Heart of the Sea Read online

  Nerites puffed out his cheeks. He took a slow breath to stall, then shrugged.

  “I’m just tired.”

  “Do you want to rest here?” Poseidon inclined his head toward a nearby room with a soft-looking bed.

  Nerites let out a sharp bark of laughter. Did he always have to be considerate?

  “Not that kind of tired.” Before he’d made a conscious decision, the words were tumbling from his lips. “I’m tired of being a novelty. Something everyone wants to pick up and throw away, or—or kidnap. I don’t want to leave the sea. This is my home. My whole family is here. Thetis loves Zeus, but no one’s dragging her up a godsforsaken mountain! I don’t want to leave, or be taken, or be turned into a shellfish against my will. I want to stay here and be left alone with my sisters and with—”

  Nerites’s mouth shut in a snap. Poseidon was watching him and suddenly, his gaze was sharp. Nerites looked down into the wine cup in his hand. It was just one syllable he’d trapped on his tongue before it could escape. But nuzzling a shark wasn’t the only way to be bold. Nerites huffed a breath out and shrugged.

  “With you,” he finished. “I love y—”

  Poseidon cut him off, not with his words, but with the clatter of a discarded goblet. He dropped it and crossed the space between them in two strides. That broad, rough hand of his cradled Nerites’s head and tipped it back, and when Poseidon leaned in to kiss him, he plundered his lips like he’d drink his soul.

  There had never been a kiss more perfect.

  It Comes in Waves

  Poseidon felt Nerites’s sharp inhale the moment he allowed him the space for it. Chagrined, he leaned back to let him catch his breath. All the while, he brushed his thumb across the smooth skin of Nerites’s neck. He took the cup tipping dangerously in Nerites’s slack fingers and set it aside.

  Nymphs came in every shade and shape—as multitudinous as the creatures of the seas they swam—but they all had eyes that ranged in color from the dark green of seaweed to the lightest blue of clear, shallow pools. None were more beautiful than Nerites’s bright eyes though.

  “I thought you weren’t interested in me,” Nerites whispered.

  Poseidon had to laugh. He’d always laughed more easily than Zeus, who’d grown into war, and Hades, who was the first in the dark and still carried worries heavier than his cloak.

  “What in the world made you think that?”

  Nerites blinked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Well, you never . . .”

  A soft pink flush colored Nerites’s cheeks. He was still in that chiton, clinging to his body in sopping wet folds. Poseidon wondered if that same charming blush would color his chest, sweep up his neck, tinge the shell of his darling ear.

  “What? I never groped at you? I didn’t think you wanted any more attention.”

  Nerites nibbled his bottom lip, red from kissing. “I didn’t.”

  Poseidon was not immune to the follies of gods. He smirked to be proven correct, and Nerites shoved his loosely curled hand against Poseidon’s chest, though not hard enough to push him away. “From anyone else,” Nerites clarified. “You should have said something.”

  How could he argue that? If he’d thought Nerites desired him, he shouldn’t have wasted a single moment.

  Poseidon leaned forward until the tip of his nose brushed Nerites’s. “You’re right. I was foolish. But I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable in the sea. I might be the god of it, but it’s your home. You’re not beholden to me or to anything else here. I’d hate to make you feel you were.”

  “You were trying to take care of me.” It wasn’t a question, but Poseidon grinned sheepishly. A high, tight sound escaped the nymph.

  The next thing he knew, Nerites crashed into him again. There was no finesse to the kiss, but Nerites bit his bottom lip and tugged. Poseidon’s eyes rolled shut, and he groaned. Finesse was negotiable.

  His arms wrapped around Nerites’s lithe body. He pulled him in hard and felt the rigid press of Nerites’s cock against his thigh. Rather than shy away, Nerites arched against him. His cold, wet chiton kept their skin apart. Poseidon reached down to slip his hands under the cloth. He peeled it up over Nerites’s hips and threw it to the side.

  Like he knew exactly what he wanted, Nerites gripped his shoulders and hopped up. His legs wrapped around Poseidon’s waist, and Poseidon delighted in dragging his fingers over his strong thighs. Nerites was built for swimming, every curve of his body graceful. His soft skin hid hard muscles, toned from the water’s resistance. When Poseidon’s calluses brushed his skin, Nerites keened and rocked against him.

