Chapter 11
While Taurus would have much preferred staying with Circe and doing more than taste her lips, a Zodiac Warrior never allowed himself to be distracted from a mission, especially one this important.
With the fate of the world at stake, his own needs and pleasure could take a back seat.
After all, once the threat had been eliminated, he’d have all the time in the world to make sweet love to Circe.
The packing of his things didn’t take too long. Tower helped by replenishing his travel pack, ensuring it held the toys he’d need for trekking and climbing. However, when it came to weapons, Taurus preferred to select his own.
Sword. Definitely. He chose a sheath that lay along his spine, leaving his hips free.
One for a holster with a gun, because sometimes a long-range projectile could save a life, and the other for a dagger, because you could never have enough sharp edges.
He also selected a smaller knife with a matching belt sheath for Circe.
While he planned to be the one fighting, he didn’t want her defenseless.
Once he had his gear stacked, he glanced at the ceiling of his room and said, “Hey, Tower, I assume you’ll get a bag ready for Circe?
Don’t make it too heavy, though. If needed, add more stuff to my pack.
” No reply, not that he expected one, however, he knew Tower listened and would likely accommodate.
It never sent off its warriors unprepared.
Next, a visit to Aquarius, who yawned at the sight of him. “Oh, fuck no. I was about to go to bed.”
“I’ve got a location for the Labyrinth.”
“Let me guess, you need help choosing a safe landing location.” His friend sighed.
“You’re the one with the computers and access to satellites that’ll let me see what the landscape looks like.”
“Where are you going?”
“Tripiti Gorge in Crete.”
“You know, you could take the portal to Athens and then make your way over.”
“Which would take what, a day? Starbeaming gets us right there.”
“I know. I’m just grumpy and tired. Keep hitting a bunch of dead ends.”
“You, the master hacker of the world?” Taurus teased.
Aquarius snorted. “Hardly the best, and never more apparent than now. Aries wanted me to find out who Andreas associated with, and I can’t find anyone. The man stopped socializing with people about five months ago. No messages, no emails that weren’t work related, no phone calls.”
“Seems odd.”
“No shit, especially seeing as how he used to have an active social life before, especially with the ladies.”
“Something changed.”
“Seems to be right after he returned from a trip to Antikythera.”
“Where the device was originally found,” Taurus murmured.
The fact it had been named after a location probably had much to do with the reason why they couldn’t find any information.
After all, its original creator likely had a different appellation for it.
“I’m going to assume he went diving, found the rock, and, from there, got infected. ”
“Doubtful he dove. The wreck is too deep for normal scuba gear. More likely the rock we’re seeking either ended up in the belly of a fish that got caught by a fisherman or it washed ashore and Andreas came across it.”
“I was just talking with Circe, and one thing that came up was the fact none of the other observatories are concerned about the asteroid. Meaning their data likely was tampered with as well. Could be Andreas’ associates aren’t people he usually would be hanging with but those with crucial positions in other establishments. ”
“That he never contacted with his phone or computer?” Aquarius poked a hole, and Taurus immediately found a plug.
“If this thing that controlled him was smart, it might have had him use a burner phone and email.”
“Doubtful he could convince these science-y types to fudge numbers just because he asked.”
“Maybe he didn’t ask. Maybe they were infected too. Did Andreas leave Athens at all after his trip to Antikythera?”
“Not that I found.”
Taurus snapped his fingers. “Circe was mentioning someone he sometimes has drinks with who travels often. Guy called Demetrius.”
Aquarius spun back to his keyboard and began typing. “I remember seeing that name.” The fingers kept tapping before Aquarius murmured, “Works for the Athens Observatory, but in the last five months, he’s been all over the world. This might just be the break I needed.”
“In case that’s not enough, you might want to look and see if any astronomers have recently croaked unexpectedly. Circe might not be the only one who tried to give warning, and seeing what Andreas tried to do—”
“Fuck me. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” Aquarius groaned. “Guess I won’t be sleeping anytime soon.”
“You’re welcome,” Taurus crowed.
“Asshole.”
“Does this mean you won’t help me with my calculations?”
“I’ll have them for you by morning. Now, shoo. I’ve got some digging to do.”
Taurus left and headed back down to his room, only just before he would have entered his apartment, Circe’s door opened.
“Going to bed?”
He whirled to see her in a pajama set, a pair of flowing pants and matching top, her hair loose around her shoulders. Not lingerie, and yet she looked utterly delectable.
“We should get a good night’s sleep since it will be a busy day tomorrow.”
“Busy and dangerous.” She chewed her lower lip.
“Having second thoughts about coming?”
