Page Two

My favorite place was the gardens, there were so many, some for each plant and habitat condition. I knew I would never be able to explore them all. One day though, I stumbled across a vegetable garden.

There were five gods that I could see tilling it. The one in the center, who seemed to be giving out instructions, was absolutely stunning. A tall voluptuous woman with wide hips and thick thighs, her dark chocolate skin was glistening with sweat and her tank top clung to her in a way that even my gay ass appreciated. She saw me and gave me the most welcoming grin that showed off deep dimples in her rosy cheeks.

She stepped up and towered over me. I was beginning to realize that all gods were just incredibly tall. I was six foot one and had to crane my head back to look at most of them.

"Connor!" She beamed and I assumed she knew my name because she was a god, just as Lawrence had, since this was our first meeting. She gave me a hug, lifting me off my feet.

I couldn't help but laugh. Her joyous attitude was infectious! She smelled of fresh dirt, honeysuckle and line dried laundry. She was instantly comforting.

She placed me down, still smiling, "I'm Tashawna, it's so nice to finally meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too!" I was smiling just as wide as her, “Is this your garden?”

She gave me a deep bow, hand over her stomach, “God of the harvest at your service!”

“It looks incredible! I could never grow anything. Every year I try and every year I fail,” I lamented.

“Would you like to learn?” Her eyes were beaming.

“You wouldn’t mind?” I asked excitedly, “I don’t want to interrupt…”

Tashawna gave me a long-suffering look, “I wouldn’t have offered human,” she grinned, “come now, follow me!”

She was so easy to talk to and a great teacher. She made gardening seem so effortless. I told her that I felt more confident and I would try my hand at planting again when I got home.

“Oh?” She looked surprised, “Is Lawrence ready to let you go?”

I froze, it hadn’t occurred to me what I had said, or rather implied. I shook my head, “He’s not keeping me hostage. I asked to stay.”

“Really?” Her brows shot up to her hairline in shock.

I chuckled a bit and took the trowel away from her, “Really. I don’t have anything going for me there and well…” I ducked my head and started to dig at the dirt, “Lawrence isn’t so bad…”

She tilted her head, peeking at me, “He’s very handsome too huh?” She said knowingly.

I glanced at her then back at the ground, “All the gods are.”

“Umm hmm,” she pursed her lips with a chuckle but didn’t push for anything.

~*~

After a long day at the gardens, I went back to the palace, with dirt under my nails and feeling accomplished. I was invited back, an open invitation to come whenever I pleased. I was already looking forward to it. The moment I stepped into the mansion I was greeted by a bubbly woman with short black hair with a swooping pink bang covering her left eye. She was smiling big and she was the shorter of the gods, six foot one, same as me. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and started walking with me. I had seen her before in the halls and outside, she was always around something that was broken and in need of repair.

“I wanted to wait, to see if you were actually going to stay,” she looked down at me, “I wasn’t sure if Lawrence wanted to keep you. He’s kinda aloof ya know?”

I chuckled. Seemed most of the gods described him that way. I hadn’t gotten that impression from him. Quiet and not as outgoing as some, but not necessarily aloof. Either that or I was getting special treatment. I couldn’t help the grin that split my face at that thought.

Back to the present I looked over at the woman, “who might you be?”

“Oh shit,” she clicked her tongue, “I’m Mara, god of creation,” she looked proud, “and I’ve built you a room!”

“Seriously!” I laughed, excited and touched, “Thank you!”

“You shouldn’t thank her yet,” a god named Sizwe walked up to us and chuckled. He was gorgeous, with dark as midnight skin and shining grey eyes, “it might look awful!”

Mara cuffed him on his shoulder, “Stop it you!” She laughed.

We all walked together to my new room, Sizwe speaking with Mara, me trying to see if I could name gods as we passed them.

After a time, we came up to a dark oak door with gold filagree around the frame. It was beautiful. Mara yelled ‘ta da!’ then swung open the door.

Inside was a king-sized bed against the middle of the far back wall, a desk at the foot of it and a vanity to the right of it. There were four bookshelves, two on either side at the head of the bed. A large painted landscape of my hometown’s city park was above the bed acting as a headboard. The floor was a dark hardwood and I had a walk-in closet full of a mix of clothing: 1920s, 2000s and the present, pants and skirts, rompers and suits, ties and bonnets, fedoras and veils, hiking boots, tennis shoes, high heels and flip flops. Everything I could want.

