The Untamable
Chapter 4
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But things did change. It was subtle but it niggled there in my peripheral vision prodding me to look deeper. But work was piling up. I didn't get time to sift through my own thoughts, or their implications. I took his cooperation in stride. I saw him look longer into the pool when people asked for love; albeit he still ignored their wishes. He continued to be an imperious ass, but there seemed to be a deeper understanding of my personal space. He had walked into me in the bath tub once and demanded I return to the mansion with him. He hadn't understood my squawks of protest and the need to hide in my bubble bath. Now he stood outside the door if he called on me.
And then the change became apparent one day.
"Oh my god!"
"You rang?"
Eyes snapping up to his lazy drawl from the canopied bed, I watched him wide eyed. "It's Sara!"
His brow furrowed as he went over the paperwork. "What?"
"Sara!" I pointed to the fountain. "It's Sara!"
"I speak nearly every language known to man and then some and I have no idea what you just said."
"Sara!" I glared and gesturing wildly to the flickering water. "My best friend! The woman who thought you were my boyfriend." He still seemed confused. I rolled my eyes. Some all-knowing deity. "She thanked you for saving my life at the planetarium?"
"The clingy, talkative one?"
I glare at him. "Watch it. That's my BFF you're speaking about."
He snorted. "BFF? Seriously? What are you; five?" With a sigh, I beckoned him closer and he rose out of the bed languidly. Standing behind me he gazed at my curvy green eyed friend and shook his head. "Idiot female."
I stared up at him. "Her wish is pure! Look at her, she really likes this guy! Sean could totally be the one! I didn't realize she wanted him this badly! She's praying for him! Answer her!"
He looked at me incredulously. "Excuse me?" Turning to me with a frown he touched my forehead. "Are you ill? Because I could have sworn you knew I did not grant wishes for love."
Swatting his hand away, I glared at him. "Leo, she isn't asking for love. She wants him to notice her, that's all! Answer her!"
With a chuckle he turned and walked to the door.
"Are you laughing at her wish?!" Scrambling after him I followed him down the hall. "I'm serious! What are you doing! Leo, she's waiting!"
Grinning over his shoulder he threw back, "I'm laughing at you Goldfish."
It only exasperated me more. "Come on, you heartless mule; just this once!"
His heels smoked and I smacked into his back, my nose colliding with one solid shoulder blade. "Awo!"
Turning around he took a moment to tilt his head and examine my nose before frowning. "You take too many liberties with me human." Then he turned and marched on, opening a door down the hall and stepping in.
I'd seen most of the mansion, but this room I hadn't been invited to. And it was just as well, because beyond the doors were the most lavish, elaborate baths I could see. Mouth dropping open nearly comically I took in the white marble and gilded gold of the enormous bath and the clear sparkling water that gurgled out of the largest fountain I had ever seen. For a moment I was disgusted with the superficiality and extravaganza of these gods. "You've got to be kidding me. The mansion was one thing, but this! This is excessive even for you! Elitist son of a…"
"Watch it Goldfish," Leo paused at the lip of the enormous bath. "Even for you my patience has its limits. I will not take well to you talking badly of the Almighty."
I flinched. "Sorry, I keep forgetting who made you."
"I'm still wondering why he made you."
I wanted to throw something at him, but all I could see was a pretty pink bar of soap. But before I could fathom trying to reach it, Leo dropped his white coat. Then his shirt. Then his belt.
It was when I saw the slope of his torso disappear into the opened front of his pants that I spun around, my face on fire and my mouth opening and closing like…well…a goldfish.
"Problem?"
Swallowing hard, I imagined my fourth grade teacher giving me the pop quiz, my last boyfriend with the woman he cheated on me with, anything that could distract me from the possible image that presented itself behind me on a silver platter. I knew that if I turned around he wouldn't hide anything but I also knew he'd never let me live it down if I appreciated anything he was connected with. But damn the opportunity was a tempting one.
