Heph: Modern Descendants 3, page 8
“Let me control,” I whispered, and he nodded once more. Chocolate swirls reflected with flecks of gold from the fire behind me. I lowered my head and met his lips. Tenderly, I sucked on the bottom one, letting the tickle of his beard brush my sensitive skin. My tongue peeked out and licked a path, tracing his lips, and his mouth opened. Air expelled, and his hands tightened on my hips. Somehow, I figured Heph had been the one in control of all intimate relations in the past. In this case, he had to trust me.
My tongue retraced the path, slipping forward to meet his. My heart raced, and my center pulsed as I slid over his thighs. A teasing friction rushed through me. If Heph wanted to shift, he didn’t, letting me lead. My mouth covered his fully, and he followed me as I nipped at the bottom and sucked at the top. His lips were a perfect bow. I was the arrow ready to go off from just one shot of his mouth.
Scruff hid scars and tickled me. I didn’t need to know what hurt him—only that my heart ached that something happened. My mouth tried to give him my sympathy as I kissed him slowly. I took my time to discover the curve of his bottom lip and the dip of the top. My tongue swirled around his large one, learning the movement that would incite an uncontrollable growl from him. Emboldened by the power, my tongue delved deeper. My body leaned forward, my breasts aching to brush over him. My core beat in need of friction. But this night had to be about perfecting a kiss so I wouldn’t scorch him. He responded to each call I made with my mouth, drawing out those little rumbles from the back of his throat while my lips caressed his with tender strokes.
I don’t know how long we kissed, but the moment the ache between my thighs grew too great, I had to separate. I wasn’t ready for more, although my body craved it. With one final kiss, I pulled back, tugging his lower lip with my teeth before releasing him. His eyes opened, and solid chocolate was nearly black with desire. My forehead came forward to rest against his, and I kissed his crooked nose. His lids closed and I breathed him in: campfire and manly with a hint of balsam spruce. I might be his home, but wherever he went was where I wanted to live.
+ + +
“Phyre?” The sweet sound of Flame sounded, as if I were in a dream. My body was surrounded in warm, cozy layers of blankets comforting me, and I snuggled in closer.
“Phyre,” her voice whispered harsher, panicked. “You must wake up.” Her stressed words reminded me of someone. A voice, little and meek, in need of my protection. Instantly, I sat upright, and extended a hand. Flames burst from my palm as my heart raced. The heat behind me included two large arms wrapped around my waist. He was safety, I reminded myself, but I needed to protect him. In the deep black of dawn, ice blue eyes glared at me.
“Flame?” My voice scratched with sleep. A hand rubbed up my back, and I shivered at his touch. I remained in Heph’s lap, my body creaking from the curled position in which I had slept.
“What’s wrong?” His gruff tone at my ear comforted me as I stared at my sister through the fire at my hands.
“Flame, what’s the matter?” My hand burned, and thick fingers wrapped around my forearm and stroked upward.
“Phyre.” The rugged call of my name turned my head, and Heph took a mighty breath. He blew at my hand and the fire extinguished. My eyes met his briefly. His dark orbs filled with concern. I spun back to Flame.
“What’s wrong, Flame?”
“You can’t get caught out here like this. Hestia would be displeased.” My littlest sister was correct. “So would Adara.” And thoughts of my oldest pinched at me. Who did I think I was, to take from her a man she still desperately sought? I saw it in her eyes, the way she looked at him with longing. He didn’t return the glances, but he had to have felt the weight of them on him.
I quickly untangled myself from Heph’s lap, but he gripped my waist.
“Wait!” The hushed tone in his deep voice sent a rush of warmth through the middle of me. I turned back to see eyes roaming my face.
“Tell me I didn’t dream it. Tell me it was real.”
How I longed to place my hands on his face and touch the scruff around his lips, press fingers to the worry lines around those eyes and trace over his crooked nose. With the steam still rising off my stinging hands, I could not take the risk. My lips had to answer him. Brief and brisk, I pressed forward over his lips, and then unfolded my legs from his lap.
