Category Archives: Olympic Cove

Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MWTease #MidWeekTease

MWTease15Hello, darlings! Let’s get over Hump Day with a teaser from Book Three of my Olympic Cove series, Deep Water. Griffin is finally getting some sweet, sweet sexual healing from his sea god mate, but there’s one eensy problem. Luckily he manages to find a solution, clever boy.

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

“I just realized…you need to fuck me again, don’t you?”

Poseidon considered him thoughtfully. “If your tumor is as aggressive as it seems to be, you should have daily doses of my seed, yes.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. But right now my arse feels like someone drove a lorry through it, and I don’t think I’m going to be up for rum, buggery, and the lash today.”

“Ah.” The god dropped down to his side. “I see. Yes, you’ll need a day or so to recover.”

“But I also need your seed. So if you can’t bugger me…” Griffin swallowed, then realized what he was doing and grimaced. “I suppose I’ll have to blow you.”

Poseidon’s expression contorted in an odd way. After a moment, Griffin realized the god was trying not to smile. “What?”

“You needn’t make it sound like I’m asking you to slaughter innocents,” Poseidon said mildly.

Griffin flushed. “Fuck. Sorry. I just never did anything like that with a bloke. At least, not when I was the giving party.”

“It would be easier if you could get hard,” Poseidon agreed. “That way, we could pleasure each other at the same time. In the meantime, however, I could always masturbate and you could consume it in some sort of food. Oatmeal, perhaps, or a protein shake?”

Griffin made a face at the thought of adding Poseidon’s semen to a bowl of already glutinous oatmeal. The protein shake had some merit, however. “I suppose,” he said dubiously. “Then again, it would probably melt the blender.”

“There is that.” Poseidon rolled onto his back, stretching out with his hands tucked behind his head. “Tell me, love, have you ever pleasured a woman with your mouth?”

It was one of his favorite forms of foreplay. “Yeah, lots of times. I love it.”

“Why?”

That was a good question. “Honestly? It was a power trip. I liked knowing that I could make her scream and beg with just my tongue,” he said after some thought.

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, giving him a knowing smile. “How would you like to make a powerful, immortal god scream and beg?”

Griffin blinked. Put that way, it had the same damn effect on him as eating out a woman; namely, it turned him on something wicked. “I see what you mean,” he said. “Okay. I’ll try it. But I reserve the right to use protein shakes if I just can’t swallow.”

“Agreed.” Poseidon glanced down meaningfully at his tented trousers.

No time like the present. Feeling nervous and strangely excited at the same time, Griffin undid the god’s trouser catch and slid the zipper down, careful to avoid the rigid shaft underneath. He reached in and eased out Poseidon’s cock, taking the measure of it. It was definitely longer than average and thick, as the ache in his arse could attest to, but it wasn’t the monster dong you saw in porn videos. Instead, it was elegant, if that was a word that could be applied to a hard cock, a few shades darker than Poseidon’s skin and beribboned with an impressive set of veins. Underneath the foreskin the head was a fat mushroom cap with fine vertical striations running from the slit to the corona.

All in all, it was a gorgeous piece of equipment. Now all he had to do was man up and suck it. Experimentally, he licked the foreskin, letting his tongue drag over the soft, spongy flesh. In his peripheral vision he saw Poseidon’s thigh muscles tighten.

He smacked his lips. “Huh. Tastes like skin. Well, it wouldn’t, wouldn’t it?”

“I certainly hope so,” Poseidon said, sounding a bit strangled.

Weirdly, that made Griffin want to laugh. Well, I know what I like when it comes to cocksucking. Might as well see if he likes it, too.

Using his lips he teased the foreskin back and forth over the head, pausing every so often to run his tongue around the edge of the corona. Poseidon’s legs flexed slowly, tensing when Griffin dropped lower and placed an open-mouthed kiss against the shaft. The skin felt incredibly soft against his lips, and the flesh underneath was broiling hot and so very stiff. Idly he traced the path of a vein with the tip of his tongue, following it down to where it disappeared into the main body of the shaft near the balls.

Let’s see how he likes this. Flattening his tongue, Griffin licked a wide, wet stripe up the underside. When he reached the top he gently nudged the foreskin down, licking the ridged bit under the corona there.

There was no other word for it. Poseidon let out a whimper. Grinning inside, Griffin concentrated his efforts on the head, sucking it into his mouth and working it with his lips and tongue the way he liked it. It always sent him into orbit, and judging from the muffled sounds he could hear Poseidon making it was having the same effect on the god.

After a bit the foreskin retracted fully and he could lick under the corona, before coming up and dipping into the slit where a small, translucent pearl had formed. The taste of something fresh and pleasantly salty danced over his tongue, more like tears than anything. Reassured, he started tonguing the slit.

There was another divine whimper overhead. “Please, Griffin,” Poseidon ground out.

Yeah, I could get used to this. “Please, what?” Griffin teased.

The god audibly gulped. “Suck it. Please.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.”


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MWTease #MidWeekTease

MWTease15Hello, darlings! Let’s get over Hump Day with a teaser from Book Three of my Olympic Cove series, Deep Water. So, what did happen with Poseidon and Medusa that resulted in Medusa being turned into a Gorgon? Here’s my take on the event.

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

“What did happen, then?” Hades asked.

Poseidon took in a deep breath of the salt air, letting the memories roll over him with their jagged edges. “I didn’t even know of her existence until that night. Amphitrite had said nothing to me about finding her.” His smile was bitter. “With good reason, as it turned out. I had been drinking with Zeus and Hermes in Zeus’s palace, and had gotten very … merry, I suppose you could call it. At some point I decided to return to my palace and see if Amphitrite had returned. I felt quite relaxed, and had hopes of lying with her.”

The guilt in his gut churned, sinking its knives deeper. “And then, on the steps of Zeus’s hall, I ran into Aphrodite. Quite literally.”

****

Well into his cups, Poseidon stopped, aware that he had just caromed into something small and engagingly bouncy. He blinked down at a head of massed ringlets the color of honey, smelling of rose and jasmine, and smiled sloppily.

