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fingers caressed her. Her pussy clenched, and then she felt the tremors start. She melted against him as she came. She could hardly stand. Her knees had turned to jelly, and as she slumped his fingers pushed deeper. He used his other hand to work her clit. The pleasure rippling over her intensified. She tried to squirm away, but that only heightened every sensation.
    He turned her face to his as she caught her breath. “You are mine,” he said against her lips before kissing her. His tongue searched her mouth as if he were pleading for a response, as if her orgasm weren’t enough, as if he needed more than her trembling in his arms.
    He finally released her, pulling a towel down and wrapping it around her body. The chains detached from the bar. He took her hand, and the chain on her right wrist wrapped itself around his arm. He helped her out of the tub.
    “I’ll take you back to our room,” he said.
    She tried to ignore the “our” part. He took her arm and they walked down the hall. The lights were all dimmed. When they reached his bedroom, she saw a new lock had been placed on the door. He unlocked it and ushered her in. She wasn’t sure what to expect now.
    He removed the chain from her wrist. “I’ll let you rest. I’ll come get you for dinner.”
    She opened her mouth to say she wouldn’t be hungry, but he closed the door. The lock slid back into place with a loud, echoing click. She stared at the door. Her body still tingled from her orgasm. She had needed that release, but her relief didn’t last long. She’d given him the satisfaction of seeing how much he could still affect her despite what he’d done.
    She felt guilty when she thought of Ares. Hephaestus might be treating her like a pampered pet, but he still didn’t trust her enough not to lock her up. Was Ares down here? And if he was, what was happening to him?
    * * * *
    Ares opened his eyes because he knew he’d heard someone moving. He’d been in complete darkness ever since he’d woken up. He’d passed out almost immediately after Hephaestus had thrown him against the wall. He’d realized it had been Hephaestus as soon as he woke up. That was the only part he did understand. Nothing else made sense. He couldn’t believe he’d fucked Aphrodite. Who would do this? Why? He’d tried screaming at the top of his lungs, demanding an explanation, but nothing had come of it.
    He listened carefully. Someone was definitely approaching. He heard measured, determined footsteps.
    What had come over him? Why had he done that? Had it been a spell? He no longer felt that insane desire for Aphrodite, so whatever it had been it was no longer affecting him. Hephaestus had every right to be angry, but this? It seemed far too extreme. He’d never have expected something like this. Hephaestus was the calm and rational one, or least he always had been. Gods could suffer insanity, but Ares didn’t like to think of that possibility. He’d be dead if something that extreme had happened. Since his anger had cooled, he’d been far more worried about Aphrodite.
    Suddenly, torches all around him blazed to life. He sat in a cage in a very dismal stone room. Hephaestus walked up to the bars and looked down at him.
    “Any chance you’ve realized someone else is responsible for this?” Ares asked. He didn’t think his situation could get much worse. Alala would wonder where he was. It wouldn’t be long before she went to his mother.
    Hephaestus’ expression remained calm, but his voice was full of menace when he asked, “Why couldn’t you leave her alone?”
    “I wasn’t going there to fuck her. I was going there to talk to her about you. Remember the wedding a week ago? Remember how I and my beautiful fiancée—you know, the woman I love—kept encouraging you to keep trying? Why the fuck would I turn around and start up with Aphrodite again?”
    Hephaestus didn’t seem to be listening. “You still have feelings for her. You upbraided me for hurting