Page 50 of Desired By Eros

It was dark by then, and Psyche looked up, gasping softly. “Wow…” she murmured. “Look at that.”

He followed her gaze and saw the northern lights painting the sky in sweeping waves of green, purple, and blue. The colors rippled across the night, shimmering like a living thing.

“It’s so pretty,” she said, her voice soft, almost reverent.

He studied the lights for a moment, but his attention quickly shifted back to her, his gaze softening. “Yeah, almost toobeautiful to look at,” he said. He had always appreciated the natural world, but there was something about sharing it with her that made the moment feel even more special.

She turned to him with a smile, her eyes still reflecting the colors of the aurora. “You’re right. It’s kind of magical.”

He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he stood and walked over to where she was sitting, offering his hand. “Come on. Let’s get a better view.”

She took his hand, standing up and following him as he led her toward the edge of the cabin’s porch. They stood there in silence for a while, just watching the lights dance across the sky.

“Do you ever just…stop and think about how much you’ve experienced?” Psyche asked after a while.

He glanced at her, noticing the wistful tone in her voice. “All the time. But it’s hard to appreciate the good stuff when you’re always looking ahead to the next thing. I’ve learned that it’s better to just be in the moment, like this.”

She nodded, looking up at the lights again. “Yeah, I think I’ve been getting better at that. It’s hard when my mind races. But sometimes, it’s nice to just be still.”

“It is,” he agreed softly.

They stood side by side, watching the colors flicker across the sky, both lost in their own thoughts but feeling a quiet connection in the silence. The night seemed to stretch on, the lights above them painting the world in hues of green and purple. They didn’t need to say anything. The beauty of the night, the calm between them, was enough.

Chapter 9

Psyche

Time flew quickly as Psyche worked on the dig, and before she knew it, it was time to go home for her father’s sixtieth birthday. They took a commercial red-eye flight out of Anchorage, then rented a car for the drive to her parents’ home on Vancouver Island.

“So, do you prefer flying with me or on an airplane?” Eros asked as they settled inside the crossover SUV after securing their luggage in the back.

“Both have their advantages and disadvantages.”Mirrors. Seat. Steering Wheel. Air.The mental checklist helped ground her as she prepared for the long drive, as well as seeing her pack after such a long time. But at least she would see her parents. She had missed them, and they were the main reason she was coming, after all. “On an airplane, I don’t have to worry about bugs in my mouth or face.”

“And me?” His lids drooped, which indicated he was thinking about sex, though that pretty much happened every hour of the day. The God of Love and Desire truly didn’t disappoint in the bedroom.

“With you, I don’t need to go through airport security.”

The signature smirk—one that she recognized as playful and teasing—appeared. “Don’t worry, I’ll still strip search you.”

Rolling her eyes, she put the car into gear and backed out of the spot. Soon, they were driving along the highway, which would take them to the ferry that would transport them across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.

“Ah, but this is pretty nice.” Eros linked his hands at the back of his head and leaned back, stretching his legs. “I think I like having you transport me around for once.”

She chuckled. “Are you enjoying being a passenger princess?”

“Passenger prince,” he corrected. “And yes, I’m very much enjoying this.”

The trip was long and took a few hours, but Psyche was glad for the extra time. The ferry had surprisingly not been crowded for a Saturday morning, and Eros managed to secure them seats in a quiet corner. She sat by the window seat, looking out at the gorgeous sights and the calm water, drinking tea.

After the ferry docked, they drove out and made their way across the island, toward the territory of the Vancouver Pack. They lived in a remote corner of the island, far from humans, though they were still close enough to the Greater Victoria area so they could conduct their normal, everyday business. The familiarity of her surroundings was like a soothing balm, calming her anxious feelings. There was something about driving to the place she grew up in that she couldn’t explain, like as soon as she saw the familiar, sprawling driveway that led up to the house, her body and mind told her,this was home.

“You grew up there?” Eros pointed up ahead.

The mansion at the end of the driveway was made of glass, steel, and concrete with a clean, angular roofline. There was a well-manicured lawn in the front, but minimal landscapingeverywhere else. It didn’t need it though, as the stunning coastline and vast ocean views made a dramatic backdrop.

“Yes. It’s my parents’ house,” she said matter-of-factly. She was about to ask him about his childhood home when she remembered his story about growing up with his biological father. Her heart ached for him, thinking about what had happened to him and what he had gone through. She was just glad his stepfather and mother were able to get him away from that situation.

“We’re here,” she announced as she parked the car next to the walkway leading to the front door, turning the engine off but leaving the fob on the dashboard. “Someone will park it for us and take our things to my room. Let’s head inside.”

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