Page 5 of Soft Bronze

Chapter Three

“I’m not sure what to believe.” Camden leaned on the counter for support. “Nothing makes sense.” His brain spun. Good Lord. The last he knew, the sky was blue, grass green and statues didn’t come to life. Legends were stories in books, not reality.

“It’s a long explanation.” Zelus smiled and squeezed Camden’s fingers. “Would you like to hear it?

“I’ve got time.” He couldn’t have concentrated on his class if he’d tried. Art history in a lecture hall hardly compared to the possibility that Zelus was the statue come to life.

Zelus tugged Camden close until they were chest to chest. “I will, but first … can I kiss you?”

“Kiss me?” The notion wasn’t all that horrible. Hell, he wanted to mash Zelus against the wall and kiss him breathless, but he had to be reasonable. Someone either wanted to make him look foolish or his world had turned upside down.

“Yes, kiss you. You broke my curse.” Zelus smiled and his dark eyes glittered, melting a bit more of the ice around Camden’s heart. “Plus, you’re quite handsome and a good kisser.”

“You’ve got to be joking.” He didn’t say anything else. What could he say? He’d kissed the statue. Did the statue—man—whatever, know what it felt like to be kissed? Had he actually felt the kiss Camden placed on his lips when he was in the bronze?

Zelus slid his hands around Camden’s body and tucked his hands in Camden’s back pockets. Fire lit in Zelus’s eyes as their mouths meshed.

Good thing Zelus had a hold of him. Camden’s knees weakened. He’d been kissed before, sure, but never anything so overwhelming. From his head to his toes, his body trembled. He groaned into Zelus’s mouth as Zelus sucked on his tongue. The man certainly felt real, and the passion … he’d never been quite so consumed. He wanted to touch Zelus and be sure the man matched the statue, but he refrained.

Zelus pulled away long enough to pant, “You’ve taken my breath.”

“You’ve got mine, so we’re equal.” Camden threaded his fingers into the loose waistband of Zelus’s jeans. Desire so strong couldn’t be happening to him. Something else had to be on the horizon to screw it up.

Zelus smoothed his hands up to Camden’s shoulders. Forehead to forehead, he gazed into Camden’s eyes. “I’m afraid to let go of you.”

“Why? I’m not going to disappear.” Although he had tried many times to drop off the grid. Having things to run from made disappearing appealing. Good to know Zelus had doubts, too. Maybe, just maybe if they were careful, they could try dating.

“Many crazy things can happen.”

“Then explain.”I’m attracted to you and scared at the same time. I don’t even know what you are or how you got here.He kept those thoughts to himself. Never give away too much so your opponent doesn’t use the information for your downfall.

“My brother said we can talk in his office. Lead the way.”

“That’s what I thought he’d said, but I didn’t believe KG.” Complete and utter confusion swam in his brain. “If you’ve got a brother, how did you end up encased in bronze?”

“I will tell you everything when we’re in the office.”

“This way.” Camden shook his head, then escorted Zelus to the back of the antiquities store.

Andy walked out of the office he shared with KG. His partner followed and grinned at Zelus. He clapped Zelus on the shoulder. “Good luck, brother,” KG said. “You’ll need it.”

Camden bit back a reply. KG not only looked like Zelus, but he sounded like him. Too many things didn’t make any sense. Cam sat on the edge of Andy’s desk and folded his arms. “You’ve kissed me senseless and confused me. Now it’s time for some explanation.”

Zelus closed the office door. He kicked out of the flip-flops and stretched his toes in the thick carpeting. “I’ve missed this. Nothing like going barefoot.”

“I hate sandals and going without shoes,” Camden replied. He’d never seen the point of showing off his feet. “Whatever works.”

“That’s part of the reason I enjoy you—we’re very different.” Zelus rubbed his hands on his thighs. “Where to start?” He frowned, drawing his dark eyebrows together. “I’m a god.”

“Really? You’re kidding me.” He’d heard plenty of crazy things in his life, but a real god? No way. “Humor me and explain. I’m listening.”

“My brother, Kratos—or KG, as you know him, and my sister, Bia, are the children of Pallas and Styx. They were Titans. Kratos, Bia and I were each sent to guard Zeus. In our own ways, we both succeeded and failed. Kratos ended up being sealed in marble as a statue. I see Andy freed him.”

Camden needed a moment to make sense of what he’d been told. He knew KG and the guy seemed level, but Zelus didn’t. Part of him didn’t want to believe, but the rest of him saw a strange logic in the tale. “I’ve heard of Zelus, Kratos and Bia, but I never heard of KG being anyone other than Andy’s partner.”

“Would you have believed him if he’d said he was a god?” Zelus asked. “You don’t want to believe me.”

“No. I guess not.” He couldn’t explain any of what he’d been told, other than maybe Zelus knew how to recite stories from mythology. But why would someone want to claim the life of a minor god as their own? And why was he so damn attracted to Zelus?

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