  Poseidon did not have to sleep, but beds were useful for plenty of things—yes, naps included. His was made of layers of sponge, wrapped together in soft skins. He tipped Nerites back onto it and crawled up after him. Lowering his head, he kissed the hollowed flesh between his stomach muscles and his sharp hip. Nerites whined as Poseidon made his way up his body, flicking his tongue along Nerites’s salty sweet skin.

  By the time he reached Nerites’s lips, the nymph was impatient. He reached down with his quick, smooth hand and rolled Poseidon’s balls. Poseidon grunted as Nerites gave him a soft tug.

  “I want you, my lord.” The honorific dripped teasingly from those sweet lips. Poseidon was sure, now, that Nerites had only ever called him that to set his blood racing. It worked.

  With his other hand, Nerites pushed Poseidon onto his back and climbed on top of him. Without the wet chiton, his skin was warm silk, and everywhere it slid against Poseidon, his body tingled.

  “Do you have anything slick?” Nerites asked.

  Poseidon reached for the side table and passed him a small bottle. Nerites pressed the spout to the tip of Poseidon’s cock and turned his hand to pour. The warm oil ran down his flesh in drizzles that made Poseidon’s breath hiss between his teeth. A firm stroke of Nerites’s hand followed it.

  “Is this for me, my lord?” His eyes were hooded as he watched Poseidon, but Poseidon’s gaze fell to the movement of Nerites’s hand, smooth and sure and efficient.

  “Yes,” he rasped.

  Nerites grinned. “Then I should make myself ready.”

  He slicked his fingers and reached behind him to prepare himself. His lips fell apart, his eyelids fluttered, and Poseidon was sure he’d seen nothing more gorgeous.

  Poseidon could hardly lay back and watch. He sat up and held out his hand toward where Nerites gripped the bottle, forgotten.

  “I’ve seen your slim fingers, Nerites. You’ll need my bigger ones if you want to be ready for me.” Nerites keened and nodded. He slicked Poseidon’s fingers and put the bottle aside.

  Nerites’s breath was a rattle when he pulled his own hand away, but Poseidon replaced it in an instant. The heat of him, the tight ring of muscle that clenched around Poseidon’s knuckle when he breached him, was all perfect, but not half so perfect as the sounds he made.

  Poseidon moved slow, crooking his finger inside him until Nerites’s lips trembled over needy moans and pleas. Another finger set him rocking wantonly into Poseidon’s hand. It wasn’t long before he reached between his thighs and pushed Poseidon’s wrist away.

  “Need you now. Lay down.”

  Poseidon did as commanded, and Nerites rewarded him by turning around on his lap. With his legs spread wide, Poseidon watched the nymph reach between them, framed by his legs and Poseidon’s abdomen, to steady his cock. He rocked onto it until just the tip pressed against his entrance.

  Then, he sank. It was slow, maddeningly slow, but Poseidon got to watch as Nerites stretched over him. He could see his cock disappear into that tight, slick heat. And gods, when Nerites moved, stars burst between his eyes.

  At first, he let Nerites set the pace, but it was too much to watch the way his body undulated. When Nerites began to move faster, chasing more and more still, Poseidon gripped Nerites’s thighs, braced his feet, and thrust up into him.

  Nerites threw back his head and cried out. His hands reached
behind him and braced on Poseidon’s hips.

  “More, Poseidon. Harder,” he panted.

  Poseidon was all too happy to oblige him. Each thrust hit like a lightning strike, forcing the air out of Poseidon’s lungs in grunts and sweet murmurs.

  When he came, his eyes squeezed tight shut, but blinding white light flashed behind his eyelids. He blinked them open to see Nerites bent forward, hands on Poseidon’s thighs. That place where they were joined slick and lovely pink.

  But Nerites was still panting, shaking, his cock still flushed and hard as ever. Poseidon sat up and eased Nerites back to lean against his chest. “I’ve got you,” he whispered.

