline towards his and attempted once more. As I was about to allow him...
"Kore!!" my mother's urgent voice interrupts him.
"Ignore her" I curse.
"KORE!!" she calls again. Her voice was getting closer.
"Why is it that every time we are about to kiss, your mother magically finds us." he groans.
The mortals of our town did not know of my mother's and I status as goddesses; she insisted we kept it a secret for reasons unbeknownst to me.
"Coincidence?" I shrug pushing my luminous curls to the side. He chuckles and kisses my forehead.