“Well met, Goddess of Love,” he said, rather proud of himself for not slurring as he stepped back. “What a pleasure to bump into you. Heh.”

The stunning goddess frowned at him. “Poseidon,” she said, eyes narrowing in the light of the torches of Zeus’s courtyard. “You reek of the vintner’s.”

He waved a hand in the general direction of the hall. “My brother has been most generous with his wine tonight. But what could bring a lovely creature such as yourself out at this time of night? Surely you should be tucked up snugly in bed?” He grinned, weaving just a bit. “Or is Ares off overseeing some tedious mortal combat?”

The goddess’s eyes flashed at that. It was no secret that Hera, upon seeing Aphrodite after her emergence from the waves off Cythera, had sought to forestall her husband’s lust for the beautiful new goddess. As the Goddess of Marriage, she suggested that Aphrodite’s loveliness would be the spur to a new War of the Gods and recommended that she be married to their son Hephaestus, the lame god of the forge, thus short-circuiting any divine battle over Aphrodite’s favors.

Zeus, having seen the warning glint in his consort’s eye, reluctantly gave his approval and Aphrodite was married that afternoon to Hephaestus. Aphrodite had recoiled at the sight of her new husband and refused his bed. Soon afterwards she chose Ares, the God of War, as her lover, and the two had been on-and-off romantic partners for centuries.

That being said, their relationship was tactfully never mentioned, and certainly never in such bawdy terms. “You have had far too much to drink, Sea Lord,” she said, tossing her head. “I have no idea where Lord Ares is, nor would I have any reason to know this.”

“Hush, lass.” He patted her kindly on the shoulder, making her stagger a bit. “Who you warm your bed with is your own business. I mean nothing by it.” There was a pleasant stirring under his chiton at the thought of bed, and he hoped that Amphitrite had returned from her travels and was lying in their own at the moment. “In fact, I’m of a mood to do some warming myself if my consort is home, so if you don’t mind—”

The goddess’s offended expression hardened for a moment, then eased into a sweet smile. “Amphitrite?” she said. “I know for a fact that she is not at your hall, Sea Lord. She’s with your agapetos.”

Some of the alcoholic haze left Poseidon’s brain, but only some of it. “My—what?”

“Your agapetos? Didn’t she tell you?” Aphrodite said, blue eyes wide and innocent. “You have a second mate, and she’s quite the young beauty. Her name is Medusa, if memory serves me right, and she is a handmaiden at Athena’s temple.”

Poseidon blinked at that. Both he and Amphitrite had agreed that there was another mate out there somewhere waiting for them. Hadn’t he spent decades winnowing through the loveliest nymphs, demigoddesses, and maidens he could find searching for her? And there she was, practically under his nose.

A wisp of common sense poked through his inebriation. Yes, there she was, in Athena’s temple. And that grey-eyed battleaxe isn’t likely to hand her over, agapetos or not.

He straightened, barely weaving. “Thank you for your information, Lady Aphrodite,” he announced. “It is much appreciated.”

An odd, self-satisfied look sleeked over the goddess’s face. “May you receive what you so richly deserve, Lord Poseidon,” she said sweetly, turning and heading off to her own palace.

It didn’t occur to him until it was far too late that Aphrodite’s parting words weren’t a blessing.


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MWTease #MidWeekTease

MWTease15Hello, darlings! Let’s get over Hump Day with a teaser from Book Three of my Olympic Cove series, Deep Water. After almost 50K, Poseidon and Griffin FINALLY had sex. I was starting to wonder if I should force feed these two Viagra and lock them in a room together. Sheesh.

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

Poseidon swung his feet onto the bed and stretched out, looking at him with that same faint smile. “Shall we pick up where we left off last night?” he said cheerfully. “I believe we were making out like teenagers?”

Griffin laughed gently at the god’s deliberate attempt to lighten the mood. “Come here, you gob.”

Poseidon rolled into his arms and started kissing him. It was just as good, if not better, than the previous night, and Griffin luxuriated in the feeling of the god’s body against his own.

As it turned out, underwater foreplay sans breathing equipment lent some very interesting physical properties to the process. Every time they turned or shifted it would lift them up a bit, causing them to float just over the surface of the bed before settling back down to it.
It was, in a word, insanely fun, and Griffin found himself giggling when Poseidon deliberately spun him along the long axis of his body to get access to the nape of his neck. “That tickles!” he chortled.

“It won’t in a minute,” the god mumbled, nibbling at his skin with delicate little bites. One arm slithered around Griffin’s waist, pulling him flush against Poseidon’s body. His arse came in contact with something long and warm. Feeling evil and remembering what his first wife used to do in the same position, he deliberately wriggled against it.

Poseidon moaned against his skin. “Wretch.”

“That’s me.” Griffin ground back against Poseidon’s groin again experimentally. It was more than a little weird to feel another stiff cock prodding him, especially knowing where it would eventually go, but he was surprised to find it was also kind of hot. He’d always enjoyed getting his partners excited. Just because his partner was now male didn’t change that, apparently.

Poseidon draped his arm around Griffin’s waist. A warm hand came to rest over his groin, gently stroking covered flesh that was, unfortunately, quite flaccid.

Griffin sighed. “It’s not you. It’s the chemo.”

“I know. Does it hurt when I touch you?”

“No. Feels nice. I just can’t get hard.”

The god nodded. “May I try something?”

“If you mean oral, that doesn’t work, either.” Griffin winced at the memory of the pretty escort he’d hired once the docs had cleared him for sex, and her diligent attempts to wake up his limp cock. She had been kind but relieved when he finally told her to stop, which was almost worse than the impotence.

“I didn’t, although I do plan on doing it later.” Poseidon’s breath was a warm brush against the back of his neck and Griffin shivered at it. “I have something else in mind.”

“Like what?”

In response the god’s hand went to the waist band of his bathing trunks and slid underneath. Griffin groaned softly as Poseidon’s hand closed around him. Just once, please, let me get hard again.