“Oh my GOD! This is wonderful!!!” I exclaimed then blushed up to my ears, “Fuck! I’m sorry, I guess I probably shouldn’t say ‘oh my God’ huh?” I laughed nervously.

Mara and Sizwe chuckled, “It’s fine,” they both waved me off.

There was a soft rapping at my door and I turned around to see Lawrence there. I felt a flutter in my belly. He was so fucking hot.

“Am I interrupting?” He asked, looking at me.

I was struck speechless by the shine of his eyes so I just shook my head.

He stepped inside with a smile, “It looks fantastic Mara,” he inclined his head to her then looked back at me, “I heard she was making you a gift. I didn’t realize it was going to be your own space.”

“Should it not have?” Mara asked, her brows up in worry, “Will the binding not allow it?”

“Oh no, it’s fine!” Lawrence was quick to reassure her, “I just didn’t know your intentions is all I meant. No, no, I’m sure Connor would prefer to have his own room.”

“I didn’t mind sleeping in your bed,” I flirted, then immediately remembered we were not alone. I was mortified when Sizwe winked at me and Lawrence cleared his throat with a knowing smirk. I rushed to go hide in my walk-in closet.

“Well, I’ll get out of your hair!” Mara sing-songed and I poked my head out long enough to say thanks. She waved then took Sizwe’s hand and they swept out of the room.

I ducked back into the closet and started to look over the wares.

“Which style suits you more?” Lawrence asked and I jumped because I hadn’t even heard him move.

“Uh, masculine ones…modern, maybe some 2000s,” I shrugged and looked over and realized he was advancing on me, “I will have to look through them, pick out what I like…” Lawrence never took his eyes off me as he drew closer and suddenly the walk-in closet didn’t seem large enough.

“I have time,” Lawrence spoke softly, “we can do it together if you’d like?”

“I’d like to spend time with you,” I whispered, my heart was pounding, “sure.”

Lawrence smiled and I wanted to kiss him. I quickly looked away, I had been alone with him multiple times before, but there was something about the look in his eye and the way he had approached me that felt so different from before. More intimate. In case it was wishful thinking I grasped at straws to find a subject to speak about and stumbled over my words getting it out, “So…when we first met…you said you didn’t pry…”

“Yes.”

“Are you still…um…not prying?”

“Yes,” Lawrence stepped up to the side of the closet with the dresses, “I enjoy getting to know you by the things you tell me. I don’t mingle with mortals often, so I’m learning a lot about how to navigate not being able to read each other’s minds,” he pulled out six dresses and held them up, “I can admit I am enjoying myself,” he turned and looked at me and with a smirk said, “enjoying you.”

“Ah fuck,” I let out an embarrassing breathy laugh, “yes, me too. I am also,” another laugh then I turned my back to him. Something was different.

I felt the moment he stepped up to my back. Closer than was proper but absolutely not unwelcome. I took a moment to decide how to play this. Flirting with Lawrence was fun, but something about being in this closet with him was leading me to believe it might actually lead to more. And I’d be a right fool to turn him down. I turned fully to look up at him not sure what to expect, but ready and willing to step up to the plate.

He gave me a once over, dragging those beautiful jade eyes up and down the length of my body. I took a deep breath when he parted his lips to speak. And I wasn’t prepared for what he said. He held up the six dresses, “These don’t traditionally fall under masculine. Is it safe to assume I can remove all the dresses and skirts?”

I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. So he wasn’t giving signals I guess? I was confused. He had stalked upon me like a predator earlier. Now though, he was acting like his sole purpose for crowding me in this large walk-in closet was really just to purge and organize. What the fuck dude? I just nodded and hoped I didn’t look disappointed, “Yes that’s fine.”

He threw them out of the closet then began to gather more dresses. I looked at him for a time, still confused, but ultimately decided to follow his lead. I let out a sigh then went to work on the pants.

We worked silently for some time, throwing articles of clothing out onto the floor of the things I didn’t want. It was nice being next to him, he smelled of jasmine and something deeper, earthy. Sometimes I would find myself standing still and just soaking in his presence. Confusion or not, I was still smitten.

After a while he reached over and touched my wrist, I startled and dropped the shoes I had been holding. I looked up at him and he had a brow raised. He looked amused.

“We should stop so you can eat.”

I nodded, his hand felt large and warm.

We stepped from the closet and I gasped seeing that all the clothes we had thrown out of it were gone and a plate with a turkey and cheese sandwich with a glass of juice was at the vanity. By this point I knew it was pointless to ask where things would come and go, but it still shocked me.

