Free Dionysus (Greek God Romance Book 1) by Alicia Wolfe Page B

chuckled at his own wit.
    Ares stared blankly at the truck.
    “Should we take them around the back?”
    Ares nodded.
    “You know, you should get another game. Some variety, you know, I’ve got a few myself.”
    Ares croaked, “What?”
    The man went to the side where one game was left atop one of the Xbox One’s. He handed it to Ares:
     
    “Halo 5: Guardians”
     
    Dionysus, from far away, could be seen grinning and holding in a laugh that he would save for the bar where he would bellow, slap chairs and tables, and roll around like a mad man. The image was burned into his mind, seeing Ares waddle back into his home, the game in hand, giving it a venomous look, and also, the look of a child frightened by the dark.

BAD BOYS GET THE TOYS
    Aphrodite appeared at out of nowhere, as she seemed to do. She sashayed over wearing a silk dress that was, once again, see-through and highlighted her perfectly symmetrical and circular nipples.
    “Dionysus, you collect so quickly. I hope your gun doesn’t fire so.”
    He lifted his eyebrows. “Don’t remember?”
    “I know. I know. A devil in the sack, you were godly. . . as expected.” She arched her back to accentuate her assets, and her voice strained, “I could never get you to be one of the boys.”
    “Never been one.”
    “A shame. . . We could’ve had such fun.”
    “Golden dildos?”
    “No. No. No. Karma sutra would be the end of the line for us. Bad boys get the toys.”
    He laughed and took a seat at the dining table. When Hera was involved, he found it better to be sitting in order to temper his mood and reaction. If his reaction was too strong, Aphrodite would be liable to use it against him at another time. And while they had always been on relatively good terms, you could never trust a god or goddess wholly, especially an Olympian.
    “Oh. . .” She said, arching once again. “Sit at the table for business, shall we?”
    “We shall.”
    “What makes you think Ares went for it?”
    “You don’t think I checked?”
    She giggled, putting her petite hand to her lips. “Oh. . . He would’ve been home with the penguins when he left.” Dionysus grinned, she perused, “I thought you might like that.”
    “You know me well.”
    “No one knows anyone well.”
    He blew air out of his mouth as if he felt the chill of a dismal winter. “True.”
    She put her hand on his. “Still hung up?”
    “On what?”
    “You know.”
    “I don’t.”
    “Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”
    “You seem to have an aptitude.”
    “I do. You don’t. Do I have to say her name?”
    Dionysus stared blankly back. Aphrodite was damn dangerous. She picked his façade apart, too well. He thought better of sharing.
    She waited a second then supplied, “Ariadne.”
    A slight glimmer entered his eyes. “What about her?”
    “Oooh. . .” She clinched his hand in hers. “I see it all over you.” She changed the subject. “I remember when Heph used to come home, worship me, bring me flowers and love. All he brings now is work.”
    Dionysus kept silent, holding to his earlier disposition.
    She let go of his hand, put her hands on the table and leaned towards him, coming within inches. She whispered, “ Don’t throw her away.”
    He pulled his head back. “What?”
    “Rebecca, you stupid boy. Do not throw her away. Ariadne has been gone like the Heph of old.” She went back into her chair. “Don’t be stupid. Ah, who am I kidding? You’re going to be stupid. You all are.”
    “Coming from the adulterer?”
    “No one asks how I got here. They only know the result.” She looked up at the ceiling, seeing her old self and Heph, hand-in-hand, cherishing their time together. She returned to the table with venom in her eyes. “What do you know of it?”
    He conceded, “You’re right. I know nothing.”
    “Good. That’s the first step.”
    “Let’s get back to why I’m here.”
    “Ah. . . my husband.”
    “Why did you plant the idea of working