Her mouth works as if she wants to argue, but she gives a jerky nod instead. “Better keep me satisfied, then.”
“Oh, Cassandra.” I rake my gaze over her. “I plan on it.”
She hesitates one moment more and then turns, giving me another spectacular view of her ass, and goes into the bathroom. I slump down onto the bed and curse myself for my timing. My responsibility to Olympushasto outweigh any personal pleasure or happiness I might try to seek. Especially considering that it will be short-lived with this woman.
I cannot allow myself to be derailed.
I need to get up and moving, but as the shower turns on, I can’t stop myself from stroking my cock. I don’t tease the way Cassandra did last night. No, I jack myself almost harshly, a slideshow ofherflashing behind my eyes.
The way it felt to be cradled between her thighs, sinking into her wet heat.
Her sweet little moans that she didn’t try to hide.
Her taste.
I yank my hand away from my cock before I can come. I’m not normally a masochist, but if I’m denying her orgasms, it’s incredibly unfair to not hold myself to the same rule.
My phone rings and the moment I see the name flashing across my screen, the desire leaves my body. I still take a few seconds to compose myself before answering. “Apollo here.”
“Can you talk freely?”
I eye the bathroom door. The shower is still running. Judging from yesterday’s timetable, it will be a good hour before Cassandra emerges. “Yes.”
“Update me.” It’s not surprising that Zeus wants to be kept in the loop, but he could have given me at least twenty-four hours before he started calling.
“I haven’t had much time to gather information.”
“Indulge me.” His tone brooks no argument.
I bite down a sigh. “All I have are theories and the guest list. Minos and his people are here, of course. Six members of the Thirteen, including myself, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, and Aphrodite. Then there’s Pan, Adonis, Charon, Eurydice, and Atalanta. Information seems conflicting on if Hermes brought a plus-one or not, but if she did, I haven’t seen them.”
“Godsdamn it, Eris.” He speaks so softly, I choose not to respond. That statement wasn’t meant for me, after all, but for Zeus’s sister—formerly Eris, before she took the title of Aphrodite. Zeus doesn’t let Aphrodite’s presence here distract him for long. “And your theories?”
“Cassandra thinks it might be a matchmaking attempt. Everyone invited is publicly single—or was until recently.” I don’t know what’s going on with Aphrodite and Adonis. They seem to be in one of those on-again, off-again relationships, but they’re never messy in public. Sometimes they’re pictured together for weeks or months at a time and then they seem to be moving in different circles, only to gravitate back toward each other. Even before she took the title of Aphrodite, though, she had to know her brother would never agree to her marrying Adonis. He comes from a legacy family, but they’re far enough down the food chain that they won’t see a new member of the Thirteen in this generation at least, if ever again.
“I didn’t ask what Cassandra thinks. I ask what you think.”
I have to fight not to bristle at how dismissive of her theories he is. I might think there’s another component to this party, but that doesn’t mean Cassandra is wrong. Minos seems far too smart to only have one plan. He arrived in Olympus supposedly so his sons could compete to become Ares but didn’t miss a beat when they failed to do so, pivoting to leverage his information about a supposed enemy to ensure his place in the city.
Something he didn’t speak a word of until they lost.
“I suspect that the matchmaking might be a feint, the same way the Ares tournament was a feint.” I hesitate, but ultimately there’s no reason to keep it secret. “There’s one other thing.” I quickly recap my conversation with Minos in his office. “There’s something else going on here. He’s strangely focused on Cassandra and all but threatened her explicitly. And again last night, the Minotaur did the same. I don’t see how that fits in with the information we already know.”
“Find out what it is.”
I clench my jaw for three beats in an attempt to stuff my frustration down deep. It’s not Zeus’s fault. He’s difficult and abrupt to the point of rudeness, but he’s doing the best he can with the given situation. Knowing that doesn’t make dealing with him any easier, though. “That is what I’m here to do.”
“I’m aware.” He curses. “You know how important this is. We can’t afford to misstep.”
“I will call with any updates.”
“Apollo…” He hesitates. “Be careful.”
“I always am.” I hang up and drag my hand over my face. As frustrating as I often find my conversations with Zeus, this one was timely to remind me of what I’m really here for.
Unfortunately, continuing my seduction of Cassandra will have to wait.
The shower is still going, so I pull on some clothes and head downstairs in search of breakfast. Eating in our room will give us a chance to come up with a game plan for the day beyondmake Cassandra come as many times as possible.