"Will you please grant Sara's wish?"
There was a splash and swirl of water and counted back from 100 in my head in hopes of not thinking about where he was right now. That was why his ineffectual "Why?" nearly went unnoticed.
"Because she's my friend."
He was silent for a moment save for a splash here a ripple there. "So, a favor then."
I let my shoulders sag. "In exchange for what?" A part of me was disappointed that he was still trying to weasel something out of me. That the few weeks we'd spent together were still not good enough for a free favor. And therein lay my stupidity. When did I think that we were friendly enough to ask for favors? He was a fallen deity and I was only a goldfish. And I just knew he was going to ask for something idiotically inappropriate. Like my body, or a limb. Or my heart on a silver platter. Literally.
"You decide."
For a minute I couldn't understand what he meant. Without thinking of the consequences I turned and blinked at him only to be struck numb. Well, maybe numb wasn't the word. Dumb? Definitely.
Because Leo is a beautiful specimen. There was never any doubt about it. But the sight of those washboard abs sparkling with water, one arm up, hand sifting through his hair as he leaned back against the side of the huge bath was a sight that would be burned into my mind forever. It was then that I remembered he was no man. Because the ethereal glow that surrounded him, his long, sleek neck, that confident slant of his honey eyes; no man could pull it off. No human could be as sure or as confident of his prowess as Leo, the Wild Lion of the Heavens.
I swallowed thickly, my throat dry, my limbs locked in place as I realized with horror: I couldn't look away.
Then that lovely mouth stretched into a knowing leer. "Or maybe you already know what to offer me." He lifted a hand to beckon me closer and like invisible strings on a puppet my legs slowly moved and brought me closer to the edge of the bath, my breath suddenly harsh in my chest. Was it just me or was his mark of sin slowly beginning to fade? It looked lighter somehow, but I didn't get time to ponder on it.
He'd put the whammy on me.
In some heinously ingenious way, he was using his power. Because the alternative was just too unthinkable.
It was the shock of the grip of his hand that finally brought me to my senses. Like touching a live wire, I gasped, my mind snapping into focus as I realized what I had revealed, but it was too late.
Before I could pull away, before I could glare that stupid leer of his face, Leo's grin tightened like a vice around my hand and yanked me right off my feet.
With a screech of surprise, I went down, hitting the water with a mighty splash that sent water over the side of the bath.
The water was warm, but on my heated skin, it was freezing. Sputtering had shaking with more than the shock, I came up with a wheeze and clutched the first thing I could reach. And the warm sinuous arms wrapped around my waist.
Oh. Crap.
I stared up into that terrible face. Terrible because there was something horribly wrong about how much I wanted to touch him. The slow slide of the masculine jaw, the straight slant of the aristocratic nose, the flare of the full mouth, the delicious caramels of his eyes.
Oh. Holy. Crap.
The delicious caramels of his eyes were flickering with laughter.
Instinct lending strength to my limbs, I planted my hands firmly on his chest and shoved myself out of his arms, collapsing back into the water, flailing there for a moment as I swallowed a mouthful. While I gathered my footing, every ounce of my being filled with shame, but more than anything – fear. I didn't like it. This sudden weakness. This insane need to touch him. It was irrational, baser and stupid! Every woman he probably met felt the same way. How could I allow myself to be just like them!
The self-berating would have continued had I not felt the ripple and splash of water and then to my absolute horror I watched him straighten, rising out of the water and take a step towards me. His eyes swallowed me whole, the leer replaced by the predatory finality that was intrinsic to a lion.
"Leo!"
He halted and for a moment I thought I saw a flash of disappointment in his eyes before the usual disinterest was back.
The doors to the baths slapped open and Taurus and Pisces stood at the threshold, a flicker of concern on their faces.
"We heard a scream," Pisces frowned, but Taurus was already taking in the sight of us. Me frozen against one side of the bath, Leo treading water to his waist, standing there like a marble status.
