Read What a Goddess Wants for Free Online

really, and he’s decided he wants to be released from his service.”
    “And what does that have to do with you? And me?”
    “He plans to consume deities and absorb their powers, which will make him more powerful.” She shuddered just thinking about it. “I believe he’s trying to break free of Aitás and is tracking Etruscan goddesses through their dreams. I believe he’s already taken one and has decided I’m next.”
    His expression remained unchanged. “I can see why you might have a problem with this, but why should I care?”
    “If Charun is released from Aitás, the dead will follow him out, and then everyone on earth will have a problem.”
    His eyebrows lifted. “So? I’m not the police, Lady. I’m not a god. I don’t have an infinite lifespan, and I don’t like to do dirty work for deities. They tend to fuck you over. I’m just a guy—”
    “No, I know that’s not true. I know what you are, Caligo of the Cimmerians.”
    Well, shit.
    Amazing how that one word—Cimmerian—was guaranteed to throw Cal’s life in the toilet.
    At one time, it would have been murmured with respect and fear. Men wanted to be Cimmerian, and women just wanted them.
    Then fucking Robert E. Howard had screwed Cal’s people six ways to Sunday with his books about the Cimmerians. Hollywood had compounded the problem by casting Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film version, Conan the Barbarian , making the true remaining Cimmerians cringe at the horrifying spectacle.
    Yeah, Cal was Cimmerian, one of the legendary warriors born in the mist and shadow of the land between the planes of existence. They were a race an evolutionary step above mortal humans, though fewer than five hundred remained of a once-thriving civilization now reduced to little more than a tribe.
    And this pretty little goddess with the willing body and intelligent blue eyes had given him a taste of a heat he shouldn’t be able to feel.
    That made her dangerous.
    He really should kick her out, whether Salvatorus had sent her or not. That little horned bastard had a lot to answer for.
    Thesan continued to stare at him, waiting for an answer, though she hadn’t asked a question.
    And since she wasn’t going to win this battle, he gave her a blank stare. That might have told her more than he’d wanted because she smiled as if he’d blurted out, “Yes, I’m a Cimmerian, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
    No matter how good the sex was, it didn’t entitle her to his life story.
    “So,” she said, “do I have your attention now?”
    Yeah, she did. Especially when she kept rubbing her wrists.
    He shrugged in response to her question. And changed the subject. “I’ve got some salve for your wrists.”
    He walked to the small kitchen area and removed a tin from the tiny refrigerator. He let his hand linger in the interior for a few seconds, but he didn’t feel the cold at all.
    Good, that was good. It meant something about her made him feel heat. Not some deficiency in him.
    Walking back, he flipped the tin to her.
    “You can take that with you when you leave. It’s not my turn to be a hero today, babe, and definitely not for a spoiled little goddess. And you can’t buy my services with a little sex.”
    But maybe for a little more…
    No. He had to stand strong here.
    “I can pay. However much you—”
    “I don’t want your money, either.”
    She drew in a sharp breath as if he’d hit her, and his heart gave a wrench. Damn it, he was not going to cave on this. Not even when he saw dainty little tears pool at the corners of her eyes.
    Cimmerians were warriors, and these days they were forced to be mercenaries to live. They didn’t cave to feminine wiles. They were strong and brave… and, oh, for fuck’s sake, this wasn’t fair. For some stupid-ass reason, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her he’d never let anything hurt her.
    But he knew better than to get involved with the deities. Everyone did. They screwed you over royally.