  Poseidon kept his legs bent and spread them apart so Nerites had no choice but to spread his own wider. The muscles in Nerites’s stomach clenched as he rocked, his movement restricted. Poseidon snaked his hand around Nerites’s smooth hip to grip his cock. Nerites squeezed Poseidon’s hips, while Poseidon’s free hand pressed into his chest. He swiped over the leaking tip and thrust gently into Nerites, matching the movement to the stroke of his hand.

  “It’s okay. Let it go.” He kissed Nerites’s temple when he turned his face into Poseidon’s neck.

  “I love you,” Nerites whined.

  Poseidon’s free hand slid up from his chest to cup his neck. With the press of his thumb, he tipped Nerites’s head back and stared at him until the nymph met his eyes, his pupils blown wide with only a sliver of icy blue all the way around them.

  “I love you too,” he said in a low, serious rumble, and Nerites fell apart in his arms.

  Sunburn & Shimmer

  In all his centuries, Nerites had never felt so full, sated, or happy. Poseidon was still sitting up, his chest pressed down the length of Nerites’s back. His hands petted Nerites gently, teasing over his chest, and Nerites thought he might never come down from this sweet bliss.

  Now that Poseidon had him, the god seemed determined to touch every inch of him. Nerites was inclined to let him.

  He shifted off his lap and immediately missed Poseidon inside his body. He toppled to the side and looked up at the god.

  “Did you mean it?” Nerites asked. Perhaps his lack of confidence was unbecoming, but he’d spent so long thinking Poseidon didn’t want him.

  Poseidon, as generous with his laughter as ever, leaned forward and kissed him softly. “With all I am, Nerites. I love you. I’ve loved you for decades.”

  Nerites’s heart beat harder at that. He fell back against the soft skins that piled the bed and, pleased, smiled up at him with his face half hidden.

  “We could stay here, just the two of us,” Nerites suggested. “There’s no reason to go back to the surface. Wouldn’t it be nice? No one from up there would find us.”

  Poseidon fell back so hard that it shifted the bed under them both. He reached over and combed his fingers through Nerites’s short umber hair.

  “Nerites, I could hide away from the world with you for an age, but not because there’s something up there you’re afraid of.”

  Nerites tucked his chin down, so Poseidon continued.

  “You don’t have to worry about Helios. He’s a titan. They no longer rule the world, and they’re only here by Zeus’s grace. He’d throw them in Tartarus again with a word.” Poseidon kissed his forehead. Nerites loved that simple affection and pressed into his lips. “We defeated them once, and I’d gladly beat him down again.”

  Nerites chuckled. “Yeah? How many titans did you defeat, my lord?”

  Poseidon growled. He looped his arm around Nerites’s waist and pulled him in, ducking his head to nibble his neck until Nerites had nothing to give but sharp laughter and squirming.

  “All of them,” Poseidon said, his tone low and threatening.

  Nerites relaxed in his arms as Poseidon settled down. The silliness had made him feel better. If Poseidon wasn’t worried, perhaps there was nothing to worry about.

  “Anyway,” Poseidon continued, “hatching season has only just started. The turtles need you, Nerites. You cannot abandon them.”

  Nerites sighed. Poseidon lay on his back and extended his arm for Nerites to curl into. The brush of Poseidon’s fingers along his side was soothing.

  “I suppose you’re right . . .”

  They spent the rest of the day recovering, then tumbling together and recovering again. Poseidon seemed unconcerned with the wine they’d spilt on the floor earlier. Before they left, with a wave of his hand, a stream of water splashed in from where it was held back by will or magic and swept the wine away. When they left for the evening to tend the nests, Poseidon grabbed his trident—just in case, he said. Nerites didn’t have to ask what contingency he was preparing for.

  It was already dark when they got to shore. The baby turtles were only just beginning to crawl out of the ground. This time, Poseidon kept his hand on the small of his back as they walked them to the sea.

  So many made it, and Nerites delighted to think, a few years down the line, they’d be big turtles swimming back to make nests for their own children.

  They sat at the tide line as the sun rose. Nerites realized then he’d left his chiton in the palace. Normally, it wouldn’t have mattered, but he did not want Helios to see him.

  “Are you all right?” Poseidon asked, sensing his tension. Nerites only nodded, so Poseidon leaned over and kissed his cheek.