My skin flushed, heat rushing to my cheeks as I looked away from him, my own heart marginally slowing as Pisces and Taurus began to chatter.
"Damn, looks like we interrupted something Issy."
"My, my. What a lovely wet present. Naughty of you to have her all to yourself Leo."
"Oh that is a pretty wet picture. Will you let me paint you this way Goldie?"
Arms wrapping around myself, I realized my green t-shirt was plastered against me, leaving nothing to imagination. I wanted to turn around and throw something at him. Even a well-placed barb, but my nerves were still raw and I didn't trust my voice to not break.
Humiliation built deep and punishing in my gut as the two gods prattled on, Aquarius and Gemini coming in to see the commotion. I wanted to die. What must they think of me? Me who pretended to resist and play strong. What kind of picture did this paint indeed?
Another groupie for Leo.
Pushing my limbs to obey me, tears building behind my eyelids, I took a wobbly step towards the marble stairs that lead out of the tub when something warm and fluffy wrapped around me. Head snapping around, I saw Leo standing beside me, holding the huge white towel that now engulfed my upper torso. He hooked it gently between my tightened fists, his fingers coaxing them to wrap around the towel instead. "I was just playing with her. I thought the poor goldfish might need a lesson in swimming." I stared at him over my shoulder as his apathetic eyes lifted up to his companions. "Just a little game." Honey eyes turning back to me he offered me a stiff, mocking grin. "Off with you Goldfish. We have a wish to grant remember?"
My mother taught me never to look a gift horse in its mouth.
Before anyone could analyze what Leo's game had been, I took the opportunity to glare at the grinning deities still framed in the doorway and left.
But the entire walk back to the door that would take me back to the apartment, my heart kept skittering off its kilter.
Leo had not only made light of our situation, he'd assured the others it had been his game. I couldn't believe he'd been this kind.
For just a moment there in that water I thought he wanted something completely different. Maybe it had been a game, but it had become something else. I could feel it in my bones. Just when I expected him to be cruel and mocking, he'd been sweet and compassionate. And when I'd expected him to laugh at my attraction to him, he'd… I didn't know what to call it. But it had been something.
For the life of me I realized I had no idea who Leo really was and more than anything – I realized I wanted to know more.
It was silent but decided.
He was going to grant Sara's wish, so when he met me by the front doors of the mansion I was floored.
I am used to seeing Leo in his entire divine glory; the white gold trimmed coat, the royal tassels and all that jazz. So when I saw him standing there clad in straight black pants, black collared shirt open at his throat, the red jewel sitting snug against the hook in his collar bone, one hand on his hip as he waited impatiently, I nearly tripped.
Oh dear god.
His head snapped up, his eyes their usual bored. "You're late."
It was not fair.
The fury was irrational, but I felt my frown deepen against my will. It was idiotic to go from fear to anger, but that's just what I was. Afraid. Because while in his godly garb he was irresistibly handsome, in his human clothes, he was touchable. Approachable. "Yeah, well, someone ordered an impromptu bath for me." My inner voice screeched. He did not deserve a spec of that biting anger. It was not his fault. Not today at least!
But to my ever growing surprise, he raised an eyebrow and snorted. "You did sort of smell. Remind me to thank this someone when we return."
Mouth dropping open, I gaped at him like the Goldfish I didn't not like being compared to. "Excuse me! I do not smell!"
"Well, that bath will cure nearly any stink." He grinned.
A strange sort of contentment filtered through me. This was good. This was familiar. The world righted itself beneath my feet as I walked over to stand beside him. "Don't be insufferable. Why are you dressed like that?"
"Goldfish memory," he sniffed imperially. "You took a favor from me."
I had never really agreed, but given the circumstance, I cleared my throat and crossed my arms. "And you need new clothes to operate the fountain today?"
"Why so concerned with my clothes?" He chuckled.
"Out with it Leo. What are you plotting?"
"How very commanding of you," he purred teasingly.
