ROYAL ENTRAPMENT Read online

  ROYAL ENTRAPMENT

  Sons of Zeus

  By

  Rachel Carrington

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Royal Entrapment, Sons of Zeus

  Copyright (c) 2005 by Rachel Dawn Carrington

  Cover art and design (c) 2005 by DL Taylor

  Cover Model: Brooks Johnson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without permission, except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. Printed and bound in the United States of America.

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  Chapter One

  Asclepsius raised his head from his task, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow. He could hear the impatient footsteps of the God of War just outside the chamber door; it almost made him nervous. The gods forbid that anything should happen to Ares= chosen one. Bending his head back to the job at hand, he gave Jasmine an encouraging smile. ANot too much longer, my dear.”

  Jasmine panted with another wave of pain and gritted her teeth. AThat=s good to know.”

  AWhat=s going on in there?” Ares pounded a fist against the heavy, wooden door, making his presence known loud and clear.

  AJust a little bit more time, Ares," Asclepsius hedged, patting Jasmine=s leg. AHe doesn=t have a whole lot of patience.”

  AHe...never...has,” she gasped.

  Ares= footsteps fell with a heavy tread as he marched in front of the door. Arms folded, muscles tensed, he gave every appearance of the angry god he was. So, when the shower of pink sparks signaled his sister=s arrival, he glowered at her, spoiling for a fight. AWhat are you doing here?”

  AZeus sent me,” Aphrodite returned the glare. AIt wasn=t my idea, believe me. He wanted me to check on his grandson.”

  “My son has not arrived yet.”

  Aphrodite wrinkled her nose in distaste. AWhat=s taking so long? Are all mortal women so slow?”

  AMaybe it=s just that goddesses are all fast.” Ares bit out.

  Taking umbrage at the sarcastic crack, the Goddess of Love leaned in closer to her brother. AI wouldn=t make me angry if I were you or I=ll see that your son ends up with a wife who’s very unfortunate looking.”

  Ares winced, but didn=t apologize. AWomen are far into his future.”

  Aphrodite gave her brother a disbelieving look. AAre you kidding me? You were chasing girls in your fifth year. It=s not that far away.”

  Frown deepening, Ares presented his back to her. AYou can leave now and tell Zeus that I will let him know when my son has arrived.”

  The goddess didn=t budge. “Well, there’s more.”

  Ares scrubbed his face with his hands. “Just out with it.” He edged closer to the door to listen to his wife. If he had his way, he would have simply brought the child out through a simple sweep of his hand, but Jasmine insisted on a natural birth. What was the use of being a god if he couldn’t use his powers with the woman he loved.

  “Hello, Ares?” Aphrodite waved a hand in front of his face and he blinked at her.

  “I said out with it,” he barked.

  In a perpetual good mood, she grinned. “Zeus wanted me to warn you that Hera knows.”

  Ares’ blood ran cold. “Knows?” He played dumb.

  Golden shoulders lifted in a shrug. “That’s all he would say. Want to fill me in?”

  He glared at her. “No. I don’t. Now, be gone with you. I have much to do to prepare for my son’s arrival.”

  The Goddess of Love studied him for a long moment. “There’s something going on here and if Hera knows, it can only be bad news.” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you do something Jasmine isn’t going to like?”

  The glare intensified. “Why aren’t you already gone?”

  She straightened in a huff. “Fine. I’ll leave, but this has bad news written all over it and if I know Hera, which, unfortunately, I do, she has something dark and devious in store for you.”

  As his sister disappeared in the same shower which signaled her arrival, Ares stormed toward the gothic window overlooking the courtyard below. “I swear on Cronus’ life, Mother. If you hurt Jasmine or my son, I will tear you apart limb by limb.”

  Jasmine snuggled against Ares’ side, seeking the warmth his body offered. He whispered something wicked in her ear and she smiled in the darkness. Would the god ever get enough of her? Since she and her son, Jared, had moved into the God of War’s newest temple, more than a two days’ walk away from her old home, she spent long nights in Ares’ arms, long, delicious nights. Her skin tingled.

  Ares rolled to his side and cupped her breast in a familiar fashion. “She awakes,” he teased. His fingers pinched her nipple lightly.

  She let out a breathy sigh and closed her eyes. “Have you been waiting for me to wake up then?”

  He dipped his head and replaced his fingers with his mouth. His tongue swirled around the peak, drawing a moan from deep within Jasmine’s chest. Spending a lavish amount of time suckling her, he tortured her, teasing her with his fingers lightly grazing her bare abdomen.

  Jasmine took hold of his hand and brought it low, settling it between her thighs. She needed him. It had been far too long. Their son, Andion, was now a little over six weeks old and she ached to feel Ares inside her.

  The god followed her unspoken command and inched open the lips of her pussy. The calloused pad of his index finger nudged her clit and she jerked, whispering his name. He feasted on her breast while pushing against that most sensitive part of her. Her legs fell open wide and she urged him to increase the pressure, to make her come. But Ares apparently had other plans.

  He lifted his head and met her gaze. “You’ve been making love to a god for a long time, Jasmine.”

  “Yes. I know.” She eyed him strangely. “Are you feeling all right?”

