Poseidon's Addiction: (Gods of Olympus, Book Five) Read online

  Poseidon smiled widely. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he was downright ecstatic over her agreement to join him. She couldn’t help notice his teeth were perfectly straight and snow-white. Must be tough being a God, gifted with natural strength and beauty, she thought, as she ogled the gorgeous man.

  “Yes, we’re almost there. You will need to change again and take care of that wound to your arm. You can bring one small bag, but nothing more,” Poseidon instructed and carefully lifted Kiiara up to rest in his arms.

  She felt weightless in his hold. Cradling her was effortless, and he was able to check the cut on her upper arm. It wasn’t that bad in her opinion. She’d sustained much worse, but she would clean and cover it, so an infection didn’t set in.

  “Where are we going? Please tell me it’s a warmer climate,” she conveyed. She was eternally grateful for the up-close-and-personal penguin encounter, but she preferred flip-flops to snow boots any day.

  “The foothills of Nepal.”

  She had been stationed in China for several years and knew the area well. She loved the country and excitement bubbled to return to the beautiful scenery it offered.

  “Now you’re talking my language. I love Lalitpur. Great hiking, if you like that sort of thing,” she added, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.

  “I’m glad you said that because we will have a short trek. Wear hiking boots,” Poseidon added.

  A million thoughts scattered through her mind as she quickly planned what she would need. One thing the military had taught her was to be able to leave on a minute’s notice, taking the bare necessities. She wasn’t sure what she was going to tell Kevin regarding the boat, but it wouldn’t be resolved in the next few days, so there was no reason to feel guilty about going out of town.

  Kiiara was about to embark on a trip to one of the most beautiful, not to mention one of the most romantic, cities in the world. And Poseidon would be with her, she thought with a smile. More butterflies swarmed in her belly, but this time it had nothing to do with her fear of heights.

  It was all about the God holding her in his arms and the way she felt when she was with him.

  Kiiara stood beside Poseidon on the shoreline. “Are we not flying?” she asked, curious as to why he had brought her to the water’s edge. Surely, he wasn’t going to call his giant seahorses to take them.

  “No, there is too much land between here and there and my power lessens the further I get from water. We will teleport instead,” he stated as he looked up and down the sandy beach.

  “Umm, come again?” Kiiara commented. He never mentioned teleporting, and her stomach revolted at the thought.

  “Trust me. You’ll love it. I guarantee it will be the best underwater experience of your life,” Poseidon said and grinned.

  “Why can’t we do things a normal way, like hop on a plane? Seasickness is the worst,” Kiiara declared, adjusting her backpack.

  “I’ll make you a deal. If you get nauseous, we will try your mundane travel coming back.” Kiiara narrowed eyes at him, studying his demeanor as she attempted to determine if he was being truthful.

  “Deal,” she agreed, and before she could say another word, he waved his hand, and she barely had time to take a deep breath and pray she wouldn’t drown.

  Instantly, they were surrounded by an oversized bubble. It floated off the sand and drifted over the water. Moments later, it dipped lower, and her heart dropped to her feet. Expecting water to seep inside, she took another deep breath and held it in. As the bubble descended, she looked up to see water above them but it didn’t penetrate the protective case surrounding them.

  “So this is teleporting? I imagined it differently,” Kiiara admitted.

  “Not exactly. This is how I teleport with you, mortal. For me, it’s a matter of thinking of a destination and moments later I arrive. You aren’t equipped to handle my method, so this keeps you in accommodating conditions,” he explained as she took in her surroundings, ignoring the patronizing comment of her human status.

  Once again, she was mesmerized by what was happening. Reaching into the outer pocket of her backpack, Kiiara grabbed her cell phone. She wasn’t about to leave her home again without it. Snapping shots of curious fish approaching, she snickered when they bounced off the bubble.

  As they sank lower and lower to the depths of the ocean, she reached out to touch the surface of their container. It was firmer than she expected but not as hard as plastic. Whatever the material, she didn’t feel like the oxygen supply was depleting.

