26 - ATHENA
Arachne wasn’t turning around. However, even the view of her ponytail and ass was a welcome one.
Restraining myself over the last eight weeks so this moment could actualize was excruciating. However, Blossom— and Zet —insisted that Arachne needed time to cool after my return.
“You should leave, Athena.” It left her weakly. Like she was struggling and… Sheesh .
It hurt.
“Arachne, you knew I didn’t want to go. If it were up to me, I would’ve been tucked against the mountainside till we starved.” It was the only thing I could think to say.
Although it was now echoing in my brain pathetically.
She sighed like I was a bother, but Blossom gave me a double thumbs up before scampering off. Leaving us in the most awkward circumstances possible.
That terror I had of fucking up before? It had tripled. Arachne could run again. This might be all the time with her you get.
My internal monologue wasn’t helping matters as my eyes dragged down her perfect body. It’d been so long I couldn’t stop drinking her in. She was wearing a comfortable set today, still stylish, but less structured than her norm. My fingers itched to rip it off.
“I know you’re still there and I’m trying to piece together why,” she finally said. “You made it abundantly clear that I didn’t matter to you over the last eight months.” Her voice had returned to its normal levels.
Deciding it was time this conversation was face-to-face; I spun her around by the shoulders.
“You know I couldn’t help that. I’m willing to share the messages that were never delivered; my thoughts were consumed by you.
I care, Arachne, and know you did, too. Maybe not so much anymore, but you did . ”
The only thing I could garner from her expression was exhaustion. There were smudges under her typically bright— but pitch black —eyes. “I don’t know if…” she trailed off. Staring at the concrete.
“I’ll do anything for you to give this another try,” I blurted. “Anything. I mean it, Arachne.” Her gaze swung back to mine, but she didn’t look convinced. “Seriously. I’m no longer general. Whatever you want. Whenever you want?—”
“Why did you quit?”
Zet had coached me through this particular question but my mind blanked. So, I let the unfiltered truth loose. “I’ve been looking for fulfillment. I once thought having the highest ranking role in the Council’s military was the key to finding it. But that wasn’t the case.
“I’m honestly still on the hunt for that missing piece. How to find happiness every single day no matter the negatives. I have a feeling you might be a part of it. But even if you aren’t, I wasn’t finding it darting around the galaxy at someone else’s orders.”
Arachne was blinking with her mouth slightly ajar. Her expression was unreadable beyond shock. Eventually, she repeated, “You want to be happy?”
I nodded and she continued with, “And you weren’t happy with working for the Council?”
I shook my head. “You could technically say I quit for you.” But then backtracked when her eyes widened with, “if you wanted to. I just missed you, Arachne. A lot.”
There was an awkward beat where her lips were pursed. And I was sweating. Both over her beauty and the intensity of her stare.
Then she grabbed my amulet, dragging my face to hers. Kissing me. Digging her free hand into the back of my neck. Running her tongue along the seam of my lips until I opened up for her.
Cameras flashed. Arachne didn’t withdraw. Not even as catcalls started.
I craved her so much I couldn’t stop. It was the one time the crowd completely fell away. As her tongue moved against mine, I prayed to Karma, or whatever higher power existed, that she would stay mine.
From now on.
Which was when my nature surfaced, scratching for my attention. Which was curious. She typically laid low. My heart was also beginning to speed.
To be fair, it could’ve just been a side effect of Arachne’s soft curves being pressed to mine.
“Can we grab food and go back to your place?” she asked the second we pulled apart. I nodded, it was the most I could manage. Still incapable of accepting the last five or so minutes as reality.
Except before we could leave, her smile fell. Someone had appeared behind me and I was hoping to whatever higher power existed that it wasn’t Candy. Who had coincidentally been stalking me and the reason I wasn’t leaving my loft.
“Athena.”
Shit.
Turning with a guilty scratch to the back of my neck, I found the two beings I considered parents. “Zusicia, Atha, good to see you both.” Yes, I’d always used their first names; many of their biological children did the same.
They were in their typical Council robes, towering over everyone.
Titans had given up selecting clothing ages ago, so they all wore similar robes now; theirs were black tonight.
The Supreme was likely one of the largest males in existence, which was why he rarely ventured, you could spot his deep skin and silvery hair from a mile off.
His bonded wasn’t far behind him either, her onyx barrel curls reached his ears.
“Quite the show you just put on,” the Supreme said with a mischievous grin. “Hello, Arachne. Nice to see you as well.”
“You too” was mumbled in return.
Clearing my throat, cheeks burning, I said, “Well, we were just about to take off, so…” Wishing I could evaporate to dust as I dragged Arachne toward the food hover-trucks.