Heph: Modern Descendants 3, page 19
“The loft, it is,” I stated, and Hestia’s smile grew. It gave me comfort that I’d made the decision she wanted for me.
“I’ll go prepare the room,” she offered.
+ + +
The first night was awkward. While Heph and I had had sex, obviously, we’d only been together once. We hadn’t spent a full night, in a bed, together and my nerves, along with the pregnancy, rattled as we moved around one another in the loft. He’d been attentive all day, never letting me out of his sight and placing his hands on me each chance he could, but the idea of intimacy after such a stressful separation, unnerved me.
Hestia replaced the damaged mattress with what she called a marital bed. Raised on four posters, the queen size mattress offered more room for two. Still covered in the rich, red coverlet, fresh, new white sheets dressed the bed with four lush pillows. Heph had already showered and crawled under the covers. Feeling suddenly shy, I changed in the bathroom into a cotton tee that hung to my mid-thighs, hugging the growing bump of my stomach, and thick socks covered my feet. I slipped under the sheets and lay on my side for comfort. His feet found mine and swiped under the soft cotton.
“There’s still much I need to learn about you.” He reached under the covers and removed my socks, tugging them off slowly. My thighs clenched at the instant image of him between them. “But I have the rest of our existence to discover everything.” His words surprised me, but I was distracted as he positioned my feet between his thighs, using his skin as a natural heater to my cold toes.
“What if you don’t like what you learn?” I teased with a hint of serious concern. “How do you know I’ll live forever like you? What if I grow old and you don’t?”
He was pensive for a moment.
“Hestia told me, it’s a strong possibility you’d live a lengthy time like us. Fire can extinguish, she warned me once, unless it’s nurtured and tended to properly.” His hands massaged my calves and moved up behind my thighs while my feet still rested between his. The pressure on my heavy skin felt amazing. Almost as amazing as him buried in me.
“I don’t plan to let you blow out. I plan to nourish you all the days of my life.” His voice lowered and he dove under the sheets. My T-shirt rose and he kissed the tiny swell at my abdomen, continuing to kiss in a circular manner, round and round until he hit the center.
“I love you, baby,” he whispered to my stretching stomach.
“I love you,” I replied. His eyes shot up to mine, his head haloed with a white sheet over his dark hair. I smiled as I brushed a hand over his stubbly cheek. Turning into my palm, he kissed me there, lingering in the curve of my hand.
“I have something for you.” He rolled quickly from the bed and returned back under the covers like a flash of light. Resting on one elbow, he pressed me to lie on my back. He lifted my T-shirt to fully expose my belly.
“Nice underwear,” he chuckled noting his red boxer briefs stretching over me. My eyes followed his as he placed something on the center of my belly.
“You center me.” I stared at the circular item, made of pressed silver. A wide band with a glass bead in the middle. A cherry-rosebud-colored sea glass circle filled the center.
“I want to marry you. I want you to marry me.”
I stared at him, watching my stomach rise and fall. He wasn’t looking up at me. For half a second, I thought of his other proposals. I thought of his proposal for the baby and not me. And then the second passed when he looked up at me in question, deep eyes filled with longing. The fact Heph doubted my response spoke loudly to me.
“I want to marry you. I want you to marry me.” I smiled broadly, not able to help the growing grin and the spread of my cheeks. His mouth covered mine as it had in the woods and he savored me. He took his time to caress over the bow and trace his tongue around the curve, before sucking deeply on my lower lip. Then covering them both, he drew my breath and slipped his tongue inside my mouth. I swallowed his love and returned it with flicking tongue and melting lips. Heat rose quickly between us. He pulled back and slipped the ring on my third finger, staring at its placement on my left hand.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” His hand covered my lower stomach. Then his eyes came to mine. “I’m sorry I’ve hurt you in the past.”
“You won’t hurt the baby,” I reassured him. “And I forgive you, if you forgive me.”
