from you at all. You haven't been returning my calls.”
“Listen, Varun...” I sighed. How could I tell him that
I had done just what Jana had done – fallen for his cousin,
his rival? And yet I couldn't deny that I still had feelings for
Varun, too. I remembered our first kiss by the beach so
fondly; I craved Varun's gentle touch.
“No, you listen,” Varun took my hands. “I know
what's been going on between you and Chance. From the
moment I learned about the book I knew there was a chance
that you might be the real Vesta – and that there was a chance
that he'd try to take you away from me. I can't blame you –
Chance knows how to be irresistible to women.”
“I didn't know what to say to you,” I admitted. “I
loved the way things were going with us. I wanted them to
continue. But with all this talk about Vesta and my destiny
and my true love – suddenly everything else seems
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so...beside the point.”
“Look, Mac, just because Chance thinks you're his
goddess doesn't mean that you have to be.” Varun was
holding my hands more tightly now. “Look at us, Mac. You
can't deny that you feel something for me. Something strong.
Something real. I felt it when we kissed. And whatever
chemistry you have with... him...that doesn't mean you have
to let him have you. You don't have to give in. Whether or
not you're Vesta, you have a choice. And I know whatever
Chance is saying to you sounds seductive now, but it could
get you killed. And I don't want that.”
“But if I am Vesta, whatever that means...”
“Then you'll have to undergo a test. A test that's killed
many girls before. And even if you pass, even if you are
Vesta, that doesn't mean you have to go back to him. Chance
may be trying to convince you that it's your destiny – but
that's not true. Vesta's destiny is her own.”
“But what about saving the world? The Erosion?”
“She doesn't have to love Mars to do that,” Varun
said seriously.
“But why are you so attracted to me? Antonio Cutter
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told me that you're Neptune, god of water. What does a
water-god want with a fire-girl like me – if I am a fire girl?”
And then it hit me. I looked up in surprise. “Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“The seer told me that Vesta left Mars for another
suitor – someone else who loved her. Was that you, Varun?”
Varun looked uncomfortable. “It was a long time
ago...”
“Was it? The forbidden love that made Vesta leave
Mars and come to earth...that made her... me...disappear?”
“Yes,” Varun said sadly.
“But if they were both fire...”
“Opposites attract,” Varun began slowly. “Vesta and
I could not keep apart. She loved Mars, but she found her
destiny oppressive. She wanted to escape from the fate that
had been decided for her – she wanted to make her own
choice. She gave up some of her fire qualities and became
more like me, more like the sea. We swam together; we
watched the tide lapping on the shore together. We were so
close...”
“And you and she had a connection. A connection
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that maybe I felt too.” I shuddered at the recollection of our
first touch, like warm waves passing through me.
“Even if you're not Vesta,” whispered Varun, “I'm
falling for you. I was serious when I said that. I've been
avoiding you lately – not wanting to watch you give your
heart to Chance. To risk your life for the test. But I'm sick of
that. I want you, Mac Evers, goddess or no, and I want you
to want me too.”
Varun took my hand and led me into a private room,
locking the door before he held me tight against the door,
kissing me with such hunger and such passion, I was
moaning with need. “Oh Varun,” I said. “I do want you.”
“Really?” Varun asked. “I’ve fallen for you so much,
Mac, I’m crazy about you.”
I kissed him back as I slipped out of my dress.
Varun’s eyes opened wide as he took in my naked
body, appreciating everything he saw. “You’re so beautiful,
Mac.”
I pulled his shorts down and leaned into his body to
kiss him. “Make love to me, Varun. That’s how much I want
you.”
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Varun’s mouth smiled. “You don’t have to, Mac.”
“I want to, Varun,” I smiled back.
He kissed my mouth running his tongue against mine
before moving down my neck to lick my nipples. Before I
couldn’t take it any longer, his fingers reached down to rub
my throbbing nerves, working it until I was grinding against
his hand. “You’re so wet, Mac,” Varun licked his lips.
“Deliciously wet,” he growled.
“Now,” I whimpered.
“I won’t begrudge you anything, my love,” Varun
said gently before he plunged into me, thrusting in a gentle
rhythm before he fully let go, thrusting faster and faster until
we both exploded. “Mac, you’re my goddess,” Varun
shouted. “I missed you
