Fine lines of love

Jos focused her attention on the cup of tea, her words coming out as a near whisper. "I... I'm not sure how much I can tell you... but I... know someone with a grudge against her... someone powerful..."

Arei nodded slowly. "I see... and you think this person would be willing to help?"

"Yeah... I believe we could come to an agreement easily enough."

Arei chuckled as he leaned his head back against the chair. "You realize this is exactly why the gods are always so paranoid right?" He shook his head against the soft fabric of the couch. "There is always someone out there scheming to overthrow someone..."

Jos thought over all the things she knew of Hypnos and his siblings. "I don't know... I don't think they're trying to gain power... just freedom."

He arched a brow as he lifted his head. "You're not talking bout the children of Nyx, are you? I saw them in the security footage from the vampire mansion. Trust me, you don't want to get involved with them."

Jos didn't say anything as she sat forward and set the cup on the coffee table. "I'm getting tired... I should probably head back soon."

He caught her hand as she stood up and tugged her around to face him. "Stay here tonight. I'll drive you up in the morning."

Jos frowned. "I don't know if that's a good idea."

His brows knitted as he stood and pulled her closer. "I'm not asking for anything more than dinner and sleep. I'll even sleep out here if it will make you feel more comfortable."

Jos searched his eyes. She slowly nodded. "Alright..."

A smile curved his lips. "Good. I'll call us up so food. Do you need to call Chary or anything?"

Jos shook her head. "No... I think she was expecting me to stay here... She even sa- well never mine..."

A mischievous smirk curved his lips as he tugged her even closer and closed his arms around her. "What did my sister say?"

Jos pushed against his chest. "N-nothing..." She looked away. "Can we just go ahead and order..."

He chuckled; a grin still spread across his lips. "Sure, what would you like?"

Jos kept her focus trained on the strong arms now around her waist. "It doesn't matter… I… I think I'll take a shower while we wait for it, though."

Arei nodded. "If you need to borrow anything you know where my bags are."

"Oh, I brought an over night bag… I left it in the car…"

His hand slid up her back and around the back of her neck. "Go on and get ready for your shower. I'll go down and get your bag." He placed a lingering kiss to her forehead.

Jos nodded against his lips. "Thanks…" She mumbled when he still hadn't released her.

He chuckled again. "Sorry, I'm being clingy." He gave her forehead another quick kiss before releasing her and walking toward the front door. He turned back to her sending her a smirk. "You're not waiting to lock me out, are you?"

Jos shook her head as she wrapped her arms nervously around herself. "No… but it's not a bad idea."

"Shouldn't be giving you ideas." He laughed with a shake of his head. "I'll be right back."

Jos waited until the door was closed before she made her way back to the bedroom. She looked around the familiar room noting all the things that had changed since the last time she'd visited. It was colder now with most of Arei's personal belongings gone. With a heavy sigh, she walked into the bathroom. It was in much the same state as the rest of the house, giving off more of a hotel vibe than an actual condo or apartment. The mirror caught her attention and she leaned over to stare into it, looking past her own reflection. "What should I do… Should I tell him? He's right, I can't keep badgering him about the truth when I'm holding back yet again…" When no answers were forthcoming, she leaned away from the vanity with a heavy sigh. "Of course you wouldn't be willing to give actual helpful advice…" She slipped her shirt over her head and sat it on the counter before stepping out of her wrinkled skirt. She frowned as she stared down at the crumpled garment. "What was I thinking…" A light knock sounded at the bathroom door, drawing her mind away from her troubling thoughts.

"I have your bag. Is it alright if I open the door?"

His soft husky purr sent shivers of desire through her body. She reached out for the door but thought better of it last minute. She plucked one of the oversized towels from the rack and wrapped it around her. She swallowed down the lump in her throat as she slowly turned the knob. Her eyes trailed up his body. He was barefooted, his jeans were still unfastened from earlier, and his thick torso shirtless. One thick arm framed the door as the other was extended toward her, and his eyes burned down into her.

When she didn't take the bag, he sat it down and stepped into the room. He ran his hands over her bare arms. "If you keep staring at me like this, I'll have to reconsider my plans of being a considerate host."

Jos's hands moved to the tattoos of his chest on their own accord. "You make that sound like a threat… It doesn't sound half bad to me…" Her flushed face lifted, and her hungry eyes burned into his.

His hands moved to cup her face and his lips were on hers before he could form a cognitive thought. Her need was obvious in each seeking caress of her tongue against his. Arei pulled away and cleared his throat as he stepped back. "Finish your bath… I'll wait for the delivery guy."

Jos nodded, staring back at him in stunned silence.

