Poseidon (Contemporary Mythos Book 5)

I’d thrown on my little white dress with cap sleeves to wear to The Quarter with Poseidon. He picked me up in his navy-blue Chevy Silverado truck, holding the door open for me both in and out, and yet again as we entered the bar.

“You’re laying the charm on thick tonight, Simon. Hoping to get lucky?” I elbowed him in the side.

He slipped a hand over my lower back, making a breath catch in my throat. “I’d like to think I already have, but I’d be lying if the thought of you underneath me again doesn’t entice me.” His beard brushed against my nape as he whispered into my ear.

I’d be lying too if I said the thought didn’t ignite every possible nerve in my body.

The sight of the shoreline in the distance caused me to freeze. A pale mirage of my children playing in the tide shimmered over my mind, my daughter barely old enough to walk, her older brother helping her up whenever she’d fall on her butt. A whimper fluttered from my throat.

“Cory?” Poseidon’s hand pressed between my shoulder blades, kneading my muscles.

Sniffling, I gave him a warm smile and squeezed his arm. “I’m fine. Let’s get inside, hm?”

As we stepped through the doorway, the loud sounds of two pianos playing, accompanied by men singing and the murmuring crowds, pulsed in my ears.

“You want a drink?” Poseidon pointed at the bar extending the room’s length except for the dance floor in the corner.

“Absolutely.” I slipped my hand into his, letting him lead me through the droves of people standing near the stage, others leaning on hi-top tables with varying colors of plastic cups filled with watered-down beer.

The Quarter’s décor made it feel like stepping back in time—stained glass domed lights, ornate patterns carved in the wood ceiling, framed advertisements circa eighteen hundred. Even the bar itself had old-fashioned brass fixtures for the beer taps.

“Here we go. I do believe someone mentioned cheap beer.” Poseidon grinned, making his bicep peeking from the aquamarine v-neck shirt he wore bulge as he handed a blue plastic cup with a handle to me. “They had a bunch of colors, but I got us both blue.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, taking the cup with both hands.

All tables were occupied, so we found a vacant spot near a pole to lean against, watching the show. Two white pianos faced each other while two men sang The Joker by the Steve Miller Band. Each piano had a glass jar filled with cash and request cards rested at each table. Poseidon’s burly arm wrapped around me from behind, pulling me against him. He let his hand rest on my hip.

“I truly am sorry for neglecting you,” his low voice rumbled in my ear.

I shook my head, trailing my fingers over the masculine scattering of hair on his arm. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I should’ve come to you. Talked things out. Instead—”

He took my words away by pressing a kiss to my temple and gripping me tighter.

“Daddy Poseidon.” I simpered. “I’ll never forget the mesmerizing look on your face when Triton was born. Or the way you held tiny Rhode as if she’d wither in your arms. You looked like a Titan holding a glass statue.”

Every time I brought up Rhode, it carved another piece of my heart away. But I knew there was little I could do in my mortal form. If I wanted any hope of helping to find my daughter, I knew what I would have to do.

“Do you remember teaching Triton how to swim?” He rested his chin on my shoulder.

I chuckled, making a strand of hair fall over my gaze. “How could I forget? He wanted to use the full course of his power before he learned to swim normally and almost took out an orca.”

It was one of the last memories I had of my son, years shy of being a godly version of a teenager. And Rhode had been half his age.

Poseidon curled the loose hair over my ear and kissed the tip of it.

“Thank you.”

“I figured your hands were tied up, and you wanted to see the show.” He shrugged, gesturing toward the stage with his cup.

“Not for the hair.”

“Then what, Amph?” He lowered his voice when saying my name, pressing the bridge of his nose against the side of my head.

“For raising them. I really wish I could’ve seen them grow up. Mature into gods.” I sniffled back tears.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. In all honesty, it made me more involved in their lives than I may have been otherwise.” He turned my head to look at him. “And don’t think they won’t be ecstatic to see you. Both of them.”

See them again—my children. A family I hadn’t remembered having until only days ago. The thought excited me as much as it terrified me to my core.