  “You’re mine for as long as you want to be, Nerites, and even if you stopped, I wouldn’t let him come near you again.”

  Nerites’s lips twitched. He didn’t have words, but Poseidon didn’t seem to need them.

  It started with a faint pink light in the east. Nerites imagined he could hear the pounding of Helios’s horses’ hooves like battle drums in the distance, but that was silly. They flew. There was nothing for them to pound against.

  The sun rose higher, and all too soon, it was coming toward them as it had two mornings earlier.

  Helios was impossible to look at until he wished to be seen. Nerites squinted and ducked his head. Poseidon turned his face up and closed his eyes. His trident lay beside him in the sand. As the light dimmed, Poseidon grabbed it and stood up. Nerites followed suit but hung back a few steps.

  As they approached, the glow dimmed further, and Nerites could make out Helios’s wide, straight mouth split in a smile that looked unnatural. He’d never trust a titan smiling.

  “I thought you might never come out of your shell,” Helios said, tipping his head to one side as he looked him over. Nerites stayed behind Poseidon, glaring out past his broad arm. “It would be a pity to never see you again, sweet.”

  Poseidon took a breath, and Nerites couldn’t be sure, but it seemed like the air made his body swell even bigger.

  “Helios, I will give you the opportunity to turn back now and leave us alone. You’ll not set hand or spell on any Nereid again.”

  Helios laughed. “Really, boy? And you’re their protector?”

  Poseidon cocked his head. Nerites hadn’t thought about it, but if Poseidon would protect turtles and talk to sea beasts, why shouldn’t he look after the Nereids?

  “I am.”

  Helios laughed. “Nymphs are here for us. Everything is here for us.” He threw out his arms to claim the universe.

  “Even if that were true, that makes us responsible for protecting them. If we’ve been given this world, we shouldn’t spoil it. I would have thought your time in Tartarus would have taught you to appreciate what you’ve been given. At least it should have taught you to think twice before crossing Olympians.”

  But titans did not know how to appreciate the miracles they had made. Helios threw back his golden head and laughed, and as he did, his glow returned, threatening in its brightness.

  Poseidon’s fingers twitched by his sides. He called the water from the gentle tide. Nerites heard as the waves crashed harder and swept farther up the shore, and he watched as tendrils of water wound between Poseidon’s fingers. Helios didn’t seem to notice.

  “You
don’t intend to leave this place and these people of your own accord?” Poseidon asked.

  “No.” The word came out like a whip crack. “I’ll have what I want, and that includes that delicious creature cowering behind you.”

  Light shot out from Helios in a searing beam. It never hit Poseidon. An enormous wave crashed over all of them and refracted the light. Nerites covered his head, but water couldn’t hurt him. He managed to stay upright, Poseidon too, but the weight of it crashed into Helios.

  The wave fell apart against the shoreline, and as the water flowed back out to sea, it left the kraken in its wake. Helios had seen Poseidon call to the creatures of the sea before, but never like this. Never on land.

  The great beast smashed one long tentacle down over Helios’s chest and pinned him to the sand where he’d fallen.

  Poseidon approached. He spun his trident and pressed the longest middle tip into the soft hollow of Helios’s throat. The light rolling off Helios sputtered and went out.

  “I’ll be clear with you now, Helios—my brother is still my brother. Whatever oath you swore to Zeus does not outweigh the bonds of our blood. He put Prometheus in Tartarus, and I’ll see you strung up beside him before you lay another hand on any being in my realm. Set foot on my shore again, and I will drown you. Understand?”

  Helios jerked his head once. Poseidon smirked.

  “Good.” He removed the trident. With a jerk of his head, he called the kraken off. It slithered on its many arms back into the water. “I’d suggest you cut a higher path in the sky than Selene. My seas still respond to the pull of the moon. You’d do well to stay far enough away that I forget you.”

  Helios glared, but in a shimmer, he left. No one could fight Poseidon on his own shores.

  When Poseidon turned around, Nerites threw himself into his arms and kissed him soundly, his tongue demanding entrance. Poseidon’s lips were salty and tasted like home. Poseidon tipped his head back to open him to a thorough plundering.