  He waved away her concern. “Of course I am. Gods never get sick.” He took hold of her hand. “Now, I want to fuck a goddess.”

  She pushed him so hard he rocked back against the mattress. “What? I just gave birth to your son, you inconsiderate ass!” Climbing from the bed, she stalked across the cold, stone floor, pausing to glare over your shoulder. “I can’t believe you. What were you thinking to say something like this when you’re in bed with me?”

  Ares chuckled and zipped across the room to appear in front of her.

  “I hate it when you do that,” she groused, tipping her head back to glare into his smug face.

  “You didn’t give me a chance to finish. You seem to make a habit of jumping to conclusions with me.”

  “Oh, I jumped, did I? I believe you said you wanted to fuck a goddess. Nice vocabulary you have there, by the way.”

  He took hold of her shoulders and steered her back to the bed. “I guess that did come out wrong, didn’t it? What I meant to say was it’s about time I wasn’t the only one with immortal blood running through my veins.” He arched one eyebrow and gave her a supremely superior look.

  Jasmine’s mouth fell open as all the blood rushed to her head. “Ares, what are you saying?”

  He pushed her to sit down and then he knelt in front of her, comfortable in his nudity. He slid his hands up her thighs,
allowing his fingers to dangle between them. “I want to make you a goddess, Jasmine.” Head lowered, he continued to speak. “I can’t imagine my life without you and thought it may be selfish, I don’t want to spend the rest of my days knowing I’ll have to give you up one day.” He raised his eyes then and Jasmine caught the sheen of tears in those dark orbs. “Please don’t make me do that.”

  A goddess? Her? She couldn’t imagine it. The true gods would be livid, but if the truth were told, their collective opinions mattered little to her. She’d fallen in love with the meanest, baddest god of them all. She doubted there was much they could do to her. Cupping his face, she leaned in for a kiss before responding. “You’re willing to risk the wrath of your family to make me a goddess?”

  Ares glowered at her. “My family has no say in this.”

  Her blood hummed. “And you can really do this?”

  He got to his feet. “You doubt my abilities?” He swept a hand in the air and produced a silver chalice. “Liquid nectar of the gods, my sweet. A few sips and you will gain more power than you ever imagined. We will spend long nights together without want of sleep.” Extending the goblet, he waited for her acceptance.

  Hand trembling, Jasmine’s hand closed around the stem. “Will it hurt?”

  He smiled down at her. “No. The change is painless.”

  She still hesitated. “What about Jared?”

  “When he is older, I will give him the same choice I have given you.”

  “And Andion?”

  “Our son is already half-god. The complete transformation will be as simple as a touch of my hand. Just relax, Jasmine. All will be well.”

  Trusting him and yet, wondering if she should, she brought the chalice to her lips and drank deeply. The liquid flowed down her throat, bittersweet and thick. She wrinkled her nose and lowered the goblet. “Do I look different?”

  He took the cup from her hand. “To me, yes. You’re glowing.” The chalice disappeared and he pushed her back against the mattress. “Now, to fulfill my dream.”

  Jasmine watched his eyes dark as she opened her arms wide. They’d made love many times and yet, it still wasn’t enough. She would never get enough of him.

  Ares raised his head. “That’s the idea.” He winked and ducked his head to lick her ear. Delicious shivers skated down her spine. The things the man could do with his tongue.

  Reading her mind again, he began to travel, leaving warm, wet streaks over her exposed skin. He spent an exceptional amount of time bathing her nipples, long enough for Jasmine’s breath to stall out in her lungs.

  The he moved to her stomach, drawing damp circles with his tongue and lower still until Jasmine’s heart stuttered. He paused, lingering over top of her mound. “I believe I’m going to enjoy this taste better than ever before.” His thumbs parted the petals of her pussy and he growled low in his throat.

  Jasmine clutched the coverlet, waiting, tensing. Sparks of awareness shot through her and caused her toes to curl. She couldn’t move, didn’t want to move. Ares took his sweet time, kissing each side of her sheath, making gentle smacking noises. Her breaths came in short pants.

  He dipped his finger into her channel, stroking the walls of her pussy, teasing her opening with light tickles. Then his tongue replaced his finger and Jasmine jerked as he went deep. His hands slipped beneath her, cupping the globes of her ass to bring her closer to his warm, wet mouth.

  Deliciously devious, his fingers didn’t stay still very long. While his tongue fucked her relentlessly, he tiptoed into her tight crevice. Jasmine gasped as his finger plunged into the small opening. She came with a series of cries and pleas, but before she could finish, Ares rose up over her, flipped her on the mattress, and eased his thick cock into her pussy. She gave a moan of pure satisfaction and sank her face into the blanket, biting her lip.

  Ares rode her fast and hard, pushing into her with such rapid strokes Jasmine barely had time to catch her breath before he touched her womb again. She felt his balls brushing her ass, his hands cupping the tight globes, massaging them as she clenched around his length. “Oh, yeah, baby. Oh, yeah,” he began, the sounds almost animalistic.

