“Now? After years?” Antero demanded, thengasped and held up his hands. “Apologies. I do not question yourjudgment, Beneficent Melis, but I’m afraid I don’t understand.”Despite the polite words, his thoughts were pained, colored at theedges by bitterness. “Since I reached manhood, I’ve been chased byothers, and I was happy to be chased, and then to chase in turn.But over time….” Antero pulled in a deep breath and changed thewords lined up in his mind. As if only too aware Melis was beforehim, he stated simply, “You already know the desire in myheart.”
“Yes.” Melis could feel it pulsing outward withevery heartbeat, as he had felt the heat of Antero’s body on hisbed without touching his skin. It was makinghisheart skipand his body flush in response.
“You didn’t answer me,” Antero went on, withoutaccusation though Melis felt the sting of one, “not even to refusemy need or to tell me to stop speaking to you.”
“I liked it,” Melis said, still foolish, andhurried forward on his clumsy, almost human feet. He spoke in anembarrassed rush and stopped short before reaching Antero andfalling into his arms. Melis was young, as gods went, and yet hehad never felt so young as he did now, dizzy, hot, and fumbling.“You are the only one, Faithful Antero, to ever say my names as ifyou understand them.”
Antero went very still before adjusting to Melisbeing closer to him. “It pleased you to hear that?” The moon foundhim even when he angled his head down, showing a gaze nearly aswarm and knowing as The Fair-Shaped’s. “Even Desire hasdesires?”
The ache in Melis’ chest didn’t appear to begoing anywhere. Neither did Melis. “Beauty has favored you in manyways,” he justified himself.
The warm gaze would not let him leave, or think,or do much more than stare back, which Antero could not possiblysee but seemed to recognize anyway.
“But I amyourfavored?” Antero prompted,accepting that more than one god might wish to touch him, becausenaturally they would. But he wasn’t pleased by the idea as manymight have been. “Is that why I’m alone?” The unhappiness returnedto shake his voice and color his dreams. “Am I to stay alone?”
Again a fool who had forgotten he was invisible,Melis shook his head. “You have tried to meet your equal. I’m notsure they exist.”
Antero closed his eyes, then lowered his head.“I am so very beautiful.”
His bitterness now was plain.
“Everyone is beautiful!” Melis snappedindignantly, annoyed but desiring to dispel Antero’s misery. “TheFair-Shaped is pleased by all that she has made, and I have neverseen one who did not shine with the light of her gifts. But thoughshe has crafted you to resemble a god, you are more than that.Devoted. Faithful. Striving Antero,” he called the epithets gentlyas if he was the one who prayed, and was relieved when Anterolooked up. “You are a compassionate and respected king. Your peopleare happy and prove it when they defend you. The wind knows you andhears your words, and brings them to me. Most Loving Antero,”Melis’ voice grew rough, “your longing pleases me even as it painsme.”
Antero drew in a breath, his lips parting. “Youknow what I long for? My dreams and stray thoughts?Allmyprayers to you were heard?”
Melis’ voice did not grow smoother. “Yes.”
Antero swayed forward. “Did you enjoy thosetoo?”
Melis inhaled the scent of the king, thecardamom and oil from a recent bath, the faint traces of sweat. Hisknees ceased to function. His stomach tightened unpleasantly. Hisskin was so hot he might have just stepped from a bath himself.
“What?” He shook his head, wondering why thewind could not cool him down.
Antero raised his eyebrows, as if he had no ideawhat he’d done to Melis by moving a fraction closer and asking sucha question in an intimate way. “My desires,” he explained, hisvoice a tug on Melis’ mostly forgotten cock. “Did they please you?If that is all I am to have as a companion in my life, then let mylonging bring you pleasure, Melis of No-Form.”
A great, wracking shudder sent feathers floatingto the ground, visible to Antero if he cared to look. Melis benthis head and watched two rose petals from his crown fall to jointhe feathers. He turned his face up to Antero, bewildered. “I don’tknow what’s happening to me. I’m warm, and then hot, though Ishiver. My limbs are shaky. What have you done to me? Tell me.”
Moonlight revealed a sharp gaze, eyes dark withsome emotion Melis didn’t recognize as they swept over him—over theplace where he stood, though Antero could not see him.
Antero swallowed, his throat moving under Melis’fascinated attention. “I am offering you my dreams, Melis.” Eachword was precise. Each word sent another sliver of lightning downMelis’ back that carried through his wings, the sound like therustle of trees in the wind. “Freely,” Antero added, watchinganother petal glide to the floor before looking up again. “If I amyour favored, my desires are yours already, but it pleases me tosay it to you. May I take that small pleasure?”
Heat suffused Melis’ skin and his body trembled.Gods did not get ill, did not die as humans did. But Melis was sickor dying or melting away. A clever, beautiful, naked human offeredhimself, and Melis, feeble god that he was, humiliated himself bygoing mindless and tongue-tied.
“Melis?” Antero prompted him gently and yet hisblood raced, his thoughts sparkling like treasure in sunlight tohear the quaver in Melis’ voice. He was too clever, too perfect. Itwas no wonder his lovers had fled. He knew people too well. That hehad offered to bare himself to them in turn hadn’t mattered,because they were human and could never see into his spirit asMelis could.
Antero was proud of himself and blazing brightwith hope. The beat of his heart was so strong, Melis nearly put ahand to his chest to muffle it…or simply to feel the warmth ofhim.
“You enjoy showing yourself to me?”
He felt the answer before his question was evenfinished.
“Enjoy?” Antero echoed, amused, possiblybecause the emotions running through him were far stronger thansimple enjoyment. “I have no friend or lover who has seen me as Iam and stayed with me. You have listened to my prayers for years,letting me speak to you as though we were friends. My desiresbrought you here, and you stare at me so that I can feel it thoughI can’t see you in return. Yes, I take pleasure in that. What madeothers leave makes you stay. I… I have been desired, but never forwhat’s within me. It feels good… more than good. Are you pleased tohear that?”
He was terrifying as not even War could be.Melis stared at him, his cock stiffening for the words that matchedthe aroused joy of Antero’s thoughts:Wanted. I am wanted. Haveme.Don’t make me wait anymore.
Melis’ brains seemed to have left his head. Lustmade humans and gods alike stupid, but physical desire should nothave taken hold ofhim.Melisruled Desire, not theother way around, as gods ruled humans and did not have humansseducing them into being worshiped.
Antero wanted a companion and a lover, if not asoulmate. He shouldn’t settle for bringing a small god a smallpleasure. He’d prayed for an equal, and that was not what the godsoffered their worshippers… or their lovers. They’d have to raisethem to godhood for that, which many were reluctant to do.
