Claiming the Temptress. Renee Field

under his rule knew exactly what he referred to. Zeus controlled the mortal realm of Earth, and currently his brother, Poseidon, was not permitted to visit humans, because he had participated in the Olympian War. The sea god believed it was only a matter of time before his sibling granted him his wish to visit Earth, but until then he was almighty only in his own domain—a fact intensely pleasing to Rourk.

      Sending Rourk after his willful daughter would ensure she would be brought back safe. If not, Rourk knew he’d be dead. That idea no longer terrified him, but he kept that fact hidden from Poseidon.

      “Rourk, not one lock of her hair had best be out of place. Now go!”

      Oh, Rourk did not plan to touch a single fiery-hued strand of hair on Poseidon’s daughter’s head, but he planned to claim everything else about the temptress, who had tortured him for years with her existence. She didn’t know that yet, but after two hundred years being her father’s slave, thanks to a bad game of poker, Rourk had mostly mastered patience. Now that he had fulfilled the terms of his wager, he was free, and better yet, thanks to a more recent and deadly hand of poker, Poseidon’s daughter was his. It was a bet he couldn’t wait to collect.

      “You will abide by the wager?” he asked, knowing it might anger the god further. But he wasn’t risking his life for nothing.

      Poseidon twirled his triton, making him appear bored but deadly at the same time. “Rourk, that question makes it sound like you are questioning my honor. Luckily for you, I know you would never truly doubt my word. Now go. You are wasting precious time, when my daughter walks among men unchaperoned. I will kill any man who touches her.”

      Rourk flexed his shoulders to force his back muscles to bend. “Of that we have agreement. I will bring her back whether she likes it or not.”

      “That is why you are still standing, Rourk. You have two tides to bring her back. Go!”

      Rourk followed the god’s command. Not breaking stride, he dived headfirst through the shimmering portal. Pain assailed him and no amount of demigod blood helped. He did not scream or flinch as his body morphed and contorted from his Titan shape to that of a mere human, though lesser beings had been known to howl as their skin practically peeled off. The reshaping of flesh from his natural mertail to legs hurt like Hades. Stepping through the only exit from Poseidon’s realm to that of man was not for the faint of heart.

      Tumbling into a landing position, Rourk immediately braced his body for attack. With an angry swipe of his hand, he pushed his wet hair off his forehead, and instantly used his powers to brand clothes onto his body. Then he assessed the scene.

      Dozens of zooming, loud mechanical beasts that humans called vehicles and used to transport themselves blared angrily at him. Some of the vehicles dared to dive toward him, faster than a cyclone. Rourk was glad he’d spent the past six months learning about human culture. He was equally happy his poker-playing opponent couldn’t tell a winning hand if his own fingers were on fire. Cashing in with knowledge and not payment suited Rourk. As a Titan, he needed to understand the role humans played in the modern world, because Earth was Lily’s favorite place to visit. While he would never view himself as modern, Rourk certainly didn’t want to appear like a caveman to Poseidon’s daughter. However, he hoped, like her father, to put an end to her fixation with humans.

      Rourk darted around most of the vehicles with an agility few humans ever witnessed. Swiftly, he vaulted over the last line of them, landing warrior-ready, feet braced apart on the hard, unforgiving ground.

      Whether Lily liked it or not, today Rourk planned to collect his bride. Her feelings did not matter; she was his. Her father had made it so, thanks to a serious error in judgment. Sometimes it really was best to fold your cards when you were holding nothing of value.

      What, by Tartarus, had she been thinking? Knowing Lily had gone through the same portal he had painfully materialized from, to flee from him and hide on Earth, made Rourk crazy with worry.

      Pathetic. As if there is a realm I won’t venture into to claim what I won and rightly deserve. There would be no hiding from him.

      Rourk had spent enough years wearing Poseidon’s chains, being taunted by his daughter’s mere presence, that the smell and taste of freedom equaled Lily. He’d spent thousands of torturous hours lying awake hot and hard, his cock full and swelling with the tantalizing promise of her. Night after night he’d had to take his pleasure by hand, pumping his shaft shamelessly because Lily had simply walked by him that day. Well, no more. He had fulfilled the terms of his contract, and was certain Zeus was happy with the outcome. It might have taken two centuries, but the plan was finally set in motion.

      A union between two royal houses, finally. The fact that Poseidon was oblivious to it, perfect.

      Wicked, erotic thoughts of the many ways he planned to pleasure his Siren bride slammed through him. Once he found her, Rourk intended to ensure Lily never took him for granted again.

      He strode down the crowded pathway, where all the people made way for him. He noticed he was a good head taller than most humans. Women ogled him as he passed. The men wisely took a step to the side.

      Rourk ignored them all, his thoughts centered on claiming Lily. Thinking of what he was going to do to her the minute he found her pumped blood to his cock. Rourk was irritated beyond measure that he was constantly hard around her, and further annoyed that she barely tolerated his presence. Too bad. You are now mine. I plan on pleasuring you, and you will bloody well not walk by me again as if I’m beneath you, Princess.

      * * *

      Lily continued to eat her double fudge chocolate decadent ice cream while bubble-gum-colored polish was being applied to her toenails.

      “Your father is going to be totally pissed at you.” Airael tried to sound annoyed and failed. Lily nodded, savoring the taste of her icy dessert as her aunt worked her magic on her toes.

      “What was I to do, Auntie? I told you. He’s going to force me to marry one of those demigods. Please. Just who does he think I am?”

      “His daughter,” replied Airael, moving to Lily’s other foot.

      She huffed in annoyance. “I am not about to marry some whining literary god-poet whose life revolves around books, talking politics and discussing the glorious weather on Mount Olympus. Boring. That’s who I’ve been surrounded by my entire life. The thought of being glued to some bookworm for eternity makes me want to puke.”

      “Stop being so dramatic, Lil.”

      Lily knew Airael, a goddess belonging to the House of Love, understood her plight. Of all her aunties, Airael, currently married to Max, a god of the House of War, knew opposites attract.

      When Lily had overheard her beloved father plotting her upcoming marriage to a god of the House of Justice, she knew drastic measures would be needed. The House of Justice was made up of the most boring gods ever created. Lawyers. Judges. And even a few accountants. Not in my lifetime will I be linked to a man who sits behind a desk all day.

      “They’re not all bad.” Airael blew on Lily’s polished nails to help speed up the drying process.

      Lily wiggled her toes. She loved being in human form, especially knowing daddy dearest detested it.

      Savoring the last two bites of her ice cream, she said, “Oh, yes, they are. Do you know of any gods from the House of Justice that don’t fit the description I just gave you?” She narrowed her eyes at Airael, who looked to be about twenty, by human standards. Currently, her auntie, who was actually two thousand and twenty-three years old, had hair the exact shade of the nail polish drying on Lily’s toes. She also wore a silver nose ring, which Lily knew Max loved.

      Airael pursed her lips.

      “That would be a big fat no!” Lily scooted off the leather settee to stand. It took a lot of effort not to jump around. But her nail polish wasn’t quite dry and she didn’t want to ruin her aunt’s hard work. “Seriously, I can’t do it, Airael. I can’t love a god I don’t admire. I want someone who makes my heart stutter