Aster and Cin were in Cin’s kitchen before she realized that they had even left the Underworld. She couldn’t fully process the terror that had just taken place. At least, not yet.

The mad race through the Underworld to get to a point where Cin could jump them out still had her heart in her throat. It didn’t help that at any point she was expecting Phobetor to force another dream to overtake her. She was sure that if he did, it would be permanent this time. He wasn’t about to let her get away without some kind of retaliation.

“There you are! I was starting to get worried,” Thad’s voice sounded from behind them as he got up off the couch.

When they both turned to him, he froze. They must look like they’d been dragged through a hedge backward after all that. Cin dropped Aster’s hand and ran to her soulmate, wrapping her arms around him and tucking her head into the curve of his neck.

“What happened?” he asked, gently stroking her back.

“I think I just pissed off Phobetor,” Aster said as she wrapped her arms around her chest.

“Oh.” It was the only thing Thad said, and the only thing he needed to say. She knew how bad this could be, and she hated that Cin had been dragged into it. A familiar jagged pain twisted inside her at the thought of her sister being hurt. Aster watched them for a moment before she started to feel like she was intruding. If only she had someone to hug like that, someone to soothe the fear that was creeping up her spine and turning her insides into jelly.

“Where’s Dem?” she finally croaked out.

“He’s up at the lookout.”

“The what now?”

“Here, I’ll take you, if that’s okay with you, babe?” he asked, lifting Cin’s face to his own.

When she nodded, Thad placed a brush of a kiss on her sister’s lips before Aster heard him whisper, “I’ll be back in two seconds. Promise.”

Extracting himself from Cin’s arms, he came over and placed one hand on Aster’s shoulder, jumping her to a wooded area that was further up the mountain part of the island than she’d ever been.

He pointed in front of them. “It’s straight up through that break in the trees. Be careful of the storm.”

Thad jumped back out, and just like that, she was alone in the woods. She didn’t even get to ask about the storm. From here, the sky was calm, with a few wisps of cloud being the only thing that marred the cerulean sky. The terror she’d felt in the Underworld was still eating at her. She had to find Dem and fast, in case the god of nightmares decided to send her a dream. Pushing off, she began the steep climb.

Once the trees parted, her breath caught.

Dem was sitting there, his legs hanging over the edge of what looked like a cliff, and a storm swirled around him. Rain whipped at his body and the wind ruffled his hair, but she couldn’t feel any of it. It was only as she got closer that it was like she’d stepped into the bubble of the storm.

Aster tried to call out to him, but the wind blew her voice away from them. She was right behind him when she saw he was holding something in his hands. It was an ice sculpture of a woman, not just any woman. As she looked closer, she realized the image was of her. A perfect miniature of her leaping into the air in a dance routine. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest.

Tapping him on the shoulder made him drop the sculpture, and it fell into the waters below. Dem turned and looked up at her, the wind and rain plastering his hair to his head, making his midnight-blue eyes even more stunning. She sat down next to him, not quite trusting enough to put her legs over the edge, but she was next to him and that was all that mattered.

He wrapped an arm around her as she curled into his side. Immediately a part of herself relaxed and stretched like a cat in a sunbeam now that she was touching Dem. The rain was drenching—there was no escaping it—but as she sat there, the icy bite of it lessened. Dem’s knuckle came up under her chin, raising her face to his. Staring down at her were unfathomable eyes that she could lose herself in. They were full of emotion, a mix of sorrow and longing. When his lips brushed hers, a fire lit inside her.

Water dripped down each of their faces, mingling with their mouths as they kissed each other. The cool, clear taste of the rain mixed with Dem’s heat was fascinating. Her hand came up and wrapped around his head, pulling him closer to her as her body arched up to meet his.

She could feel the warmth of his touch through her soaked clothes as his hand moved from shoulder to hip, lifting her up toward him. She wrapped a leg over his and shifted herself over so she was straddling him as his tongue delved deeper into her mouth. His body was a rock under hers, his muscles tense as she explored his chest and shoulders.

Dem’s hands came around and cupped her ass, squeezing and pulling her even closer to him so his thick erection rubbed against her core even through their jeans. Aster marveled at this man who could have been chiseled from stone, and how gentle he was with her. One of his hands kept her hips pinned against his while the other slipped under her T-shirt, unclasping the back of her bra before sliding under and massaging her tender breast.

