A Scent of Greek: Out of Olympus Read Online Free PDF Page B

things that flitted through his mind change him in any way. He was who he was: a philanderer, a womanizer, a seducer. Nobody would change that. It was better if he made a clean break right now before more words about a relationship flew about the room, before he gave her hope where there was none.
    And before he seriously hurt her, just like his father had hurt all the women he’d ever been with. And he was his father’s son if he liked it or not.
    Even though he hated what he had to do, he forced himself to do it anyway. “Sleep, my sweet.” His persuasive powers, powers each god possessed, lulled her into sleep.
    Like a thief in the night, he left her bed. As he cast a glance back at Ariadne’s sleeping body, his chest tightened. His body rebelled, wanting him to return to her arms, to sleep with her body wrapped around him. The draw was so strong, he swayed and had to steady himself with a hand against the wall. She was weakening his resolve just by lying there in her sleep, vulnerable and as beautiful as a summer’s day. But he had to resist for Ariadne’s sake. She would be better off without him.
    As fast as his shaking limbs allowed, Dio got dressed while contemplating wiping her memory of him. But the content smile that touched her lips even in her sleep stopped him. He didn’t want to take her memories away. They’d given each other pleasure tonight, and he didn’t want to erase those memories, though he knew it would be better.
    As he stalked into the night, running from something he didn’t understand, Dio’s gut twisted. He’d never had any problems walking away from a woman before, and the knowledge that he was hurting her with what he was doing only magnified his guilt and the feeling in his chest that he was making a big mistake. The biggest mistake of his life.
    ***
    Ariadne stretched her arms over her head as consciousness returned and sleep traded places with wakefulness. Slowly, the events of the previous nights returned, pasting a smile on her face. Her entire body still hummed from the aftermath of her lovemaking with Dio. She’d been overwhelmed with the intensity of sensations he’d conjured up in her. She’d never felt so cherished.
    Even before she opened her eyes to the sunlight that streamed through the partially closed blinds, she knew she was alone. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and shot up from her prone position. No wonder Dio had already left: it was past eight o’clock and high time to get ready if she didn’t want to be late. Dio probably had to get to work too.
    For a moment, she paused. It was strange, but he’d never mentioned what he did for a living, other than saying that he managed some investments and traveled a lot for his job. Ari chuckled to herself: being the perfect gentleman, he’d always asked her about her life and interests and refrained from constantly talking about himself. It was a welcome change from other men who found themselves so important that they only wanted to talk about their own achievements. Now that she thought about it, Dio always deflected questions about his life, almost as if there was a lot of pain in his past and he didn’t want to talk about it.
    Ari knew something about pain. She’d gotten hurt over a year ago, and it had taken her until now to pick up her life again and let go of the disappointment and heartache. And in the process, she’d found Dio. Sometimes things did turn out all right.
    Ari swung her legs out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. She had no time to daydream right now, but even her lack of time couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. As she stepped into the shower and let the warm water sluice down her body, she was aware of every cell in her body, every inch of skin Dio had touched and kissed, and particularly of the place between her legs that throbbed pleasantly in synch with her heartbeat.
    She bit back the disappointment that Dio hadn’t woken her when he’d left, but maybe he was just