“It wasn’t a dream,” I whispered, and a slow smile beamed at me like the rising sun. He nodded once and sat back, while I turned to run for the house, with Flame at my side.
“You like him,” Flame’s high voice whispered harshly next to me. The complex answer was no, it was more than that. The simple answer sprung out of me.
“Yes.”
“Hestia will disapprove,” she repeated to me. My heart sank as we neared the front door where I escaped.
“I know.” My head hung. Hestia did not want us to use Heph any more than she allowed him to experience one of us. But Adara had already crossed the line with Heph in the past, and my heart balanced on the thinness of a stretched string. The arrow aimed, I could not resist Heph as my target.
“Your secret’s safe with me.” Her hand reached out for mine, wrapping around my burned skin, which healed quickly as the flame had been brief. Feeling the warmth of her hand, a question came to me.
“What have you been up to?”
She shook her head, but I noted her rumpled blonde hair and a goofy smile on her face.
“Flame,” I admonished, my voice full of fear and concern. “Where have you been?”
A sheepish smile crossed her lips and the muscles of her face fought to control it.
“The stables.” Her answer came too quick, the words almost a sigh. The building was a short trek through the woods. There, four horses resided under the care of the only other man to grace our property on a regular basis. Temple’s stable was our only neighbor. He did not join us at the main house, as Hestia was adamant he was an employee, not a family member. His quiet unnerved me as much as the four-legged beasts did. His age was closer to Hestia’s, and terrible thoughts flittered through my head.
“Not Temple,” I shriek-whispered.
“What? Ewww…” Flame giggled in return. “He’s old.” He wasn’t really that old but compared to Flame, old enough to know better. Relief washed over me, but concern still crawled under my skin. What was my little sister up to?
+ + +
As I entered my room, I wrapped the plaid blanket around myself. At some point, I pulled it up to cover Heph and me as we shared personal stories in the night.
“My mother rejected me when I was born,” he began. “I was slow. Well, slower than I am now, and she didn’t want to take care of me. I later learned she did it to spite my father. He’d had a daughter with his first wife, when my mother thought she would be his next wife.” Heph sighed, and I stared at the campfire, listening to the beat of his heart while he spoke. “My father took me in. He took us all in. He has so many children I’ve lost count. He has trouble, shall we say, keeping it in his pants.”
I chuckled at the thought, and his fingers stroked through my hair.
“You think that’s funny but it’s true. His gift to the world is procreation and the sky.”
“The sky?”
“My father rules it.”
“Isn’t that from some Greek myth…?” My voice trailed off. Who was I to question him, with my flaming hands and ability to produce fire?
“It is. My brother Solis will inherit it, should anything ever happen to Zeke. I, on the other hand, am only what you see.”
My hand stroked down the front of his form-fitting T-shirt, feeling confident I could touch the cotton but not his skin.
“I like what I see,” I offered quietly.
He hummed against my hair and kissed my forehead. We were quiet for a moment, and the pause encouraged me to speak candidly next.
“My parents died.” I swallowed hard at the memory. “It was Christmas. Candles burned throughout the house to give it a festive feel. One night, one remained lit, and I carried it to the tree to see it better. The twinkling, miniature lights remained on. My parents had gone to bed. I set the Christmas tree on fire, and the house went up in flames. My family didn’t get out in time, because rather than call for them, I watched the tree burn, mesmerized by the blaze.” I shrunk into Heph, waiting for him to reprimand me for not seeking help, for not realizing that fire was deadly. He kissed my forehead again, holding his lips there.
“The flame was so beautiful, and I felt a strange peace watching it burn. It comforted me, although I had nothing to fear in my life. The walls engulfed in flames, curtains alit, ceiling blazing, and still I stared. When they found me, the fireman said it was a miracle I survived. I don’t know how I did.”
