Poseidon put on an extra burst of speed, anxious to get to Kiiara. Kevin was at her house sleeping soundly. Upon awakening, the only question in need of answering would be why he was in her home. Poseidon had left an explicit command that the male stay clear of Kiiara’s room. The idea of any man in her bed had him wanting to pound his fist through a wall…or someone’s face.

He needed to control his unexplained emotions. She had him wound so tight he could barely see straight. It was unacceptable behavior for him. He typically called the shots where women were concerned. They were more of a commodity than anything. Their purpose was to serve men’s needs, birth offspring, or fight in battle, nothing more. Certainly not the object of fascination for a powerful God like himself.

He heard others use terms like love and devotion, but he had never felt that way about a female. He couldn’t imagine caring so much that you would risk everything for another person.

Approaching the spot where he’d left her, he was surprised when he didn’t see her and a trail of penguins climbing the staircase or sliding down the icy slope. He assumed he would have to pry her frozen body from the slide to get her to leave, but then he saw why the playground was empty.

His vision zoomed in on a large creature, and he panicked. What was a Yeti doing here? They typically roamed the Himalayan Mountains, not Antarctica for fuck’s sake.

With lightning speed, he flew to the ground. He didn’t see Kiiara until he landed near the white beast. It was hovering over her as one oversized paw ripped through her parka with one swipe, shredding the fabric.

Poseidon whistled, drawing the creature’s attention away from Kiiara. The animal roared, then stormed toward him. When he got within striking distance, Poseidon pulled his fist back then punched through with all his force. As he nailed his target, blood spurted from the animal’s nose.

The Yeti cried out, and before the creature could retaliate, Poseidon punched him again, right between the eyes. The creature stumbled, then fell to the ground. Preparing to strike again, Poseidon was relieved when the beast didn’t move. He stepped closer. It wasn’t dead because he could see its chest slowly lifting with each breath, but at least it was unconscious.

Rushing to Kiiara’s side, he kneeled beside her. “Are you hurt?” he asked while inspecting her for injuries.

“I’m not hurt, thanks to you. It looks like you’ve saved my ass from death, again,” she commented and shook her head in disbelief.

The tear in her jacket exposed her skin and a slightly bloody laceration. Otherwise she seemed whole. If he had arrived even a minute later…he couldn’t even finish the thought. He would’ve lost his mind if anything had happened to her. And, that fact was more disturbing than the Yeti in Antartica.

“You’re a mortal. You didn’t stand a chance against the superior creature,” he admitted and helped her to her feet.

Brushing snow off her pants, she narrowed eyes at him. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent fighter. If I’d had my gun, the fucker wouldn’t be breathing. And, to think I was trying to thank you,” she huffed. “Are we leaving now?” she asked belligerently and her blue eyes sparked with anger. It was a sexy sight even if he was the intended target of her rage.

“I’m sure you’re quite good with target practice, but in my world, you wouldn’t last a day against ruthless warriors. Let’s go before the pile of fur awakens. Say farewell to your friends,” he stated as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Still angered, she pushed against his grip, but he held tight until she finally relaxed. Not only was she no match against his strength, she felt too damn good. As if she was molded to fit perfectly against him.

“Aside from the not-so-jolly white giant, this was an incredible experience. One I’ll never forget,” she muttered right before he lifted off the ground.

With a burst of speed, they left the icy region. She didn’t scream this time. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the black and white creatures. “See ya later, buddies. I’ll never forget our ride on the slide,” she called out.

Turning her head his way, she cocked her head. “What about your trident? Did you find any clues?”

“Unfortunately not,” he sighed. He had been wracking his brain on his next move and wasn’t sure where to look next.

“What will you do now?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I have no thought as to Hain’s whereabouts,” Poseidon admitted. It was frustrating and infuriating to be at the male’s mercy.

“What about a woman?”

“What do you mean?” he asked curiously.

“Well, in my experience, men always seek the company of a woman. And, believe it or not, some even value their opinions and advice,” Kiiara stated, the last part undeniably laced with sarcasm.

