Chapter 304 - PS: I Like You (2/2)

”Really? How old are they?”

He took her hand as they stepped out into the park surrounding the museum. ”Well, Rin, Shelly's husband, is somewhere around 75... which is still incredibly young for a Gin. Raven is somewhere around 4000 give or take a few hundred years.” He rubbed his chin with his free hand. ”I'm not even sure if any of the demigods I know have even a guestament of how old they are... I couldn't even guess how old that would make Poseidon. I guess I've never really stopped to think about it much...”

”Oh... I guess they all seemed so human when I met them that it slipped my mind that some of them were gods and demigods. It's crazy to think about...”

”Tell me about it.” He pulled out his phone and looked at the time. ”We still have a little over an hour if you'd like to explore more of Acropolis. There are some amazing old ruins here.”

”Aright, that sounds good... Maybe you can tell me more about your friends and family while we do so.” She asked in a low coy voice.

He smiled down at her. ”Sure, what would you like to know?”

They carried on a steady conversation as they moved through the different sights in the area. Nearly to the hotel that housed the restaurant he'd made reservations at, Russ stopped her in front of a beautiful building. As he lifted his phone for yet another picture, she tried to stop him. ”Alright, if you don't want me to take a picture of you by yourself then come here.” He tugged her into one arm as he lifted the phone and quickly snapped the picture. He lowered it to show her. ”Look how perfect the sunset shows between those massive columns.”

Her breath caught. ”It's stunning...”

His smile sparkled down at her. ”I couldn't agree more.” He could feel his smile fade as the dėsɨrė to capture her glossy pink lips ȧssaulted his mind for what had to be the thousandth time that day. He slowly released her and stepped away. ”We should probably hurry if we want to get a good seat. Peg tells me the window seats go fast because of the amazing views.”

Jaden shook the strange feeling that his gaze on her had stirred. {It had to be my imagination... right... He couldn't have possibly wanted to... kiss... me?!?} She gave her head another harder shake. {I've gone crazy... too much time away from normal people... He's probably just being nice. This is probably just how Americans are...}

Had the view not been amazing enough the three-course meal he'd ordered them had been better than anything she'd ever had before. He'd ordered things he'd said Peg had suggested and again had shared everything he'd gotten with her. She'd returned the gesture with far more ease this time, enjoying the strange sense of intimacy the act aroused in her. She hadn't even been surprised when he'd slid into the seat beside her and taken a picture of them with the magnificent view of the temple of Athena glowing proudly in the background. ”Can... can I have a copy of that if you print it?” She asked hesitantly.

He furrowed his brows. ”I'll have to ask Ry to stop us off so we can get you a phone. I can't believe I just thought of it...”

She threw her hands up, brushing off his suggestion. ”Oh no, that's ok. You don't have to trouble yourselves with something as frivolous as that! I can just grab one some other time... maybe once we're back at the palace...”

He took her hand as they stood and made their way from the restaurant. ”It's not trouble. You should have one. I'm sure you'd like to call the palace and check on the girls. I mean you can use mine tonight, but after we get you one you can talk to them whenever you want.” Though she tried to continue arguing against it, he shut her down each time until she finally gave up.

”Where are we going? Are we not going back to the embassy now?” She asked as he led her through the lit streets.

He smiled playfully down at her. ”There's one more stop I wanted to make. It's one Shelly suggested actually.” His bright smile lit even more as the sounds of the bustling night market got louder as they neared.

”Oh wow!” She murmured in amazement as her eyes darted around.

He turned to face her as he guided her backward toward an area where a few people were dancing in the street to a small band playing music. ”Dance with me?”

She arched her brows as she let him lead her toward the others. ”You dance?”

His smile widened. ”Hell yes! I've got moves you've never seen.” He said with a mischievous wink. He spun her, pulling her back against his ċhėst as he began to dance.

She stared up at him over her shoulder, her eyes nearly as wide as her open mouth. ”Where did you learn to dance like this?!”

”Ha, this isn't anything. You should have seen the fundraiser the swim team and I put on.” He did his best not to overly grope or grind on her, afraid that it would cause her discomfort or upset her.

”You danced for a fundraiser? What kind of fundraiser was it?”

His grin widened as he spun her around to face him as the music switched beats to a softer melody. ”It was a strip show... Shelly's husband was a part of it. Of course, that was before they started dating...” He shrugged, a wide smile still spread across his lips.

A half-smile curved her lips as she arched her brow. ”You never cease to amaze me, Prince Boosilis.”

”Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I mean you're using my formal title again... should I be worried?”

She giggled. ”No, not at all. I just couldn't help imagining the prince for a few weeks ago who stood in front of his people and told the council to F off suddenly stripping his clothes off and grinding himself on the audience.”

He arched a brow playfully. ”So, what you're saying is you're imagining me nȧkėd right now?”

Another giggle slipped past her lips. ”Only nearly nȧkėd...”

He narrowed his eyes, mischief dancing in them as he tugged her closer. He slid the hand that had been gently resting on her side around to the small of her back, pressing her tighter against him. His head had lowered nearly to hers when the ring of his phone shook them both. He quickly pulled away, thankful the phone had stopped him before he'd done something that would ruin the trust she seemed to be building toward him. ”Hello?”

[Hey, you two still out? I just got back and notice you weren't here.]

”Oh, yeah. We're at the market. We were going to look around a bit more, then head back.” Russ replied turning to find Jaden at his side staring questioningly up at him. ”It's Ry.” He whispered to her. ”Is there anything else? If not, I'll see you in an hour or so.”

[No... unless you two need me to come pick you up or something...]

”We'll be fine. It's a short walk back. See you in a bit.” He hung up the phone with a huff. ”I swear I don't know how to take that big idiot sometimes... If he's not giving me hell, he's acting like an overprotective mother hen...”

Jaden frowned. ”He cares for you...”

”So he's said...” Russ grunted.

”You don't feel the same?” She asked in honest curiosity.

”Not in the way he does. He's become a good friend and a hell of a lot of help. I don't know where I'd be without him... but I don't see him as more than a friend or mentor.” He forced a smile. ”What do you say we grab some ice cream before we head back?”

”Are you seriously thinking of food again already?!”

He shrugged. ”Why not? Come on!”