“Always, Little Spark.” His mouth sought mine again. Heph’s hands multi-tasked, removing his briefs from me and slipping off the tee, only releasing my lips for a second to disrobe me. His own boxers removed, he slipped two solid legs between mine, balancing on forearms at my sides.
“I love you,” he whispered at my lips while he braced at my eager entrance, waiting for the words.
“I love you,” I assured him, and he slid inside me rapidly. Tipping back my head and arching my back, I drew him deeper before looking up at chocolate swirls melting like my heart.
“Welcome home.”
heph
I was actually getting married. And becoming a father. My palms sweat as I forged the ring I would place on Phyre’s finger, sealing her to me forever. How long I waited, and I thought of how Solis promised me, one day, she would be there. How fortunate I felt that Phyre was that girl.
I spun the clamp slowly, tapping tenderly at the narrow slip of metal. The heat firing it to a blazing orange, but cooled, the silver metal would have an antique sheen, as if the ring was antiquated. It would be a reminder of me. I was ancient in many ways, and my love had been waiting centuries for her. Phyre loved me, and my insides warmed like the fiery flames at the oven before me.
“That’s a pleasant smile,” Hestia said behind me and I turned slowly, keeping one eye on the treasure before me. “Smiles look good on you, Hephaestus.” Her teasing tone only widened the spread of my lips, and if I wasn’t already sweating from the heat, I’m certain she’d see my face flush. It was a trifle embarrassing to know she understood what could prompt such a smile. She allowed Phyre to remain in the loft with me, but noted we’d have to do something about a living arrangement. The studio barn could not be a permanent residence.
“I wanted to talk to you about a place to live.” Hestia’s face fell a little from her glowing compliment. “I know you won’t approve of us living here, on the property, but I don’t want to take Phyre to Zeke’s estate, and…”
“Why not?” Phyre’s voice interrupted my thought, her stern tone concerning me. Of greater concern was the ring I forged. I didn’t want her to see it yet.
“Phyre, you need to get out.” The harshness of my words startled her, and her soft eyes opened wide. My shoulders fell at the hurt look on her face. “It’s just…”
She stalked off before I could finish. I shook my head, not able to chase her or I’d ruin the precious metal.
“Women,” I grumbled and Hestia chuckled.
“We can be a handful. Especially with the extra hormones.” She patted my shoulder as I turned to look at her. How little my surrogate mother knew of the experience, and yet, she had more motherly elements than my own. My face fell at the thought. Weddings should be about family. My own would not be in attendance.
“You could ask them,” Hestia offered softly, as if reading my mind. “Zeke would come. He’d support you. Hera…”
“I don’t need Hera’s approval. Or Zeke’s. This is my decision. Phyre is mine. This will be our day and I won’t let them spoil it for us. For me.” My voice rose higher as I cursed the slow process of making Phyre’s ring. I needed to find her and explain.
+ + +
When I finally caught my little spark, she sat inside Hestia’s marble temple. The days were warming, and if I were in California, on Zeke’s estate, the shelter of the structure would be refreshing. On this day, the marble held in the cooler temperature and the space remained chilly. The coolness might additionally be emitted from my future bride.
“You didn’t let me explain.” I stood behind her curled body. Her knees drawn upward, her arms stretching to surround them as the bulge of our child stood in the way. My heart swelled with the thought. We were having a baby.
“I know why you don’t want to take me there.” Her voice drifted forward as her back remained to me. “It’s because of her, isn’t it?”
My lips opened without sound. How could she think of Lovie? I certainly no longer did.
“It has nothing to do with Lovie.” I stepped forward and attempted to fold my body to the ground next to her. With the fire pit center, only a thin cement circle rounded the empty space filled with ashes covered by sand. My feet pressed forward into the pit. “Why would you think that?”
“You don’t want to bring me there, as the consolation wife.”
“Phyre.” Her name rumbled from deep within, and anger struck. “That is absolutely not true.”
My thick fingers wrapped around one arm, forcing her to look at me. Dried tears still marked her face.
“I asked you to marry me last night. I’m making you a ring. I want to build a home with you.”