I went over and picked up the plate, “Will you stay with me?” I looked up at Lawrence.

He nodded once, “If you wish.”

“I wish,” I smiled at him then sat on my bed. He pulled out the vanity chair and sat down, crossing his impossibly long legs.

I took a bite and let out a moan closing my eyes. I chewed slowly; it was the best sandwich I had ever had. I told Lawrence this.

“Good,” He gave a small smile, “I did pry a little,” he winked at me.

Trying not to read into it, I reached past him to grab my drink and after a long swig, placed it on the floor at my feet then said to him, “Well if you need to pry to keep making me amazing meals by all means!” He chuckled and I gave him a grin. I ate a few more bites before I looked at him, “May I ask you a question?”

“You may.”

“How were you…I mean…were you just always here? Gods?” I bit my bottom lip not sure if I was being articulate or appropriate.

“We were not. The Lord Mother was, but then She got lonely and so sprung us from Her womb. Most of us were birthed alone, but a few of us came with siblings. Though my brothers and I are the only triplets.”

“Triplets?” All my time here I hadn’t heard of another brother. I took my last bite and placed my plate on the bed, “I want to hear everything! Where is your other brother? Where is the Lord Mother?”

Lawrence seemed amused by my curiosity, “The Lord Mother used much of Her energy to make us. We sprung fully formed with all knowledge of what we were and our duties. Then we all, Her as well as us, worked together to make the human race. That proved to be too much and now She is no longer.”

“Oh…I’m sorry,” I frowned.

“Don’t be,” Lawrence smiled, “It was all part of Her divine plan. As for my brothers, you have met Bartholomew and my other is named Celeste, he is the god of lust.”

I blinked, “Lust…oh,” I breathed. In trying not to dwell on the pleasant way the word lust had sounded coming from Lawrence’s lips, I asked, “will I ever meet him?”

“Surely,” Lawrence smiled, “he’s pretty…personable,” he chuckled with a lifted brow and I knew what he was getting at.

I took another drink, trying to get back on track, “You said fully formed…so you already knew you were the god of rebirth and what you had been tasked to do.”

“Yes,” Lawrence nodded, “we are all bound by our calling. We are always in want of fulfilling it. Some of us are utilized more than others. Some of us are stronger than others. We are, in a way, always emitting our specialty. You might have noticed it from the ones you’ve already encountered; Bashir is always compassionate, Chaoxiang is ecstatic that you are happy here, Bartholomew is always intimidating, etcetera.”

“So you can feel it too? Their…” I pursed my lips, looking for a word and settled on, “auras?”

He chuckled, “I can,” he nodded, “it affects all of us. Torsten, the god of celebration and defeat, has been tugging at my senses,” he smiled, jade eyes twinkling, “he wants to throw you a party.”

I laughed, “Really? That’s kind of him,” I finished off my juice and as I did so a thought occurred to me. It was going to be risky asking it, but I went for it anyway. I started off easy, “So Bartholomew can intimidate you too? Even though he’s your brother?”

Lawrence nodded, “Yes.”

“What about Celeste?” Here’s goes nothing, “Do you feel desire for him?”

Lawrence physically drew back, “He’s my brother.”

“I know,” I stated calmly. I kept my face neutral; I didn’t want him to think I was going to judge him.

Lawrence looked at me for a long while, his eyes slightly narrowed, like he was trying to figure out if I was up to something. I stayed still, looking at him with an open expression. His eyes slid away and he took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to back down. If he didn’t want to talk about it, he’d have to be the one to change the subject. The time seemed to drag on, but I could be patient.

Finally, Lawrence drew his eyes back to me, “Sometimes…I let him do as he pleases for too long…”

“How so?” I let my expression slip into something softer. I hoped it conveyed what I was feeling. I truly wasn’t judging him. No matter his answer.

Lawrence blinked slowly, still reading me, but he answered softly, “He sits too close, whispers into my ear…When he touches me…” he took in a breath and looked away, “he…lingers…”

I moved forward, closer to that jasmine scent. I whispered, “He touches you?” My heartbeat was quickening. I knew it was taboo, but still it unexpectantly aroused me. The thought of Lawrence, flustered by his own brother.