His body didn’t listen, but he forgot about that as a gentle tingle played along the surface of his cock. It spread out from Poseidon’s fingers, teasing the soft skin and pouring down in a trickle over Griffin’s balls. He tilted his head back against Poseidon’s shoulder, pushing into the warm, vibrating grip. “Oh, that’s good. Don’t stop,” he breathed.

“I won’t.” Poseidon continued playing with Griffin’s cock and balls and coating them with that wonderful tingling sensation. His hips kept thrusting into the god’s hand as the tingle grew, trying to scratch an itch that wasn’t an itch but a delicious hum.

Then Poseidon started kissing his ear, nibbling at the lobe and licking along the upper shell before taking that section into his mouth and sucking gently. Griffin’s eyes squeezed closed as the familiar rising note built in his aching balls, threatening to overflow. But it couldn’t, he knew it couldn’t, and he tried to wriggle away to get breathing room.

Poseidon immediately stopped. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just, you’re getting me hot and I can’t come.” He heard the little whine in his voice and hated it. “Sorry. Just give me a little space, yeah?”

Poseidon’s hand slowed down, but didn’t stop. “Do you trust me?” he asked quietly.

Griffin writhed against him. “I’m trying to, I swear.”

Then let me bring you pleasure, beloved. Let go and trust me.”

God, he wanted to come so badly. “Do it. Please.”

Poseidon started caressing him again and the tingling sped up, turning into a vibration that sank through his flesh into his bones. He cried out, twisting in the god’s arms as the vibration rose, higher, higher, so close—


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MWTease #MidWeekTease

MWTease15Hello, darlings! Let’s get over Hump Day with a teaser from Book Three of my Olympic Cove series, Deep Water. Still more suspense than sex, but the sexy times will be coming up next week!

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

Poseidon followed Griffin back to the inlet, surreptitiously making sure that the mortal didn’t stumble. As he’d feared, the water had receded down the sandy cut, exposing far more of the Seabird’s bow than he liked.

Griffin grimaced at the grounded boat. “Shit. Well, maybe if we both pushed…”

He could hear the weariness in the mortal’s voice. “I can get us back in the water. Get on board.”

“But—“

“Get on board, Griffin.”

Griffin stared at him, and Poseidon realized he’d let some of his power slip. “All right,” the man mumbled in a daze, climbing clumsily back into the boat and taking his position at the tiller.

Tossing his knapsack into the boat, Poseidon positioned himself at the sailboat’s bow and put his shoulder to it. Water, rise to my call, heed me.

There was a susurrating noise as seawater bucked the tide and rushed back up the inlet. The boat lifted off the sand and he gave a gentle push. True to its name, the Seabird moved gracefully back out into the deeper part of the channel. Satisfied, he waded into the water and jumped into the boat, noting that Griffin was still sitting in a daze at the tiller.

Another gentle push of divine power, and the mortal shook his head.

“I — what?” His head whipped from side to side as he stared at the purling water around the boat. “You got us loose already?”

“The sandbar was softer than it looked,” Poseidon lied, grabbing the boathook and poling them free of the inlet. The boat rocked gently as the now-normal tide took it. “It just took one good shove.”

“Oh.” Griffin looked abashed. “Sorry I didn’t help—”

The boat rocked again, much harder this time, and a greenish-grey clawed hand hooked over the stern gunwale.

****

Griffin grabbed for the gunwale as the boat rocked. He touched something cold and rubbery, and turned to see a nightmare grinning up at him from the water. It champed shark teeth at him, black eyes rolling and utterly insane.

Before he even had a chance to recoil Dunn was at his side, driving the boathook into the thing’s open maw with an enraged shout. There was a wet crunch, and the thing dissolved into foul-smelling black chunks that pattered back onto the water.

The yell that had been locked in his throat erupted now. “What the fuck!”

He was bodily lifted from his spot and deposited on the sailboat’s center seat. “Stay there!” Dunn barked, hefting the boathook. Somehow he looked larger than before, muscles bulging as he glared at the water around the boat.

A stiff breeze sprang up abruptly. Griffin watched, boggled, as his friend jumped for the sheets and unfurled the sails. The canvas snapped, filling with wind, and the little boat surged forward.

Dunn twisted and thumped down onto the stern seat, grabbing the tiller. “Are you all right?” he called.

It took Griffin a moment to find his voice. “Yeah. What the buggering fuck was that?”

Dunn’s already grim expression turned darker. “I don’t know.”

Suddenly Griffin knew he was lying. “You killed it. Jesus, Dunn.”

Furious blue eyes lifted to him, but Dunn didn’t reply. Griffin gripped the seat, trying to work out what had just happened. The day had been weird enough, what with Dunn almost kissing him on the island (and he’d wanted it, wanted to feel Dunn’s mouth on his, and where the hell was that coming from?), then that weird greying out bit when he found himself on the boat instead of helping to push it free.

And now, something that looked like a cross between a zombie and a shark had come out of the water after them. It had human hands. Even with the claws, I’d swear they were human.

And Dunn had killed it with a single strike.


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Mid Week Tease: Breaker Zone #MWTease #MidWeekTease

MWTease15Welcome to 2015! And with the new year, here’s a teaser from Book Two of my Olympic Cove series, Breaker Zone (now available from Evernight Publishing and other online retailers of fine smut). In this scene, Nick is in mid-foreplay with his now-ex patient Aidan the merman. But I’m afraid something interrupts their happy ending (I’m so mean!).

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

When Dr. Nick Gardiner goes on the run from a psychotic ex and ends up at Olympic Cove, the last thing he expects to find is his friend Ian living with two redheaded demigods and learning how to be a storm god. Adding to the confusion is a wounded merman named Aidan who washes up in the cove, requiring Nick’s professional help. As it turns out, the handsome mer and his partner Liam have other plans for the ER doctor — to claim him as their agapetos, their destined mate, and fulfill his need to submit.

