Free Immortal Heat by Lanette Curington Page B

comfortable," she said in a teasing manner and kissed him again.
     
     "You—" For a moment, he seemed unable to finish. Then he drew a deep breath. "You don't mind?"
     
     "Why should I?" She sat up and looked over her shoulder at him. "May I help you?"
     
     He nodded curtly, and together they removed the greave. The few times she had seen him on Olympus, he'd hidden the leg with wrappings. Now, she was jolted by the extent of the deformity, the shrunken muscles and withered skin. She wondered how he had ever managed to walk at all with his foot twisted nearly backward, but decided he had overcome the defect by sheer willpower.
     
     Hephaestus lay back, but Aglaia knelt between his legs, her hands on his hard thighs.
     
     "You are magnificent," she whispered as her fingers followed the contours of his hard muscles. "And you are a wonderful lover. Quite inventive with sand. And water."
     
     Hephaestus laughed and she loved the husky sound of it. He relaxed beneath her fondling, but his arousal, already long and thick, stirred. She eased her touch up to his lean hips, drawing lazy circles with her thumbs. With each swirl, she drew closer to the black hair that nestled his hardening length. By the time she reached its base, it stood quite tall and straight, and her hands enclosed its heat.
     
     He tensed as she gently kneaded the smooth silken skin, so hot in her hands. She watched it stiffen more, as hard as adamantine, and continued the massage, one thumb rubbing the tender spot just beneath its tip.
     
     With a groan, he reached for her breasts, his work-roughened fingers teasing her softer flesh. Desire raced through her to burn between her thighs, pulsing with the need of release. As sweet as anticipation was, she wanted him now. She moved up and over him as he straightened his legs.
     
     She placed her hands flat on his broad chest, a knee on either side of him, and lowered her hips. When his tip touched her, she closed her eyes and gasped. She swallowed him up and a shiver raced through her.
     
     "Hmm, you feel so good," he murmured and his hands settled on her hips.
     
     She undulated with him, their heat merging and igniting. They flared into a blaze that burned out of control, until the flames consumed them, and Aglaia cried out through a cascade of white-hot sparks. She was barely conscious of Hephaestus' echoing bellow in the throes of his own release.
     
     Warmed by the glowing embers left behind, Aglaia lay snuggled against him, her back to his chest, his arms surrounding her. She was languid with spent passion, but she hadn't lost her desire for him. The embers were only banked, would not grow cold and turn to ash.
     
     After spending this time with him, Aglaia couldn't imagine going back to her pristine pink bedchamber on Olympus. She wanted to hold onto the passion she had found with Hephaestus.
     
      
     
     * * * * *
     
     Thrice more the wildfire consumed them, but afterwards, as Aglaia lay sleeping in his arms, Hephaestus could not sleep. He kissed her gently and eased himself from around her. He was drained, exhausted, but he sat up on the edge of the bed and looked at the greave on the floor.
     
     All he wanted was to crawl back into bed beside Aglaia, awaken her with kisses, and ignite the wildfire once again. He stirred at the thought, but he had a few things to do. He dressed quietly and went to his forge.
     
     He called the Nedas together and, after telling them Aglaia was not to be disturbed, explained what he planned to do. They confounded him by discussing amongst themselves which six would accompany him. It shouldn't matter, but apparently it did to them. He let them decide.
     
     After working at his forge for a while, he bathed and dressed in clean underlinen and leather and fastened the greave securely to his leg. Then he aetherized the six Nedas who had been chosen to go and himself to his bronze palace on Olympus.
     
     After setting the Nedas to their tasks,