A group of women at a nearby table gawked, giggled, and whispered over the man standing behind me. Poseidon hadn’t seemed to notice the attention—but I did. One woman bit her lower lip, idly licking the corner of her mouth and standing as if she were coming over to pounce on him.

I wanted to kiss him—to show all he was mine. My king. My children’s father. My—.

“Holy shit. When did you get back?” A man slid in front of us, blocking the woman’s path. His long, dark wavy hair with blonde streaks fell past his collar bone.

Dionysos.

“You expected me back?” I raised a brow.

His dark eyes squinted at me as his lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Nothing, and I do say nothing, Pops cooks up is ever final.” He winked before slapping Poseidon’s shoulder. “Look at you rocking your true self. I have to say, man, the beard is where it’s at.” Dionysos ran a hand over his own dark facial hair.

Poseidon shifted behind me, his crotch pressing against my ass before disappearing again. “Not as if I have to ask, but what are you doing here, Dion?”

“The Quarter on a Wednesday night? Debauchery and delights to be had ‘o plenty every week here.” He threw his arms out at his sides, doing one full twirl. “The better question is: what are you two doing here?” Still smiling, he narrowed his eyes at us and slowly pointed from one of us to the other.

“I didn’t remember who I was until recently. We’re—working things out.”

Poseidon gave me a reassuring squeeze.

“Fuck. You didn’t remember? That’s heavy.” Dion scratched his chin with the tip of his thumb.

“And she’s mortal,” Poseidon added.

Dion bobbed his brows. “Double fuck.”

“But I remember everything now. Even when I was in the stars.”

“The stars. What the shit was that like?” Dion took a swig from his beer bottle.

A chill shot down my spine as I conjured those moments trapped in space and time.

“You’re aware but the most relaxed you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Content yet—distant.” My grip tightened on my cup, making the plastic squeak.

Poseidon rubbed my lower back.

Dion tapped his finger against his lips before raising his cup, gesturing at Poseidon. “Yamás.”

Poseidon glared at him before tapping his cup against Dion’s. “Yam—ás. What are we toasting to?”

“Your cup is now enchanted to turn any liquid into ambrosia wine. How can you two let loose and air out dirty laundry if only one can get tipsy, eh?”

Poseidon stared into his cup and sniffed it. “Yup. Ambrosia wine.”

“How is getting drunk going to solve anything?” I asked.

“You two have a wicked past. Trust me. You’d be surprised what a little shield lowering will do for the soul.” Pressing a hand to his chest, Dion gave a mock bow. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a red-head to show how to have a good time.” He turned away.

“Hey, Dion. Your horns are showing.” Poseidon pointed to his head.

Dion froze and felt each side of his forehead before glaring at the sea god and pointing. “Trying to pull a fast one on me, are ya?”

“It worked.” Poseidon chuckled, making the rumble from his chest vibrate at my back.

“You two kids have fun.” Dion scooted past us and waved his arm above his head. “Chels, over here.”

We stayed silent for several moments before Poseidon cleared his throat. “We don’t have to drink.”

“I don’t often say this, but I think Dion’s right this time. Maybe it’ll help us relax and bring us back to our old selves.” I held the cup in the air to toast.

“Except for the neglecting, ignoring, and refusing to talk parts,” Poseidon added, raising his drink.

“Except for those.”

We tapped our cups together and, in unison, pronounced, “Yamás.”

An hour later…

My cheeks warmed, and my head fuzzed just enough to make me giggly. “Do you still have that pet dolphin?”

Poseidon sat on the stool next to me, slurping on his fifth ambrosia wine. “Delphinus?” He snorted. “He was never my ‘pet.’ I specifically created him because I knew you couldn’t resist that face.”

I squeezed his cheeks with one hand. “I resisted yours.”

“You gave in eventually.” He smiled and pretended to bite one of my fingers.

I stroked the hair on his chin. “I should’ve thanked Delphinus when I was up there.”

“As if he could’ve strolled on by.” Poseidon snickered as he kneaded my hip.

