Page 4 of A Contemporary Mythos Valentine's
“Happy Valentine’s Day.” I grinned and wiggled my finger in the cleft of his chin.
Eros grumbled before tickling my sides and pinning me to the bed with his weight, rendering me helpless to escape. I laughed and bucked my hips.
* * *
We’d been hopping from state to state, country to country for the better part of the day, watching unknowing mortals in restaurants, parks, and every other romantic setting known to man. Moving locations via flying became more manageable when I’d developed my cloaking ability. Before I discovered my new power, we used a shielding device provided to us by Hephaistos when we encountered him in Scotland. However, it didn’t come without its burdens as it eventually exhausted me with prolonged use.
We sat on a bench in Central Park nestled within New York City. I lay my head on Eros’s shoulder as we took a break but still worked our love mojos on passing mortals.
“Look at those two.” I nudged my chin at a man and a woman holding gloved hands, facing each other. The man pulled the woman’s winter hat over her eyes with a laugh, and she playfully swatted his chest after pushing it back. “They’re adorable. But I’m not getting the vibe they’re together.”
“Focus, sweetheart. They are actually a perfect learning opportunity.” Eros squeezed my shoulders and kissed my temple.
Sitting up straight, I opened my mind, pouring every fiber in my being on sensing them—their connection or lack thereof.
The attraction was evident, and the compatibility shone so bright Olympus could see it, but something loomed over them that clouded their budding relationship. I frowned as the realization seeped into my bones, and I clutched my hands beneath my chin.
“He’s afraid of getting hurt again,” I whispered.
The man had been engaged only to have the woman leave him for another man she’d been having an affair with. These two were friends, co-workers, and both wanted more, but the man held back.
“You’re right, Elani. Now, what are you going to do about it? Do you think they’d work?” Eros leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees.
Without hesitation, I nodded, tears filling my eyes as I let more and more of this would-be couple settle against my mind. “They would. They really would. He just needs to—” I gasped and snapped my attention to Eros. “Believe in love again.”
Eros grinned and kissed the tip of my nose. “That sounds familiar.”
When I’d met Eros, I’d long since given up on the concept of love, the idea of fairy tales, or happily ever after. Meeting the god of love and passion changed my life in far more ways than one. Not only did I find my soulmate, but with the utmost patience, he guided me to my true self and showed mehowto love again.
Turning my attention back to the couple, I worked my mojo with a subtle wave of my fingers. The woman bounced on the balls of her feet before beckoning the man with a curl of her finger. He chuckled and lowered his ear to her mouth. She whispered something to him, and his face brightened before pointing at the ground, saying, “Right now?” The woman nodded emphatically, and no sooner had the man turned around, she leaped onto his back, him catching her legs at his sides.
“Piggyback ride.” Eros elbowed me. “Nice touch.”
I smiled as I watched them walk away. “She’s exactly what he needs. She’s so vibrant and full of life.”
“You’ve done amazing today, by the way.” Eros pulled me against him, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I leaned back, resting my head on his chest. “Thank you, love. And you’ve been a great sport. Only complained, what? Three times?”
“Be honest with me, as a mortal, did you really care about Valentine’s Day?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Not really. But I did find the concept of it adorable at times.”
A couple walked past, the woman holding a stuffed bear and heart-shaped box in her arms, beaming up at the man. A little boy approached a little girl sitting with her mother, a set of heart-shaped balloons on a string “hiding” behind his back before he held the string out to the little girl. Two men kissed after one handed the other a pink bag of Tiny Conversation Hearts.
“You like what you like, sweetheart, but me? All I see are expectations set by corporate companies out to make easy money.” He rested his head on top of mine. “All that being said—here.”
Softness brushed against my cheek, and I sat up. Eros held a stuffed goat with hearts as eyes. Laughing, I took the stuffed animal, beaming at him.
“He’s so cute.” I traced my finger over the goat’s big black nose. “Thank you. But I have to ask—why a goat?”
“The ancient Romans celebrated what’s called Lupercalia, and they believed goats brought fertility. It’s honestly what the holiday centered around before it was changed through time.” He tugged on one of the goat’s ears. “They’d put all the women’s names in a jar, and the men would pick. Whatever name he pulled meant that was his date, essentially, for the entirety of the festival. Often these pairings led to marriage.”
“Fertility, huh?” I offered a wry grin and pinched his cheek. “Not sure we need any help with that, Eros.”
Chuckling, he took my hand in his and traced his thumb over my knuckles as he caught my gaze. “No. I suppose we don’t.”
I’d gone in for a kiss when a familiar man caught my attention. He wore a long tan Burberry jacket, black suit, his dark hair slicked back with gel. He talked on his cellphone, and his gaze kept shifting from the ground to the people around him.