“You’re a survivor, huntress.” He interrupted me, but I continued, lost in memory as I watched the low flame over the campfire dance. “I went into foster care at first, but when the father wanted to touch me, and I burned his chest, I was sent to another home. I passed from place to place, lighting small fires whenever my anger or fear arose.” Memories flipped through the pages of my mind, turning slowly as I lit each corner of the paper, watching them vanish in smoldering flames. “Eventually, I went to a state home. As soon as I could, I ran. I travelled by back roads and wandered into homeless shelters. I made my way the best I could, to get here. Then one night…one night…”
“Shhh, you don’t have to tell me more. Not yet. Not ever, if you don’t wish to.” His lips returned to my forehead, lingering there, and I twisted to breathe in more of Heph. The scent grounded me. He smelled like home. My center, I thought, without sharing the words with him. I nodded to let him know, I wasn’t ready to relive the memories. I only wanted this memory and I closed my eyes.
Hours later, I paced my room, afraid Hestia would be angry at Heph. That she’d blame him somehow, when it was me who went to him. I never worried before that she’d make me leave, but I panicked that she’d kick me out of the home because of what I did with him. I kissed him; he let me. A soft knock at my door ignited my fears. Opening it, Hestia asked to come in and closed the door behind her.
I sat on the bed, still wrapped in the plaid blanket, holding the last of Heph’s fragrance to me before Hestia made me leave. My head fell forward awaiting my sentencing.
“It appears my Hephaestus is quite taken with you.”
I nodded without looking up.
“I’d like to know how you feel about him.”
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“I don’t want you to hurt him either,” she said, helping herself to sit next to me. “But I also don’t want him to hurt you.”
I looked up at her words.
“Heph…is special. Kind of like you, but more like me.”
“He mentioned something like that last night.”
“You have to understand, he’s lived a long time, a long life, and most of it alone.”
At twenty-five, I felt ancient when I should have been carefree. I hadn’t felt alone in the last year, but there were times I was lonely. Although he looked around thirty, I didn’t care how old Heph might be.
“He’s had interest in a multitude of women with promises broken. He’s rather confused, I fear.”
“What happened?”
Hestia nodded and brushed at my hair. “That’s not a story that should come from me.” She smiled to soften the blow of not sharing.
“What had he promised Adara?” I asked quietly, still encouraging answers.
“He promised to return and marry her. He’d take her to Zeke’s estate as his bride. She doesn’t think I knew, but there isn’t much I don’t know. He didn’t return, until now.”
“Did something happen at this father’s estate?”
“Zeke kept him home too long and Heph let the relationship fail, though I don’t completely fault Heph. Any relationship involves more than one person.” The accusation sounded awful. Heph seemed so disinterested in Adara upon his return. How could he do that to my sister? But then a new thought struck: could people go back to what they had, once they give it up? The question haunted me. Hestia believed in second chances. She preached it often. Did Heph’s feelings for Adara still linger? I didn’t want to believe it. The concept made me sick, and bile clawed at my stomach. Heph claimed a sense of familiarity with me. He’d lost me, somewhere in his history. I had to believe his interest in me was genuine.
“It seems Heph didn’t know what he wanted until he saw you.” The words made me smile, though it conflicted with my thoughts.
“Why didn’t he come searching for me?” I asked innocently. The concept confused me. So many nights I felt alone as I searched for a place where I could feel safe. Was Heph looking for me while I looked for him?
“I don’t think he knew where to look for what was missing from him.”
“But here he is.” I sighed, toying with the edges of the blanket wrapped around me, reminding me of our night together.
“Here he is. This will always be his home.” Home. Heph said I was his home. His center.
“I think he returned here each year hoping to find balance in his life, to center himself. And this is the year it might actually happen.” I sat up straighter at her words, and she brushed back my hair. Hestia was so maternal.
