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eBook Category: Erotica/Erotic Fantasy
eBook Description: Myths about ancient Greek and Roman gods and goddesses have captivated listeners for years, oftentimes because they are so profoundly sexual. Think of all the stories that involve male gods having sex with mortal women--and of course all the love and jealousy that goes along with it. In a few cases, of course, female goddesses become smitten with male mortals; and the children that result are always of heroic proportions (perhaps in more ways than one). Recall the myth of Zeus and Io, a beautiful maiden whom he fell in love with and had to turn into a heifer in order to protect her from his jealous wife, Hera. Or the myth of Zeus and Semele, who asked to see Zeus's true divinity (though, of course, it's unclear which part of him this refers to?) and is instantly killed from the sight. Or maybe you can only remember one of the other of the dozen accounts of Zeus's sexcapades. Perhaps, instead, you recall the myth of beautiful Aphrodite cheating on her crippled husband, Hephaestus, and being caught in the act and displayed naked to the other gods and goddesses. Or maybe you prefer stories about Apollo and Daphne? or Poseidon and Caeneus? and on and on and on. The point is, the ancient gods were incredibly sexual. For this short story anthology, writers were asked to either adapt an existing myth, with more details or in a different style, or to make up their own myths or stories. Ancient gods and goddesses had to play an essential part in their stories, but writers were given free range to explore subject matter, different eras and time periods, and whichever gods they chose, no matter how obscure. Like a God's Kiss combines the epic and the erotic, the mythological and the real, to culminate in seven engaging and steamy stories. With protagonists ranging from heroic Hercules to arrogant Arachne and plots ranging from the well-known to the never-before-seen, readers will discover all new aspects about their favorite mythological characters, and will be introduced to a few new ones as well. Stories include Lionel Bramble's "The Pillars of Hercules," Catherine Lundoff's "Arachne," Erin O'Riordan's "In the Lair of the Monster," and Steven Schwartz's "Enchos Achilles (The Spear of Achilles)." "Conquering Calypso" by Carrie Cannon, "The Muse's Mask" by Michael M. Jones, and "The Everlasting" by Renatto Garcia also make an appearance in this eBook, edited by Cecilia Tan and Jennifer Levine.

eBook Publisher: Circlet Press, Published: 2009, 2009
Fictionwise Release Date: September 2009

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Hera carried a staff. She was tall and regal, her dark hair wrapped upswept in a round silver crown decorated with a bright peacock feather and with her low-cut gown showing the white curves of her breasts. He could almost smell their milky sweetness. His knees grew weak even as he continued to shoulder the pounding weight of the world. This was what he'd wanted, what he'd been waiting for.

She cocked an eyebrow, visibly impressed by his continuing endurance. "Are you tired? Discouraged, angry? Do nymphs and demons and monsters keep your lust stoked but never satisfied?"

"Yes."

"Good." She inched closer to run a sharp-nailed finger along the straining washboard of his stomach. "You won't ask me to end it? Beg me to stop punishing you? Cry that you are redeemed?"

"No."

"Good boy." Her perfume, spice and pomegranate, rushed to his head. She loosened her gown to let her breasts tumble out.

"May I ask a question?" he said.

"We have all the time in the world." She brushed a nipple against him. He swallowed as, idly, she took his dangling orbs into her cool hands. She turned her head to watch Oceanos while she did so. He admired her high forehead, slightly upturned nose, fine cheekbones, wide mouth, firm jaw. A gorgeous, delicious neck. She cupped him tighter, just enough to threaten. He quivered. He had no choice but to accept this, knowing how it would end.

He said, "My existence, my life, is an insult to you. A reminder of my father's faithlessness. I understand that. But I'm not the only one. Zeus's bastards cover the earth. Why single me out? I just want to know."

"I don't know," she said, then kissed him full on his parched mouth. She tasted of pomegranates and anise. She stroked his phallos with unlikely tenderness. "When did you get cut?" she asked. "It looks good on you." She pressed the comforts of her breasts against the banded muscles working in his chest against the weight. She dropped to sip at the head. She let him fall from her lips as she removed the feather from her crown.

She started with a tickle under his orbs. She teased the shaft. She said, "Warn me when you're ready for paroxys. I'll know when, but I want to hear you say it. Don't even think of deceiving me." Immediately he considered lying, so that she would punish him worse next time.

She fluffed the tight bundle of nerves at the underside of his tip, circling, gyring. He struggled to rein his explosion; he struggled to stay erect under the vault. The feather coaxed and cajoled.

He could bear no more. He groaned. He grunted. And he obeyed her. "Soon. Soon. I'm going to--"

"That's what you think." She let drop the feather, to blow away on a hot breeze from the sea. She left him to judder in the punishing heat. She turned her back and righted her gown. As she walked away, he stared longingly at her hips. His thrysos strained, to reach her from this distance. She disappeared over the curving hills that lined the rocky shore.

Weakened, he dropped to one knee. The temptation to drop to both pressed like a world of iron.

A thought twisted his lips. That goddess is crazy about me.