Zeus (Contemporary Mythos Book 6)
Zeus: Chapter 7

On the outside, Keira was professional, orderly, put together. On the inside, she was broken, intriguing, and kept an absolute freak buried deep. And I fucking dug it. All of it. Yesterday convinced me of my worst fears—no other woman would do. It had to be her. Keira. My history spoke for itself—when the King of the Gods desired something or someone, it was rare it didn’t come to fruition.

“Are we just going to sit here, or are we going to fuck? Is this really what you brought me up here for?” the raven-haired woman with topaz eyes asked, sitting in a frump in the chair across from me.

I sat with my forearms resting on my knees, hands steepled as I eyed my deluxe rotating Scrabble board, the faux ivory letters staring back at me, waiting for me to spell a damn word.

Did I think having Keira see a parade of women waltz from my apartment building every night would make her jealous? I hadn’t a fucking clue what made that woman tick, but I’d pull every damn card I could.

Grabbing several letters, I placed them on the board without looking at her. “I told you I’d entertain you. If you misinterpreted my intentions, that’s your business. PS – you don’t spell penis with a ‘z,’ but nice try at triple points.”

“I’m so out of here.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes as she pushed from the chair and made for the door.

Glancing at my watch, I dug into my back pocket and slapped a hundred-dollar bill on the table. A woman like her would undoubtedly recognize the sound of cash, possibly even smell it from across the room. “Sit down. Finish the game. And you leave with a consolation prize.”

She folded her arms and smacked her pink glossed lips together. “Make it two hundred, and I won’t tell anyone that Zane Vronti invited me up here to play Scrabble.” She did air quotes.

I ground my teeth together, narrowing my eyes at her from across the room. If only this woman knew who she was talking to—if only I could make a lightning strike singe the carpet between us. No.

Plucking another hundred from my pocket, I slapped it atop the other bill. “Only if when you walk out the door, you look—happy.”

“Fine.” She shrugged and moved back to her seat across from me, adjusting her faux fur jacket. “Oh, I’ll be happy. Been eyeing these new Christian Louboutins, and you’re about to give me the rest of what I need.”

“Sure. Whatever,” I grumbled.

Turning the board to face her, I bobbed a brow, insinuating it was her turn. The woman tapped her shoe against the hardwood floor, absently scratching her neck as she looked at the ceiling. She did everything except make an effort at spelling another word.

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You can go,” I snapped, standing and shoving my hands in my pants pockets, jingling my keys as I waited for her to bounce her way out.

She clapped her hands before scooping the cash into her palm. After blowing me a kiss she said, “Well, at least you were nice to look at the past forty-five minutes.” Winking, she swept out the door, not bothering to shut it behind her.

“You’re welcome,” I scoffed. With a flick of my wrist, I whooshed the door shut and let Levin out to run around the apartment. He’d spend the next ten minutes sniffing every inch the woman had touched, wagging his tail all the while.

Rubbing my temple, I walked to the window facing Keira’s to see if she reacted to the woman leaving. Keira always seemed stone cold, but I knew she held back, especially after she shoved me in a closet and devoured me like a lioness in heat. Her taking control like that, having no idea she held a Greek god in her petite hands—fuck. Keira glanced out the window, but if she had any emotion, she didn’t show it. Still, she took the time to look. That spoke volumes.

“Are you alone, my liege?” Bia’s voice shuttered over my brain.

“Yes.”

Kratos and Bia materialized into the room versus flying through an unopened window as they had before.

Still spying Keira through her window in a dress shirt and pencil skirt, but pacing barefoot with a folder in her hand, a tumbler of scotch in the other, I asked, “What did you find out?”

“This mortal is extremely job-oriented. From the moment she wakes up, she walks to work avoiding people at all costs—” Kratos started.

I snapped a gaze at him over my shoulder, finally looking away once Keira was out of view. “Avoiding people? Interesting.”

