Page 116 of Crown of Olympus
Caelus didn’t say another word. He just grabbed each of my feet and unlaced my boots one by one. Then he unbuckled my pauldrons and my scabbard, uncaring that the downfall of water was soaking him, too. He retreated to the basin, rummaging through the cupboards beneath until he found what he was looking for.
He returned with a wet washcloth and my favourite bar of soap. He moved around wordlessly as I sat there staring dumbly at the towering giant in my bathroom. With a small smile, he traced small, gentle circles over my face, methodically washing away every last drop of blood.
“There she is,” he said softly, his smile widening a fraction. He gestured for me to turn my head into the stream. The steady warmth of the downpour soothed the turmoil in my mind, but it was his hands — those large, scarred hands — that were most effective at bringing me some semblance of peace.
The scent of vanilla and raspberries permeated the air as Caelus’ fingers pressed into my scalp, lathering soap throughmy matted tresses. Warily, I leaned into his touch — it felt too good to resist.
It was a simple enough pleasure, but an act of kindness I hadn’t expected.
And when I moaned softly, Caelus cleared his throat, straightening sharply, heat staining his cheeks.
“I’ll be out in the hall if you need help with anything else,” he grunted.
But before he could leave, I leaped to my feet, capturing his hand in my own, hissing at the sharp tug on my ribs. I stared up into his torrential eyes and whispered two of the most vulnerable words I’d ever uttered.
“Don’t go.”
He groaned as if in pain. “Nightshade…”
“Please.”
“I can’t be just a balm for you,” he said, face falling. “The Furies know how badly I want to stay with you, but… I want to be more than temporary.” He cupped my cheek softly. “Ineedto be more than that. And if I don’t leave now, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself if you keep looking at me like that.”
“Maybe… maybe I don’t want you to,” I admitted, heart racing, already regretting the brazenness of the words and the way I’d just hurled them at him without warning.
“Nyssa,” Caelus whispered, his breath catching in his throat and sending a shiver down my spine. He brushed a wet lock behind my ear, otherworldly eyes searching my face for something — hesitance, maybe.
Or perhaps he was waiting for me to take it back. Giving me one last chance to pull away.
But I couldn’t.
I wouldn’t.
He was engraved on my very soul, and I couldn’t claw him out even if I wanted to.
And I didn’t want to.
A heartbeat passed. Then two. And he just stood there, staring.
My chin dropped, eyes falling to the floor.
Oh, Tartarus. I am such a fucking idiot. What kind of fool was I to think that he?—
“Fuck it,” he breathed, lunging forward.
His lips crashed against mine with a force that stole what little breath remained in my broken lungs. His fingers twined through my damp hair, pulling me closer. His thumbs gently traced over my cheeks as he kissed me.
AndFuries, did he kiss me.
It was a kiss that devoured. A kiss that could shatter realms.
A kiss worth waging war over… worth dying for.
Caelus might have robbed me of air, but he injected me with something far more valuable — life.
If he was a drug, then consider me an addict. I never wanted this moment to end. I wanted more. I wanted it all. Everything he could give, and everything I could give back.
It was not a gentle kiss — but it was everything we’d both been trying, and failing, to ignore for months. My hands found their way to his chest, where his heart beat just as furiously as mine.
