Page 24 of Locking Down Qetesh

"I like your choice of shirt. It's really comfy." I reached out to touch the fabric.

"It's one of my favourites," he admitted. "It's old and worn, but it's comfortable, and that makes it perfect for travelling. I was going to wear it on Sunday when I drove home."

"I'm sorry to have stolen your travel shirt."

"That's okay, this is also a good use for it," he promised.

"It's a nice end to a good night," I whispered.

"It is."

I let out a small sigh of relief. It was nice to hear him say it, and there was no doubt in my mind that he meant it.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I think I owe you answers to a dozen questions for tonight," I joked.

Jacob chuckled, the sound rich and deep. Welcoming. I liked it. "How long have you known you were ace?"

I took a deep breath. That wasn't the question I expected him to ask, but it was reasonable that he wanted to know the answer. "A few thousand years. I mean, I didn't have a name for it then, but I knew that I wasn't interested in sex the same way other people were."

"Wow, that's a long time," he said.

"It is." I was glad it was dark. It made the admission come easier, especially when it wasn't one I'd made at any other point in my life.

"Was that before or after you became known as a sex goddess?"

"I don't actually know," I admitted. "I didn't keep much track of what people were worshipping me for, it's not like I can do much about any of it. People have called me a lot of things. A goddess of nature, sex, beauty, protection, fertility..."

"That's a busy roster."

"It's nothing compared to some of the other gods. If you want a long list, you should ask Hathor."

"I'm not very used to making small talk with gods," he pointed out.

"And yet you work for one."

He chuckled. "Aine didn't reveal that to me until after she'd offered me the contract."

"Did you consider turning it down when you found out?" I asked curiously.

"Yes. But she offered me a great salary, and the job is close to Ella and our parents. That was too good to turn down, even if the risks of annoying a god were greatly increased by taking the job."

"Do you regret it?"

"No. It's a good job. And even if I haven't used some of the benefits available to me, it's an attractive package, especially if I want to start dating."

"Do you? You said you were open to it."

"Yes, but I'm hesitant." He sighed, and there was a slight movement from the other side of the bed. "I don't mind sex, it can be fun, with the right person and the right situation, but...finding that can be tough."

I stayed silent, waiting for him to elaborate if he wanted to, but not wanting him to feel like I was pushing him further than he wanted to go.

"My ex said that she understood, and that she respected my boundaries, but when it came to it, she didn't," he said.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Not your fault," he reminded me. "She just didn't understand that my body responding didn't mean that I wanted to have sex thrust upon me. If she wanted it, all she had to do was ask if we could that night, or something like that. I wouldn't have said no very much. But she'd just start touching me and expect that to work. Then she'd get angry because her touching me would work in as far as I'd get hard, but I'd still say that I didn't want to have sex. She couldn't understand that I didn't want that."