  A sea turtle swam up to investigate the oddity floating in the water. It was the biggest she’d ever seen, and she took another picture. “Look how calm. You’d think it would swim away, but it’s moving along beside us.”

  “That’s because I’m connected to every creature in the ocean. They know it is safe with us,” Poseidon admitted. She looked at the attractive man and shook her head. He had no clue how different they were.

  “What? You have an odd expression on your face,” he said and his brows furrowed.

  “Oh, no, it’s nothing bad. I find your life fascinating, that’s all,” she said and then her eyes went wide and her heart leaped in her chest.

  Kiiara lunged, landing in Poseidon’s strong arms as she screamed and pointed, “Shark!”

  Within moments, a Great White swam up to the bubble. It had to be twenty feet in length and was close enough for her to see the rows of lethal teeth jutting from its mouth.

  She felt Poseidon’s grip tighten and pull her close. “Relax, we’re safe. There is nothing to worry about.”

  Her eyes met his green depths, and she was pulled deeper into his aquatic gaze. She had no idea if it was the adrenaline coursing through her veins, or what, but the next thing she knew, her lips were on his.

  Soft, full lips meshed against hers. He tasted of salt with a hint of lime, and she parted her mouth, wanting to explore more. His tongue slipped past her lips, and she rubbed hers along the wet surface. Poseidon was the perfect margarita, and she was tipsy from one shot.

  A moan escaped her throat, and he growled in return. He was hungry, too, if she wasn’t mistaken. They might come from different worlds but when it came to passion and lust, it was apparent they spoke the same language.

  Her nipples hardened when he tightened his hold, causing her body to press against his hard chest. In her panic of seeing the shark, she had unknowingly wrapped her legs around his waist, but now she was very aware of her core against the hard length in his leathers. A painful ache had her wanting to grind against his erection, but she forced her lips away, wriggling until he set her down.

  “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what just happened,” Kiiara confessed as heat flushed across her cheeks. She had all but attacked the man, and in her embarrassment, she turned away from him.

  Poseidon grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face him. When she looked away, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted. Sea green depths had her quivering with need.

  “Don’t apologize. In fact, if I’d have known your reaction, I would’ve summoned a school of sharks. You might have stripped me bare,” he husked, revealing his raw lust.

  The idea of removing his clothes was tempting. She could only imagine what it would feel like to surrender to this God, allowing him to have his way with her. She had no doubt it would be a night she’d never forget.

  Swallowing against the dryness in her throat, she croaked, “Not likely, Trident-Man. I’m not that easy,” she sassed and turned her back to him, looking again to the vast ocean as they glided along inside their protective bubble.

  The massive shark swam nearby but kept a safe distance, and she wondered if that was Poseidon’s power controlling the creature. The God came up behind her and removed her backpack from her shoulders before setting it on the floor. Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and he pulled her against the hard line of his body. She felt his hot breath on the back of her neck, and it sent a shiver down her spine. />
  “I’m aware that you’re not easy, Kiiara. I meant no disrespect,” he whispered in her ear then kissed her cheek. It was soft and gentle, telling her this man was capable of great tenderness.

  She waited for the crass comment to follow but none came. Maybe there was hope for him, after all. Relaxing into his hold, she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. She watched the grace and strength of the shark as it glided along while Poseidon kissed along the base of her neck.

  The man had skills when it came to kissing. Her lips continued to burn from the searing kiss they shared. Her tongue slid along the sensitive area, and she pressed her swollen lips together, trying to soothe the flaming heat.

  Time stood still as they stared into the dark abyss surrounding them. Everything blurred as she felt the bubble’s speed increase and she wondered how fast they were traveling. It was comforting to feel so at ease with a man and not feel the pressure to carry on a conversation.