Glass blue eyes stared at me, and I loosened my hold.
“It has nothing to do with Lovie and everything to do with my father. I don’t want you to be subjected to his folly. His multitude of children and his flirtatious ways. He has no boundaries and I definitely do not wish to share you with him.”
Phyre shuddered.
“I know my father. He won’t be pleased, but it has nothing to do with you. He won’t have his way with me, and that’s the issue. I didn’t conform to his desire to marry someone of his choice. I chose you. You are the one for me, Phyre. You.” My hands cupped her face, and my eyes begged her to understand. She was who I needed in my life and no one else.
“But you said you didn’t want to live on the estate with me.” Her voice was small, innocent. “I promise to control the fire.”
“That isn’t it, either. I don’t wish you to control anything. You’re mine to protect, and I want to serve only you.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “Look, there is a small town near here. I want to open a shop there. We can build our own home in the woods nearby. It will be private. A place just for us, but Hestia and your sisters will be close.”
Her eyes roamed my face.
“I don’t want to be afraid to leave, but I am.” Her head hung, but my hands cupping her cheeks forced her to look up at me.
“That’s why we stay. This will be good. The estate is too much…of everything. We will have everything we need, here.”
“Wherever you are will be my home, Heph.” A tear slipped from her eye.
“And wherever you are will be mine.” My mouth came to hers, taking in her lips slowly, dragging out the kiss. I wanted her to feel the truth in what I said. She was my center, my home, and I only wanted to make her happy. Instantly, she straddled me and I thought of Hestia’s warning of pregnancy hormones. The second her core hit the heavy length of me, I threw out my confusion over the changing mood and welcomed Phyre’s eagerness.
phyre
“Is this too fast? Am I not thinking this through?” I huffed as I faced myself in the mirror of my old room. My hand rubbed over the swell at my belly, hidden by the fullness of the white skirt trailing down my hips and covering my legs. The dress seemed old-fashioned and archaic, considering who I was and who Heph was, but still, I felt pretty. The thought of a formal wedding was what scared me.
“Honey, you look lovely. This isn’t too fast. This is love.” Ember stood behind me, twirling a curl of hair and spraying it into spiral perfection.
“I just feel like a time bomb. The fuse lit and the cord flames, but the explosion is still coming.”
“What could go wrong? Heph loves you.”
He has loved so many, I thought, the concept haunting me. I didn’t want him marrying me only because of the child, and as much as he reassured me, I still had my doubts. Nibbling, gnawing doubts that I didn’t want to feel. Heph loved me. He told me daily and I responded to reassure him I loved him, completely. But the breath-holding sensation choked me as I smoothed my hands down the beaded dress. I felt constantly on edge of something imploding.
“What if it’s the baby? What if I hurt it? What if something is wrong with the baby? Will he still love me?” My hands shook as I stared at them, palms upward facing me. I worked every second to keep my emotions in check, as fear filled me that somehow, I would harm our unborn child. Then other thoughts consumed me. What if the child were already deformed or harmed in some other way, because of who I was?
“Honey, it’s happened before. The baby will be fine.” My eyes leapt to hers, not taking her meaning, but she fussed further with my hair, her soft voice pleaded as she spoke to me in the reflection of the mirror. “Do you really think Heph is concerned about a disability?”
We’d actually discussed Heph’s concerns, as he mentioned them before me. He worried the child would be slow, like he had been at birth, or too large, and harm me. He worried that something would be wrong as well at times, and his fears only frightened me more. I didn’t believe I had motherly qualities. It was the reason I wanted to remain near Hestia. I knew if I failed, she would help me, but feeling weak again, stressed me out. It made the fire roar inside me, but I refused its release.
“Heph wouldn’t be upset,” I said weakly, knowing the truth. After his own history of rejection from his mother, he was determined to love any child no matter what. When he said even if it had two heads, I panicked. My imagination had gone into overload with the increase of hormones and the suppression of my gift. New concerns filled me daily, and I exhausted Heph with them.