Poseidon chuckled. “Point taken, mighty mortal. Although, you just gave me an idea of where he might have gone,” he amended and chastised himself for not thinking of it first.

“You’re welcome,” she added, and he looked over to see her grinning.

“Thank you, Kiiara. You might have just saved my ass,” he teased and winked.

She peered over his shoulder then met his gaze. “It’s worth saving,” she replied with a sexy smile that had his cock twitching. “And remind me never to look down like that again. My stomach just turned,” Kiiara admitted before she buried her head against his shoulder.

Her hair smelled incredible, like a field of fresh flowers, and he breathed deeply, allowing her unique scent to wash over him. Intoxicating.

He was almost to her home and didn’t want their time to end. Being in her presence awakened him like nothing before. He craved her nearness, and the idea of never seeing her again was unacceptable. He had to think of something and quick.

“Would you consider joining me? The female I’m going to visit might be more inclined to help if you are with me,” he proposed.

He was a liar. Tavi would be more motivated to assist if he went alone because she’d be hoping for a night of sex. Usually, he would be completely on board with that. As a God, he could shift forms and have intercourse with many different creatures. At the moment, he wanted nothing to do with any female except the one in his arms. He hoped Kiiara didn’t see through his desperate attempt to spend more time together.

If she said no, he considered kidnapping her. If it kept her by his side a bit longer, he would gag and bind her. And that wicked thought caused his cock to kick in his leathers again.

* * *

Kiiara’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of accompanying Poseidon. The man drove her insane with his sexist and immortal superiority, but there was a gentler, kinder side occasionally revealed that she found irresistible.

Truth was, other than daily excursion with Kevin, her life was boring and lonely. Her dad died when she was a teenager, and her mom had passed away a few years ago, which Kiiara swore was due to a broken heart. Her mother never recovered when he died in a storm at sea. Joining this man was the best offer she’d had in a long time, even if he made her crazy with his contemptuous remarks.

There was a significant likelihood she would regret her decision, but she decided to go for it. “Do you mind if we go to my house first so that I can pack and check on Kevin?”

Poseidon smiled widely. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he was downright ecstatic over her agreement to join him. She couldn’t help notice his teeth were perfectly straight and snow-white. Must be tough being a God, gifted with natural strength and beauty, she thought, as she ogled the gorgeous man.

“Yes, we’re almost there. You will need to change again and take care of that wound to your arm. You can bring one small bag, but nothing more,” Poseidon instructed and carefully lifted Kiiara up to rest in his arms.

She felt weightless in his hold. Cradling her was effortless, and he was able to check the cut on her upper arm. It wasn’t that bad in her opinion. She’d sustained much worse, but she would clean and cover it, so an infection didn’t set in.

“Where are we going? Please tell me it’s a warmer climate,” she conveyed. She was eternally grateful for the up-close-and-personal penguin encounter, but she preferred flip-flops to snow boots any day.

“The foothills of Nepal.”

She had been stationed in China for several years and knew the area well. She loved the country and excitement bubbled to return to the beautiful scenery it offered.

“Now you’re talking my language. I love Lalitpur. Great hiking, if you like that sort of thing,” she added, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.

“I’m glad you said that because we will have a short trek. Wear hiking boots,” Poseidon added.

A million thoughts scattered through her mind as she quickly planned what she would need. One thing the military had taught her was to be able to leave on a minute’s notice, taking the bare necessities. She wasn’t sure what she was going to tell Kevin regarding the boat, but it wouldn’t be resolved in the next few days, so there was no reason to feel guilty about going out of town.

Kiiara was about to embark on a trip to one of the most beautiful, not to mention one of the most romantic, cities in the world. And Poseidon would be with her, she thought with a smile. More butterflies swarmed in her belly, but this time it had nothing to do with her fear of heights.

It was all about the God holding her in his arms and the way she felt when she was with him.

* * *

Kiiara stood beside Poseidon on the shoreline. “Are we not flying?” she asked, curious as to why he had brought her to the water’s edge. Surely, he wasn’t going to call his giant seahorses to take them.