“He might not have searched the world for you, but at one point, he did search the world, and it was cruel to him. Maybe you were what he was looking for, but he got lost along the way. He gave up on himself. I need you to not give up on him.” She tapped my knee for emphasis. “He’ll need to learn about you, and you’ll need to learn about him. It’s more than the fire in your hands that will need control.” She winked at me, and I turned bright pink to coordinate with my hair.
“I don’t think I’m there yet.”
“But you will be. Heph is still a Cronus. He has needs. He’s sweet and he’s innocent, but he’s more man, and he hungers. Starve him, and he’ll stray.” My brow pinched at the metaphor. Was she implying that Heph would lose interest if I didn’t sleep with him? Or perhaps there was more to her meaning, something deeper, related to her? Either way, the implication was clear. If I didn’t give into my desires for Heph, he wasn’t going to wait for me.
“I’m not endorsing promiscuity. I’m just giving you my permission for exploration. Heph could help you discover what you need. He helped Adara, but he also broke her heart.” Would Heph break mine? I questioned everything, and my heart began to crumble with the thought.
heph
I was the happiest man in the history of the planet as I worked the metal over the fire. Today, I made new shoes for the horses at Temple’s stable. He needed a blacksmith, and as long as I was present, the work was good for me. The fire stoked, the heat oppressive, my thoughts fired back to my little spark and her exploratory kisses. My morning shower helped relieve what she did to me, but it wasn’t enough. Her kiss had only nurtured a tiny flame when I wanted the campfire: sweet and smoky.
I stood centered toward the ovens, working the metal, watching it turn a brilliant hot orange and wondered again at the history of my huntress. Burning down her house as a child, she had to be forgiven for the misunderstandings of her gift. I sensed she felt cursed from the destruction. What other evils had she encountered? Older men wanting to touch a child turned my stomach to stone. Teenage boys horny and hot burned my insides. And then, whatever the crowning moment of disgust that brought her to Hestia’s Home made me wish I could spear someone with the hot poker of my blade. I’d kill anyone that tried to harm her again.
I hadn’t spent any time with my girl during the day. Her subtle smiles and shy glances at dinner twisted me inside, and I missed her. When I returned to my room after dinner, Phyre sat on the edge of my bed, the blanket from the night before wrapped around her in a way that pinned it to her side like a dress. My lips curled at the bare arm exposed on one side, her creamy pale skin looking soft and smelling sweet, but I questioned her intentions. She chewed her lip, but it was not the delicate bite that endeared me. Her eyes avoided mine.
“What’s going on here, Little Spark?”
Her shaky laughter didn’t sound right.
“Hestia sent me.”
My brow creased. “For what?”
Delicate fingers with short nails picked at the plaid fabric over her.
“She said you wouldn’t remain interested in me if I don’t sleep with you.” Her voice trembled and the words cut.
“What?” The question rolled out like trees dropping after a lumberjack’s cut, slowly falling and then a crash. Did Hestia think so low of me as to offer this girl to me? Did she think so low of Phyre to suggest she give herself to me? I stared, unblinking, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides. Something was off.
“No,” I barked. “No, that’s not true. No. Forget it; I’m not sleeping with you.” I brushed past her for the bathroom, needing space, needing a moment to collect my thoughts. I turned on the water at the sink and splashed my face, ridding the thoughts of desire that stiffened me, reminding myself of the argument that solidified my answer. I didn’t only want her physically; I wanted her everything.
I re-entered my bedroom to find her perched with one hand on the barn-red blankets. Pristine white sheets curled down from the numerous pillows. Instantly I envisioned spreading her there, admiring her hair in contrast to that innocence.
“Let’s go in the other room.” The command was harsh, although my intention was not. I needed to separate her from the bed before I changed my mind and agreed with Hestia. She stood slowly and entered the small living room. Taking a seat on the edge of the couch, my heart dropped. I panicked that the next few minutes would define us, and it would end the same way as Adara and I. No reciprocation of unrelenting love. I could give devotion and security, but I wanted love in exchange.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said, still not looking up at me. I knelt before her, placing my hands on her covered knees.
