146 Unwavering Love (2/2)

Jos furrowed her brows. ”So, what you are saying is...” Her eyes sparkled up at him. ”I would have to choose between you or my father's kingdom?”

He nodded, ”That is exactly what I'm saying. Whereas, if you were to choose the kingdom, who's to say you wouldn't fall in love down the line with someone Zeus would approve of.”

She frowned. ”You are always trying to dissuade me from being with you.” She mumbled in growing irritation.

Arei sighed, ”I'm not trying to dissuade you. I'm trying to make sure you fully understand all your options and the full consequences of any decision you make right now.” He took her untouched glass of wine and set it on the nightstand with his. Pulling her into his arms, he cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers for a long, passionate kiss. ”Use me. Allow me to teach you all there is to know of this world: skills, knowledge, passion... whatever you desire to learn, but keep your mind and possibilities open until you are certain of what you want.”

Jos frowned, tracing the curve of his lips with her fingers. ”Why are you telling me this?”

He kissed her fingers. ”Because I fear my father may try to sway you in his favor, possibly push for something you may think you want now but later grow to regret.” He gave her another kiss before turning her in his lap. He leaned forward slightly and took the discarded book from the bed. ”Now let's get started.” He said as he began to flip through the pages.

Jos nestled against his solid chest. He hadn't bothered putting a shirt on once they'd arrived, so the heat of his chest warmed her more than any blanket ever had. She listened intently as his soothing voice retold the story Homer had crafted so vividly. Even after her eyes had grown heavy, she still forced her mind to stay alert focusing as much as she could on the story as her mind kept wondering to the other things he'd said.

***

They quickly fell into a comfortable routine inside the palace of Poseidon in the days that followed. Jos spent the majority of her days with Scylla and Charybdis learning how to live with the curse and the importance of making the best of the time it didn't consume. They taught her it wasn't something to be ashamed of, that it could be something useful if she learned to control it enough... even the moments of lost control didn't have to be a shameful thing. They tried teaching her how to turn her anger and hunger into something useful.

One night as she laid across his chest listening to the low rumble of his voice as he read, a thought came to her mind. He'd told her several times he loved her now... but had she said it to him? She'd tried showing him several times with her body but lately he seemed to withdraw even from that. She pushed up on his chest blocking the book to capture his full attention. ”I... I believe I love you...” She whispered before bending to kiss his full lips. She rested her forehead against his. ”I know all that you've said is for my own good... and that you want to leave all these options open for me... but the truth is, the more you say these things... the more you put your feelings and wants aside for me... the stronger my ache for you increases.” She pulled away to gaze down into his eyes. ”I want to agree to your father's offers. I want to be with you now and not wait until after my hearing.”

He let out a heavy sigh. ”I'm sure you think that's what you want, but I want you to be sure. There's no rush, Love. I'll always be here whether it's tomorrow or in a thousand years down the road.” He brushed her hair back out of her face as it feathered down around her.

She frowned, ”But why? Why not now?” Her voice broke, embarrassing her with the amount of whiny need that was evident in it.

He pulled her down for another kiss. ”As I've said countless times, you are still young and naïve to the ways of the world. You don't understand yet what you would be giving up. Besides, I couldn't agree to father's proposal with so much still unsaid between us.”

Her bottom lip jutted out. ”Then say whatever it is already!” She hated the irritation and emotion in her voice but didn't try to hide it this time. ”Why can't you just tell me already!”

He pulled her down against his chest as emotions built inside him. ”Because I'm a selfish man; and I'm not willing to chance losing what we have right now... not just yet.” He released her as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. ”Be patient, Kitten, I promise once we are back to Zakynthos, I will tell you everything without leaving out a single detail... and then...” He held her gaze, ”And then if you still desire it, we can move forward with father's plans before your hearing.”

She threw her arms around his neck as tears of joy flowed down her cheeks. ”Yes! I would love that very much!” She pulled back from him. ”Can we go back now?”

He laughed at her over-eager response. ”Not yet Love. There is still a bit more here I would like to teach you. Plus, it's important that my brother be there for what I have to tell you. He'll not be able to make it there for a bit longer than planned.”

She tilted her head, ”How much longer?”