“—yes. When she arrives at work, she breezes past everyone and sits in her office alone for an hour or more as if she’s decompressing.” Kratos folded his brown wings behind him, clasping his hands behind his back.

“I wonder why?” Rubbing my chin, I squatted as Levin approached me, scratching his head. “What else?”

“The only person she confides in is her paralegal, Olivia. She spends her day at work, most of the night and then walks home. Again, avoiding people even if it means taking a longer route home.”

Work. Work. Work. It hit far too close to home.

“Bia, my dear. I’m very interested to hear your take.”

“Firstly, you know how I cannot read the minds of the gods?” She took a seat on my leather lounge chair, adjusting her wings as not to sit on them.

I squinted at her, rising to my feet, despite Levin’s groan. “Yes?”

“It took extra effort on my part to get through to her. It was borderline exhausting.”

“What does that mean? She’s not a goddess. She’s not even immortal.” I pressed my palms against the bar top, glaring at it.

Levin forced himself between Kratos’s legs, wiggling his ass to be scratched. “A demigod, perhaps?” Kratos obliged my dog, petting him with a wince.

“No. I would sense that. Anyway, go on, Bia.”

“She may not realize the lengths she’s pulled toward it, but the woman is immensely drawn to power. Control.”

“Her power? Her control?” Standing upright, I stepped closer to my lady enforcer.

Bia shook her head slowly.

A wicked grin tugged at my lips. “I am power.”

“Yes, my lord. And she’s attracted to you—the power surging from you, the control you take, you demand. But she’s confused why it’s so intense from seemingly only you. She can’t make sense of it.”

And she says she hates me. Hardly.

“You could always tell her the truth. Imagine her reaction to power knowing who you really are.” Kratos lifted his chin.

“It isn’t that simple, Kratos. You both don’t have interactions with mortals daily anymore. They think we don’t exist. To flat out tell her would result in marriage proposal suicide. No. I have to work my way under her skin.” I rubbed my neck, already feeling tension from the effort.

Bia stood, floating over to me, hovering at eye level. “Out of all mortal women, you’ve chosen to pursue this one.” She canted her head to the side. “You’re intrigued by her. Her work ethic. The ravenous desire she keeps hidden.”

“I thought you couldn’t read my mind.” Rolling my shoulders back, I made myself taller despite her floating at my height.

“I don’t have to when female intuition plays a part.”

Grimacing, I turned away from her and rubbed the back of my hand over my mouth. “Anything else I should know?”

“Her birthday falls on the winter solstice. I saw it on her calendar. It’s as if she has to write it down to remember it.” Kratos ruffled his wings, plucking a feather that had started to break off.

Or other vital deadlines…

Nodding, I glanced at Bia over my shoulder. “Bia?”

“If you truly wish to pursue this woman as your future queen, I’ve felt her inner self, sir. She’s a passionate woman who shifts it all to her job. She wishes to be the best at what she does but longs for more. Past mortals she’s been with had issues occasionally being second best to the job.”

I turned to face her, squinting. “Are you talking about her or me?”

Bia smiled. A rarity for her.

Kratos’s lip twitched before he flared his wings. “Are we dismissed?”

I continued to stare at Bia, but she stayed quiet and sprung her wings. “Keep your eyes and ears open with her and inform me immediately of anything important. Dismissed.”

As they both disappeared, I moved to the window and almost did a double-take. Keira stood with her back turned, her blonde waves falling over fully exposed skin. Her perky bare ass was in clear view, and as she squinted over her shoulder, showing only a hint of her nose and mouth, she gave a peek at the side of her breast, the nipple in shadow.

Fuck. Me.

Arousal dipped into possessive irritation, knowing anyone else in this building could see the same show. She could lie through her teeth any which way from Sunday, but I knew this display was for me. The rest of them be damned. I dragged a hand down my face, staring at how sexy she looked, the table lamp near her accentuating her curves, giving her hair a golden hue. She reached for the lamp, and with one last smirk over her shoulder, she wrapped her gorgeous body in a cloak of darkness.