“Yes. No.” She huffed out a breath. “What if we find the Labyrinth and whatever’s inside kills us?”
“It won’t.”
“Your confidence is admirable, but unlike you, I can’t sprinkle magical stardust to heal.”
“If you don’t want to come, then that’s okay.” Fuck Sage’s decree that he had to bring her. He’d rather Circe be safe.
“I am not backing out, but…” She couldn’t hold his gaze and stared at her wiggling toes. “If this is my last night on Earth, I’d rather not spend it alone.”
His brows shot up. Was she suggesting what his dirty mind immediately jumped to?
“I’m more than happy to snuggle,” he offered.
“Just snuggle?” she murmured.
Definitely more than a hint. And he wasn’t about to turn her down.
“I know just the thing to relax you,” he declared, taking the single step between them and scooping her into his arms.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” A softly spoken statement that came with nibbles along his jaw.
He couldn’t reach her bed fast enough. He set her upon the comforter, and she went to her knees, hands immediately tugging at his shirt. It took him seconds to strip, and he had the pleasure of peeling her out of her clothes.
Then he got to admire. Her full breasts with the dusky nipples. The indent of her waist that led to flaring hips. The dark thatch between her legs. She stared at him just as boldly, and he couldn’t help but slightly flex to show his muscles off.
She licked her lips. “Goodness you’re a big man.”
A comment that swelled him even larger.
He knelt on the bed in front of her and dragged her against his body, drawing a grasp as their flesh touched.
“You are stunning,” he murmured before leaning in to kiss her. This time the kiss went on and on without interruption, fueling his arousal, leaving her flushed, the both of them needy.
He lay her down on the bed, and he settled in beside her, nuzzling the soft skin of her neck, feeling her racing pulse.
With one hand, he caressed a breast while he blew hotly on the other, puckering the bud.
When he latched on, tugging the nipple into his mouth, she arched and cried out in pleasure. Her fingers grabbed hold of his hair as she moaned and enjoyed his teasing of her tight nub. He lavished each breast with attention, sucking on the peaks, drawing them taut.
He kept teasing the buds as his hand slid down her rib cage, across her belly, dragging through her soft curls before slipping between her legs. A rub across her nether lips left his fingers wet.
He’d never been more eager to taste. He knelt between her legs and feasted. Spread the petals of her sex and let his tongue play. He licked her. Groaned at her honeyed ambrosia. Teased the bud that arched her hips. Brought her to the point where she panted and writhed.
But when he would have fucked her, and given her what her pussy desired, she reached out for him and, in a husky voice, said, “My turn to play. Lie down.”
He just about shot his load at the promise in those words. He threw himself flat on the bed, and to his shock, she sixty-nined him.
Had there ever been a luckier man?
While he returned to eating her pussy, she wrapped her mouth around his throbbing shaft, sucking and bobbing, obviously enjoying it.
How could he tell? The way her pussy creamed against his lips.
How it tightened and squeezed when he inserted a finger.
When he added a second, she paused her cock sucking and moaned, bouncing her bottom against his hand.
When he thought he might come, she stopped and repositioned herself so she straddled him.
He held her gaze, her eyes half-lidded with lust, cheeks flushed, lips pouty and full as she lowered herself on his cock. A cock that stretched her tight channel. Her head went back, and she sighed as she took his shaft deep, her fingers splayed on his chest, nails digging in.
When he was fully seated, she trembled, a quiver that went through her pussy and shivered his cock. She began to move on top of him, rolling her hips, grinding, and pushing him deep.
It was blissful torture because he wanted nothing more than to blow, to feel that climatic release, but he held on, held on as she quickened her pace. He could tell when she got close by her ragged breathing and the way her rhythm began to falter.
In a smooth move, he flipped them, keeping them intimately connected. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her hands grabbed at his head, pulling him down for a kiss as he thrust.
He slammed deep and upwards, nudging her sweet spot. Over and over. Each hit to it bringing a gasping cry and a tightening of her sex that had him already seeing stars.
In and out. He stroked and pumped until her body bowed, her pussy clenched, and her orgasm exploded.
Thank fuck because he couldn’t hold on anymore.
He came hard, buried to the hilt, the whole world, make that universe, slowing to extend their pleasurable climax.
The most intense of his life.
Despite his boneless body wanting to collapse and recover, he managed to fall to her side rather than squash the panting and flushed Circe.
He dragged her against him, still wanting that flesh-to-flesh connection. “Feeling more relaxed?”
She uttered a husky laugh. “Most definitely. What about you? Was it worth shaving the beard?”
Fuck yeah it was.
And round two turned out to be even better.