was so fierce, so overwhelming, that it hung deliciously between pain and pleasure as he exploded into her.
Bridget melted into him, resting her head on his shoulder as their breathing evened out. He was almost asleep—right there on her zebra-striped dining room chair—when she lifted her head, smoothed back some damp, escaping blond hairs, and grinned at him.
“Now you can carry me into my boudoir for round two.”
He grinned back at her, and repeated the magic words: “Whatever you say.”
“And that single sentence,” Bridget said, “is why I like men better than vibrators. Don’t forget the bottle of vodka. No need for a glass. Consider me your shot glass.”
James carried Bridget and the vodka into the bedroom, thinking, briefly, that he should have had more protein with his lunch.
Twelve
Confident in his ability to ignore any encroaching feelings for Eva, Alek attended to the task at hand. “Although I am certain of the Oracle’s safety, I do need to return to the Mortal Realm.” He dug through his wardrobe for a pair of pants appropriate for the Mortal Realm.
“I agree. However, Maiden always needs convincing of these things. Young, naïve sister,” Mother mumbled.
Alek brushed off the comment and tested his injured leg, pleased when he could put weight on it without toppling over. “Where is she? And where is Crone?”
“The Galazoneri, I presume. That is where they rushed after realizing the Oracle does not belong here. Something I already knew to be true.”
“Give it a rest, Mother,” Alek grumbled as he grabbed a shirt and left the room. “Maiden!” he called, jogging stiffly into the central hall of Tartarus.
“My son, you are awake,” Maiden cheered.
“Mother told me there were complications with the Oracle. Is she safe?” he asked.
“There is no need for worry. Crone and I have returned her to the Mortal Realm, whole and secure,” Maiden explained.
Jolts of pain shot up his leg. His muscles bulged under the thin fabric of his shirt as he tensed and pushed through the discomfort. “I must meet with her and plan what we’re to do next. Send me back,” he instructed.
“I will not.” She rose from her chair and planted her hands on her hips. “I can tell by the way you favor your leg you are not ready, and if Crone were here, she would agree. The Oracle has water from the Galazoneri. She will alert us when you are needed. Until then, rest.”
Alek glared down at her. “You will do as I say. Now, send me back.” His torso puffed, and he fixed his gaze across the great room. Maiden placed her hands on his chest, and he readied himself for the journey.
“You do not command me, son.” Light exploded from her palms, and Alek instantly tumbled backward.
His voice caught in his throat, and he remained on the floor in silent agony.
“As I said, you are not ready. If you cannot stop one of your mothers from knocking you to the ground, how are you to assist the Oracle?” she asked, staring down at him.
“Point taken,” he squeaked.
“Now, on to more important matters.” Maiden turned and took her place at the table. “The Oracle has a kind soul and is quite beautiful.”
“These are matters you view to be more important than my returning to the Mortal Realm?” He got up slowly from the floor.
“You were almost defeated. Was that because of your desire to protect the humans? I do not seem to remember you being so fond of them.”
“Yes, she is kind and beautiful,” he groused, and flopped into the chair next to Maiden.
“As well as strong and brave. All impressive and important features for a young woman to possess,” Maiden encouraged.
Alek averted his gaze from her probing stare.
“Do you not agree, my son?”
“All of my women have been great in some way.”
“So Eva is no different than the mortal women who offered themselves to you so easily? I believe your comparison is grossly flawed. And you forget again that I am your mother. The one
Bridget melted into him, resting her head on his shoulder as their breathing evened out. He was almost asleep—right there on her zebra-striped dining room chair—when she lifted her head, smoothed back some damp, escaping blond hairs, and grinned at him.
“Now you can carry me into my boudoir for round two.”
He grinned back at her, and repeated the magic words: “Whatever you say.”
“And that single sentence,” Bridget said, “is why I like men better than vibrators. Don’t forget the bottle of vodka. No need for a glass. Consider me your shot glass.”
James carried Bridget and the vodka into the bedroom, thinking, briefly, that he should have had more protein with his lunch.
Twelve
Confident in his ability to ignore any encroaching feelings for Eva, Alek attended to the task at hand. “Although I am certain of the Oracle’s safety, I do need to return to the Mortal Realm.” He dug through his wardrobe for a pair of pants appropriate for the Mortal Realm.
“I agree. However, Maiden always needs convincing of these things. Young, naïve sister,” Mother mumbled.
Alek brushed off the comment and tested his injured leg, pleased when he could put weight on it without toppling over. “Where is she? And where is Crone?”
“The Galazoneri, I presume. That is where they rushed after realizing the Oracle does not belong here. Something I already knew to be true.”
“Give it a rest, Mother,” Alek grumbled as he grabbed a shirt and left the room. “Maiden!” he called, jogging stiffly into the central hall of Tartarus.
“My son, you are awake,” Maiden cheered.
“Mother told me there were complications with the Oracle. Is she safe?” he asked.
“There is no need for worry. Crone and I have returned her to the Mortal Realm, whole and secure,” Maiden explained.
Jolts of pain shot up his leg. His muscles bulged under the thin fabric of his shirt as he tensed and pushed through the discomfort. “I must meet with her and plan what we’re to do next. Send me back,” he instructed.
“I will not.” She rose from her chair and planted her hands on her hips. “I can tell by the way you favor your leg you are not ready, and if Crone were here, she would agree. The Oracle has water from the Galazoneri. She will alert us when you are needed. Until then, rest.”
Alek glared down at her. “You will do as I say. Now, send me back.” His torso puffed, and he fixed his gaze across the great room. Maiden placed her hands on his chest, and he readied himself for the journey.
“You do not command me, son.” Light exploded from her palms, and Alek instantly tumbled backward.
His voice caught in his throat, and he remained on the floor in silent agony.
“As I said, you are not ready. If you cannot stop one of your mothers from knocking you to the ground, how are you to assist the Oracle?” she asked, staring down at him.
“Point taken,” he squeaked.
“Now, on to more important matters.” Maiden turned and took her place at the table. “The Oracle has a kind soul and is quite beautiful.”
“These are matters you view to be more important than my returning to the Mortal Realm?” He got up slowly from the floor.
“You were almost defeated. Was that because of your desire to protect the humans? I do not seem to remember you being so fond of them.”
“Yes, she is kind and beautiful,” he groused, and flopped into the chair next to Maiden.
“As well as strong and brave. All impressive and important features for a young woman to possess,” Maiden encouraged.
Alek averted his gaze from her probing stare.
“Do you not agree, my son?”
“All of my women have been great in some way.”
“So Eva is no different than the mortal women who offered themselves to you so easily? I believe your comparison is grossly flawed. And you forget again that I am your mother. The one
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