Making an exaggerated pout, I added, “I’m serious.”

“Thank him for what, Starfish?”

“I always thought when he told me marrying you would bring peace and harmony to the seas was simply a ploy but now—” I locked gazes with him. “I realize he told the truth.”

“Hm. You’re right. I should’ve thanked him more too.” Poseidon beamed with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “I know you said you started playing video games to escape, but if I’m being honest—it still surprises the hell out of me.”

“Why is it so surprising?” I tugged his beard.

He narrowed his eyes at me, playfully poking me in the ribs, making me yip. “I know you’re not the same woman I married, but I never knew you to be into games of any variety.”

Letting out a rolling sigh, I rested my head on his shoulder, watching the dueling pianists. “And this is the part where I need to remind you of your continuous absence back in the day.”

“Shit,” Poseidon grumbled, adjusting himself on the stool, making me bounce.

Raising my head, I flicked my hair at him and poked between his pecs.

So. Much. Muscle.

“Uh-uh. You made this bed, and now you’re going to listen to it.” I looked skyward. “Or something like that.”

He chuckled, beating his fingers against the side of my ass. “Let’s hear it.”

“When the kids were little, I made up all sorts of games to keep them entertained. Seashell puzzles, catch the seahorse, guess the fish. But one they particularly enjoyed—” My brow pinched, just now remembering what I’d called the game. “—was Heroes of Atlantis.”

“What?” Poseidon bumped his knuckle under my chin. “You called it that?”

I nodded, absently staring at his collar bone. “I conjured play weapons for them and water monsters, and we’d fight for Atlantis.” Laughing, I pressed a hand to my chest. “Usually, they’d wind up fighting each other, but those are some of my best memories with them.”

“Olympus, Amph. I’m an asshole.” Poseidon made a clicking sound with his teeth, his gaze dropping to my hand resting on his shoulder.

“I wouldn’t have called you a full-blown asshole, Seid. More like—a work in progress. And one that I loved.”

He squeezed my thigh. “I’d give anything to have had even one of those moments with the kids and you.”

“I’m an adult, and I still play games. Who’s to say they don’t still, too?” I kissed the tip of his nose.

“You, Jewel of the Sea, are something else.” His hand trailed over my lower back.

My skin burned for him, but my brain kept telling me to wait—take this slow.

Playfully swatting him in the shoulder, I slid from my stool. “Be right back. I have to use the little girl’s room.”

“Want me to walk you?” Poseidon turned on his stool, interlacing his hands between his legs.

“I think I can handle it, Big Guy, but thanks.” I flashed him a grin over my shoulder before ascending the stairs.

The line was out the bathroom door along a railing that overlooked the bar floor. Poseidon remained on his stool and smiled to himself, tapping his fingertips against his thighs.

What are you thinking about?

A grin tugged at my lips and faded as a group of women walked up to him.

A gal leaves her guy alone for thirty seconds, and the circling lady sharks go in for the kill.

Poseidon waved his hands before pointing up, saying something to them I couldn’t make out. He grabbed two cocktail napkins and scribbled his signature before handing them to the women. One pouted, another shrugged, and the third hadn’t stopped smiling so wide it made her eyes form slits. Once they left, Poseidon looked up, spotting me and waving.

I wiggled my fingers at him, feeling my cheeks turn rosy. After waiting another ten minutes, forcing me to pinch my knees together and waddle like a penguin I had to go so badly, I was finally able to do my business and return to my awaiting sea god.

“There you are. I was beginning to think you fell in.” Poseidon snorted, turning his back to the bar and resting his elbows on it.

“Wow. You even make dad jokes now.” Grinning, I tugged on his shirt’s hem.

“The next song is a requested dedication to an exceptional lady named Cordelia,” one of the piano players announced.

I snapped my attention to Poseidon, who held a finger over his lips in a shoosh gesture. As soon as the first few notes played, tears filled my eyes, and my chest tightened.

Beyond the Sea.

