Page 26 of Goddess of Storms

“Let me get this right, you are a goddess and you’re afraid of mice and bugs? How can you love nature but hate bugs.”

“Stop laughing at me and check,” I command, sending a little zap towards him.

“Ouch, what was that for?” he asks.

“You want more? That was just a taste of my power.” I wink.

Nile walks up behind me, “Why are you flirting with him? Aren’t Stone and I enough?”

“I have no control over the connections to my heart. Blame my father, but with a quiet tongue. His temper is worse than mine.”

The stunned look on his face is priceless, and for the first time since I’ve known him, he is speechless.

“Don’t you have some firewood to collect?” I ask.

“What? Oh yeah, no funny business while I'm gone,” he orders.

“With Phoenix, not yet. We have to get to know each other more first. I mean I didn’t just jump into bed with you when the bond formed,” I remind him. “If Stone gets here, all bets are off.”

He gags a little as he heads to the back of the cabin.

“What’s up with Nile? He was a shade of green when he walked by,” Phoenix notes.

“You’ll match him if I repeat my words,” I smirk.

“Oh.... I’m good, nevermind. The pantry was clean, nothing but empty shelves. Want me to start filling them?”

“Yes please, I have all the items sorted, I can fill the fridge while you do the pantry. Once that’s done, if you would start on dinner, I’ll do some dusting and tidying up as you do.”

“Sounds like a plan,” is all he says as he takes the first load of food.

Piling all the groceries in the fridge takes no time at all, Phoenix and I are done at the same time.

I point out the pots and pans and he starts to work his magic as I do mine. I open all the windows in the kitchen and living room and with a wave of my hand, all the dust and dirt flies out and the place doesn’t have the musty smell anymore. I set the little table for a party of four.

Then I check on Phoenix, he hums a happy tune as he’s stirring ingredients. “Got some moves to go with that melody?”

Startled, he drops the spoon in the sauce and turns to smirk at me. “Those are saved for private audiences only,” he states with a smoulder on his face and fire in his eyes.

“Easy there, son of Ares,” Stone calls from the front door.

He shrugs as Stone wraps me in his arms. “I’ve patiently waited for her to remember me. I don’t usually pull rank, but I will this time.”

“No contest from me this time, hammer boy. This bond or whatever it is, is so confusing, I need to figure it all out,” Phoenix replies.

“Besides,” I smile, “You both forgot who the real boss is.”

This time, Nile pipes in, “And what a beautiful boss you are.”

“I told you before that you will have to earn your place beside me back. Sucking up isn’t going to make me change my mind. Stone and I are going for a little walk. Phoenix, continue cooking and it smells delicious. Nile can assist you.”

Stone spins me around in his arms and kisses me on the lips. It’s a short and sweet kiss, then he whispers, “Ready, my love?”

“Always,” I reply.

He doesn’t loosen his grip on me as he steers me out of the cabin and towards the lake it sits on.

“I have missed this, the smell of your hair and the smoothness of your skin.”

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