Hello, darlings! I’m doing another tease today from Deep Water and bringing you the first meeting between Griffin and Amphitrite. It’s not exactly what Poseidon had planned, but I think it’s all going to work out all right — at least until Thetis finds out what’s going on.

Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!

Griffin sat on the cottage’s small deck, watching the dusk gather on the horizon and wondering where Poseidon was.

No, let’s be honest here. You’re wondering if he’s all right.

They’d been just finishing up the curry when both Poseidon and Aphros’s heads rose like greyhounds catching the scent of a rabbit. Aphros had bolted out of his chair, speeding through the porch and discarding clothes as he went.

“What the hell?” Griffin had said, amazed at the sight of a now-nude Aphros diving into the water. Moments later a huge silvery tail burst up, slapping the water once before disappearing beneath it. “What’s going on?”

Poseidon stared at the cove with a thunderous expression. “Thetis.”

The name sounded vaguely familiar, something out of Greek mythology. Before Griffin could ask anything else, however, Poseidon had grabbed him and kissed him once, fast and ruthless. Griffin was shocked when his knees buckled in a sudden blazing rush of desire, leaving the god to hold him up.

When they separated, however, Poseidon said, “If you don’t hear from me in a day, get on a direct flight to Athens. Go to the Parthenon as soon as you land and call out for Athena. Tell her that I charge her by Zeus Horkios to protect you, for your past service if for nothing else.”

“What? Why?” Even feeling better as he was, the idea of getting on another trans-atlantic flight was out of the question. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain it to you later, beloved.” With a final kiss, the sea god turned and left the cottage, following the path of his son. As Griffin watched, Poseidon’s linen slacks and polo shirt disappeared, replaced by a chiton topped with bronze greaves, breastplate, and gauntlets. He reached into empty air and pulled out a classic Greek helmet with nose piece and metal crest. Clapping it on his head, he reached out again and pulled back a massive gold trident. Now armed, he strode into the water and quickly disappeared beneath the waves.

Alone, Griffin had gone back to his cottage. With nothing else to do, he found himself staring at the water, wondering what the hell was going on. If it was serious enough that Poseidon thought something might happen to him—

His throat tightened. He’s the bloody God of the Sea. Nothing’s going to happen to him, dammit.

Reaching for his mug, he realized it was empty. He grabbed it and headed into the kitchen, turning lights on as he went. When all else failed, by God, the British made tea.

He’d just started pouring hot water into his teabag-stuffed mug when someone knocked on the back door. It made him jump, splashing hot water over the counter. Cursing, he fumbled for a dishcloth, tossing it over the puddle before hurrying to the door. Maybe it’s Nick checking up on me. I’m not in the mood for company—

He opened the back door, ready to tell his neighbor that he was fine and didn’t need the services of a doctor. And stopped. A stunning brunette stood on his deck, one elegant fist still raised from knocking on his door. Blue eyes widened in shock as she stared at him.

He recognized her immediately. Amphitrite. Poseidon’s consort, and his own long-lost agapetos. She was even wearing the same expression she’d had in his dream.

“I was looking for Griffin,” she said slowly, then shook her head. “I mean, I was looking for my … husband.” She continued to stare at him. He had the distinct impression that she wasn’t just looking at him, the outside surface. She was seeing right down to his soul.

He forced himself to swallow, to smile. “Hello, Amphitrite.”

The simple pendant around her neck trembled with her sharp breath. “How do you know my name?”

“I know a lot about you.” One side of his mouth twitched. “Well, I think I do, anyway. I don’t know how much of it is still valid, considering how I learned it. But yeah, I know who you are.” He stepped back, gesturing her inside. “Please, come in.”

She moved past him without hesitation, still gazing at him. “You are Griffin, yes? Griffin Moore?”

“Yeah, that’s me.” And then he remembered the cooling kettle in the kitchen. “Uh, can I get you something to drink? I was just making tea.”

“Tea? Oh. Yes, thank you.” With a visible effort she regained control of herself, following him through to the kitchen.

He gestured for her to sit down at one of the high stools lining the the breakfast nook and went to refill the electric kettle. As an afterthought he dumped out his half-made tea. “You said you’re looking for Poseidon?” he asked over his shoulder.

When he turned, he realized she only been surprised before. This was the proper gobsmacked expression of the Nereid. “You know his real name?” she said, stunned.

“Yes. And I know you’re his wife. And I know your boys Aphros and Bythos are sea centaurs, Ian’s a storm god, and there’s something bad going on out there that Poseidon has to deal with. That’s where he and Aphros are right now, I think.”

She put a hand to her temple and went still. “Of course,” she finally said, half to herself. “Dammit.”

Griffin’s fingers closed hard around his tea mug. “Is he in danger?”

“Poseidon? A month ago I would have said absolutely not. Now…” Her gaze cleared and she focused on him again. “He’s very strong, though, and dangerous in his own right. I don’t think Thetis can overpower him, at least not yet.”

That name again. “Thetis is a Nereid, isn’t she?” Griffin asked. He’d used the time after Poseidon’s departure to do some research on his smart phone. “And your sister, according to Google.”

Amphitrite hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. Thetis is the First Nereid, my oldest sister and a powerful sea goddess in her own right. But something happened to her a few years ago. It changed her into something very dangerous and vicious.”

The electric kettle clicked, catching his attention. “Let me get this tea made, and then I’d really like to hear the whole story, if you don’t mind.”

He busied himself with the tea things, feeling Amphitrite’s attention on him like a warm touch. When he added milk and sugar to his own mug, something told him to add only milk to hers. He stirred both mugs, then handed hers over.

Their fingertips brushed and a delicious tingle burst along his nerves, the same feeling he’d gotten when he’d touched Poseidon for the first time. Judging by Amphitrite’s expression, he wasn’t the only one, either.

He grabbed his tea and sat on the stool next to hers. “You felt that, didn’t you? That spark?”

“Yes.” Her reply was awed. “Do you know what it means?”

“Yeah.” He swallowed once. “I’m your agapetos. And I know this is going to be hard to believe, but apparently I’m also the reincarnation of Medusa.”

Amphitrite took in another ragged breath. “I know.”

That surprised him. “You do?”

“Yes. I think I knew it when you answered the door. Your aura is faded from illness, but the shape and the colors are the same as hers.” Her eyes sheened with unshed tears. “And then you touched me, and I knew for sure.”

Griffin felt a sudden, almost overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. With an effort, he restrained himself. “Is that going to be all right? I mean, I know I’m not the girl you knew,” he said, trying for a wry tone to cover his self-consciousness. “And God knows I’m not exactly a GQ model—”

“Stop, please,” Amphitrite begged. Her hand darted out, grabbing his as if to keep him from escaping. “If I want you? Beloved, I have wanted you for millennia. I don’t care what you look like. I will want you when you are old and grey, until the end of time.” She started crying and smiling at the same time, a thunderstorm of joy that melted his heart. “You’re the missing part of my soul. How could I not want you?”

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