“How could you possibly know that’s my favorite song?” I propped myself on one of his knees, sitting on his lap and curling my arms behind his neck.

He slid an arm around me. “I heard you hum it. Couldn’t think of a more suiting song.”

As the piano players sang, I closed my eyes, swaying to the soothing melody.

“Beyond the stars. Beyond the moon. The sea really did lead us together, Starfish.” His warm palm pressed against my cheek, making me flutter my eyes open.

“And it will never tear us apart again.” Pressing my hands to each side of his face, I slid my lips over his.

The kiss ignited endless memories blazing through my mind, but the one which stuck out the most was the first time we’d kissed—truly kissed. Our wedding hadn’t counted. It was the time Poseidon strolled on the beach with me, swam with me—made the entire day fully about me alone. The moment we realized our marriage had blossomed into something unexpected—a love for each other.

He pulled me tighter against him, snaking his free hand through my hair, massaging my scalp. The kiss began as subtle and sweet but now turned carnal and ravenous. Flutters exploded in my stomach, my skin, my body, remembering him, craving for him again. I peeled away, pressing my forehead against his. His green eyes stared lazily at me, his tongue skirting his lower lip.

“Swim with me, Seid,” I whispered.

He traced my jawline with a single finger. “It’s nearly midnight.”

“I seem to recall midnight being the perfect time for a swim.” I combed my fingers through his ash-blonde waves. “And the ocean has no choice but to behave as you see fit.”

His fingers trailed up my spine, his hand wrapping the back of my neck. “Do you want me to give you fins?”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Biting my lip, I hopped from his lap. He slapped cash on the bar top to cover our tab, and as the piano players brought Beyond the Sea to a close, it served as exit music while we whisked out the door hand-in-hand. As soon as we rounded the corner to a deserted alley, Poseidon ported us to the shore.

The bright moonlight bounced over the lapping waves hitting against the sand. Without care or thought or worry, I slipped the dress over my head and opened my hand, letting it drop. Standing in only my bra and underwear, I raised a brow at Poseidon’s stunned expression.

“Not what you remember, Seid?” I crossed my arms over my stomach.

His callused fingers took a gentle hold of my arms, and he slowly parted them, staring at my bared tanned midriff with a heat building in his gaze. “No. You’re exactly how I remember, Amph. I’d forgotten how much I missed you.” His throat bobbed as he let his eyes roam.

“I missed you too, Seid.” I stepped forward, playing my fingers over his arms. “Now, take your shirt off.”

He grinned—bemused and satisfied. “I like this new commanding side to you.” He reached over one shoulder, bunching the fabric in his large hand before yanking it over his head and throwing it in the same pile as my dress.

Pure. Tanned. Male perfection.

Whether it’d been the alcohol fueling my boldness or the memory of how attracted I’d been to him when we were together, for either reason, I traced my hands over his beefy sculpted arms, the ridges of each abdominal muscle.

“I love when you do that,” he said through a growl. Walking behind him, I dragged a finger over his skin. “Touch me like I’m Poseidon the man, not the god king.”

I paused at his words, flashing a warm smile at him. A black trident tattoo started between his shoulder blades, its hilt traveling the length of his spine. “That’s new.”

“Oh, yeah. I couldn’t be the only brother without tattoos. And I made sure to outdo them both.” He winked at me over his shoulder, extending his hand to me.

“Of course, you did.” As I slipped my palm against his, the moon brightened at our touch.

“You ready?” Poseidon nudged his chin toward the awaiting ocean.

“More than ever,” I whispered, longing for the feel of salt and silk against my skin.

We walked to the water’s edge and didn’t look away from each other as the water enveloped us with each step taken. When the water reached my chest, I let go of his hand and dived in, welcoming the scales I’d commanded away to appear again. They’d glowed before but now shone with a radiance stemming from the moonbeams and my own gradual acceptance.

Poseidon joined me, smiling as his hair floated in wisps behind him. He touched my hip, turning my legs into a teal mermaid’s tail. In my past life as a sea goddess, I’d often give myself a tail to swim alongside the dolphins, to keep their pace. There was something especially tantalizing about him gifting it to me.