A chance encounter at a local junk shop reveals that Nick has his own role to play in the battle against the insane Nereid Thetis. Under the reluctant mentorship of Chiron, Nick must master the use of the Rod of Asclepius if he wants to rescue his mates from a ghastly fate and help Ian save the planet.

###

The mer roamed over the dips and ridges of his lower abdomen, finding more spots that made his muscles shiver and clench. Nick focused on his white-knuckled grip on the sofa arm, the only thing anchoring him to obedience. For a moment he wished Aidan had tied his hands together. That way he could writhe freely under the merman’s mouth, unable to get away.

But in a way, this was even better. He had to focus on obeying, force his hands to stay where they were. He had to work to be a good boy, Aidan’s good boy.

And then the mer’s hot, wet mouth dropped onto the head of his cock, sucking hard once before pulling off with a soft pop. Nick clutched at the upholstery, moaning at the sensation of Aidan’s velvet tongue licking round and round his over-sensitized head before dropping down for a long, wet stroke straight up his shaft.

Aidan lingered on the head, delving into Nick’s slit and lapping up drops of pre-cum. “You taste amazing, chuisle,” he said. “Salty and clean. I love it.”

Before Nick could ask what the pet name meant, Aidan took his entire length in, massaging it with his lips and tongue. It was the first time a Dom had sucked him since Aaron, and he fought against thrusting up into that wet heat, desperately wanting more of it. In an embarrassingly short amount of time his orgasm began to build, the charge humming nicely between his cock and balls. “Sir!”

Aidan pulled off with a teasing lick and gave Nick a filthy smile. “Not yet, boy. You don’t come until I tell you to, you understand.”

He writhed, trying to obey despite his need to come. “Yes, sir.”

Aidan came back up, slotting their bodies together again. He winced suddenly, rubbing his injured thigh. “Ow.”

Nick blinked, shaking off the lure of subspace. “You okay?”

“Cramping a little.” Aidan grimaced apologetically. “I don’t think I can stay in this position. Let’s try something else.”

He flipped them, stretching out on the couch and pulling Nick over him in a kneeling position. “Yeah, that’s better,” he said, grinning. “Give me a show, boy. Rub on me.”

Nick sank down, making soft noises as his balls rubbed so sweetly along the mer’s dick. He moved forward a bit, wanting to feel that heat on his perineum. Imagining Aidan sliding along the furrow of his ass, so close—

Hands gripped his hips, holding him in place. “Please!” he begged.

“No,” Aidan said roughly, smacking him on the ass. The stinging pain went straight to his cock, making it burn. “Not yet. Behave yourself, or I’ll send you to bed.”

As long as you come with me, that’ll be just fine. Nick bit his lip but shifted back until his balls settled on top of the mer’s. “Sorry, sir.”

Green eyes narrowed as they studied him, but he could see an echoing need in their depths. “Keep your hands behind your back. You can only touch me with your body.”

Nick did, rolling his hips so that his sack rubbed against Aidan’s. “Like this, sir?”

“Oh, yeah.” Aidan’s hands dug into the muscle of his ass, guiding him. “Just like that, baby.”

It was a beautiful tease, just enough friction and rubbing to keep him rock hard, and not nearly enough to help him come. He looked down, ready to beg to be allowed to worship Aidan’s body with his hands and mouth—

The mer suddenly looked past Nick, eyes widening. “No!”

Something large wrapped around Nick’s throat, squeezing until his eyes bugged. He clawed at the hand, it’s a hand, struggling for air.

The massive hand wrenched him off Aidan’s body and sent him flying. He slammed hard against the wall and slid to the carpeted floor, air exploding from him in a creaking, diaphragm-emptying whoosh. Black and red flowers began to bloom around the edges of his vision.

Dimly, Nick stared up at the very tall, angry stranger now holding a trident at his throat.


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease

MidWeekTeaseHappy Hump Day! Let’s celebrate it with another wonderful Mid Week Tease, courtesy of the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. I’m afraid I don’t have any sexy scenes from Deep Water ready for prime time yet, so you’ll have to make do with a scene where Poseidon suddenly has to deal with a stricken Griffin. Next week, sex, I promise!

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

Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act — a drunken assault on his agapetos, or fated mate, shared with his consort Amphitrite. His queen has sworn never to forgive him for his actions, and he must live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to a dreadful retribution.

But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets a new occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.

Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…

Horrified, Poseidon watched as Griffin stiffened without warning, then started to collapse. The sea god lunged forward, grabbing the Englishman before he could tumble back onto the boat. Muscles twitched hard under Poseidon’s hands as Griffin began to jerk, limbs flailing awkwardly. His eyes rolled up, showing a sliver of white.

Not knowing what else to do, Poseidon scooped the man up and translocated to the mers’ cottage, landing in a stylish tiled living area. “Nicholas!” he bellowed. “I need help!”

Seconds later a dripping Nick came running into the room, hastily wrapping a towel around his waist. “What’s wrong?”

“We were just getting off the sailboat and he collapsed,” Poseidon blurted, holding Griffin up. “Help him, please!”

Nick’s expression changed, turning professional. “Okay, he’s seizing. Lay him out on the floor, carefully,” he ordered. “Keep your hands under his head, don’t let him bang it on the floor.”

Poseidon did as instructed, dropping to his knees without a flinch and laying Griffin out on the cool tile. He slid one large hand under the man’s skull, cradling it as Nick also knelt, checking Griffin’s pulse.

Just then Griffin relaxed, arms dropping to the tiles in a boneless flop. There was a sharp smell, and Poseidon saw a dark stain bloom across the front of the man’s shorts.

Nick caught the god’s glance. “Sometimes the bladder cuts loose during a seizure,” he said. “It’s no big deal.”

“All right.” Unsure of what else to do, Poseidon remained in a crouch, one hand still cradling Griffin’s head as Nick continued his examination. “Does he need any medication? I’ll fetch whatever is required.”

Nick sat back on his heels, shaking his hed. “If he was still seizing I’d have you go get some Keppra, but right now we just have to wait until he wakes up.” He grabbed a pillow from the nearby couch and held it out to Poseidon. “Here, put that under his head so you can sit up–”

“No,” Poseidon snarled.