Every part of her that he touched was electrified with need. She didn’t care that it was still raining, but she did care that they were both still fully clothed. She lifted the bottom of his T-shirt, pulling the soggy black material over his head as he lifted his arms to help her. When she leaned back a bit too far, his free hand whipped behind her to prevent her from falling. Aster had forgotten that they were on the edge of a cliff.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the realization of what could have just happened hit her, but before she could speak, Dem pushed her T-shirt up and off, along with her bra. His mouth was on her nipples, and it was heavenly. He sucked and swirled his tongue around them until they became tight peaks, each touch sending a bolt of desire to her core.

“We should move away from the edge,” she panted as he let up for a moment.

“Only if you take your pants off.” His voice was low and thick with lust.

“You too, mister. I’m not getting naked alone out here.”

“As if I would leave you alone like that.” He grinned, a roguish light in his eyes.

She grumbled at him, skeptical of his statement, before standing up and walking a few steps away from the edge. When she turned around, Dem was less than an inch away from her, his body crowding her, heat radiating off him, keeping her warm even though it was still raining.

“Here, let me,” he growled at her as he sank to his knees, hands going to the fly of her jeans.

As he popped the button out of the loop, his eyes darted to hers, and she inhaled sharply. There was more than just lust there. He began peeling her jeans off her skin, and what would usually have been awkward and uncomfortable was suddenly the most erotic thing in the world. Fingertips skated along her skin as he bared it inch by inch, the cold air chased away by his warm breath as he scattered kisses down her legs. Finally, she was naked in front of him. Just as she was about to ask him to stand up, he nudged her legs apart. The fingers that had just been tormenting the skin on her legs now slid between them to her wet heat.

He looked up at her and smiled mischievously. There was an edge of danger to him that was like a drug for her, and with just that look, he had her insides melting. This was not going to be a frantic coupling like before. This was going to be a sensual game that, hopefully, they would both win.

Dem’s thumb began to circle her clit, and she let out a moan, which turned into a gasp as his fingers thrust into her. He started with a slow rhythm, which left her aching for more, but as he sped up, his thumb stopped its hypnotic circling.

Before she could complain, his tongue licked a line up from her opening to just over her knot of pleasure. It was undulating against her as she felt her body begin to quiver and shake. His free hand alternated between squeezing her ass, which pushed her further onto his face, and rubbing her nipples, making her shake even more.

The sensations were overwhelming.

He had been the only one who had ever made her body respond like this. He played her like a violin. Aster’s skin began to feel tight. Each brush of his fingertips and roll of his tongue drove her mad.

“Dem, I can’t come like this. I’ll fall.”

“You think I’d let that happen?” His lips brushed against her folds as he spoke, creating shivers that ran up her spine. “Put your legs over my shoulders.”

“What?” Her brain was too pleasure-addled to understand what he was trying to say.

He took one leg, lifted it, and hooked it over his shoulder before doing the same thing with the other leg. “Now hold on.”

“To what?” she shrieked as his tongue began dancing over the small bud of sensation once more.

“My hair? My hand? I don’t care.”

He held up a hand, and she clutched at it, using it to support her upper body so she didn’t just fall backward. He flicked his tongue against her, the sharp motions making her shudder as his free hand continued to thrust fingers into her in a steady beat.

She wanted to clutch at something, the need to hold on more overwhelming than ever. One of her hands went to his hair, tangling in the wet strands before grabbing on. He growled into her, and the vibration was almost enough to send her over the edge. More flicks and circles, and the orgasm that had been building inside her since they’d first kissed reached a fever pitch.

Like a balloon bursting, the sensations rushed at her, taking her into the abyss where only pleasure existed, her body twitching and jerking as the waves washed over her. Her pussy clenched and pulsed as Dem continued to lick and caress her, extending her orgasm. Little microbursts of pleasure rushed through her, each one causing a new round of fluttering sensations as she trembled with pleasure.

Awareness trickled in. His hands were supporting her, one under her back and one under her neck. She lay in a straight line in front of him, her arms dangling by her sides, while he continued to slowly lick her core. Her body still quivered under his touch, but it was a luxurious feeling.

“That was amazing,” she breathed as she began to squirm out of his hold.

He let her go, and she stood in front of him. Her eyes traveled down the length of his body. It was all hard lines and sculpted muscle. He could have been a model or a star in an action movie, but he was hers, at least for now, and she wasn’t about to waste it. Her eyes caught on the tattoos that wrapped around his powerful thighs, the black ink looking like thick bands until she looked closer, and then all the intricate symbols became visible. His manhood jutted out from his body, and it was just as mouthwatering as the first time she had seen it. It looked big, but once it was inside her, it fit perfectly.

