Brutus nodded. “The underworld.”
“Yes. And we’ve all heard the stories.” There were many. Mostly from Cimil, but there were records of ghosts, demons, and other immortal creatures that had managed to come back from the underworld. They told stories of hell, of torture, of places so dark and deep no soul was ever right again after being exposed. Then there were the other parts of the underworld that didn’t sound so bad—basically, big parties. Orgies. Feasts. But those were tales that came from Cimil. Personally, she didn’t believe any of it. In fact, she would bet that Cimil’s time in the underworld, conversing with the souls who resided there, was what drove her mad.
“I know. But I must find them and go wherever the clues take me. This world cannot survive without the gods.”
“Even if humans don’t care about them anymore?”
He nodded. “That alone makes them all the more important.”
Fina shook her head. “Humans don’t need that band of misfits. I mean, look at their powers. Garage sale hunting? Drumming? Multiplication? Herding bees?”
“It’s not about their powers, Fina. It’s that they love this world more than any person ever could. They hope when everyone else thinks the game is over. They believe in humans even when humans do not.”
Great. So basically, the gods were a bunch of mascots and cheerleaders at a football game. But Fina now understood that Brutus could not leave the helm when there was no one else to take over. He would not abandon his family for his own desires. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think I love you more now than ever.”
They locked eyes, and he pulled her mouth to his, giving her a soft kiss. “I love you, too. My warrior princess.”
“We still have a few minutes, you know.” She smiled.
“Ten. Just give me ten. Twenty at the most.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
By the time they got back to Brutus’s house, Fina was already heated from the tip of her toes to the top of her head. She knew she might never see him again. Or maybe she would. Either way, it would be out of her hands, so she needed to make the most of the few precious moments they were given before their lives took different paths.
They burst through the front door and began peeling off each other’s clothes, their mouths never parted for long. She loved the way his soft lips moved and how his stubble scraped her chin. It reminded her of him, actually. Rough on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside.
He finished the last button on the shirt she’d borrowed from him and slid it off her shoulders.
“Wow. You have nothing on underneath.” His eyes drifted up and down her body.
“Neither did you.” She loved that he went commando. It made taking off his pants and shirt so much fun. Instant gratification.
He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “Let’s get my little warrior princess to my bed.” He smacked her ass.
She yelped. Little? She was almost as tall as him, but whatever.
He tossed her down on the bed and stood there for a long moment.
“What are you waiting for? Clock is ticking,” she said.
“I don’t know when I’ll see you again, and I want to remember this moment.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “So you can jerk off to me.”
“Exactly.”
“Then stare away.” She opened her legs for him and watched his cock go from thick to a hard solid, throbbing, pulsing missile.
She swallowed down a big lump in her throat. Like she’d said before, Brutus was well proportioned and a big man. But now, looking at the one-eyed beast, she wondered how much fun this would be.
“Do you want me to use a condom?” he asked. “Because I don’t have any.”
She laughed. “Well then, you’re in luck because I’m over three hundred years old.”
“Which means?”
“I’m old enough to know what I want, and I’m not letting my sisters all have your kids.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yeah. Besides, we pride ourselves on raising tough women. It is our way. It’s what we do.” Or would do again now that she would be queen and allow men in their village. “Are you okay with that?”
Brutus’s big chest expanded as he inhaled. “I am. In fact, I feel honored you’d even consider it.”
How sweet.
He crawled toward her on the bed, settling between her thighs but keeping his weight off her with his arms.
“Are you ready? Do you want me to go down on you first or warm you up or—just tell me what you want.”
She pressed her hand to his rough cheek. “I want you inside me. Now. And I want you to kiss me.”
He lowered his head and covered her mouth, his tongue massaging and thrusting in a sexual rhythm. She felt him position the head of his cock at her entrance, teasing her with it, dipping it in and out just a little.
Oh wow. That feels so good. Her nipples beaded. Her clit throbbed with a delicious ache. The wall of her—
Brutus pushed inside.
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! She clenched her eyes shut and dug her nails into his upper arms.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “You said now, and I thought—”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just, uh…give me a sec.” Wow. Mortal bodies were so much more sensitive. She honestly hadn’t taken that into account!
He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “Just tell me when.”
The stinging sensation began to subside, replaced by a more pleasant tingling. It was strange how she could feel him filling her, stretching her, but the more intense sensation was in the front, on her clit, and toward the little spot near her womb.
Instinctively, she began moving her hips, enjoying the sensation of his cock pushing against both spots.
“Mmmm…” he groaned into her neck, finding her hands and pressing them over her head. “You’re ready for more, I can tell.”
Oh yeah. And to think, her mother wanted to deprive her of this? For basically her entire life? No way.
Brutus pulled out almost completely and slowly guided himself back in between her slick folds. This time, the penetration felt amazing. Sinful even.
She moaned. “Do that again. Please.”
He did. Nice and slow, allowing her to feel him enter and enjoy the delicious ache of being filled again. Every stroke brought another, deeper, more intense reaction from her body.
He ran his hand down to her breast and gently squeezed her nipple. It triggered an entirely new sensation deep in her womb. Then his mouth went to her neck. He sucked and massaged a sensitive spot that almost tickled.
Oh gods. This is incredible. Whatever was happening right now, she was at the mercy of his pistoning hips, his huge thick dick, and his mouth and hands. Every nerve ending inside her body felt like it was lighting up and glowing, wanting to explode in a blazing light of ecstasy-filled fireworks.
“I think I’m about to…” Her breathing got harder. “To…to…”
Brutus pulled out again and slammed home, pressing his cock as deeply as possible, trigging the release.
Yes! Yes! Yes! were the only thoughts her mind could form as the hard wave of orgasmic contractions took hold. Her toes curled and she moaned, raising her hips to meet his. All of these things were subconsciously done, her mind vaguely aware that her body was in control.