Page 28 of Deadly Games
We were both still panting, still locked together in an intimate embrace I’d probably feel guilty for in the morning, but not now. Now, the only thing there was room for was contentment.
“Fuck,” she breathed, her head dropping back against the pillows. Her face was a lovely sight, all flushed from orgasm.
“My thoughts exactly,” I growled, nuzzling her neck. I didn’t want to pull out just yet, and she seemed to feel the same. She moaned contentedly, her arms wrapped around me. I could feel her heartbeat fluttering against my skin, igniting some primal instinct even I didn’t fully understand.
“I guess some things are worth the wait,” she finally said, her voice still rough with lust.
“Yeah,” I murmured, finally settling next to her with her wrapped tightly in my arms. Exactly where it felt like she was meant to be. “I guess they are.”
Chapter 13
Kore
I shouldn’t have been surprised I woke up in an empty bed, but I couldn’t help but feel a little bummed when I looked around and realized Fenrir was nowhere to be seen. The night before seemed too distant already, like it might have been a remnant of a dream. The only thing that lingered was the strange sense of connection to him that had surfaced last night.
After feeling the same thing with Loki and Hades, it really shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was. In some ways, Fenrir seemed even more off in his own world than Hades. Maybe it was just the fact that he served his friend as faithfully and dutifully as any knight. Even when I used to hate him, I found myself thinking how nice it must be to be the object of that kind of devotion.
I climbed out of bed and got changed into the clothes I’d worn the night before. Hopefully I could creep back into my room without alerting Dionysus to my walk of shame.
It turned out, I was in luck. When I headed back to the room, he was already gone, and I assumed downstairs having breakfast. When I’d found out that he was staying behind with me on break, I was more than relieved. Of course, I’d jumped at the chance and used the excuse of wanting to get ahead on next semester’s projects, because I couldn’t stand the thought of spending all that time back home with my mother. The idea was harrowing under any circumstances, but especially now.
Then there was the matter of stopping Cronus. I wasn’t any closer to coming up with a how-to, but I stood a better chance of lucidity here than I did tanning on the rooftop with Jazzy and Baylor.
Man, I missed them. Text convos had become more sporadic, and that only made me miss them more. I still hadn’t figured out a way to tell them about the whole five-way-bond thing. Especially since one of the consorts was MIA.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, I was happy to head downstairs in something besides my uniform for once. Dionysus was at our usual spot, picking at cereal that looked mostly untouched. As soon as he saw me, his countenance changed so quickly it startled me. We’d grown close over the last year, but it seemed like there was still a lot he felt the need to hold back from me.
And I could understand why. I’d been a pretty shitty friend, all things considered. The Games had consumed my life, and now what had happened in the finale seemed to be in control for the foreseeable future.
“Hey,” he said, his voice strained with exhaustion. The dark lines around his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept well. “Big night?”
My face grew warm as I sat down on the bench across from him. “Sort of.”
“Hades?” he asked knowingly.
“Fenrir,” I answered, taking an apple off the basket in the center of the table.
His eyes lit up with curiosity. “That only leaves one, I guess.”
My blush worsened, in spite of myself. “Yeah. Guess so.” I cleared my throat. “What’s up with you? You seem kind of down.”
“It’s nothing,” he said, a bit too quickly. The smile he gave me seemed forced. “Any luck with the investigation?”
It was a safer euphemism for trying to take down the king of the gods, but I still felt exposed talking about it in public. The walls had eyes--probably literally where the Academy was concerned. “Not really. It would help if Hades wasn’t trying to play the Lone Ranger.”
“He doesn’t really seem like the team player type,” said Dionysus. “Did your Dad give you a timeframe?”
I winced. “For now, I’m still avoiding the ‘D’ word. But no, he didn’t.”
“Sorry,” he said with a little chuckle. “I wish I could be more help.”
“Please. You’re the only thing keeping me sane,” I told him, reaching for his hand. He pulled back suddenly and we ended up staring at each other for a few awkward moments. Before I could apologize for whatever I’d done, he beat me to the punch.
“Sorry,” he said, glancing away. “I’m a little jumpy today.”
“It’s fine.” I frowned, feeling him put up an all-too-familiar wall between us again. “Dionysus, what’s going on? I know you were going to tell me something after the Games… what is it?”
He didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to be about to when the lunchroom doors opened and the rise of chatter near the front of the room drew my attention.
