Few can say they're in love with with a Greek god.
For Adeline, telling Apollo she loves him is out of the question. She's always preferred to run from her feelings, run from him.
But when he shows up on her doorstep years later, seemingly running...
a/n: the chapter some of you might have been waiting for. for others, it'll be the next chapter. second part of the chapter has a somewhat mature scene, so you can skip that to protect your eyes if you want; what happens can probably be inferred
He's talking to a girl of about fourteen. She's undoubtedly pretty, with a heart shaped faced and cherry red lips. They both turn to look at me, the girl with a charismatic smile and Phoebus with relief and could that be jealousy? in his eyes.
"Adeline, darling! Come sit with me."
I don't move, and cross my arms over my chest. "I've said this to every damned deity that comes to my apartment, but who the fuck are you and why the fuck are you here?"
"It's Aphrodite," says Phoebus, but he looks less bright than usual and he doesn't smile when he sees me.
"And why in Artemis's untouched cherry are you talking to Aphrodite?"
"She's been telling me where you've been."
I walk over and take a seat next to Phoebus, making sure not to touch him. Now that I can see Aphrodite up close, I curse myself for not seeing it earlier. Everything about her is perfect, from her wavy locks like spun gold to her perfectly manicured nails.
I look at my own nails, bitten to the beds.
"And so where have I been, pray tell?"
She smiles a brilliant smile at me, and I think I might go blind from the whites of her teeth. I read somewhere that teeth aren't supposed to be pure white, and this further cements my conviction that gods have no place in our modern day society. "Hooking up with Hades, for one."
My cheekbones flush red. "I haven't hooked up with anybody, and I don't see why you've been discussing this in the first place when it concerns neither of you."
"I'm the goddess of love and desire, darling. Of course it concerns you."
I'm about to retort, but Phoebus cuts across me. "Why aren't you telling me to complete the Olympian Circle like all the others?"
She giggles, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers like a middle school girl. "Some of us are more cool in this modern day than others. You, for one, can still perform little medical miracles, whereas technology has made Hermes obsolete. But love is present as ever."
She winks at me and I feel sick to my stomach. So this is what this is. A goddess taunting a mortal. Can't she see how pathetic she's being, getting her affirmation that she's still important from a weak girl with no backbone?
"I'm leaving," I say, surprising even myself. I stalk into my bedroom, calling, "This is a sick game you're playing," before slamming the door shut.
I bury myself in the sheets, not bothering to get up and eavesdrop on their conversation because I do not care the way I used to. I don't care to break my heart any more than I already have.
"Why did you even let her in?" I mumble as I hear the door open and Phoebus walk in.
His voice, taut with annoyance, startles me into looking up. His eyes are flashing in a way that they never have at me. "You said you were going out for an hour in the morning. It's past dinnertime."
"I didn't have a hookup with some random guy, okay? And I don't see why you even give a fuck."
The smile smile that plays on his lips surprises me. "I know. Did you really think I believed her over you?"
"I love that you can't lie."
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Three empty cups of coffee sit next to me as I desperately try to keep my eyes open at my desk. I have no idea what time it is, but I haven't gotten more than three hours of sleep in the past week.
I've considered injecting caffeine into my system because coffee has stopped working effectively. Or caffeine shots.
I groan when I realize that my thoughts have once again strayed from what I'm supposed to be memorizing.
The light from the lone lamp makes the vertical scar on my forearm almost glow and I distract myself by running my hand over the scar tissue. I consider going to sleep, but I know that I need to go through the flashcards without making a mistake before I can do so.
I'm so absorbed in the material that I don't even notice Phoebus come up behind me until his hands are on my shoulders.
Things haven't been quite right for the few days since Aphrodite's visit, and every time I look at him, I'm reminded about how I've fucked over yet another chance.
"Good God, El, your shoulder are so stiff." His strong fingers are kneading my shoulders, sending waves of warmth though my body. I can't bite back the groan as I lean back into his touch.
The stiffness seems to dissolve under his touch, reminding me what it feels like to be relaxed.
"Lie down."
I should be studying.
But I'm also weak when it comes to him, so I oblige, the carpet ensuring that I'm not too uncomfortable.
"I am going to give you the best massage that you have ever gotten."
And that's how we end up, with him straddling the back of my thighs as his hands roam over my back. The tension melts right under his touch like chocolate next to a fire. I let my eyes flutter shut and I can't contain the murmurs of pleasure.
Where Jenna needed a rock, Phoebus somehow can do it with his hands, molding me under his fingers like clay.
When he's done with my back, I wonder briefly where he's going to go next because I don't want him to be finished. And then I realize that his fingers are travelling up my thigh and I'm painfully aware of the throbbing heat between my legs.
"Tell me if you want me to stop," he whispers in my ear as his fingers lightly caress the soft skin of my inner thigh.
Is he crazy?
"God, no."
I can feel rather than see his smile as he murmurs, "That's good."
His fingers slip inside me, coaxing out a sweet climax until I cry out his name and collapse over his hand.
And then he's picking me up bridal style and placing me on the bed delicately. I only have a moment to miss the warmth of his body pressed against mine when his lips find my neck and he slips my shirt over my head. It's dark, but he somehow doesn't fumble as he unhooks my bra.
My short and panties follow the other two. As he trails kisses over my stomach before moving lower, I think that I am probably going to hate myself in the morning. But when I feel his tongue against my center, all I can think is that at least I don't regret it now.
The fact that I breathe "I love you" as I fall apart under him for what feels like the umpteenth time just seals my demise.
I drift off to sleep wrapped in his warmth and I vaguely wonder if it's his wings that are enveloping me in their warm embrace.