  Kiiara wasn’t a chatterbox and typically found it difficult to entertain men on dates with witty stories and charming mannerisms. It struck her that she was thinking of this as a date. Sadly, it was the best date she’d been on in a long time.

  “It won’t be much longer. I imagine you’re hungry,” Poseidon said, invading her thoughts and answering her curiosity about their speed. It was remarkable to think they were traveling thousands of miles in such a short time.

  She felt his beard against the side of her face as he talked, and she was surprised how soft it felt on her skin. She had never liked beards, especially full ones, but she found it sexy on him.

  “Famished, actually. I haven’t eaten since this morning,” she admitted, and her stomach rumbled in agreement. Kiiara turned in his arms and locked hers behind his back.

  “The time difference is eight hours ahead of your Eastern time zone. It’s three a.m. here. I’m not sure if any nearby restaurants are open, but we will get a hotel room and order room service if nothing else. A good night’s rest will do us good. We can get an early start tomorrow,” he explained as he twirled a lock of her hair around his index finger.

  She didn’t miss that he said hotel room, as in singular, and sweat beaded her brow. Her racing heart was only overshadowed by the growling of her stomach as her mind tried to comprehend his intentions. Did he expect that they would be sleeping together?

  Truth was, she barely knew Poseidon. She was attracted to the man, but that didn’t mean she was ready to have sex with him on their first night together. She would be lying if she said it hadn’t crossed her mind, but she wasn’t ready to act on those urges.

  Clearing her throat, she forced words from her mouth. “Are we sharing a room?” she asked with a shaky voice.

  “We don’t have to. The city of Dhaka is safe. Some of the surrounding cities are not and I wouldn’t allow you in a room alone. I promise if we stay together, I will be a complete gentleman,” he proposed then added, “unless, you ask otherwise.” The sinuous grin that followed made her heart skip a beat.

  Kiiara wasn’t sure which was more appealing, Poseidon on his best behavior or the Greek God unleashing his seduction all night long.

  “How about food first then we’ll decide. I can’t think straight when I’m hungry,” she stated and reached down to grab her backpack when she felt the bubble begin to lift to the surface.

  It was pitch black around their shield, but she could see light above. It must be the moon, she thought, staring at the sparkling water overhead. The bubble pushed through the calm water until she could finally make out the shore and buildings in the distance.

  The barrier disappeared, and her senses were bombarded by smells of the beach. She loved the salty air and the breeze off the ocean. It fed her soul.

  Stepping onto the empty stretch of sand, she was captivated by the beauty of the night. Small waves kissed the shore, and the moonlight danced across the water. She felt a warm hand grab hers, and turned to see Poseidon’s green eyes glued to hers.

  Trapped again by his hypnotic gaze, she knew she was in trouble when her mind and body screamed Screw the food! Screw him instead!

  6

  Poseidon entered the luxurious hotel and scanned for staff members. Luckily, it was the early morning hours, and there was only one male behind the desk. That would be an easy manipulation. He didn’t possess necessities such as local currency and would have to implant ideas into the employee’s mind to get a reservation. Poseidon’s wealth exceeded his needs, but drachmas were foreign to most, and this human would not know of his coinage.

  “Have a seat right here, and I’ll see about a room and food,” he told Kiiara who looked like she might fall over if she didn’t sit down. She was practically asleep on her feet with her eyes at half-mast and all the yawning. Poor thing was exhausted from the long day, and he wanted to get her to a place where she could rest.

  She plopped onto the modern sofa, her head falling against the top of the cushion. “This is the hardest sofa I’ve ever sat on, but I don’t care. It feels divine,” she murmured as her eyes slipped shut.

  He needed to get her to a room fast, or he’d be carrying her to bed. That idea didn’t repulse him as it should. Males of his stature didn’t dote on women, but he was growing fonder of Kiiara by the minute.

  Poseidon walked to the counter and had a brief discussion with the clerk. Luckily, he was fluent in Bengali, as well as many other languages, and persuaded the human to give them the best available room, one overlooking the ocean, then placed a room-service order.