An hour later Jos found herself staring down at her barely touched food, her mind racing in too many directions to maintain her appetite.

"If you'd like something else, I can call around and see what's still open. Or we can go out." Arei suggested as he watched her.

Jos shook her head. "No… it's good really… I'm just… not really hungry…"

He let out a sign. "Alright, if you say so…" He lifted his pack of cigarettes from the table. "Mind if I step out?"

She frowned as she shook her head. "No… but it seems like you smoke more now that you ever did before…"

Arei shrugged. "What can I say, I've been dealing with quite a lot since you left… Dealing with all the troubles of puppy palace is enough to make a saint smoke and drink."

Jos's brows furrowed as she watched him make his way across the room toward the balcony. "Wait. What do you mean puppy palace? Why are you with Russ instead of Ry?"

Arei glanced back at her. "I suspect you could answer that question just as good as me."

Jos pushed up from the floor and followed him outside. "Wait, have you heard from him?"

He shook his head as he lit the cigarette. "Not since about a week or two after he left." His eyes moved over her. "Have you felt his presence near your mother's island?"

Jos shook her head. "I really don't feel the pull here. It's too far away I guess… That's one of the reasons we moved here to begin with."

Arei tilted his head. "If you could live normally here, why go back to Greece?"

Jos shrugged as she looked out over the lit parking lot of the quiet complex. "I didn't really have a choice, now did I…" Her words died off for a few minutes before she added. "Even if I had, I'd still went back… It's home after all, and Shelly and Russ are there… They're my only family."

He frowned. "And now? Do you plan on returning any time soon?"

Jos shrugged again not meeting his gaze. "I don't know. If I do, Russ may never be able to move on and live happily. Shelly has her own family now." A smile curved her lips as she though of little Cam and the other two on the way. "She'll be too busy for me soon enough, especially if I don't have the freedoms to visit her often."

"Do you think working this job will give you freedoms? It won't. All this job will lead to is more jobs just like this. I wasn't joking when I said the gods are a selfish lot. Whatever father promised you, don't count on it."

Jos's frown deepened. "He is right now… That's all that matters to me. If he ever decides to go back on his word then I'll reconsider."

A nerve in Arei's jaw twitched. "But why? You deserve better."

She studied him. "But do I? Did you forget, I lost the court case… and for good reason. This is all I know. At least now I don't have to worry about getting punished for carrying out what needs to be done."

His eyes held hers. "And where do we fall in this new plan of yours?"

His emotions reflected clearly in his eyes causing her chest to ache. "I've not changed my mind. After you drop me off in Maine you'll go on with your job and I mine…"

Arei took a last hit of his cigarette before smashing it out on the balcony rail. "Just as I think we're getting somewhere, you hit the brakes."

Jos forced her gaze away from his and stared back down at the parking lot. "I'm sorry…"

He let out a huffed sigh. "You have nothing to be sorry for… come on. Let's go inside." He placed a hand to the small of her back and guided her toward the bedroom. "I'm still willing to sleep on the couch if that's what you'd like."

Jos shook her head. "It's your bed." Her voice lowered. "Besides, I enjoy your warmth…" She didn't wait for him, instead, she walked over to her usual side of the bed and crawled in. She tugged back the bedding for him and waited.

Arei chuckled and shook his head as he walked over. "You don't make things easy for me, you know that… right?" He tugged his jeans down leaving only his boxer briefs on. "Is this alright with you?"

Jos shrugged. "Why wouldn't it be?"

His eyes narrowed as he climbed into the bed and stalked toward her on all fours. When he was nose to nose with her, he spoke in a low sensual tone. "No reason… sleep well." His breath teased her lips causing her to swallow hard. With a satisfied smirk, he leaned forward and placed a light kiss to her lips before laying down.

Jos could only stare at him for the longest time, fighting against her mouth's desire to flop open in shock. She pushed her surprise to the side and narrowed her eyes at him. "Tease…"

His smile widened. "Only to you, kitten." He reached out and tugged her toward him. Tucking her in the bend of his thick arm, he placed a light kiss to the top of her head. "Get some sleep. We'll talk some more on the drive up tomorrow."

Jos nodded, feeling the pull of sleep tug her consciousness. She pressed her lips against the side of his chest and slid her arm around him. She hesitated for a few seconds. "Th-this doesn't mean I've forgiven you… or that we're back together… just so you know."

Arei huffed out a sarcastic laugh. "Of course not, kitten. Whatever you say." He wrapped his arm tighter around her as he turned onto his side to face her. He caressed her face with his free hand. "But it doesn't change the way I love you." He whispered as he lowered his lips to her temple before snuggling against her and letting sleep take over.