  She raked her nails down the mattress as the pressure built again. Tasting her own blood on her lower lip, she lifted her head and arched her back while Ares slammed into her. He fucked her wildly, much like a beast would mate with his own. Her heart sounded loud to her own ears as her blood pumped furiously, diving down between her thighs to hasten the orgasm. Her sheath cupped him like a lover’s hand and her muscles contracted as the climax spun her out of control.

  Ares shouted, stiffened and poured his seed into her with several uncontrollable jerks and groans. He rested his chest against her back and breathed. “By the gods, I think that was the best yet.”

  Jasmine’s laughter was muffled against the blanket beneath her. “Why? Because I’m a goddess?”

  He slapped her ass and stood, rolling her over. “Give me a minute and I’ll come up with an answer that doesn’t piss you off.”

  She came to her knees, reaching for him just as a shower of sparks littered the room.

  “What the hell?” Ares cursed and spun around. “Mother! Damnit!” He swept a hand in front of his body and clothed his lower half. “Don’t you ever knock?”

  Hera walked forward, her nose wrinkled in distaste. “Forgive me for interrupting your,” another wrinkle, “time with your,” she paused, fixing her glowing eyes on Jasmine’s face, “just exactly what does he call you anyway, dear?”

  Jasmine yanked the blanket up over her body and wondered if she could now use what Ares had given her to teach Hera a lesson or two. The woman had been nothing but cold and unfeeling since Jasmine and Jared had come to live with Ares. She didn’t expect her to change now, but someone needed to stand up to the bitch.

  Hera fixed her with a warning look. “And that someone will not be you, Jasmine.” She whipped her gaze back around to Ares. “And you, how you disappoint me.” Tsking and strolling around the bedchamber, Zeus’ wife finally paused at the foot of the bed. “Zeus is most displeased as well.

  Ares folded his arms across his naked chest. “Oh, do tell, Mother, because we both know how I’m always so concerned about what Father thinks.”

  Hera appeared to consider the question before she focused her attention on Jasmine. “Enjoy your immortality while it lasts, my dear. You won’t have it very long. After all, it wasn’t Ares’ right to give it to you.”

  “Say good-night, Mother. You were just leaving,” Ares snarled, taking a step forward.

  The powerful goddess held up one hand, keeping her gaze riveted on Jasmine’s face. “Zeus would like to see his grandson.”

  Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. “Then Zeus needs to come down here.”

  Hera’s lips pursed. “Such a feisty little thing. Too bad you don’t know the entire story.”

  “And I doubt I’ll get it from you.

  Hera laughed out loud, mirthless and cold. “Well, don’t count on my son revealing all. Ares wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him on the ass.” She flicked the edge of the blanket. “I believe he told you about the pregnancy, right?”

  Ares zipped forward, but Hera threw up a hand. A fireball shot from her palm and Ares dodged the flames, deflecting them with his gauntlet. He snatched hold of her arm and whirled her around while Hera laughed.

  “It looks like I’ve overstayed my welcome, Jasmine,” she called out.

  “You were never welcome to begin with,” Ares informed her with more rage than Jasmine had heard in his voice in a long time.

  Hera easily slipped out of his grasp and ascended into the air, feet dangling. “He knew you would get pregnant, Jasmine. That’s how he planned it all along. He wanted an heir, someone to train up in the rigors of war.” She waggled her fingers. “You didn’t really think he loved you, did you?” As she disappeared, her parting words filtered into the room. “A god could never truly love a mortal.”

  Silence dro
pped into the bedchamber, cold and stifling. Intense. Jasmine brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. For a long moment, she couldn’t speak, not that she didn’t have plenty to say, but she didn’t want to hear anymore lies.

  She pushed herself to her feet and walked around Ares’ rigid body. “I’m going to check on Jared.”

  “He’s fine,” Ares bit out.

  “He’s my son,” she emphasized, “and I’d like to check on him.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, hurrying out of the bedchamber and down the long hallway.

  Jasmine tipped her face toward the sky, wishing the heat of the sun could take away the pain squeezing her heart.

  “Mom, you still haven’t told me where we’re going,” Jared complained.

  She rested a hand atop his head. “I’ll let you know when I know.”

  The boy wrinkled his nose. “Isn’t Andion hungry?”

  The baby lay sleeping quietly in her arms and Jasmine brushed a finger down his cheek.

  “No, he’s fine. If you’re tired, we can take a rest.”

  Jared continued to trudge along on the dirt road for a long moment before he finally

  spoke. “Why did we leave Ares’ temple? I thought you were happy there.”

  Her heart cracked a little more. “So did I, but let that be a lesson to both of us. All is

  never what it seems.”

  All hell broke loose. Ares wouldn’t stop until he found Jasmine and pity the fools who stood in his way. Fury compelling him, he kept the warlords active, living vicariously through the metal clangs of sword upon sword, though the loud grunts and groans of confrontation did little to soothe the terror clawing at his soul.

  Jasmine had left him, walked away with Andion and Jared. And he couldn’t find them. Because he’d given her the ability to run. Even now, he could hear his mother laughing uproariously at his predicament. He was sure more than a few “I told you sos” were being bandied around on Mount Olympus, but he’d be damned if he’d give up. No matter how long it took, he’d find them.