Free How to Worship a Goddess by Stephanie Julian Page A

his first-choice college, even though he’d decided to go pro out of high school.
    What she was telling him shouldn’t be possible. Weird didn’t begin to describe it.
    But he couldn’t explain what she’d done through conventional means. Which made her explanation the only rational explanation. Or he’d had a psychotic break with reality and was in a mental hospital somewhere talking to a wall. He let his gaze travel around the room once again.
    â€œSo, Etruscan? That’s somewhere in Italy, right?”
    She blinked, as if surprised by his question. “Yes. Long before Italy became the country it is today, Etruria had a rich history and a fascinating culture. The Rasenna formed the basis of much of the Roman civilization.”
    â€œ Rasenna . What does that mean?”
    â€œThat’s the name the Etruscans called themselves, before the Romans decided to call them Etruscan.”
    Brand took a deep breath, feeling like he was wading through deep water and the current was starting to drag him under.
    â€œBrandon, I know it’s a lot to absorb—”
    He laughed, then shook his head at the slightly crazed sound of it. “Uh, yeah. Just a little.”
    â€œBut I’m not crazy and neither are you.”
    No, she wasn’t crazy. She was beautiful. Sure, he’d noticed the absolute perfection of her features before. But now when he looked at her, he saw the purity of her skin, the clearness of her eyes, the perfect balance of her features.
    Ethereal. Otherworldly.
    But it wasn’t just her beauty that he responded to. It was also the heat in her gaze and the wildness he felt just below the surface of serenity. They called to that core of wildness in him.
    The one he had to work so damn hard to keep under control.
    â€œSo… you’re a moon goddess. What does that mean exactly?”
    The corners of her lips curved upward and she released a quick breath, as if she’d realized he wasn’t going to run screaming into the night.
    â€œNot as much as it used to. You may have noticed polytheistic religions have gone the way of the dodo.”
    â€œBut you still have followers, don’t you? The people in the bar…”
    She nodded. “Yes. Believe it or not, there are some who still follow the old ways. We just don’t advertise in the local paper. When the Rasenna held sway over much of Italy, I had many more duties. I reigned over the world from the second the sun set to the second it peered over the horizon at dawn. Those who lived their lives in those hours worshipped me, paid fealty to me, begged for my mercy, and pleaded for my aid.”
    Her tone sounded flippant but her expression showed a fierce yearning. She missed those days. Couldn’t say he blamed her.
    â€œI could be a ruthless bitch to those who crossed me.” Her smile turned impish, making his body burn with a sudden, fierce heat. “But I was good to those who worshipped me. I had quite a following at one time.”
    Yeah, he didn’t have to stretch his imagination to believe that. Hell, he’d follow her anywhere. And maybe do a little worshiping himself. Which was just so totally fucking weird.
    â€œBrandon?”
    He loved the way she always called him by his given name. Hell if he knew why. “Yeah?”
    Damn but her smile tied his guts in knots. “Do you have other questions?”
    Oh, hell, yeah. He wanted to know everything. He had so many questions, he couldn’t begin to formulate just one. They all jumbled together in his head until the noise was too great.
    She must have sensed his confusion because she went quiet, still. As if she was afraid to make any sudden movements around him.
    Christ, he didn’t want to scare her. He’d never hurt her. He didn’t want her to worry. He wanted her to— Well, he just wanted her.
    Need for her clawed at his guts, made his cock hard and his mouth