“No, there is too much land between here and there and my power lessens the further I get from water. We will teleport instead,” he stated as he looked up and down the sandy beach.

“Umm, come again?” Kiiara commented. He never mentioned teleporting, and her stomach revolted at the thought.

“Trust me. You’ll love it. I guarantee it will be the best underwater experience of your life,” Poseidon said and grinned.

“Why can’t we do things a normal way, like hop on a plane? Seasickness is the worst,” Kiiara declared, adjusting her backpack.

“I’ll make you a deal. If you get nauseous, we will try your mundane travel coming back.” Kiiara narrowed eyes at him, studying his demeanor as she attempted to determine if he was being truthful.

“Deal,” she agreed, and before she could say another word, he waved his hand, and she barely had time to take a deep breath and pray she wouldn’t drown.

Instantly, they were surrounded by an oversized bubble. It floated off the sand and drifted over the water. Moments later, it dipped lower, and her heart dropped to her feet. Expecting water to seep inside, she took another deep breath and held it in. As the bubble descended, she looked up to see water above them but it didn’t penetrate the protective case surrounding them.

“So this is teleporting? I imagined it differently,” Kiiara admitted.

“Not exactly. This is how I teleport with you, mortal. For me, it’s a matter of thinking of a destination and moments later I arrive. You aren’t equipped to handle my method, so this keeps you in accommodating conditions,” he explained as she took in her surroundings, ignoring the patronizing comment of her human status.

Once again, she was mesmerized by what was happening. Reaching into the outer pocket of her backpack, Kiiara grabbed her cell phone. She wasn’t about to leave her home again without it. Snapping shots of curious fish approaching, she snickered when they bounced off the bubble.

As they sank lower and lower to the depths of the ocean, she reached out to touch the surface of their container. It was firmer than she expected but not as hard as plastic. Whatever the material, she didn’t feel like the oxygen supply was depleting.

A sea turtle swam up to investigate the oddity floating in the water. It was the biggest she’d ever seen, and she took another picture. “Look how calm. You’d think it would swim away, but it’s moving along beside us.”

“That’s because I’m connected to every creature in the ocean. They know it is safe with us,” Poseidon admitted. She looked at the attractive man and shook her head. He had no clue how different they were.

“What? You have an odd expression on your face,” he said and his brows furrowed.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing bad. I find your life fascinating, that’s all,” she said and then her eyes went wide and her heart leaped in her chest.

Kiiara lunged, landing in Poseidon’s strong arms as she screamed and pointed, “Shark!”

Within moments, a Great White swam up to the bubble. It had to be twenty feet in length and was close enough for her to see the rows of lethal teeth jutting from its mouth.

She felt Poseidon’s grip tighten and pull her close. “Relax, we’re safe. There is nothing to worry about.”

Her eyes met his green depths, and she was pulled deeper into his aquatic gaze. She had no idea if it was the adrenaline coursing through her veins, or what, but the next thing she knew, her lips were on his.

Soft, full lips meshed against hers. He tasted of salt with a hint of lime, and she parted her mouth, wanting to explore more. His tongue slipped past her lips, and she rubbed hers along the wet surface. Poseidon was the perfect margarita, and she was tipsy from one shot.

A moan escaped her throat, and he growled in return. He was hungry, too, if she wasn’t mistaken. They might come from different worlds but when it came to passion and lust, it was apparent they spoke the same language.

Her nipples hardened when he tightened his hold, causing her body to press against his hard chest. In her panic of seeing the shark, she had unknowingly wrapped her legs around his waist, but now she was very aware of her core against the hard length in his leathers. A painful ache had her wanting to grind against his erection, but she forced her lips away, wriggling until he set her down.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what just happened,” Kiiara confessed as heat flushed across her cheeks. She had all but attacked the man, and in her embarrassment, she turned away from him.

Poseidon grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face him. When she looked away, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted. Sea green depths had her quivering with need.

“Don’t apologize. In fact, if I’d have known your reaction, I would’ve summoned a school of sharks. You might have stripped me bare,” he husked, revealing his raw lust.