I’d waited until I knew Keira would be exiting her apartment to walk to the courthouse, meeting her on the sidewalk with a smug grin.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You never walk to work this early,” she spat, the chilled air making her breath fog the space between us.

“Not sure if you heard, but I’m working on this high-profile case. Figured I’d get a few early mornings in.” I winked at her, rubbing my leather gloves together and flipping the lapel of my jacket around my neck.

She pointed at me, squinting those bright blue eyes. “I’m onto you, Vronti.”

“I wish you would be.” I dropped my tone an octave and leaned toward her, making my power hover like an invisible shield.

My gaze dropped to her throat, watching it bob.

She bit her lips, no doubt holding back a smile. “You’re a pig.”

“Well, if you’d only give me a chance—I’m certain I could make you squeal.”

She dropped her jaw, suppressing a grin again, and swatted my arm.

Her touch ignited a spark over my skin, even through layers of cloth.

Clearing my throat, I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked beside her. “Nice weather last night, wouldn’t you say? Extra…nippy?”

She slipped her briefcase over one shoulder and tugged the coat tight around her chest. “I knew you could see me.”

“Very true. And so could all the neighbors.” I rose a brow at her, turning my head enough to eye her sidelong.

She clucked her tongue against her teeth. “They couldn’t see my face.”

“That’s what you’re concerned about?” I asked, chuckling through my words.

“If you got it, flaunt it?” She shrugged, still not looking at me.

There went that irritating jealous pang in my gut again, making my lip bounce.

“Was that your idea of torturing me? Punishment, perhaps?” Discreetly, I got close enough to her our elbows almost brushed.

“Absolutely. Showing you something you’ll never have.” She lifted her chin, the tip of her nose rosy red, and she sniffled.

I side-stepped in front of her, walking backward. “Well, I’ve been a naughty, naughty boy. You should punish me further but maybe in a bedroom this time instead of a closet? Hell, I’ll even settle for one of our offices.” Flashing a confident grin, I watched her neck flush.

She stopped walking, stomping her foot for extra emphasis. “I’ve already told you that was a momentary lapse in judgment. You’re attractive. So, sue me.”

I morphed the most panty-melting smolder I could muster. “Bold words to say to the best lawyer in New York City.”

She idly sucked on her bottom lip before snapping it out of her mouth and bouncing on her heels. “One of the best. I’ve earned that title too.”

And why would she want to give it away for some petty thing like being deported when she had options?

“Did you do what I asked last night?” I dropped my gaze to her hips before lifting my eyes back to hers. “Finish what you started?”

“Why yes, I did. I had company last night.” She sniffled again, rubbing her wool glove under her nose.

“No, you didn’t.”

She guffawed, the skin between her eyes creasing. “You don’t see everything that goes on in my apartment. And besides, I’m not like you with a new bang every other night.”

Bingo. It did bother her.

“I wouldn’t have to see a thing.”

“What the hell does that mean?” She blinked her baby blues, the gray hues in the sky from an impending snowfall making them brighter.

“I could smell him on you.”

She scrunched her nose and leaned back. “What are you? A wolf or something?”

“Much better. I don’t have fleas.”

She let out a single laugh and brushed past me, continuing to walk.

“Is there a reason you insist on walking to work over public transportation? Especially in a skirt? Even Jack Frost’s balls would freeze out here.” I pretended to shiver.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have balls then, huh?” She stopped at the crosswalk, bouncing on her heels.

“Prove it,” I whispered in her ear from behind her.

She loosed a breath and peered at me over her shoulder, our lips almost brushing. “You never give up, do you?”

“And you won’t ever admit you like being chased, will you?”

She remained silent, simply staring up at me with doe-like eyes.

Yanking one of my gloves off with my teeth, I touched her cheek. Ice cold. “For fuck’s sake, Keira. You feel like death. Let me call you a damn cab. Stop being so stubborn.” I walked to the sidewalk’s edge, holding an arm up.