Nick twitched at his tone, but kept the pillow out. “Look, some patients are really freaked out by people hovering over them when they wake up from a seizure,” he said gently. “I promise you, I won’t let him hurt himself, but give him a little space.”

“Oh.” Reluctantly, Poseidon accepted the pillow and slid it under Griffin’s head, settling back to wait.

After a few minutes the man’s eyelids fluttered, opening slowly and blearily. “Wha’ happened?” he mumbled.

“You had a seizure,” Nick said, his words low and clear. “P—Dunn brought you over here.”

Brown eyes focused on Poseidon. The sea god watched, helpless, as they filled with shame and anger. “Fuck,” Griffin whispered.

Nick cleared his throat. “I take it you’ve had seizures before?”

“Yeah. I thought—” Griffin grimaced, rolling his head towards the doctor. “Where am I?”

“My living room. I’m Nick — I hosted the cookout last night.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Now Griffin looked back at Poseidon. “Dunn. Shit. I’m sorry, mate.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Poseidon insisted.

“Yeah, I do.” Griffin struggled to get up. Poseidon leaned in to help, sliding an arm under Griffin’s back and easing him into a sitting position. “I didn’t think that was going to happen. My doc—” He stopped, jaw clenching briefly. “I have medication for it. Guess it didn’t work.”

“You may have just overdone it a bit,” Nick said. “Where were you two?”

“On a sailboat,” Poseidon said before Griffin could answer. “Is that dangerous?”

The doctor frowned. “If he’s by himself, definitely.”

Griffin grunted, belatedly looking down at his lap. He flushed, clasping his hands over the stain. “Shit.” His voice was raw with humiliation.

“It’s tile, don’t worry about it,” Nick said easily. “Why don’t we get you into the bathroom so you can get cleaned up? You’re about my size. I’ll lend you some shorts.”

Griffin’s face was still red, but he nodded.

“Cool. Dunn?”

“Oh. Yes.” Scrambling to get his feet under him, Poseidon helped Griffin stand up. He didn’t want to let go, but the man almost tore out of his grasp.

“I can do it,” Griffin growled. “Where’s the loo?”

“This way.” Nick guided him towards a hallway. Helpless and hating himself for it, Poseidon followed.


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Allow me to flail a bit, here

MelanieAlejandro03So Ramón and I were on a eagerly awaited Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel last week on the Disney Wonder, courtesy of Disney Cruise Lines. If you’ve ever wanted to take a cruise, I strongly suggest that you go with DCL. Trust me, they’re not just for families and kids — all the ships have adult-only places including a coffee shop, pool, restaurant, and bars — and their food and service is phenomenal. This was our second cruise, and it was just as fabulous as the first.

During our five days at sea I wound up swimming with stingrays and dancing with dolphins at Grand Cayman (have I mentioned how much I love being able to write all of this off on my taxes as research? Also, I may have come up with a stingray shifter story — woohoo!), did some lovely souvenir shopping at Cozumel and accidentally wound up drinking at Hooters, hung out on our stateroom verandah and marveled at the color of the ocean (it really is lapiz lazuli blue), had an amazing dinner at the Wonder’s adults-only restaurant Palo, and generally had a whale of a good time relaxing and hanging out with my honey. And, er, we may have already booked a cruise for next year. Well, you get a 10% discount if you book on board!

Also, the Outlook Cafe on the Wonder is a great place to write because there are outlets everywhere, plus someone checks on you regularly and brings refreshing adult beverages. You don’t even have to get up and make them yourself. And yes, I wrote on my cruise — writers don’t get vacations during NaNoWriMo. In addition to working on Deep Water, my edits for Breaker Zone arrived on Monday while we were at Grand Cayman (I decided to pop for a Connect@Sea internet package which would allow me to check my email).

Oh, and I got my cover.

breakerzone_sm

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this one, especially with the almost sculptural look of the guys in back. Once again, the Evernight graphic design team delivers in spades. Now I just have to finish round one of edits and get them back in…

Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease

MidWeekTeaseHappy Hump Day! Let’s celebrate it with another wonderful Mid Week Tease, courtesy of the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. Here’s another unedited scene from Deep Water, where Poseidon has taken Griffin to a local barrier island for an impromptu picnic, and is desperately trying to remember how to seduce a man.

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

Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act — a drunken assault on his agapetos, or fated mate, shared with his consort Amphitrite. His queen has sworn never to forgive him for his actions, and he must live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to a dreadful retribution.

But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets a new occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.

Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…

Poseidon accepted another beer and settled back into the shade of the loblollies. It had been so long since he’d seduced anyone, man or woman, that he suspected he’d forgotten how to do it. Simply appearing in his divine guise was more likely to send Griffin into convulsions than ardor. Should I send a nice array of weapons? Compliment him on his manliness and strength?

He glanced across at the pale form. No, he’d take that as an insult. Gaia, why does this have to be so difficult?

A vague recollection of something called a women’s magazine flickered through his memory. It had recommended that women talk to men and ask them about their interests in order to tempt them into relationships.

He cleared his throat. “So, er, what are your interests?”

The look Griffin gave him was memorable. “You mean, apart from getting through the next two weeks without collapsing, pissing on someone’s living room floor, or dying?” he said drily.

The words were meant to be humorous, but they scored the god’s heart. “Why do you keep joking about that?” Poseidon said harshly.

Griffin suddenly looked abashed. “Probably because there’s nothing I can do about it, and I’d rather laugh than cry. Actually, I’d rather not talk about it at all, but it’s the bloody elephant in the room, isn’t it?”

Poseidon flushed. He had no right to rebuke Griffin, especially on a subject that he would never personally face. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I just wanted to know more about you.”

“Why?” Griffin seemed genuinely puzzled. “I’m dying, Dunn. That doesn’t make me interesting.”

You have no idea how wrong you are, love. He cleared his throat. “I suspect we have some common interests. Oceanography, for one. And then there’s the Sea Shepherds. I did see your shirt the night of the cookout.”

