Page 11 of Soft Bronze

Chapter Five

Camden stared at Zelus. Take him home. The idea wasn’t foreign to him. He’d brought home lovers before, but there was something different this time. Things were happening too fast, despite the way his heart craved Zelus. “What if there isn’t enough time? What if the curse isn’t really broken?”

“Then it’s not. I’d rather be with you and have these few hours of joy than never know the man who had the capability of breaking the curse.” Zelus smoothed Camden’s hair away from his forehead. “I want to learn about you and see you where you’re comfortable. Please?”

Zelus made a lot of sense. “I’d rather have sex in my bed than here.”

“Then I’m with you.” Zelus climbed off the couch first. He struggled back into his clothes. “I’d like something else to wear than this. I don’t mind the pants, but I’d rather something less constricting.”

“I’ve got a couple things that will fit you better.” Camden sat up and sighed. The heaviness of the situation wore on him. He’d rather go home and sleep, but he had the feeling Zelus wasn’t in the mood to nap.

Zelus stood before him, completely dressed and almost like the clothes were made for him. “Why did you choose to study art?”

No one had asked him that since he’d filled out his application for entrance to the college. “Beauty. I love beautiful things.” He dressed, then collected his keys, phone, and wallet. “When I was a teenager, I dated these popular, pretty girls. I thought it was because I was attracted to them, but when we’d get time alone, I never wanted to do anything. Guys were a different story.” He shrugged. He’d hadn’t talked about his formative years in a long time.

“What was it about women that didn’t grab your attention?”

“I liked their clothes, attitudes, the way they carried themselves and their grace. I’m clumsy. Walking a straight line can be a challenge. I realized I wanted to be like the girls and hang out with them, but I’d rather suck a dick.” He tensed and met Zelus’s gaze. “Sorry. That was blunt.”

“I appreciate blunt.” Zelus hoisted Camden to his feet. “You wanted to look at the women?”

“And draw them. I went to college originally to become an English teacher, but when I took a drawing class, I fell in love with the human form. I switched majors right then and there. I’m not beautiful, but beautiful things make me happy.”

Zelus cupped Camden’s jaw. “You’d love Olympus. Everything there is elegant.”

“I wouldn’t be. I’d stick out.” He rubbed his cheek against Zelus’s hand. “Should we go?”

“Yes.” Zelus slid his fingers down Camden’s throat to his chest, then along his arm. “Who says you aren’t pretty?” Before grabbing Camden’s hand, Zelus swatted his ass. “You study beauty so you should know that attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder. To me, you’re handsome as any statue or god.”

“You’re being too nice.” He strode out of the apartment and down to the ground floor. Andy and KG were behind the counter. Camden nodded. “We’re going to head out for a while.”

“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do,” Andy called. “Remember what I said.”

“I will.” Camden bowed his head and left the store. He held Zelus’s hand and made his way across the parking lot. “I’ve read stories about Olympus. Is it truly as perfect as the tales make it out to be?” He opened the truck door for Zelus. “Climb in.”

Zelus didn’t speak until Camden rounded the truck and sat beside him. “Olympus is pristine. The grounds, the landscape … it’s gorgeous. The gods and goddesses aren’t.”

“The fighting isn’t just the stuff of mythology?” He backed out of the parking spot. “Huh. I thought it was all made up.”

“We fought often and over foolish things. That’s why many of us are in statue form. We would cause trouble and rather serve our punishment in marble, bronze, terra cotta … gold. Most of us didn’t survive the passage of time.” Zelus placed his hand on Camden’s thigh. “So this is a truck. I’ve ridden in them, but while in a box.”

“My father gave this truck to me. It was his and when he went to Michigan with his new wife, he left the truck. It’s not much, but it gets me around.” Camden sped along the main road through the campus to his apartment.

“You were given an object and I was turned into one.” Zelus laughed. “How the world works is certainly peculiar.”

“Sounds harsh.” He pulled into the apartment complex parking lot, then into his spot and parked.

“Maybe, but I learned the lesson.”

“Ah.” He pulled the keys from the ignition. “So this is Kent’s and my apartment complex. I’ve lived in this town all my life. One of these days, I want to visit Europe—where Olympus is.” Camden left the truck. He’d opened up to Zelus more than he had to anyone. Even Andy and KG didn’t know this much about him. He opened the passenger door for Zelus.

“You will,” Zelus said.

“Will what?”

“Go to Olympus.” Zelus laced his fingers with Camden’s again. “I’ll take you there.”

“Right.” He made his way up the sidewalk. Rivers, one of Camden’s neighbors, stood on his patio. Camden waved.

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