The idea of removing his clothes was tempting. She could only imagine what it would feel like to surrender to this God, allowing him to have his way with her. She had no doubt it would be a night she’d never forget.

Swallowing against the dryness in her throat, she croaked, “Not likely, Trident-Man. I’m not that easy,” she sassed and turned her back to him, looking again to the vast ocean as they glided along inside their protective bubble.

The massive shark swam nearby but kept a safe distance, and she wondered if that was Poseidon’s power controlling the creature. The God came up behind her and removed her backpack from her shoulders before setting it on the floor. Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and he pulled her against the hard line of his body. She felt his hot breath on the back of her neck, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

“I’m aware that you’re not easy, Kiiara. I meant no disrespect,” he whispered in her ear then kissed her cheek. It was soft and gentle, telling her this man was capable of great tenderness.

She waited for the crass comment to follow but none came. Maybe there was hope for him, after all. Relaxing into his hold, she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. She watched the grace and strength of the shark as it glided along while Poseidon kissed along the base of her neck.

The man had skills when it came to kissing. Her lips continued to burn from the searing kiss they shared. Her tongue slid along the sensitive area, and she pressed her swollen lips together, trying to soothe the flaming heat.

Time stood still as they stared into the dark abyss surrounding them. Everything blurred as she felt the bubble’s speed increase and she wondered how fast they were traveling. It was comforting to feel so at ease with a man and not feel the pressure to carry on a conversation.

Kiiara wasn’t a chatterbox and typically found it difficult to entertain men on dates with witty stories and charming mannerisms. It struck her that she was thinking of this as a date. Sadly, it was the best date she’d been on in a long time.

“It won’t be much longer. I imagine you’re hungry,” Poseidon said, invading her thoughts and answering her curiosity about their speed. It was remarkable to think they were traveling thousands of miles in such a short time.

She felt his beard against the side of her face as he talked, and she was surprised how soft it felt on her skin. She had never liked beards, especially full ones, but she found it sexy on him.

“Famished, actually. I haven’t eaten since this morning,” she admitted, and her stomach rumbled in agreement. Kiiara turned in his arms and locked hers behind his back.

“The time difference is eight hours ahead of your Eastern time zone. It’s three a.m. here. I’m not sure if any nearby restaurants are open, but we will get a hotel room and order room service if nothing else. A good night’s rest will do us good. We can get an early start tomorrow,” he explained as he twirled a lock of her hair around his index finger.

She didn’t miss that he said hotel room, as in singular, and sweat beaded her brow. Her racing heart was only overshadowed by the growling of her stomach as her mind tried to comprehend his intentions. Did he expect that they would be sleeping together?

Truth was, she barely knew Poseidon. She was attracted to the man, but that didn’t mean she was ready to have sex with him on their first night together. She would be lying if she said it hadn’t crossed her mind, but she wasn’t ready to act on those urges.

Clearing her throat, she forced words from her mouth. “Are we sharing a room?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“We don’t have to. The city of Dhaka is safe. Some of the surrounding cities are not and I wouldn’t allow you in a room alone. I promise if we stay together, I will be a complete gentleman,” he proposed then added, “unless, you ask otherwise.” The sinuous grin that followed made her heart skip a beat.

Kiiara wasn’t sure which was more appealing, Poseidon on his best behavior or the Greek God unleashing his seduction all night long.

“How about food first then we’ll decide. I can’t think straight when I’m hungry,” she stated and reached down to grab her backpack when she felt the bubble begin to lift to the surface.

It was pitch black around their shield, but she could see light above. It must be the moon, she thought, staring at the sparkling water overhead. The bubble pushed through the calm water until she could finally make out the shore and buildings in the distance.

The barrier disappeared, and her senses were bombarded by smells of the beach. She loved the salty air and the breeze off the ocean. It fed her soul.

Stepping onto the empty stretch of sand, she was captivated by the beauty of the night. Small waves kissed the shore, and the moonlight danced across the water. She felt a warm hand grab hers, and turned to see Poseidon’s green eyes glued to hers.

Trapped again by his hypnotic gaze, she knew she was in trouble when her mind and body screamed Screw the food! Screw him instead!