“Oh, yeah?” The mortal brightened. “Yeah, I think the Shepherds are fantastic. I’ve actually gotten to work with them on a couple of projects. I know some people think they’re confrontational, but you can’t be afraid to kick arse now and then when it’s necessary, you know?”

To Poseidon’s relief that led into a spirited discussion about favorite conservation projects. Griffin admitted that he was especially fond of octopuses and squid, and had Poseidon laughing with a story about an octopus Griffin had nicknamed Phil. The cephalopod had learned how to break out of his locked tank, wandering across a hallway to another tank full of shrimp and helping himself to the occupants. “All I had to do was fit him with some sort of reverse scuba gear, and we could’ve knocked over any jewelry store in the country,” Griffin said.

“I could’ve told you that,” Poseidon said, chuckling. “They’re wonderful creatures, but never turn your back on an octopus or they’ll pick you clean.”

“Too right, mate.” Griffin lifted a bottle in salute, and Poseidon joined him. “To octopuses — the best sneak thieves I’d ever seen.”

A breeze rattled overhead through the limbs of the loblollies, and Poseidon realized with a start how long they’d been on the island. He reached out to the tide and noted its position. “Tide’s going out,” he said. “We’d better get back to the ship if we don’t want to be stranded here overnight.”

“Yeah, not really up for camping.” Groaning, Griffin got into a crouch, then stopped, wobbling slightly. “Bugger. Dunn, a bit of help?” he said through gritted teeth.

Poseidon stepped over. “What’s wrong?”

“Legs went to sleep. Too much time on my arse. Give me a hand up.”

Cautiously, he took the outstretched hands and hauled the mortal to his feet. He expected the sudden barrage of memory now, but it still stunned him with its intensity. Lips and thighs and long hair that smelled like green growing things and huge brown eyes—

With a start, he realized his agapetos’s eyes were still the same. Lit with sunlight, they were the color of whiskey and utterly entrancing. Spellbound, he leaned forward, watching them widen at his approach. Just a kiss. Please, my love, it’s been so long.

“Tide.”

“What?” The spell was broken.

“Tide,” Griffin repeated, eyes still wide. “We have to go, remember?”

“Oh.” Cursing his lack of control, Poseidon stepped back. “Yes, sorry. Let me just get my knapsack.”


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease

MidWeekTeaseHappy Hump Day! Let’s celebrate it with another wonderful Mid Week Tease, courtesy of the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. We have another scene from my NaNoWriMo novel, Book Three of the Olympic Cove series Deep Water. In this scene Poseidon has received an unexpected summons from the Oracle of the Waters. However, once he finds out that the Fates are expecting him to reconcile with his estranged consort Amphitrite, things get a little…difficult. Yeah, that’s  good word for it.

Next week I’ll have something tasty for you, but right now there just hasn’t been a lot of sex. Yet. Enjoy, and make sure to hit the list after the teaser to see other great Mid Week Teases!

Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act — a drunken assault on his agapetos, or fated mate, shared with his consort Amphitrite. His queen has sworn never to forgive him for his actions, and he must live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to a dreadful retribution.

But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets a new occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.

Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…

The Oracle of the Waters resided in a remote grotto just off the Orkney Islands. Skylla and Sthenios headed unerringly to the hidden entrance, neatly skirting a loaded tanker trundling its liquid cargo from the oil rigs in the North Sea. Poseidon briefly extended his godsense, reading the humans who crewed the tanker. Nothing struck him as out of the ordinary; there were the usual amounts of grudges, violent thoughts, and plans of vengeance, but those existed wherever mortals gathered. He absently bestowed a blessing on them as his chariot landed neatly on the rock-strewn sea floor.

His steeds started cropping seaweed as he stepped out onto the sea floor, holding up his trident. The three-tined head began to glow, illuminating his approach to the craggy rock face that, far above, would become the seaward side of an island. What appeared to be a dark streak in the rocks turned out to be a rough entrance, and he pushed through it.

Inside the narrow cave the footing was rugged and climbed steeply. Soon he emerged from a glassy cave pool, noting the familiar glass globes hung suspended from the dark walls. Each globe contained  a liquid that gave off a soft white glow, reflecting on the water’s surface with a ghostly shimmer.

Drying himself with a thought, he headed deeper into the cave, cradling the bottle of wine in the crook of his arm. About thirty feet from the water the cave narrowed abruptly, slabs of rock forming a roughly rectangular doorway. A tall, white-haired man in an old-fashioned linen shirt and homespun breeches appeared in it now, pale blue eyes gleaming.

“Welcome, old friend,” the Oracle said, his voice low but still retaining a faint Irish lilt. “I see you got my message.”

“I did.” Poseidon raised the bottle. “And I bring tribute. From my son’s private wine cellar.”

The Oracle’s eyes brightened. “Bythos? Aye, that lad always had a knack for picking vintages. Come in, then, and be welcome.”

Poseidon followed him into the back part of the cave. The anteroom was where the Oracle met those who traveled to his cave to learn the will of the Fates. From there, he accepted tribute before giving them their pronouncements. Behind the doorway, however, was the Oracle’s private chambers.

The light dimmed a bit, but the sea god could still clearly see the amazing hodgepodge of items collected by his friend over the centuries. Gold and jewels poured out of numerous wooden chests, some of them rotting with age and the ever-present moisture. Salvaged planks and driftwood sat piled in neat stacks, and various pieces of statuary were dotted here and there. In one corner, a peeling but still beautiful figurehead in the shape of a topless mermaid smiled at him in welcome.

The room was comfortably furnished with rare old pieces of carved furniture, rescued from the deep and carefully cleaned for their new owner’s use. Two chairs were arranged now around an elegantly chased brazier that filled the room with welcome warmth. He was waved to one seat, and the Oracle took the chair across from him.

“I’m glad you got here quickly,” the old man said, taking the bottle and deftly pulling out the cork. “I had the feeling that there was some urgency behind the Fates’ words.”