Dragging my arms through the water, I flapped my fins, turning several times in a full circle, kicking up bubbles. Poseidon chuckled before wrapping a single arm around my bared stomach, twirling with me, kneading the middle of my back with his strong fingers.

“I’ll race you,” I flicked my tail at him.

His smile spread wide. “A mortal demi-goddess with a tail versus the King of the Seas? That’s almost fair.”

“You’re on, KingofFish69.” I flapped my tail again, sending a shockwave through the water at him.

It pushed him back, and he tightened his muscles to stop, raising a brow at me. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Probably not. Three, two, one,” I quickly counted down before darting through the water, my arms pinned at my sides, and letting the tail work its magic.

It didn’t take long for Poseidon to catch up. He swam on his back beneath me, his hands interlaced behind his head, a smug grin on his lips.

“Hey there.” He waved at me.

I glared at him before banking to the right, kicking the tail into overdrive.

He appeared at my side, his muscular arms cutting through the water like pushing aside clouds. With his arms wrapped around me, he tackled me. In a bout of laughter and a pretend struggle on my part, he catapulted us into a grotto. We landed on the sea bed, him on top of me, straddling me, his arms caging me in on each side of my head. I flicked my tail between his legs and gleamed up at him.

“I’ve missed you, Amph. Truly missed you.”

I slid a hand over one of his forearms. “I mi—”

“Well, well. It must be my lucky day,” a woman’s voice echoed off the stone surrounding us.

Poseidon’s face morphed into a predator—cold and angry. He shot to his feet, making his golden trident appear in his grasp.

Several curling dark tentacles like an octopus emerged from the shadows, followed by six limbs with snapping dragon heads on the end of each one. Attached to the tentacles was the torso of a topless woman, her long black hair shielding her breasts when it grazed over them.

“Skylla,” I gasped, pushing off the seafloor and floating near Poseidon.

“Imagine my surprise when the word on the waves was that Cordelia Bourne was more than some petty mortal. Amphitrite. Queen of the Seas.” Skylla’s blood-red eyes glowed, her pointy fingernails clacking together as she petted one of the dragon heads. “You’ve somehow avoided my wrath.”

Poseidon ushered me behind him with one arm. “I’d watch your tone, sea witch.”

“Ah, yes. You don’t know. Your lovely former goddess is the reason why I’m a witch, as you so graciously describe me.”

It’d been an accident. I never meant for her to turn into—this.

“What the Tartarus are you barking about?” Poseidon slammed the trident’s hilt against the stone floor.

“I have a chance to be something in these seas with only one sea god to contend with. And now that I know the Queen is back? I will end her while she’s vulnerable before she decides to do something stupid.”

Skylla let out a howl like a canine before the dragon heads snapped in our direction. Poseidon turned to me with a growl and wrapped us in a dome of water. We splashed onto the floor of my apartment, my elbows smacking against the wood. My feet slid as I stood, the mermaid tail a distant memory.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I stammered, wiping away the water collected on my brows.

Flashes of war on land, on the water—swords clashing, people screaming in agony—it all punched at my mind, making me collapse to the floor.

“Amphitrite, what’s wrong?” Poseidon was at my side, but the sporadic memories continued.

Each memory, each life led, scorching my brain with bright flashes of white in between. I clutched my head, screaming, trying to make it stop.

Stop. Stop. Stop.

“Amphitrite,” Poseidon roared, shaking my shoulders.

The memories faded away, and I blinked my eyes open, staring up at Poseidon. His jaw tightened, and he rubbed my arms. Something wet collected on my lower lip, and I touched it—warm and red. Blood. My blood.

“Fucking Olympus.” He held me firm, and I was glad for it. Otherwise, I may have slunk to the floor in a heap. “Are you alright?”

The question confused me. I shook my head. “I’ve lived so long as a mortal, Seid. Through so many lives. Battling sea creatures—real battling—dealing with the other gods, Olympus, the politics and procedure, and I—” My chest heaved, and I stared in horror at the puddles collected on my rented apartment floor.

