I am the goddess of time,
immorality, and the cycle of life/death. Slow to anger, easy to smile.
Now I work with babies and the young of humans since they are
innocents. It was there I met him. Rhodes Liatos. A man unlike any
I’ve known before. He challenges my disheartened beliefs of the human
race. He has taught me many things one of which was how to love. He is
a man who loves life and has no fear of death, what happens when he
learns who I truly am?
Devi |
The following afternoon, Devi lay in her hammock,
enjoying the idyllic day. Her doorbell chimed and she sighed,
reluctant to get up.
“It’s open,” she called out.
The familiar masculine scent that had surrounded Rhodes told her who
it was before he’d even made it through the house. Turning her head,
she watched him step out onto the patio.
“Kind of dangerous, don’t you think, just inviting people in without
knowing who it is?” he asked, giving her a disapproving look before
putting a bouquet of flowers on the table.
She almost laughed at that, but smothered it. He was concerned about
her. How cute.
Today, Rhodes wore khaki slacks and a dark blue polo-necked shirt.
Licking her lips, she swung her legs over and got up from the comfort
of her hammock. He glanced at her and swallowed. Hard.
She knew it was her outfit. Cream-coloured gauze woven with gold
threads made up her halter-top dress with its deep V-neck. Although
the material reached the floor, slits in the skirt ran up to the tops
of her thighs. With each step she took, one leg flashed through. And
she knew it looked good on her—hell, it had been made just for her.
“Cat got your tongue, Rhodes?”
His forehead had a sheen of sweat on it.
“No. That’s… It’s… Damn.”
“I take it that’s a good thing,” she said with an assured smile.
“Oh, yeah,” he rumbled. He flexed his fingers like he wanted to grab
her.
“Thank you.”
He had to tear his gaze away from her nearly exposed chest. “What
for?”
“The flowers. They’re beautiful.”
He acted as if he’d forgotten he’d even brought them. “You’re
welcome,” he muttered, his gaze on her.
“Something I can do for you, Rhodes?”
“I came to ask you to dinner.” His voice still not as smooth as it had
been.
“You didn’t call.”
“I wanted to see you.” His eyes burnt feverishly. “Luckily, I’m a
resourceful man—you didn’t give me much to go on.”
“You are that. I knew you’d find me if you wished to see me.”
Warmth surrounded her at his admission. “I’ll go get changed.” She
moved past him and headed towards the sliding door, then paused and
glanced back over her left shoulder. “A little help?”
He approached and stood behind her. His size made her feel dainty and
protected. Without a word, she moved her hair out of the way. Her skin
tingled from the light brush of his fingertips as he undid the bow
holding up her dress.
“There you go,” he whispered in her ear, his breath teasing her skin.
“Be right back.”
She let go of her hair and it swung back into place, covering her to
the small of her back. He gasped as she left him there, in between
indoors and out. Alone except for her dress, which had pooled at his
feet. |
