“Remembering things I don’t want to remember,” I explained. She hummed in understanding before she released me and took my hand, guiding me to the soft swing seat.
“It’s the summer equinox,” she told me. “Your birthday,” she added.
“I know.”
“I thought you might want to celebrate. There is a Kronia sort of party taking place later today. Would you like to attend with me?” she asked.
“Is it a fancy formal thing?” I asked. I never wanted to go to another fancy party again.
“No, have you never celebrated Kronia?” she teased. “All are equal on this day; the masters serve the slaves.”
“I didn’t think nobles and Royals would celebrate Kronia as it once was,” I explained.
“We do,” she answered with a slight pout, and I thought I might have insulted her. “I have a gift,” she said, brightening and reaching into her pocket.
“A gift?” I asked.
“For your birthday,” she confirmed and held out a ring on a golden chain. It was like nothing I had ever seen before - an emerald or sapphire that seemed to encompass all the colours of a setting sun. “Do you like it?” she asked, and I heard the nervousness in her voice.
“It’s beautiful, Selene,” I told her and gave her a smile of reassurance. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“The day of your birth is the most important day of the year,” she told me quite seriously and I blushed. “It was my grandmother’s engagement ring and then my mother’s,” she explained. I balked and dropped my hand that had been reaching toward the ring.
“I can’t take something like that from you,” I told her. Her brows furrowed.
“Are you rejecting my gift?” she asked, and I heard the subtle tones of disappointment and sadness in her voice.
“I’m not rejecting it, no, it’s just - it’s a family heirloom. It belonged to your mother. Are you sure you want to part with it? What if I lost it or damaged it?” I asked her.
She smiled brightly. “Turn around,” she commanded. “Lift your hair. Good girl,” she praised as I did as she instructed and she placed the necklace with the ring around my neck. I turned back to face her and gingerly lifted the ring to admire how the light bounced off the stone. “If it were to be lost or damaged, I’d buy you another,” she told me, and I looked from the ring to her. She smiled so brightly I was dazzled briefly.
“Why?” I asked her and she stood from the seat and knelt before me, taking my hands in hers.
“One day, you will wear this ring for its intended purpose.” I was speechless. I couldn’t breathe as I understood her meaning. “Until then, I want you to keep it close to your heart as a reminder of a promise.”
“A promise?” I barely whispered; I wasn’t sure if I had made any sound at all.
“My promise to you, Percy, my little pet, is that I will love you, care for you and put no other above you for as long as I live. You are mine and I am yours.”
I was silent, replaying her words. Was I dreaming? Was it real?
“Say something,” she said.
“You truly love me, don’t you?” I asked her eventually. If I was dreaming, I didn’t want to wake up.
“I love you,” she confirmed.
I threw myself at her. She caught me, rolling us until she straddled and pinned me to the hot concrete beneath her. “I love you,” she whispered against my lips and her hands pushed under my top slowly, teasingly. “I love touching you,” she said as I arched into her hands as they moved up my rib cage. “I love kissing you.” She covered the breaths distance between our lips and kissed me hungrily. “I love tasting you,” she said, and I blushed deeply at her many meanings.
“I love you too,” I told her and moaned as she finally cupped my breasts, swiping her thumbs over my hardened nipples. She laughed and bit my bottom lip, hard enough to hurt, and I moaned louder, trying desperately to pull her closer to me, to kiss her, to melt into her.
“We’re going to keep our guests waiting,” she husked out as she moved to my neck, nipping and licking the flesh.
“Guests?” I managed to ask through the haze of arousal. She groaned into my neck and bit the juncture of my shoulder before dragging herself from me and helping me to my feet.
“We shouldn’t keep them waiting,” she said, her breath slowing, her silver eyes looking me over hungrily. She pulled me close to her, brushing loose strands of hair behind my ears. “Tonight, I’ll have you begging for me to take you, use you, fill you,” she growled, and I felt a wave of excitement wash over me and dampen my panties.
“Guests can wait,” I told her. She smiled wickedly and I thought I had won before she shook her head.