Annabeth's POV

Nobody moved an inch or said a word since Percy and Red left the room. We just waited, and waited, and waited some more. Occasionally, I would let my eyes flick up and peer through the window toward the front porch. I could barely see them standing out there in the freezing cold, deep in conversation. Percy's back was facing me. I tried to read the movement of his defined shoulder muscles as if they were speaking a foreign language. When they lifted, was he angry? When they sunk, was he dejected? Was he shivering from the wind chill, or from the internal storm brewing in the pit of his stomach?

I hoped I could gather more information from his perfect back, but in truth, I was completely in the dark. I think everyone expected their conversation would go off like a bomb quick and explosive. I had anticipated—and secretly hoped—to see mouths screaming, fists shaking, and fingers wagging. I mean, everything I had ever heard about Red painted her out to be Satan's sister. But that was not the picture that stood in front of me. It looked like Percy and Red were speaking to each other respectfully. Maybe even lovingly? Goddamnit. In that moment, I learned you never wanted someone more than when they were talking softly to their drop-dead gorgeous ex, and you couldn't hear a single word. Yes, I will go ahead and porcelain that as a universal truth.

When I arrived at the Jackson's Estate, I was still weary about my whole friendship with Percy. Especially about how it might affect the future of my job. But now, I just wanted to run out into the night, rip off his shirt, and massage his tense shoulders. I started moving toward the door, my feet making the decision before my brain had a chance to stop them. But I nearly tripped over myself as I witnessed something truly shocking. Percy opened his arms and pulled Red in for a long, almost ecstatic, hug. I wasn't the only one who was floored by this sudden development in an already strange evening. Nico grunted. Reyna whimpered. Sally nearly fainted. Poseidon reached for his drink. I sunk into the nearest chair. What could she possibly have said to make Percy forgive all her prior misdeeds, even for a moment, and hug her so tenderly?

Percy's POV

When I released Red from the hug, she was shocked at my sudden display of affection. But I didn't notice or care. It was like the world's largest storm cloud had suddenly lifted, and the sun was flooding in. I had missed the sun.

"Thank you, Red. You won't regret it."

"Take care of her, or I might just change my mind."

"I will. Of course. I always do."

I turned and ran back toward the house, leaving her on the front porch. When I re-entered the living room, I didn't need sight to know all eyes were on me, awaiting an explanation. I couldn't hide my smile, which must have confused them even more.

"Is everyone still here?"

A chorus of yeses confirmed my suspicion that everyone was sitting exactly where I had left them. I blurted out the news: "Red's not suing for full custody anymore."

"No…really?" That was Nico, ever the skeptic.

"As it should be," I proclaimed.

The sobs were coming from my mother, the squeals from Reyna, the applause from my father. But where was Annabeth? I needed to touch her, to know how she was feeling. I started moving in her direction.

"Annie?"

She met me halfway, grabbing my hand in the middle of the room.

"That's amazing, Percy."

She planted a sweet kiss on my cheek. I wished the rest of the people, the rest of the room, the rest of the world would disappear. For the first time in a year, I felt like I had finally regained a little bit of control in my life. And it made me crave more. I didn't want a kiss on the cheek. I wanted Annabeth Chase kneeling at my feet, naked, apologizing for kissing my cheek without permission. I wanted the feeling of my open palm slapping her ass in punishment. Just another tryst wouldn't satisfy me this time. I need her to submit to me, and I needed it now.

Stubborn Annabeth. She still hadn't agreed to the terms. But I suddenly felt a new resurgence of hope. If Red could drop the custody battle, out of the blue, just like that, then truly anything was possible. I was going to get her to sign that contract. Tonight.

Nico's POV

Watching Percy and Annabeth caressing each other in the middle of the room made me think two things.

Number one: Get a room. Seriously. It's starting to get weird.

Number two: Fucking finally.

Hiding underneath all my doubts about hiring Annabeth, about their secret affair, and about the future of the business, I was just so glad to see the ride starting to turn for my brother. It had been an agonizing year. Illness. Loss. Heartbreak. But here he was, standing in front of me with a smile on his face and a woman in his arms. If she made him happy, I wasn't going to be the one to get in the way. Not after everything he had been through.

But now, there was a new concern nagging me in the back of my mind, distracting me from the joy of knowing my niece Thalia and her father would be reunited at last. Why would Red have such a change of heart…if she ever had a heart to begin with? I'd known Red for many years, and I had never once seen her back down from a fight. On the contrary, she sought them out. I figured this must be a strategic move in some master game plan.

"Rey?" I pulled my fiancée close to me. "Any idea why Red would change her mind?"

"She probably realized it's what is best for Thalia."

I kissed Rey on her smooth forehead. By far my favorite thing about my future wife was that she always assumed the best in everybody. I hope she's right this time. I really do.

Annabeth's POV

The way Percy was holding me, the intensity of his touch, made me feel silly for ever fearing he might have returned to Red's clutches. I had never seen him so happy, and his joy was contagious. I would do anything to see him this happy again. Is that true? Would I really do…anything? I was just about ready to take him home and melt into his body when someone appeared from the kitchen and announced dinner was ready.

You have go to be kidding me.

The thought of enduring a civilized three-course meal with this absolute sex god sitting next to me sounded nearly impossible. During the appetizer, he used his shoes to remove my heel and was drawing tight circles around my ankles with his tow cap. I had never thought of ankles as an erogenous zone, but he was proving me dead wrong. I struggled to make conversation, barely eking out answers to questions that were hurled at me. I heard him chuckling at my failed attempts to keep my cool.

By the time the main course was served, I was using my napkin to cover the wet spot that was quickly forming in my lap. Percy dropped his bread roll, but when he bent down to get it, I realized it was just an excuse to push his face into my heat. I sent my hips up to meet him and had to choke down a moan that nearly escaped my lips. When dessert came, we asked to share a slice of cake. It was the perfect excuse to sit closer together so I could rest my hand on his throbbing cock without drawing any suspicion or attention. I traced the outline of it with my finger, slowing down as I gently circled the head a few times over. Now look who's having trouble making conversation? Sally offered us a nightcap around then, but we made a big fuss about being tired and needing to get up early in the morning for work. Whatever was necessary to make our escape.

And just like that, I was straddling him in the back of his limo, dry-humping his rock-hard groin. I reached down and started to pull at his belt buckle, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled it behind my back. He did it with a little more force than I was used to. And I liked it.

"Annie," he panted.

"What?" I fought against his grasp, but he just tightened the hold on my wrist.

"Annie, what is your decision?"

"Please." I could barely catch my breath. "Let's talk about this after. You've been teasing me all night."

"I want to talk about it now."

I squirmed with frustration. And desire. Not just to fuck him, but also to submit to his every wish. I surprised myself but it was true.

"Is the contract ready?"

"I have it at my house. With your name on it and everything. I just need a signature."

"I'll read it," I heard myself say, as I sucked his lower lip and swirled my yearning body into his.

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