Lawrence’s beautiful jade eyes whipped back over to stare at me. They widened a bit when he realized how close we were. He licked his lips and my eyes flicked down to watch. He sucked in a breath then said, “Not sexually…just…” he reached forward and placed his hand on my thigh and it flexed in response, “here,” he whispered then squeezed, “sometimes it’s much too high. Too close to…”

Without thinking I spread my legs a little and his warm hand slid up my thigh. I breathed slowly, trying to calm my pulse, “Surely you know you’re gorgeous,” I made a show of looking from his eyes to his lips to his silky brown hair, “I’d linger too,” I met his eyes and his expression curious, “if you’d let me touch you.”

Lawrence’s entire body shifted. Back to that sultry air he had exhibited in the closet. His shoulders relaxed and his hand squeezed my thigh again, but this time held the grip. I let out a shuddering breath, widening my legs some more and moving closer to him. Now I was bracketing him in, my legs on either side of his. He hadn’t moved his hand so my movement forced his hand higher. He was almost at my hip now and I could feel the beginnings of a deeper desire. I parted my lips and leaned just a bit closer and was thrilled when his eyes dropped to my mouth and he drew forward to meet me. We were a hairs breath away from our first kiss when the door to my room was flung open.

“Here it is!” Bartholomew’s voice boomed.

Lawrence and I jerked back like we had been burned. I turned my back to the door, cheeks aflame.

“Oh shit,” Bartholomew hissed, “I didn’t mean to interrupt…”

When Lawrence spoke, he sounded as he always did, cool and collected, “You were not. What did you need?”

“Are you sure…because I can—”

“What. Do. You. Need?” He spoke firmly and even I felt chastised.

I turned my head to observe. Bartholomew was giving his brother a look that Lawrence was ignoring in favor of glaring at him. His brother glanced at me and I just nodded at him like a dunce then ran my hands over my face in horror.

I heard Bartholomew speak and I dared to lower my hands, “Two things,” he said, “first, that little scuffle I was monitoring is over and second Torsten is halfway here.”

Lawrence nodded as he stood, “I will go down and make the repairs,” he smoothed his robe and looked at me. He looked completely unaffected. Like we hadn’t almost just kissed, “Torsten is…” he paused to look for a word then said, “exuberant,” he gave me an apologetic smile, “good luck.”

“Same to you,” I smiled tightly. I wanted to show Lawrence that nothing really changed between us even though I felt a bit tense about how everything had ended. Still though, I wasn’t upset so my small grin turned into a full-blown smile, “Oh, have a happy birthing.”

Lawrence’s brows rose and to my delight he let out a chuckle as he made his way towards my door.

Bartholomew cocked a brow as he followed his brother out of my room and I could hear him whisper, “It wasn’t that funny. Flirt,” before he shut my door with a wave of his hand.

I fell back onto my bed, grinning like a highschooler.

Lawrence had shown interest.

~*~

Lawrence had not been lying. Torsten was…something else. He was boisterous, maybe even a bit drunk, laughing and sloshing around the Dr. Pepper he had in his hand. Three other gods had come into my room with him, beautiful women draped all over him. He was a jolly fellow, long red beard and mustache combo, bright emerald green eyes and a shiny bald head. He was built like one of those men from a strong man competition: large muscular arms and legs with a big belly. He was handsome too and it occurred me just then that there probably were no ugly gods.

He had proposed a formal gala to welcome me, full of all sorts of foods and music. He wanted me to love every aspect of it so it was hours of us talking about my likes and dislikes until I was exhausted. Then he told me to be ready by midnight and I knew if I didn’t get a nap in now, I would never be able to stay up all night to party. So, after he bid farewell with a promise to come grab me later, that was exactly what I did.

I don’t know how long I was asleep for but it was Tashawna that came to my room not Torsten. She was dressed in a floor length mustard yellow sequined evening gown that hugged her curves wonderfully. It was low cut, her ample cleavage practically spilling over the edges. She had gold glitter on her eyes and temples, dark blush and shiny plush red lips. She was exquisite.

She placed her hands on her hips, “You’re not even dressed?”

I yawned, “I just woke up when you knocked on my door.”

“Get up then! Let’s go! You need to shower then get dressed,” she gave me a mischievous look, “rumor has it Lawrence is going to be there…and he never comes to these things,” she waggled her brows and I laughed.

“Okay okay,” I stood, “can you pick me out something you think I’d look nice in?”

She gave me a salute, “You’ll be the sexiest person in the room!”

I gave her an incredulous look then left for the bathroom listening to her laughter.

