Chapter 10
POSEIDON
There was absolutely no denying the direction of my thoughts as I made my way out to the hot tub, and that was mostly coming from the knowledge that Laila was already there waiting for me, and that she was naked and seemed to be looking forward to that.
I paused for a moment when I caught her admiring my body. She looked good herself, the water covering most of her, save for the tops of her shoulders, and her black hair tied up into a bun at the top of her head.
"Like what you see?" I asked as I slipped into the water, aware of what the answer was going to be here.
"Would I be here if I didn't?"
"I thought you were here because you liked my food." I grinned at her, but only because I knew that was at least a little bit true.
"That's part of it."
"I'd like to think so. I take pride in my cooking."
"I've noticed. When I first found out that you had a restaurant, I half expected to learn that you only owned it in name and it wasn't actually you who cooked the food," she admitted.
"I don't serve food I don't cook myself." The water swirled around us, little bubbles popping when they touched my skin.
"I know that now," she assured me. "You're far too involved in the creative process for that."
"I am. Are you free tomorrow?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Trying to find out if I'll stay the night?"
I chuckled. "That's your choice at any point. I'm going to be working on the menu for my upcoming charity event. I would like your input if you're free."
"Aren't you worried I'm not going to like something?" she asked curiously.
"Your honest opinion is what I want."
"Then you're in luck," she responded. "I don't need to be anywhere tomorrow. And if it comes to it, I might be able to convince my boss that it's a work assignment, especially if she can get me tickets to your event."
"It's sold out, but I think there is a way you can attend."
"Oh?" She shifted a little in the tub, revealing more of the swell of her breasts and almost distracting me completely from my thoughts.
I cleared my throat. "You could attend as my date."
Her lips quirked up into a smile. "You haven't even told me what, when, or where it is," she pointed out.
"The Underworld." I leaned back, enjoying the way the bubbles felt against my body. I didn't often share the hot tub with anyone, but it felt good to have her here.
"As in where dead people go?"
I laughed despite myself. "It's a nightclub in the god realm. My brother runs it. Hades, not Zeus. Though I can't guarantee the latter won't be there, I haven't really looked at the guest list."
Her eyes widened. "You want me to go to the god realm with you?"
"If you'd like. The event is to raise money for my charity, I'd love to share that with you."
"What would I wear?" she asked, and I felt relief slip through me in response. She wanted to say yes.
"Whatever you'd like. It's in a few weeks, so there's time."
"I highly doubt that's the real answer about what to wear to a god-run charity event," she said.
"It's black tie. If you need something, I'm sure I can find someone to help you." It wasn't exactly part of Aphrodite's job description to go shopping for my date, but I'd known her for a long time, and I suspected that my event planner would be all for it.
"I have something. It's even blue."
I chuckled. "I don't insist on all of my guests wearing blue."
"I know. But it would be strange if I turned up in bright pink as your date."
"That's nice," I said. "But you can wear what you want."
"I think I have the perfect dress in mind." She smiled, moving her hand through the water.
I wished there wasn't as much of a gap between us. I knew I could probably close it, and she would probably respond in a positive manner, but I didn't want to rush things.
"I love coming out here at the end of the day. It's nice to have company." I settled for saying what I was thinking and seeing where that took us, rather than crowding her.
"Do you...often have company here?" There was a hesitance in her voice that I didn't like. I wanted her to feel as if she could ask me whatever she wanted.
"Sometimes, but not very often."
"I'm surprised." She looked away.
My heart squeezed hard in response. "Why?"
"The stories make it sound like you're a bit of a womaniser."
I chuckled. "I've gone through different phases in my life.
One of them involved a lot of lovers, though the stories only talk of the women.
After a while, it became unfulfilling. Or I realised it was.
So things changed. I've not been celibate by any means, but I'm not the womaniser that I used to be. "
"I see."
"I understand if that's not something you're interested in." I hoped that she wasn't about to change her mind on me. I really didn't want that.
"I already knew the stories," she said. "I assumed that some of them were true."
"Some are. Some aren't."
"I look forward to finding out which," she said softly.
"I look forward to telling you." As I said the words, I realised how true they were. I didn't mind what people thought of me, or what stories were told, but I did like the idea of sharing parts of my past with her. I'd had that feeling a few times before, and it had normally led to something good.
Laila's expression was intense, and I had no idea what she was thinking until she reached out to touch my face, not unlike she'd done earlier. The movement brought her close enough to touch, and I could have sworn I could feel the heat of her body even through the water.
I reached up and put my hand over hers, reaching out with my other to pull her closer. She responded immediately, straddling me and causing water to slosh over the side of the pool.
"Sorry," she murmured.
"No sorry necessary," I responded.
Her face was so close to mine that the only thing I could think about was kissing her, and thinking about it was already enough for my body to start to respond.
She must have been thinking the same, because she leaned in and kissed me, softly at first, but with increasing urgency. She swept her tongue against my bottom lip and I felt myself fully stiffen in response.
A small whimper escaped from Laila in response, and it made me desperate to hear it again.
And to discover what other noises she might make when she was feeling like this.
I brushed my hand over her hip, getting a moan in response, and causing her to start rocking back and forth, each movement making me want her more, and have to resist the urge to just take her.
She deserved more than that. She deserved to be worshipped.
She broke the kiss, her breathing laboured and lust heavy in her eyes.
I reached up and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. "We should take this inside," I murmured.
"Inside?"
"I want to take this further." I smoothed a hand down her cheek. "But as fun as it sounds, a hot tub isn't a good place for sex."
"How disappointing."
I chuckled. "But I do have a perfectly good bed inside."
Her breathing hitched in her throat, only making me more impatient. "All right," she agreed.
"Good." I gently moved her off me, making sure that it didn't feel as if I was rejecting her when that was the opposite of what I had in mind.
I pulled myself out of the hot tub, letting the water run off my skin as I did. I made my way over to where a couple of towelled robes were hanging and got one for her.
My mouth went dry as she lifted herself out of the pool, revealing all of the lines and curves of her body. She was beautiful, with dark brown skin, and perky nipples that were a shade darker. She was perfect, and I couldn't wait to touch her and make her realise how much I believed that.
Her gaze trailed downwards to where evidence of my attraction was standing proud and ready. Her lips lifted into a knowing smile and she made her way over.
"I see we're not going to have any problems here." Her hand drifted over my chest and down until she took me in her palm, stroking almost too gently.
I groaned. "No problems at all," I murmured.
"Good."
I held out the robe to her, and she slipped her arms through it, wrapping herself tightly in the towelled fabric. I grabbed one for myself, even if I was disappointed about not being able to see her still. All of that would change once we were inside anyway, and I couldn't wait.