“Lie down.”

He followed her command, reclining on the large stone that made up the area. She sank to her knees between his legs, grasping him in her hand, his skin silky smooth under her touch. Everything about him made her body tighten with anticipation. She crawled over him, kissing his sensitive stomach all the way up to his nipples, grazing over them with her teeth. A shudder rippled through his body at the touch.

Kissing her way back down, she took the blunt head of him in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the ridge of his cock, taking him as deeply as she could into her mouth again and again, before pulling out and licking up and down the sides, savoring every taste of him. Soon his hips were bucking up from the ground, the tendons on his neck standing out as his body tensed. Releasing his cock, she climbed up him once more. It still amused her how different they were, short versus tall, pale versus olive skin, muscular versus lithe.

She lowered her mouth to his, wet strands of her hair flopping over her shoulder onto his chest as she rolled her body against his. Their tongues circled one another as his hands grabbed her ass hard enough to leave fingerprints before they came around and cupped her breasts once again, squeezing the sensitized flesh before flicking her nipples.

Pulling away from his mouth, she angled herself just right so she could sink down onto his cock. Inch by slow inch, she took him in as her body stretched and adjusted to accommodate his girth and length. When her hips met his own, Dem growled in satisfaction. His hands held her hips there for a moment while they both just enjoyed the sensation. Aster could feel him twitching inside her and knew he was dangerously close to the edge, but she wasn’t ready to end this just yet, so she stayed perfectly still until his hands released her hips.

His midnight-blue eyes stared at her, and she felt beyond beautiful. She felt sexy and wanted, and most of all, she felt cared for. Lifting her hips, she slowly raised herself off him until just the head of his cock was inside her. She held there for a moment until he frowned at her, and then in one quick motion, she sheathed him inside her once again, making him groan in surprise and pleasure all at the same time.

She began to ride him, swirling her hips forward and back, sometimes in an almost figure-eight-type motion. Leaning forward, she kissed each nipple in turn, sucking it between her teeth and, ever so gently, biting on it. He began to move under her, and she matched his pace, raising and lowering her hips to meet his own. The sounds of their bodies coming together was a wet smacking in her ears, which only served to turn her on even further. She started to feel like there was a pressure pushing down on her, but it was a good pressure.

As they moved, Aster lost herself in the rhythm, her body almost moving on its own, chasing the feeling of an orgasm. Each stroke of his cock inside her grazed an area that was driving her to the edge. A few moments later and her body was shuddering and shaking on top of his as the most intense orgasm of her life rocked through her. She was practically screaming with pleasure as she felt Dem continuing to pump into her. He joined her in the bliss of an orgasm seconds later. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her as he came. His hands clamped down on her hips, holding her in place as he ground into her.

She’d never felt more sexual, more powerful than she did at that moment, the high of the orgasm still sending shockwaves through her body. Her eyes flickered open, and she was staring at the most beautiful sunset she’d ever seen. Looking out over Dem and the edge of the cliff, she felt like they’d just had sex at the edge of the world. There was no civilization in sight, no cities, no homes, nothing but nature in all its vicious glory.

At some point, the rain had stopped and a warm wind had taken its place. The breeze blew her wet hair away from her face and tickled her naked skin. Looking down, she could see Dem’s midnight-blue eyes staring up at her. She rolled off him and lay down on the ground.

“How’s it goin’?” She grinned at him, knowing exactly how he felt.

“Fantastic. Yourself?”

“Wonderful.” She stretched out, cuddling around him and resting her head on his shoulder. His heart beat under her ear, the sound soothing her, which, combined with the lazy post-orgasmic bliss, sent her to sleep.

* * *

Naida was on her knees facing the floor. Her nose touched the blue and cream marble while her hands stretched out to either side. Poseidon was not a god to be trifled with, and she had done just that, all be it mostly at his bidding.

“You may sit up,” the god said, his voice sounding like eerie echoes she heard in the deepest parts of the ocean.

She followed his command.

“What have you to report?” He sat in a marble throne that was covered in shells of all different varieties, most of which made up the armrests and seat.