A blush threated my cheeks and I planted my hands on my hips. "I'm not going another step until you tell me what's going on!" But before I had even finished my demand, he had taken my hand and snapped his fingers.
The wind rushing past me, I gasped and held tightly onto his hand as the world around me shifted.
We stood on the subway platform, the sun casting the sky into an orange hue above us and I blinked in surprise. "We're…"
"Looking for your friend. I wanted to see this pure love you keep prattling about."
Disoriented for a moment, I realized he'd started walking. "Hey! Wait for me!" Jogging up to keep stride with him, I frowned up at him. "Why are we granting Sara's wish in person?"
"I am simply giving you an opportunity."
"For?"
"Showing me how granting your friend's wish is worth my time."
I was about to open my mouth when I saw Sara standing in the distance, glancing at her watch as she waited for the train. Something prickled in the back of my mind. She was awfully distracted and standing anxiously close to the edge of the platform. I saw the flickering grey of the train as she pulled out her phone to check her messages as the people milled around her.
My heart lurched in terror when I saw someone's shoulder jostle against her back and her phone slipped out of her grasp. Almost as if time slowed, I watched her cry out and try to grapple it back before she lost her grip, only to lose her footing. Instinct made me cry out and reach for her, but Leo's hand closed like a vice around my wrist.
I saw Sara tip towards the rails and the cry in my throat nearly burst into a scream.
But before I could, an arm wrapped snugly around her waist and she was pulled back onto the platform and flat against the solid form of one Sean Preston.
Like something out of a movie I watched them gaze up into each other's eyes as the people poured past them into the train until they were nearly the only people left of the platform. Even from the distance I could see the sparks fly as Sean smiled down at my flushed friend, adrenaline running them both high. They whispered and carefully pulled away, Sean's eyes firmly rooted to my friend as Sara ran a blushing hand through her hair, her eyes down cast. I saw them talk for a moment, notice they both missed the train and slowly decide to walk to their destination together.
I didn't realize I had followed them until Leo took my hand.
Snapping out of my daze, I blinked up at him, to see him calmly strolling beside me, his eyes taking in the sights of my beautiful city at dusk. "He really outdid himself you know."
"Who?"
"Your creator. This world really does have its own beauty."
Shocked at the honest admiration in his voice, I didn't notice that we walked down the street nearly mimicking Sara and Sean as they chatted and strolled.
"Thank you."
Leo smirked down at me, his shoulder brushing mine as we walked. "You talk like this is your doing."
"No, I meant that it sort of belongs to me, this city, so I thought…"
"You humans are all so arrogant. This world doesn't belong to you, you belong to it."
And the god of Leo was back. Shaking my head, I turned back to see Sara and Sean take a detour into the park and sit down on the bench to admire the sunset. Leo and I stood under the shade of a tree, invisible to them. "Well, you rarely appreciate anything human, so I'm thanking you on behalf of my entire race."
"Gratitude accepted." He was silent for a moment and we stood companionably watching the couple begin to grow closer on the bench.
"Did you do that?"
"I'm holding your hand, aren't I?"
A sharp twinge of pain stabbed my chest but I caught the flinch before he could read my disappointment. "Very subtle," I bantered instead. Of course he needed to touch me to work his godly magic. Why did I think there was anything companionable in it? I really was losing my mind.
Heat rushed to my cheeks when I saw Sean and Sara slowly kiss then nearly devour each other passionately in public. "Leo," I hissed up at him and he snickered as the poor couple drew away with star-struck expressions on their flushed faces. "God, you're cruel."
Mirth still dancing in his eyes, his shoulder shook as he grinned down at me. "Never took you for a prude."
Unable to hold back the smile, smacked a hand against his chest and muttered about 'presumptuous gods' as I leaned against his shoulder. "Leave them alone, they can handle the rest."
"We'll see Goldfish," Leo purred, his voice nearly against my ear. "We'll see."
That night, I dreamt of golden fields and beautiful leafy oak trees.
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To be continued…