She grabbed it and yanked it down. “No. I don’t want a cab.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

Getting more pissed off by the minute, I deepened my tone. “Because. Why?”

“I don’t like being around people, alright? Cabs give me the creeps being trapped with a stranger in a small space—and a bus or train?” She sighed. “Claustrophobic.”

She was only telling half the truth, and it boiled my irritation even more.

Snapping her eyes to mine, staring at me for a beat, she made a tsking sound with her teeth. “Goddammit. Do you want to—grab a coffee to drink on the way? It’ll warm me up.” She couldn’t make eye contact with me, her eyes falling to the concrete beneath us.

And so it began.

I half-grinned and pointed to a cart across the street. “I’ll even buy.”

“Wow. The fancy lawyer man wearing the Burberry jacket will spring for a whole four bucks worth of coffee. I’m a lucky gal.”

Shaking my head, I dug in my pocket, producing a money clip. “Smartass. Want me to ask if he’ll throw in a shot of whiskey? I’m sure he has a flask hidden somewhere.” I smirked, holding out the cash to the attendant. “Black and—”

Keira cleared her throat. “Black.”

“Two blacks.”

The attendant adjusted the New York Yankees beanie on his head before grumbling and pouring the coffee. Sliding them toward us with his fingerless gloves, he mumbled some form of having a good day as I handed Keira the second cup. I moved to the nearest trashcan to remove my lid and toss it. Keira stepped beside me, performing the same action, and we both locked eyes.

“I uh—” She wrapped her hands tightly around the cup and dipped her face over it. “I like to feel the steam on my nose.” Discreetly, she shoved several sugar packets into her jacket pocket, but didn’t put any in her coffee. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

She continued to pleasantly surprise me at each and every turn.

Fucking Olympus. I really was in trouble.

“I, on the other hand, find the covers to be for pussies. If I’m going to burn my mouth, well, that’s my own damn fault, isn’t it?” I squinted at her as I took a tiny sip, pretending to burn my lip and sputter. “Shit. See?”

She laughed and grabbed a creamer from the vendor, tossing it at my chest. “You know these street vendors make it hot enough to melt a tire.”

“You’re right. I should sue them like McDonald’s.” I winked at her, sipping on the small container of creamer.

“Hey. She had a case. They had a corporate policy to serve it at a temperature that could cause serious burns in seconds. She wasn’t the only one who got injured, just the first one to take it to the next level.” Her eyes beamed at me as she sipped on her coffee, lifting her shoulders as the warmth coursed down her throat.

“I agree, but I would’ve gotten her triple the settlement. Easily.” Smiling, I tossed the empty container in the trash and we continued walking.

“What are we doing, Zane?” She looked straight ahead, drinking her coffee.

“We’re walking, I believe.”

She rolled her eyes, and for the first time, when she smiled, I noticed the small dimple that formed in her left cheek. “We can’t be friends. At some point we’re going to be at each other’s throats on this Daniels case in front of a jury. That can’t end anywhere but uglytown.”

“Have you ever had a relationship with another lawyer, sexual or otherwise?” I raised my brow at her, leaning forward in an attempt to catch her gaze.

“No.” She frowned.

“Then how would you know?”

Her jaw tightened, and she stared into her cup before briskly shaking her head. “I can’t. I just can’t. Look, I appreciate you walking with me and buying me coffee, but I need you to let me walk on my own from here on out, alright?”

Tartarus. This woman was wound tighter than the Fates’ spindle.

“Sure, but Keira—” I bumped her elbow.

She paused and tossed me a glare over her shoulder.

“You look good smiling. You should try it more often.” I shrugged before backpedaling away with a lopsided grin, heading in the opposite direction.

Again, she bit back a smile and shook her head before walking.

I’d laid the foundation. Knew she was into me. And next…I’d offer her a solution to the problem she didn’t think she had.

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