  He had no idea what foods Kiiara preferred, so he requested one of everything, including several bottles of wine. Dhaka was one of the few cities in Bangladesh where alcohol was available for consumption. Poseidon would never understand such religious practices of not drinking. Alcohol dated back to the beginning of time, and he enjoyed it with meals. It was one of his luxuries in life.

  He sauntered back to Kiiara, and when he reached her, he saw she was fast asleep. He threw her backpack over his shoulder, then gently picked her up and carried her to the elevator. A few minutes later he was inserting the key card and opening the door to their room.

  He went straight to the bed and gently laid her down on the king-sized mattress. She stirred but didn’t wake, so he carefully removed her hiking boots and grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed to cover her.

  The clerk at the desk said their food would take about thirty minutes, so Poseidon figured Kiiara could rest until it arrived. He walked to the spacious bathroom, deciding a shower would revive him.

  Poseidon quickly undressed and turned the nozzle to its hottest setting. Steam quickly filled the room as he stepped into the large shower. The scalding spray soothed his tense shoulders, and he stood there several minutes, allowing the water to beat against his muscles. He was stressed as hell.

  The clock was ticking, and he hadn’t retrieved his trident. He could only pray the Gods were on his side and Hain hadn’t connected with its power. If he did, then the world as Kiiara knew it was going to end, not to mention he was going to lose a majority of his power. And that he would never allow. Every ounce of his ability was going to stay rooted to every fiber of his being where it belonged.

  After washing his body and hair, he stepped out and grabbed a white towel from the hanging bar. He remembered seeing robes on the bed, so he wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the foggy bathroom.

  Kiiara was awake and sitting up in bed. She was holding the remote and scanning through television channels. When she looked up, her eyes widened, and he heard a small gasp. Yes, she saw what he had to offer, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she found him appealing. All women appreciated a God, but the fact that this woman wasn’t immune was somehow extremely satisfying.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” he said and rapidly shook his head. Water flew from his hair in every direction, and water beads trickled down his beard and chest. He hadn’t sufficiently dried off, but the cool temperature in the room felt good on his damp
skin.

  “No, not at all. I can’t believe I fell asleep in the lobby. I’m sorry you had to haul my fat ass to bed,” Kiiara said with a snort. Poseidon wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to the obnoxious sound, but thankfully, it no longer repulsed him.

  “You’re far from fat. In fact, your backpack weighs more than you,” he commented, and she smiled widely. Apparently, that comparison pleased her. He wasn’t sure why but he made a mental note that mortals wanted to be considered puny.

  “Are you done with the bathroom?” she asked as she stood and walked over to the panoramic windows. “My God, it’s beautiful here. I can’t wait to see the view in the morning,” Kiiara muttered as she gazed out the window.

  Poseidon walked over and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. There was something about this woman he couldn’t resist. He had to touch her supple skin. Breathing deep, her sweet scent teased his cock, and it hardened against her back. He knew he should will it away, but he couldn’t. Holding her felt too fucking good to deny.

  “I’ve got the best view right here,” he husked as his eyes roamed down to her breasts. From where he stood, he had a perfect view of her cleavage. Lush globes pushed from the top of her low-cut t-shirt, and his mouth watered at the sight.

  “Don’t forget your promise. A complete gentleman,” she croaked. Her voice trembled and he worried he might have frightened her with his advances, which was ridiculous. He was a God worried about a human female’s feelings. First, his Trident was stolen, and now he is concerned about Kiiara. The world must be coming to an end…or he was losing his edge.

  “I remember,” he replied and placed a kiss on her shoulder. Stepping away, he turned and picked up a robe from the end of the bed. He slid it on, then let his towel drop to the floor as he tied the sash around his waist. “The shower is all yours. Food should be here soon,” he added and jumped on the bed, landing perfectly on the large assortment of pillows against the upholstered headboard.