It took several attempts to stand before Poseidon relented, letting his hands fall with a sigh. Sprinting to the linen closet, I returned with every towel I owned, dropping them on the floor and hurriedly mopping up what I could.

“Amphitrite,” Poseidon beckoned, his half-naked form moving to stand beside me.

Ignoring him and the tears welling my eyes, I continued to dry the floor.

“Cordelia.” He snatched my arm, halting me.

I looked up at him, numbly holding a soaked towel in my grasp.

“If you decided to take the title back, no one is saying you’d need to battle sea creatures…unless you want to.”

Whimpering, I tossed the towel to the floor and turned away from him. “It’s so confusing. At one moment, I want it all back. You. The seas. Our family. Queendom. But then I remember how settled I’ve become in leading a semi-normal life.”

“I can’t sympathize. But I am jealous you’ve gotten to experience the beauty that’s mortality.” He wiped his hand over his chest, ridding it of water beads.

“I need to get some rest.”

His jeans clung to his legs, making a puddle collect at his feet. Scampering for another towel, I batted his feet until he lifted them. “Let me stay here, Amph. I can sleep on the couch.”

“Stay? Here? Oh, I don’t know…,” I trailed off, clutching a wet towel under my chin.

“Skylla threatened you. And until you work through these memories, it’s better if I’m here to snap you out of them. Your nose bled this time. Bled, Amph.”

“What is Skylla going to do? Climb up the apartment building with her tentacles in open view?”

He rested his hands on my shoulders. “If she knows, others might too. You know as well as I do, there are far more spiteful gods than not. The chance to take out a Queen before she’s Queen again?” He furrowed his brow.

“This is what I’m saying. I didn’t even think about that. I haven’t had to.”

“Let me stay.”

I gulped, staring up at him as his fingers brushed my skin. “Fine. But we’re both adults here. Just sleep in the bed with me.”

“Are you sure?” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head.

“Can I trust you?”

He frowned. “Yes.”

“Then get in the bed, Seid.”

After drying off our hair and clothes, we each took opposite sides of my bed. I turned my back to him, pinching my knees together once I felt the bed dip from his heavy frame.

“I did have one question before we go to sleep,” his voice rumbled next to me.

I turned on my side, resting my head on my hand. “Yes?”

“Skylla said you’re the reason she is what she is. That true?” He slipped one hand behind his head, making his bicep twitch before turning to look at me.

“It was an accident.”

There was no hiding the surprised look on his face. He turned on his side to face me. “Mind giving the quick version?”

“It’s silly, but—I thought you were having an affair with her. When she, you know, was just a nymph?”

“I was a lot of things, but a cheater wasn’t one of them.”

I patted his arm. “I know. I know. But I was so upset you were never around, and I didn’t know where you were. Rumors flew. I actually believed them and got jealous.” My cheeks flapped as I blew out a breath.

“It’s okay.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb.

“It’s not okay. I slipped these herbs into one of her drinks. They were supposed to give her bad acne or gas or huge bags under her eyes.” I shook my head. “And worse, it wasn’t supposed to be permanent.”

“Well, you’re right. That’s pretty messed up, but it was a long time ago. Leave it to a mythical being to hold a thousand-year-old grudge.”

“Did you see her?”

“Then take your own advice. Apologize.”

I flopped to my back. “You think that’d make her stop? She wants us both gone. I’m just the easy target right now.”

“You don’t have to be.”

I turned my head with softened eyes.

“Just promise me you’ll think about it more?”

“Of course, I will.”

He nodded once and kissed my forehead. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” I whispered back, numbly turning off the lamp on my nightstand.

I lay in the dark with my hands folded atop my stomach, watching the steady rise and fall of the sea god beside me. A man who could conjure typhoons and hurricanes, crash aircraft carriers, or summon any sea monster of his choosing—wanted me back. He wanted me ruling at his side. But most of all—he wanted to be a family.