“That’s right. He won’t. He loves you.”
“I love him.” My voice trembled and the tears threatened to spill. It seemed if fire couldn’t escape me, water would. I was a mess, and I giggled with hysteria under the surface of my skin.
“It’s going to be fine. You’ll be fine.” Ember’s warm hands soothed me, rubbing up and down my covered arms. My dress was a replica of the one I wore the night I gave myself to Heph. The beading and raised embroidery was enhanced on this masterpiece, though. I sighed at the thought of that night, my mind running wayward. What I needed was Heph to fill me. That’s when I felt complete, centered, and calm. Looking up at my sister with her swooning eyes, the suggestion to make love to Heph immediately would be considered crass, and so I suppressed that thought as well.
A knock came to the door and Seraphine entered.
“You are stunning,” she breathed, her warm eyes opening wide. “He’s going to combust when he sees you.” Her hands clapped together, and then fingers spread apart, motioning the explosion. I caught Ember next to me, shaking her head, slicing a finger over her throat.
“It’s okay,” I giggled, this time with humor. “I don’t think Heph is the explosion I’m worried about.”
Seraphine looked at Ember, who shook her head again.
Crazy pregnant lady, I deemed in my head and took one final look at myself before being led to the yard.
+ + +
The gathering stood outside the temple. An extravagant canopy had been made with four tree trunks and thick mesh material in white. Flowers twisted and twirled up the bark and a fire blazed in the background, within the stone structure. It was an earthy altar, allowing our guests to be witness as we vowed under sky and before fire to join as one. The baby stirred inside me, reminding me that his or her life stood testament to the joining of Heph and me.
Solis and Veva joined us, along with my sisters. Persephone and Hades were noticeably absent. I walked alone, my eyes trained on Heph, a trickle of sweat gracing his brow. I worried that he was as nervous as me, but the gleam in his eyes told me otherwise. A forest fire of passion raged in those normally melting chocolate eyes. His slow smile spread like flames, and white teeth greeted me, extinguishing my momentary fears. This man wanted me, and the baby kicked inside me to remind me why we stood here.
Reaching out a hand, Heph nearly tugged me to his side. His hands over mine were constant and warm, keeping me grounded, holding me centered.
“With fire, we forge the melding of two items. We sear them together, forming one union. With these rings, we join Phyre and Hephaestus together, melting and molding them as one under the flickering candle of love and before the blazing bonfires of passion.” Hestia tweaked an eyebrow before she continued her blessing. Heph’s fingers squeezed mine.
“With the heaven as our witness and the flames of our hearth as our sponsor, I join these two in unity, to live as one, to love as one, to be one. Let your unique spirits guide you as individuals to form a blessed connection.” Hestia’s hand lowered and rested on my belly briefly. “Joining you not only as god and his wife, but as a family.” Her voice softened, and her hand removed. One cupped the bottom of our joined fingers, while the other covered the top.
“Through the warmth of the hearth, let your home be happy, your bounty be great, and your love blaze.” She winked at Heph, who chuckled. My eyes watched his face, filled with pleasure. At that moment, it all became real to me. He wanted this, he wanted me. Not just the baby, not because of his father, not after failed relationships, but because he wanted me. My shoulders relaxed and my eyes blinked away the tears. Heph’s face fell a little, and a thick fingertip brushed under my eye to catch a tear. His eyes questioned mine as the forest fire within his softened.
“Fire has the power to build,” Hestia said, turning to Heph, “and the power to destroy.” She returned to me. Her fingers pressed into mine. “But fire enlightens, like knowledge. It brightens the clouded thoughts. It warms the tender heart.” I looked at Hestia as she spoke to me. “It brings comfort of mind and spirit.” Her hands released ours.
“May the power of fire forge you together, forming a bond that cannot be undone.” Her head tipped once in blessing, her homily complete. Next came the official joining, where Heph placed a simple silver ring on my finger, nestling it against the larger band with the glass gem.