The trident that had caused him to completely lose his temper a few months ago was held tightly in his grasp. The fact that a mortal had touched it disgusted him, and he had gone on a rampage, punishing anyone and everyone he could. Nothing had escaped his wrath, least of all her. It was exactly what she’d expected of him. Poseidon was not the most unpredictable god, but he was one of the angriest.

“He went to the same meeting point once more. It appears to be some kind of underground cave. You should be able to access it easily if you wish, my lord.”

Poseidon had tasked her with finding out more about the human’s group, the ones who had been able to summon a god. She had used every tactic at her disposal, but whenever she brought up what had happened before he arrived there, Randall had clammed up. The man had valiantly tried to seduce her, and she had let him believe he’d succeeded.

Once, when she’d updated her master on her progress, he’d been pleased enough to allow her to swim in the ocean for a few hours. It was more freedom than she’d had in a long time. Not that she minded; she’d given up her freedom because mankind had forced her from her home.

She was an ocean nymph, one who symbolized the spray of the ocean on the beach. When humans had started covering beaches with their hotels and resorts, she’d had no choice but to back away.

At first, she’d just moved somewhere more remote, but eventually they arrived there as well. There were few beaches she could go to now without risking exposing herself to a human. It wasn’t so long ago that she would have gone from beach to beach, playing in the surf, kissing the beaches with her ocean spray. After too many close calls with the humans, she’d given up and asked Poseidon for shelter. He’d willingly given it, on a few conditions.

Living so close to the arctic meant that her swims were short and not as pleasant as they used to be, but she didn’t mind. They were almost past any land masses, except for the tip of Greenland. She hadn’t counted on the change when she had agreed, but now that she was there, she was adapting, and none of the humans noticed she was missing. The ocean spray looked exactly the same to them; they couldn’t tell that it was missing the soul of a nymph.

Her job as healer for Poseidon’s prisoners had been easier than expected. He only ever seemed to keep people around who deserved the beatings they received, and her innate healing skills simply meant that the damaged caused was not permanent. She respected his will and most of the time agreed with his form of punishment for those who had crossed him.

“Why would he keep going back to the same cave?”

“From what I could tell, the group uses it as their central meeting point. There is no way in or out without magic. I was able to use the water inside the cave to see some of what was going on. My lord, I believe when he injured you during his escape, some of your blood may have fallen on him.”

“Explain.” The single word held the roar of the ocean in a storm and made her stomach flip-flop.

“While he was at the meeting, he seemed to become agitated and the rocks around his feet began to rise. I know he was completely human to begin with, so that only leaves me with one conclusion. Something that happened during his escape allowed him to develop this power, which I believe comes from your blood.”

“Unacceptable. Only those I deem worthy can have a taste of my power. I don’t even like the inevitable trickle down from generation to generation. I sure as hell am not about to allow this failure of a human being to retain some of my powers.” His voice was a whip of anger.

“Of course not, my lord.” Naida bowed her head.

“Keep track of him. I want to know every time he uses it, and if it appears to be getting stronger or if he develops any kind of control over it. He was useful, but I think we’ve got all we need out of him. I’ll end him if he takes advantage of the drop of power he has.” A dark cloud passed over the god’s face, and Naida had to suppress her shudder.

“Yes, my lord.”

While she knew he had asked her to find out information by any means necessary, she suspected that sleeping with the prisoner was not what the god had in mind when he made the request. The fact that she had done so proved her loyalty and gave them more information than they would have had otherwise. She suspected that Randall would have been a hard man to break, if they could at all. Some people just preferred to die rather than give them the information they required.

“Your work on this was exemplary. Once this is over, you may swim whenever and wherever you wish. Just do me a favor and be careful of any local fisherman or science vessels, since we get them occasionally out this way.”

“Th-thank you, my lord,” she gasped, surprised by the generosity.

Excitement filled her at the idea of being able to swim down to the warmer waters once more. Of course, she would need to be extra careful, since the humans were covering the planet even more than when she’d first turned to Poseidon, but this was a gift she would treasure. Naida had expected to work for years to get this kind of freedom. She knew she would still be expected to work, to heal prisoners, to try and persuade them to talk, even if the god never asked any questions, but she didn’t care about any of that. If she could swim whenever she wanted, then she’d gladly share any information she could glean with the god.

The humans were dust in the wind compared to the steadfast man she served, and no man could escape a nymph once they had shared a bed. It used to be a well-known fact. Now it was just a distant memory that most never even knew existed. She bowed deeply once more and went to track down her quarry.