Poseidon accepted a filled golden cup. “Does this have something to do with the events of the past few months?”

The Oracle shrugged. “I’m simply the messenger. Only you can put meaning to the words.”

“Which are?”

Pale eyes focused on him, as if seeing into his soul. Poseidon repressed his discomfort. Once a mortal man named Donald, the Oracle’s association with the Fates have given him a gravitas that would give even Zeus pause.

“The wheel turns, and in its turning presents a gift,” he intoned. “To earn this gift, you must heal old wounds and regain the trust of those you betrayed. If you fail, you will never defeat the Maddened One.”

Poseidon waited until he was sure there was nothing more. “I assume the Maddened One is Thetis.”

The old man sighed, settling back in his chair. “Can you think of another crazed creature who needs to be defeated?” he said. “Do you know what the rest of it means?”

It was Poseidon’s turn to shrug. Healing old wounds could apply to any of the beings he’d quarreled with over the centuries. Gaia knew there were enough of them; he had a difficult, argumentative nature, and had made more than enough enemies in his long life. But he could see the point of having powerful beings on their side in the fight against Thetis. Have Bythos make a list of those who may be useful. The corner of his mouth twitched. Even the ones who currently loathe me.

As for a wheel that presented gifts, that would require some thought. The betrayed trust, however, could only refer to one thing. “It seems the Fates have decided to move into the field of marital counseling,” he muttered, taking a deep gulp of his wine.

“Ah.” Donald nodded over his own cup. “The lovely Lady Amphitrite. I take it you still haven’t reconciled with her.”

“I don’t care to discuss it.

Donald waved it off. “As you wish. But if the Fates say that you’ll need Amphitrite at your side to defeat her sister, then you might want to pick out some nice posies and work on your groveling.” He saluted Poseidon with a golden cup. “Just a suggestion.”

The sea god grunted at that. “Groveling didn’t work. Neither did flowers,” he muttered, taking another sip. And then another. “My head on a pike — that might do the trick.”

Donald made a deep, throaty sound that could have been agreement or censure. “Aye, and there’s some that say the lass deserves just that. But you can’t be lopping your head off now, friend. It needs to stay on your shoulders, where it’ll do the most good against Thetis.”

“Oh, will it? I can’t stop Thetis, you know. I tried.” The admission pained him, and he waved his cup, grimacing. “After her minion poisoned Bythos, I tried to hunt her down. I couldn’t find her. I’m the bloody God of the Sea and she’s a Nereid, part of my demesnes. I should have been able to find her.” He shook his head. “But now she’s…something I’ve never seen before. She’s been removed from my control, somehow. And that disturbs me greatly.”

The Oracle’s eyes narrowed. “How could she have moved beyond your control?”

Poseidon grimaced. “You know very well how. And if that’s the case, then this entire planet is in the gravest of dangers.”

“Have you talked to Gaia about this?”

“I tried. She’s not speaking to me, either.”

“Hm.” Donald fell silent, and Poseidon could hear the sound of dripping water and the ancient stone around them murmuring to itself. He’d always assumed that the position of Oracle must be a lonely one, but dwelling here in the living bedrock, his friend might have far more company than he’d ever assumed. “Well, then you must rely on your own counsel, and fight Thetis as best you can with the allies at hand. And from what the Fates say, that includes Amphitrite. I would suggest you go find her and tell her what I’ve told you. It might help.”

Poseidon drained his cup, placing it on the floor. “You’ve set me a difficult task, my friend. Almost Herculean, if you’ll pardon the phrase.”

The old mortal chuckled. “Better you than me, lord.”


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Mid Week Tease: Deep Water #MidWeekTease #MWTease

MidWeekTeaseHappy Hump Day! Let’s celebrate it with another wonderful Mid Week Tease, courtesy of the lovely and talented Sandra Bunino. I have to be honest with you — I’m hip deep in NaNoWriMo and I didn’t really have time to find a sexy teaser to share with you.

Soooo — I’m sharing a scene from my NaNoWriMo novel with you. And what is it, you ask? Why, its Book Three of the Olympic Cove series, Deep Water! (If you want to see the very first scene in the book, page back a blog post.)

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

Poseidon, God of the Sea, has spent millennia alone due to a single terrible act — a drunken assault on his agapetos, or fated mate, shared with his consort Amphitrite. His queen has sworn never to forgive him for his actions, and he must live with the knowledge that he drove an innocent girl to a dreadful retribution.

But when one of the Olympic Cove cottages gets a new occupant with an all-too-familiar soul, Poseidon discovers that the Fates have given him a second chance. Now he must try to right the wrongs of the past and win back both his beloved consort and the mate he betrayed.

Assuming, of course, that the Mad Nereid Thetis doesn’t interfere…

Heather contemplated her newest acquisition, absently tapping a purple feather duster against one thigh as she pondered. Now where should I put it? Garden statuary? Library decor?

For a junk store masquerading as an antique shop, the Lady’s Touch held some genuine treasures for those willing to search through its many, many shelves. Heather was relieved that few of the mortal shoppers who came in to browse ever noticed that the interior dimensions of the store didn’t quite match the exterior dimensions (except for that nice Englishwoman, she thought fondly, Verity something. Such a good eye for spatial differentiation).

As the interior size of The Lady’s Touch developed a certain elasticity over the years, its display system had become rather haphazard as a result, and now she wasn’t quite sure where to store the bust currently sitting on her counter. Perhaps Halloween decorations?

A warm, familiar presence bloomed at her back. “Hy, do you have time for some tea?”

She turned. Behind her stood a tall, lovely woman with long dark hair caught up in a tidy chignon. The woman’s casual but tasteful clothing — designer jeans, silk shell top, and Jimmy Choo flats — didn’t quite fit with the t-shirts and jean shorts of the local tourists, but didn’t make her stand out terribly either. She looked like a rich young matron slumming it in a seaside junk shop.

Until Heather looked into her eyes. They held an ancient pain that seared the soul.

“Oh, crumpets,” she said, tossing the feather duster onto the counter. “What’s he done now?”

