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.He was a cold and often cruel man, but Deimos had alwaysbeen more bark than bite when it came to dealing with hisbrothers.Eros even had a suspicion that Deimos even lovedhim in his own way.Not that Deimos would ever admit it.Especially to Eros.He looked at Deimos and fought the smile thatthreatened to spill onto his face.Deimos did look a littleworse for wear.His black hair that was normally pulledback into a severe plait was loosened and falling out of itsbraid.The dark shadow on his tanned angular jaw line toldhim the big man hadn't shaved in a few days.His whitetunic and brown leather pants looked wrinkled and slept in,instead of neat and tidy as normal.He looked harassed andfrustrated, and Eros felt a surge of sympathy for him.Deimos yanked the gold leather strap that hadcrossed his massive body over his head and held the goldencrossbow and arrows to him."Take these damn things! I66No Greater Love Andi Andersondon't want to be a pawn in your mother's and your elaboratescheme anymore.""I don't know what you are talking about.""Bullshit, little brother.From where I stand it lookslike you and Mother are up to something.Mother has beenafter me to find someone for centuries; why else would Ihave to do your flaky-assed job unless there's an ulteriormotive?" Deimos stated in his no nonsense matter-of-factvoice.He hopped over the back of the couch and landedgracefully on his feet between the sofa and coffee table.Hetossed the crossbow and arrows on the floor and sat downheavily beside him.It always shocked Eros how Deimos could be solight on his feet for such a large man.He looked at hisbrother's harassed expression and negatively shook hishead."No, Deimos.I don't have some kind of hiddenagenda behind all of this.All I did was ask if I could havesome time off so I could have a chance to find love formyself.After that disaster with Psyche, I've dreamed aboutfinding someone on my own, without any kind of pushfrom Mother or magic of any kind," he sighed and pulledhis legs up under his chin and wrapped his arms aroundthem before continuing."Listen, I was as shocked as youwere when Mother said she was going to have you play67No Greater Love Andi Anderson'Cupid' for a while.I had naturally assumed she would haveAnteros do it, but she didn't.Who knows what is going oninside that devious mind of hers?"Deimos looked at him for several moments andsighed.He leaned back on the couch and wiped his largehand across his face and through his hair, making it lookeven more disarrayed than it had looked even momentsbefore."I believe you.Look, I apologize for coming inunannounced and snapping your head off, but this stinks ofMother's meddling and manipulation to me, and you knowI can't handle that," he said.Eros nodded in agreement.He hated that Deimoswas so miserable, but now that he had met and spent timewith Keith, he wasn't ready or willing to give him up yet,unless he absolutely had to."Deimos, I know you're unhappy with this& andyou have to believe me when I say I'm sorry you've beenforced to do it& " Eros hesitated."But& ""But, for the first time in my life I've foundsomeone I think I could possibly spend my life with.Helikes me for myself without any help from any magic arrowor spell, and it feels phenomenal.Please don't make megive that up yet.I haven't told him about my job, and when68No Greater Love Andi AndersonI do, I'm not sure what will happen." Eros unexpectedly felthis throat clog up and his eyes well with tears he hastilywiped away.He was afraid Deimos would insist on quitting hisrole of Cupid early, and he felt an overwhelming sadnessbecause of it.He hated showing this weakness in front ofhis warrior brother, but he couldn't help it.He didn't wantto lose Keith so soon.Large, calloused fingers gently wiped a stray tearthat fell from Eros's eyes.Shocked his tough and oftentimes ruthless, olderbrother had used such tenderness, Eros knew he waslooking at his brother as if he had sprouted two heads.There was a spark of sympathy and possible yearning inDeimos's eyes as he gazed down at him.Deimos hadalways lived up to his name and struck terror into the heartsof others, but could he and everyone else have possiblymisjudged him after all these years?"Okay, young one& I'll play Mother's game untilthe fourteenth, but not a minute longer," Deimos sighed.Hegroaned and put his huge feet on top of the coffee table andleaned back on the couch."But, before I leave, you have totell me all about this man of yours."69No Greater Love Andi AndersonCHAPTER SIXKeith felt like he floated on a cloud as he walkedinto work that morning.Eros had spent all weekend at hishouse, and it was one of the best times of his life.Whenhe'd laid eyes on Eros at the bar he was immediatelysmitten with the younger man, but as the weekendprogressed and they spent more time together, he had thesuspicion that Eros had his heart as well.Keith floated over to his cubicle and sat down at hisdesk.A faint smile formed on his lips as he rememberedthe sweet way Eros had pressed his warm body against himwhile they slept last night.Even this morning before he leftfor work, Eros had taken a shower with him, and constantlygave him loving touches as if he couldn't keep his hands offof him.Keith knew Eros had wanted to make love lastnight [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]