Free Aphrodite by Kaitlin Bevis Page A

clouds receded into the distance. “But what would you be willing to do in exchange for such a favor?”
    My mouth went dry. “Um—”
    Without warning, Poseidon whirled and pulled me to him, covering my mouth with his in a forceful kiss. The ambrosia on his breath turned my stomach. His hands roamed over me, rough and demanding. I squirmed against the assault, trying to push away from him, but I couldn’t break free.
    The door to the balcony slammed open, startling Poseidon into releasing me. I moved away from him as fast as I could.
    “You.” Adonis moved beside me, glaring at Poseidon. “Need to leave. Now.”
    Oh, gods. Poseidon would kill him for interrupting. Still shaking, I tried to move, to put myself between them in the futile hope I could stop Adonis from getting hurt, but I couldn’t make my muscles cooperate.
    Poseidon didn’t even acknowledge Adonis. He looked past him to me. “Well, Aphrodite? Is the price too high?”
    I didn’t have to ask what he meant. “Adonis, you should go,” I croaked, feeling nauseated.
    He glanced between me and Poseidon, then shook his head. “No.”
    “Adonis, go.” My voice shook.
    Adonis worked his jaw, and then let out a deep breath. He turned his back on Poseidon, looking me straight in the eyes. “Whatever he’s got over you isn’t worth it.”
    “I’m inclined to agree with him.” Poseidon snickered. “Take a night, think it over, sweetheart.”
    I flinched at the word.
    “If I’m still interested, I’ll find you tomorrow. If not?” His gaze slid to Adonis. “Well, you’ll figure it out.” I felt a pulse of power wash through him.
    “Poseidon, wait,” I cried, jerking forward, my arms outstretched in a futile effort to stop whatever he planned to do next. He shot me a lewd grin, then vanished.

Chapter VIII
    THE FEEL OF Poseidon’s hands grabbing at me, his lips pressing against mine, his tongue snaking down my throat, coated me like a filthy residue. I wanted nothing more than to get it off.
    “Aphrodite . . .” Adonis stared at the spot where Poseidon had been standing. “What the hell was that?”
    I pushed past him to get into the room. Warmth pricked against my cheeks as my skin adjusted to the lack of wet wind zapping my body heat. Adonis must have turned off the air conditioner, because the room no longer competed for the title of coldest place on earth.
    “I asked you a question.” Adonis locked the sliding glass door with a click, and then moved from panel to panel, yanking the taupe shades down the floor-to-ceiling windows as if fabric could somehow create a barrier against Poseidon. Unfortunately, all it did was make the room feel smaller. “Time to think over what? What did you just agree to?”
    “I haven’t agreed to anything, yet.” If my hands would stop shaking, I could unzip this stupid dress and change into something warm.
    “ Yet? ” Adonis ran his fingers through his golden hair, his face pinched with concern. “Aphrodite, don’t. I know he rules a realm and all that, but just because he’s powerful, doesn’t mean he’s worth—”
    “You think that I’d—” I stared at Adonis in disbelief. “For power? You think that’s my price?”
    “What else would you want from him?”
    I stared at him for a solid minute, letting the words he’d just said hang between us.
    “I’m sorry,” Adonis said at last, shifting uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
    “That I’m a whore?” I snapped, all the anger and fear I’d felt on the balcony a moment ago latching on to a safe target. “Is that what you think of me? That I’ll just have sex with anybody, no matter how much they make my skin crawl, as long as they offer me enough? That I’d be willing to—”
    “You’re the one who said ‘yet.’” Adonis held his hands up in surrender. “Despite the fact that you’re shaking. That nothing in your face, not an iota of your body language indicates you wanted that .” He jabbed a finger out