“Nothing exactly, but—” The Nereid stopped, staring at the bust. A flash of bitter emotion flickered across her face. “Where did you get that?”

Damn, damn, damn. She hadn’t even thought about the bust. “I bought it at an estate sale,” she said. “It’s genuine marble, you see, and the woman who sold it said it had been sculpted by her uncle, some sort of local artist. It’s really rather well done, but I didn’t know you were coming in, otherwise—”

Amphitrite gave her a pained look. Heather realized she’d been babbling. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “Er, I’ll just put it away, then.”

“No. It’s all right.” The Nereid reached out to the bust, one fingertip trailing over the creamy stone. She traced a high cheekbone, a beautifully full lip, the wide, strong brow.

Heather noticed she avoided the sinuous shapes curled around the bust’s head. “It doesn’t really look like her, of course,” Amphitrite said absently. “But then again, that’s hardly surprising. Most people never look beyond the snakes.”

With a sound she desperately hoped was supportive and not as grunty as she suspected it really was, Heather hefted the bust and bustled off. Halloween decor it is.

When she returned, the store was empty. She stepped to the door and flicked the OPEN sign over to CLOSED, then headed to the tiny office tucked in the building’s front corner. She dropped her disguise as she did; the curly red hair and green glasses disappeared, replaced by her true form as the Nereid Hyacinthe.

She entered the office, pleased to see that Amphitrite had found her electric kettle and filled it. A teapot, a bottle of milk, two mugs carrying the shop’s logo, and a plate of snickerdoodles were already out on her desk.

“Hope you don’t mind,” Amphitrite said as the kettle clicked off, wisps of steam rising from its spout. “I just really need some tea. Or wine, if you have it.”

“Not at the moment, sorry,” Heather said, thinking about the bottle of merlot upstairs in her apartment. The last thing Amphitrite needed was to start drinking this early in the day. “Let me just mash this up and we’ll have a nice talk, yes?”

After the tea had been poured, the sisters settled on either side of the desk, mugs and snickerdoodles in hand. “So, Poseidon,” Heather prompted. “What’s he done now?”

“Well … nothing,” Amphitrite said slowly. “Not exactly, anyway. I was at the cove this morning for a therapy session with Nick Gardiner and his mers.”

Once again Heather was impressed by the breadth of mortal training her sister had picked up over the millennia. “Nice to see you using your psychology degree again,” she said over the rim of her cup.

The Nereid shrugged. “Yes, well, afterwards I went over to the boys’ cottage to ask Aphros about a recipe, and Poseidon was there with Bythos and Ian. I assume they were having some sort of war council.”

“Did Poseidon say anything to you?”

“He offered to step out so that I could speak with Bythos.”

“And?”

“That was it.”

She weighed her next words. “Did you want him to say anything else?”

Amphitrite slumped in her chair. “I suppose it’s childish of me to want him to grovel every time I see him.”

“A bit, yes.”

The dark-haired goddess nodded gloomily. “We’ve done so well, avoiding each other for all those centuries. And now we wind up meeting twice in six weeks.” She grimaced. “I mean, I knew it would be possible if I agreed to be Nick’s therapist, but there’s a difference between knowing something intellectually and actually having it happen to you.”

“I know,” Heather said sympathetically. “Perhaps the two of you could set up some sort of schedule so that you don’t have to run into each other?”

Amphitrite raised a curved eyebrow. “Custody of Olympic Cove? That’s a thought. Although I can’t see him holding to it.”

Heather made a muffled noise of agreement into her tea. She’d been the sea god’s sister-in-law long enough to know that he’d ignore an agreement if it suited him. “You sure he didn’t say anything else to you?”

“No. Just stood there like a self-important martinet and looked constipated. Although I do think he tried to smile once.” Amphitrite pursed her lips. “I’m surprised his cheeks didn’t crack.”

The other Nereid chuckled at that. “Well, why don’t you arrange to meet with Nick, Aidan and Liam somewhere else? You could always use my apartment for day sessions.”

Amphitrite let out a slow breath, studying the tan liquid in her mug. “That’s very kind of you, darling, but I don’t feel comfortable bringing the mers into a human settlement,” she said finally. “Things are rather tense between them and their grotto as it is. I don’t wish to add more stress if I don’t have to. I’ll just have to bite the bullet and accept that I may see Poseidon now and then. It won’t kill me, after all.”

“Yes, one of the benefits about being an immortal, I suppose.” Heather took a quick nibble of her cookie. “Of course, it might not be a bad idea, you know. Talking to him, I mean. I think the mortals call it ‘getting closure.’”

The air in the small office grew chillier. “I don’t see how I could achieve closure with Poseidon,” Amphitrite said evenly. “Unless he did something really spectacular, such as, of, I don’t know, immolate himself in a volcano. I might be willing to watch that.”

Heather winced. “Ammie, you know I’m on your side with this. What he did was cruel and utterly heartless. But that was also thousands of year ago. At some point, you have to let it go, for your own sake.” Her voice gentled. “Tell me truly — do you even remember how she looked?”

Those sea-blue eyes clouded over, looking inwards at something Heather could only suspect. “I will always remember how she looked,” Amphitrite murmured softly. “She had large eyes, light brown, like those of an owl. Her nose was small and straight, and turned up at the tip. When she laughed, the entire room seemed to light up. And even though she was small she always stood up straight, modest and attentive, the perfect handmaiden.” Her expression hardened. “Until Poseidon betrayed her. And me.”

Heather flinched from the grief and rage in the Nereid’s eyes. “I’m sorry, sister. I didn’t mean to dredge up more pain for you.”

The dark-haired goddess shook her head. “You didn’t. That’s the problem. I carry it with me always. And that is why I cannot achieve closure with Poseidon. The bastard drove our agapetos away, and I can never forgive him for that.”

“Even though you miss him?” Heather regretted the words the moment they slipped out.

But Amphitrite simply nodded. “Even though I miss him. And I’m not sure who I hate more for that. Him, or myself.”


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