Chapter Forty-Five
November 21, 2008
Styxx came awake facedown in a thick forest. Birds sang out as the sun streaked through the foliage around him. His ribs hurt like Galen had kicked them. And as he lay there, trying to get his bearings, he heard a beautiful contralto singing an ancient Egyptian lullaby. Tears filled his eyes as the Egyptian words reminded him of Bethany.
Unable to resist the siren's lure, he pushed himself up and headed toward the sound. He broke into a clearing, where he found Bethany on her blanket, cuddling a boy around the age of five in her arms. She saw Styxx and smiled a smile that set fire to every part of him.
"Look, little Galen, Daddy's finally home." She set the boy down and he ran for Styxx.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Styxx couldn't breathe as the boy latched on to his leg and held it tight. His hand trembling, he brushed it through the short, wavy blond hair and stared in awe at the bright blue eyes that looked at him with total adoration and love.
Swinging the boy up in his arms, he melted as Galen laid his head on his shoulder and hugged him tight. "I missed you, Daddy. Did you bring me something?"
"He brought you himself," Bethany teased their son. "Is that not enough?"
Laughing, Galen fell back into his mother's arms. Bethany held him on her hip before she rose on her tiptoes to place a scorching kiss to Styxx's lips. "Just so you know, I'm furious at you."
"Why?"
"You made me miss you. But I'm so glad you're back that you're completely forgiven."
His heart pounded as she laid her head against his chest and held him with one arm. He wrapped both of his around the two of them and choked on a wave of tears. The scent of eucalyptus and lilies warmed him. He never wanted to move or let them go.
I must be dead.
But he didn't mind. This was the only place he'd ever wanted to be. Held tight in her arms.
Bethany handed Galen back to him then took his hand to lead him toward their tiny stone cottage. Inside, Galen's toys were strewn across the floor. His son kicked his short legs to let Styxx know he wanted down. After obliging him, Styxx gently pulled Bethany into his arms so that he could bury his face in her hair and inhale her sweet scent while she ran her hands down his back. Every hormone in his body roared to life.
"Galen?" she called.
"Mama?"
"Why don't you go play with Dynatos outside for a little while?"
Galen grabbed a ball and ran to the door.
"Don't go far! Stay so that I can hear you."
"Okay, Mama."
As soon as the door closed, she claimed his lips with a scorching kiss. Styxx couldn't think straight as she dropped his chlamys to the floor then untied his chiton so that she could touch him all over.
He loosened the rope belt around her waist and let it fall to the floor before he pulled her peplos over her head. His starving gaze scanned every inch of her beautiful naked body. He pulled her against him.
Laughing playfully, she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist while she nipped his lips and chin with her teeth. "I'm so glad you're home."
"Oh, Beth, so am I. I feel like I've been gone for an eternity."
"Every heartbeat you're away is an eternity for me."
He savored those words as much as the sensation of her soft skin sliding against his.
She took his hand into hers and frowned. "You've new scars."
"They're not important."
"They are to me. I don't like for you to get hurt."
He hardened even more at the sound of love in those words. Needing to be inside her, he carried her to the bedroom. Though to be honest, he didn't want to wait to be inside her. But she was his heart and soul and the mother of his son. He didn't want to rut with her like her comfort meant nothing to him when all he desired in this world was for her to love him with one-tenth the intensity he felt for her.
Gently placing her on the bed, he recaptured her lips and slowly lowered himself between her legs. Trembling, he kissed his way down her neck and shoulders so that he could taste her taut, perfect areola.
"I love you, Beth," he whispered, rubbing his chin against her breast.
"It's a pittance compared to what I feel for you, my heart.... What kept you so long from us?"
"The gods I hate."
"You shouldn't hate the gods, Styxx."
How could he not? They had robbed him of everything. Even his dignity. But as he stared into the greenish-golden depths of her eyes, his hatred didn't matter anymore. "Then kiss me, Beth. Breathe your faith and love into me and I will hate no more."
She kissed him passionately then reached down between their bodies to slide him into her.
His breath left him in a gasp as he felt her cradling him. For a full minute, he couldn't move for fear of coming immediately.
"It's all right, love," she whispered in his ear. "I know how long it's been for you. Don't worry about me right now. We have the rest of the night for you to take your time pleasuring me." She thrust against him.
Pure bliss exploded through his entire body. Grinding his teeth, he roared with the force of it as he drove himself in as deep as he could and shuddered while she held him to her.
"That was worthless for you," he breathed raggedly into her ear.
She brushed her hand through his hair and toyed with it. "No, it wasn't. I have you in my arms and inside me. I'm happy as I can be. Besides, I know you'll make it up to me later."
Yes, he would.
Sighing, he listened to her heart beating against his ear while Dynatos barked outside and Galen laughed in play. Those sounds brought tears to his eyes.
"Dad!" Galen came running inside.
Styxx had barely pulled his chiton back on and covered Bethany before his son pounded on their door. Making sure he wouldn't scar the boy for life, he cracked open the door and knelt down. "What is it?"
"There's a turtle! Come see!"
Styxx belted his chiton then stepped into the kitchen and took Galen's hand so that Bethany could dress in peace. "Where is it?"
Galen ran with him outside to show it stuck in the mud by a tree. "I tried to free her, but couldn't reach it without getting dirty and I promised Mama I would stay clean for your homecoming."
Styxx knelt in the mud and pulled his son close as he remembered all the times his father had been a bastard to him because Styxx had wrinkled a garment or allowed a hem to sag. "You can roll around in it like a happy piglet for all I care, Galen. The only thing that matters to me is that you wear a smile when I come home to you. And that is the only thing I don't want tarnished." He held Galen out so that he could grab the turtle and pull her to safety.
He brushed his son's hair back and kissed his cheek. "Do you know where the khelone gets her name?"
"The gods!"
Smiling, Styxx helped Galen take the turtle to the pond and wash her off. "That's right. Khelone was a nymph who refused to attend Zeus and Hera's wedding feast, even though Hermes himself had gone to fetch her. Furious, Zeus went to the khelone and demanded to know why she would dare defy and disregard his authority. And do you know what she said?"
Galen shook his head.
"She said, and I quote ... be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
"Is that why she carries her home on her back?"
"It is, indeed." Though the tale claimed Hermes and Zeus had done it as punishment for her refusal to leave her house. But that wasn't a punishment to Styxx. "If I could, I would carry you and your mother on my back with me everywhere I go."
"You'd look very silly, Daddy."
"Some things are worth looking silly for."
Screwing his face up, Galen shook his head vigorously. "I hate looking stupid."
"To make you and your mother laugh or smile, I'd paint myself pink and walk naked around the world."
Galen laughed then freed the turtle into the pond. He threw himself against Styxx and smeared mud all over him. Pulling back, Galen stiffened. "Uh-oh."
"What?"