She had picked out a traditional tuxedo with shiny black shoes and a deep green bow tie that she said complimented my eyes. I had never worn a tuxedo before and I did feel really hot in it. She did my hair giving it an artful sweep that looked casual and effortless, even though it had taken her quite a while to work it into that shape.

We walked in together and I was immediately found by Torsten. He called out to me, this time with only two ladies with him, neither from the group of three he had earlier. He came up and gave me a massive bear hug that knocked a laugh out of me.

“You clean up nice my boy!” He stepped back and looked at me.

“Well look at you,” I waved at him, “and here I thought you couldn’t be more handsome!”

He let out a hardy laugh then looked at Tashawna, “I see why Lawrence wants him around! Fearless!” I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, but before I could ask Torsten had already stepped closer to Tashawna, “And you my dear,” he took her hand and placed it over his heart, “it stills for you.”

She smirked, “Torsten, really?”

He gave her a wicked smile, “Until you’re mine my dear.”

She shook her head, “You say that as if I’m your one and only, yet you have dates on each arm.”

“I’ll shoo them away if you’ll dance with me,” one of the female gods with Torsten scoffed then walked away. He seemed unbothered, “One down!”

Tashawna laughed then took the woman’s place, “Will you be fine alone Connor?” She asked me.

“Yes yes,” I chuckled, “go have fun! I’ll make my own!”

I turned and immediately saw Lawrence walk through the door. My breath caught. He always looks stunning. Always. But tonight. Fuck. Tonight, I understood why people had worshipped him. As I walked closer I took in his deep velvet navy robe, embellished with golden embroidery and clear jewels. It had a train, trimmed in gold rope and silk ruffles. Golden buttons ran from his high collar all the way to the floor. His hair was in an intricate updo with braids and twists, chains interweaved and dripping with more clear stones and jewels. A golden circlet across his forehead as though he was a prince from some far-off land. He looked poised and ethereal.

Stepping up he turned his head to look at me and I saw he had shimmery gold eyeshadow and sparkling, clear lip gloss coated his soft smile.

I breathed, barely able to speak, “Lawrence.”

His smile widened, “Connor,” his gorgeous jade eyes openly took in my appearance. When he looked at me again he said, “You look absolutely beautiful.”

“Wha-what?” I choked out. How on earth could this perfect being find me beautiful??? It took me a moment to gather my wits and whisper, wide eyed and smitten, “Thanks. I mean, thank you.”

He chuckled a bit. He looked amused. Or endeared, I wasn’t sure.

I took a deep breath and asked, “Would you…would you like to dance?”

He nodded gracefully, “I would love to,” he turned his head to his right and said, “I will catch up with you later.”

I blinked, confused, and only then did I see his brother, “Oh! Bartholomew! Hah-Hi!” I was so overwhelmed by Lawrence’s appearance that I completely didn’t see the god of war. I felt my entire face go red in embarrassment.

Bartholomew let out a deep, hardy laugh. He didn’t seem offended. Instead, he gave his brother a knowing look then said, “Have fun,” with a smirk then walked away.

I looked after him worried, “I didn’t mean…”

“Do not fret, he was amused,” Lawrence reached out and touched my face with a smile, “shall we?”

He sounded so confident that I was immediately calmed. I nodded and took his hand and we walked out into the middle of the room.

Dancing with Lawrence was nice, we swayed slowly, regardless of the tempo of the music playing. A lot of the songs and compositions were my favorites, but Torsten had added some music that was clearly period pieces to appeal to some of the gods. I placed my head on Lawrence’s chest and enjoyed the comfort I felt there. It occurred to me that I had never been happier than when I was here. Not just with Lawrence, but here in this space, with calming deities that delighted in showing me their gifts and cultivating mine.

There was a pause in the music and I told Lawrence I was hungry. He said he would go find his brother and I watched him walk away. He was stopped by a god who was just as muscular as Bartholomew, but with a gentler smile and dark hair. He said something that made Lawrence nod and touch his shoulder. The god tried to speak more but either Lawrence didn’t notice or didn’t care because he just started to walk away. The god looked after him and his expression was hard to read, but he looked to be a mix of disappointment and longing.

I made my way to the gigantic spread of food that was along one wall. I found all of my favorite treats, even some foods from restaurants I liked back home. I gorged myself and laughed, meeting new gods and endearing a lot of them to me. They were finally beginning to understand that Lawrence hadn’t demanded I stay or refused to return me and that in turn made them respect Lawrence’s decision more about keeping me at his side.