Arcadian Nights by Marie Medina

my
comfort zone.” She wanted to take the words back. They’d sounded
clever in her head, but she felt vulnerable now that she’d said
them.
    He looked down at her with warmth in
his eyes. “We’ve been having sex now for a few weeks, and it’s been
amazing, but this is what I’m really looking forward
to.”
    “ What?”
    He kissed both her hands. “You opening
up to me in every other way.”
    She took a deep breath. “Not promising
anything though.”
    “ Yes you are.”
    She looked up at him, puzzled. “What
do you mean?”
    “ The fact that I’m getting
a chance is a promise, wouldn’t you say?”
    She rolled her eyes, but she had to
laugh. “I see it’s going to be hard work keeping up with
you.”
    He shook his head. “I’m the one who’s
going to have a hard time doing that. A woman as complex as you is
hard enough to keep up with. It’s even harder when you’re not sure
if she wants you to.”
    She leaned closer and kissed him
softly on the lips. “I’m still thinking about it.”
    He stroked her cheek. “That’s all I
ask.”
    She let him pull her close, wondering
when she’d finally understand what she was feeling enough to answer
every question he had.
    * * * *
    “ It’s beautiful here,”
Eris said.
    Hermes smiled, glad he’d brought her
back to Arcadia. They sat on the grass not far from the mountain
where he had been born. Eris leaned back against his chest,
admiring the stars above them. He had taken her hand a few moments
earlier, and instead of pulling away she had entwined her fingers
with his. He didn’t want to hope that anything Hera had said or
anything he had done in the past two hours had made a big change in
her attitude, but he couldn’t help feeling exhilarated. Before
tonight, she had always shunned such sweet gestures of affection,
but now she was rubbing his thumb with hers as if she enjoyed the
innocent contact.
    “ I’m glad you think so. I
love it here. I may come back here to live some day.”
    “ It’s very peaceful here.
That sounds nice.”
    He thought for a moment, almost
deciding to ask her what she would think of living in Arcadia. He
wasn’t sure she’d still think of the scene as peaceful. Instead, he
looked up at the stars. “Yes, it’s wonderful at night. Something
about this place is very mystical, so most mortals leave when the
sun sets. Some stay, feeling its power, searching for
something.”
    “ For what, I wonder? Do
you think they ever find it?”
    He kissed her temple. “Maybe they do.
You never know what the Fates may be planning.”
    She pulled her hand away and folded
her arms over her chest, though she did snuggle closer to him.
“Yes, you never do.”
    He ran his hands along her upper arms.
“Isn’t that good though?”
    “ Who wants to be set on a
path though, with no choice?”
    “ We always have choice. We
don’t spend our whole lives blaming the Fates for our hair color or
height. Why for other things?”
    She shrugged. “I’m not blaming
anyone.”
    “ Then what’s wrong?
Something’s bothering you.”
    “ You’re asking for it if I
tell you.”
    “ Go ahead.”
    She turned to look at him. “I’ve
wanted you for a long time. That was my decision, my
choice.”
    “ Okay. I’m with you so
far.”
    “ But do I really like
you?”
    “ That’s something only you
can tell me.”
    She shook her head. “But you’re being
forced on me.”
    “ No, I’m not. If you tell
me to go away, I will.”
    “ Lachesis planned
this.”
    “ Planned it or foresaw
it?”
    Eris stared at him, her brows turned
down. She seemed genuinely confused. “What? The Fates determine
destiny, and she came to me and told me to let myself love
you.”
    “ Because you didn’t love
me or because you were fighting that love?”
    She turned red. “She got to you too, I
see.”
    He shook his head slowly. “No one has
said anything to me.”
    “ Then why do you want
me?”
    He couldn’t believe what he was
hearing. Did she really