Chapter 202 - Always time for a pillow fight (2/2)

Raven shrugged of his kind words. ”Looks like it's working out for you well enough.”

Arei's frown returned. ”I'm not sure that it has. I'm not sure it ever will.” He didn't say anything else as he walked over to join the growing crowd. He took a seat beside Peg and Andy, watching quietly as Jos rekindled her relationship with his sister.

Poseidon clapped in excitement. ”Alright, let's kick off this pajama party the right way!” He lifted his hands in the air, but before he could clap or snap, Arei's hands came darting out to block them. Poseidon sent his son an indignant look. ”What in the name of Olympus?”

”It's not a pajama party, and I'm not going to be forced to wear anything else weird!” Arei growled.

Poseidon arched a brow. ”Well, I was only going to produce drinks... but since you bring it up...” He quickly pulled away from his son and snapped the fingers of both hands. Within a blink of the eye, everyone gathered around was wearing different goofy PJ sets, including Shelly.

Arei huffed out a growl. ”This is ridiculous.”

A grin spread wide across Poseidon's lips. ”You're right, what was I thinking.” With another quick snap, the PJ set from earlier was replaced by a ruffley pink nightgown that did little to hide the beast of a man underneath. He stroked his chin for a second as he studied his son, ignoring everyone else's laughs. ”Ah yes, I believe that is the one.

Arei narrowed his eyes. ”You know what... I'm going to set here just like this. And I hope the lot of you choke on whatever you decide to drink as you laugh...”

Jos covered her mouth as she watched the mammoth man flop back down in his seat with his legs spread wide apart exposing cartoon character boxer briefs.

He arched a brow at her. ”What?”

Jos cleared her throat as she tried to stop the laughter. ”Um... are those part of the costume or were you wearing them before?” She said pointing a finger toward his exposed boxers as her other hand flew back up to hide her giggles.

Arei couldn't help the smile that turned up the corner of his lip. ”Wouldn't you like to know?” Before their banter could go any further, Isha materialized.

When all eyes were trained on her, she smiled nervously. ”What? I brought a few things. It is a party after all... right?” Raven and Peg both shot to their feet to help the short fairy with her large load of bags.

Opening one, Peg glanced up at her. ”I like the way you party!” He pulled a bottle out of the bag and handed it over to Andy.

Catching sight of the label, Poseidon sat up and leaned over to take the bag. ”What else did you bring?”

Isha sat the bag she still carried on the table. ”Fae booze, guaranteed to make even the strongest of creatures tipsy!”

”That's what I'm talking about!” Chary said as she leaned back to grab a bottle, her feet still in the water between Jos and Scylla. She took a large drink straight from the bottle, before nodding and handing it over to Scylla. ”Oh man, you have to try this! It's so sweet!”

Scylla took a large drink as well before handing it over to Jos. Jos hesitated for a few seconds before finally taking it. She turned her attention to Raven. ”Am I going to get hammered just by smelling this stuff?”

Raven chuckled, ”I mean, maybe... you are a pretty big lush after all.”

Jos narrowed her eyes, unable to hide the grin that curved her lips as she scooped up a handful of water and flung it at Raven. ”I'll show you lush!” She said bringing the bottle to her lips.

”No need, I've seen you're lushness too many times before!” Raven shot back teasingly as she pulled Isha against her and wrapping her arms around the shorter woman's waist. ”And now you can't splash me.” She said resting her chin on Isha's shoulder and sticking her tongue out at Jos. Jos lifted her middle finger toward her best friend as she took several large chugs from the bottle. Raven rolled her eyes, ”Ah here she goes... I'm not taking babysitting duty tonight!” She laughed hysterically as Jos waved her middle finger back and forth as she took an even longer guzzle.

”I guess that's one way of getting rid of those headaches.” Peg chuckled, slapping Arei's leg. ”I hope she's as much of a handful now as she used to be for you.” He whispered with a wink. Arei didn't respond. He kept his eyes trained on Jos, enjoying seeing her let loose and enjoy herself for what seemed like the first time since he'd come back into her life.

”Ah! You know what we need?” Poseidon called out, clapping his hands before anyone had a chance to answer. ”MUSIC!”

”Oh hell yeah!” Chary said as she pushed up from her spot at the side of the pool. She reached down and pulled Jos up with her as she began dancing.

Isha giggled as she began moving against Raven. ”Who knew one of the gods could be so much fun?!”

Poseidon arched a brow as he too stood and made his way around the table. ”What do you mean? Have you not read any mythology in your day, dear queen? We gods invented fun!” He said pressing one hand to his chest and taking a large drink from the bottle in his other hand. He began working his h.i.p.s to the music as he continued drinking.

Andy giggled as she set her drink down and grabbed one of Peg's hands as she stood. He willingly followed her, slapping Arei's leg as he stood. ”Come on, you're not going to let father show you up are you?”

Arei rolled his eyes as a smile curved his lips. ”Fine... but just keep in mind anything that falls out of this damn dress while I do so is all on dear ol' dad!” He turned his attention to Shelly. ”Well if I have to do this, so do you.” He nodded toward the group. ”Let's have at it.” His smile widened as she sent him a wolfish grin and jumped down from the low lounger. His eyes trained on the clumsy but energetic wavy of Jos's h.i.p.s as he came up behind her and gently clasped both her h.i.p.s. When nervous eyes shot back to meet his, he bent and whispered against her ear. ”I was hoping to use you as a shield.” He glanced down at his barely-there outfit. He watched as Jos's cheeks blushed as she followed his gaze. She pressed her hand to her lips again to hide a giggle. ”There you go, laughing at me again.” He pulled her closer. ”What will I do with you?”

Jos's laughter stopped and her breath caught as her eyes lifted to the mesmerizing twinkle of his blue-streaked jaded eyes.

”Kitten,” He whispered as he bent his head to press against her forehead, his hands still clasped to her h.i.p.s.