Forbidden Love

Chapter 13

Peitho felt relieved that she finally had someone to talk to about her relationship with Vulcan. Athena was so understanding. She promised not to tell anyone, and Peitho believed she was telling the truth, or at least she hoped so. She feared what would happen to her if Zeus ever found out. Vulcan was starting late today. Typically, he started working as soon as Apollo woke the sun, but today he wouldn't begin until the afternoon. Peitho wasn't sure if she would see him today, but after telling Athena everything, she desperately wanted to. Peitho felt it important that he knew she shared their ordeal with Athena. Peitho hurried around her room as she finished packing the picnic basket. She decided she would meet him at the base of Vesuvius to surprise him. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, and pictured Vesuvius in her mind. When she opened her eyes again, Peitho was standing at the mountain's base just as she intended. She gazed up at the massive structure in front of her. Peitho was so incredibly proud of Vulcan, and she could wait to tell him just how proud she was.

She noticed him about halfway up the mountain as she stood there, and he wasn't alone. From what she could tell, it wasn't Venus who was there with him, so who could it be? Peitho noticed the movement of the woman's hand on the rocks. With each wave of her hand, moss grew on the rock as though she were painting it on. That must be the flower nymph Artemis had been talking about. Vulcan had never mentioned her before. She couldn't help but wonder why that was. Had they had a relationship, and he didn't want her to know? Peitho would have no right to judge such a thing or be jealous if he had, but still, as she stood there, she began getting angry, and she hated that. The last thing Peitho wanted was to be mad at Vulcan. She'd never been mad at him before, and she didn't like the feeling welling up inside of her. Peitho crossed her arms in front of her and impatiently waited for him to finish whatever he was doing with, whatever her name was.

******

"V, Peitho's waiting for you," Vulcan heard Cupid say in his head. Vulcan glanced around to look for her. Looking down, he saw Peitho waiting at the base of Vesuvius. He wasn't sure, but he thought she had an unhappy look on her face.

"Go," said Layla. Vulcan nodded with a smile.

"I'll see you later," said Vulcan, before disappearing from Layla's sight.

Hello, Dolce mia," said Vulcan sweetly as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her. Despite the slight twinge of anger Peitho felt seeing him with the flower nymph, she melted into him and smiled at his pet name for her. She turned and circled her arms around his neck once she faced him. He gave her a sweet, chaste kiss. Instead of returning his greeting, Peitho began questioning Vulcan.

"Who was that?" Peitho asked as she glanced up and noticed that the flower nymph was no longer standing where Vulcan had left her. Vulcan screwed his face up at the abrupt, unexpected question.

"Who?" asked Vulcan with a puzzled look on his face.

"The flower nymph you were talking to!" Exclaimed Peitho, gesturing angrily toward Vesuvius.

Vulcan couldn't help but smile at Peitho's jealousy. He'd never experienced anyone becoming jealous of his interactions with anyone.

"That was Layla," Vulcan said with a laugh. "She's the one who found me after Juno tossed me out. She took care of me when I was young. We've been friends ever since.

"Oh," said Peitho as she cast her eyes at the ground. She felt ashamed that she had made such a fuss when the exchange was nothing to worry about. Vulcan draped an arm around Peitho and began walking towards their inn. He booked their usual room. Peitho's heart quickened as they drew closer and closer to the inn. She was hopeful that today would be the day she gave Vulcan her virtue. It was driving her crazy that he still hadn't done more than kiss her after a month of heavens time. If he weren't going to be the one to make an advance, then she would be brave and do it herself. However, the idea of making an advance herself terrified her. Peitho had always been docile and done whatever was asked of her, so being the bold one was utterly foreign to her. But she had to know why? What was Vulcan's reason for not making any advances? Was she the only one who wanted this?

Vulcan picked Peitho up and carried her to the bed, where he laid her down gently upon entering the room. He'd been longing to have her in his arms all day. Peitho nuzzled his neck and laid her head on his chest. Vulcan kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. She smelled of lilies and fresh rain; it was overwhelming to him. He could only hope that she couldn't feel him hardening against her hip. If she did, she didn't say so. As much as Vulcan wanted her, he didn't feel right taking her virtue. Not when he was to be married in three months, heavens' time. It would devastate Vulcan to take something so precious and not be able to give himself to her the way a God who loves her should. Vulcan loved Peitho more than the air he breathed, but he dared not show her how much because he knew watching him marry another would break her heart, especially if she knew the extent of his feelings for her.

Peitho looked up to see worry creasing Vulcan's brow. She wondered what was troubling him so. Had she done something wrong? That couldn't be right. They'd only just gotten here and had been lying in peaceful silence since they'd arrived.

"What's wrong, Vulcan? You seem so far away. Have I done something to upset you?" Vulcan cursed himself when he realized his thoughts must be playing across his face, and Peitho had seen it.

"Why don't you want me?" Asked Peitho without waiting for a response to her first question.

He gaped at her as they both turned on their sides to face one another as they spoke. "What? Why on Capitoline would you ask me that?"

"Vulcan, we've been courting for a month, which is one thousand years here in the mortal realm. And yet you've not so much as tried to do more than kiss me. Why is that?" Vulcan huffed at her, afraid to answer her question. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Peitho any pain.

"Because I can't, Dolce, it would only cause you harm in the end," Vulcan responded as gently as he could.

"How do you mean?" Peitho asked him. Vulcan sighed.

"As you know, I'm to marry Venus per Jupiter's order. I shudder to think what he would do if I refused, so I must do as he says. The wedding is in three months, heaven's time. I only just found out this morning that it has been decided for me. Jupiter had said we'd marry before the year was out, but I didn't expect it to come up so quickly. I want you more than the air I breathe, Dolce, but in my heart of hearts, I don't feel right taking your virtue just before I marry another. I can't speak for you, but I know that if we made love just before you married someone else, it would tear me up to know you'd have to spend the rest of your days making love to someone else."

"Vulcan, I've already seen you with Venus," said Peitho, unable to keep the disdain out of her voice.

"Yes, but that was before we fell in love." His words slammed into her like a blow to the face. Peitho hadn't thought of that. Could she make love to him and then watch from afar as he married Venus? Would she ever see Vulcan again once he and Venus were wed? Peitho stayed silent as she played all the possibilities of what was to become of their relationship in her head.

"What's going to happen once you've married?" Asked Peitho quietly.

"I caught Venus and Jupiter together this morning when I woke. I pretended to be bothered by it and told Jupiter that if he was going to continue having an affair with her, then the least he could do was lift his ridiculous order disallowing Venus and me to seek comfort elsewhere. He did as I asked because I threatened to tell Juno of his indiscretion. So, I'm free to do as I please and will still be working on Vesuvius for a while, which means we're free should you want to continue our relationship. Still, if I know Venus, she will have me on a tight schedule once we're married, and I won't be able to stay here with you for as long as I can now."

"It makes no difference to me whether I get mere minutes or hours with you, Vulcan, so long as I get to see you. I love you and will take any time I can get," said Peitho as she gave him a doe-eyed smile.

"Very well, Dolce, I'm yours for as long as you'll have me," Vulcan answered sweetly.

Peitho had been so distracted by their conversation that she'd almost forgotten she had something important to tell Vulcan. Peitho decided it best to bring it up before she lost her nerve.

"I saw Athena this morning as I was packing our basket. She told me she knew I had feelings for someone and guessed at it. Without giving her much detail, she knew it was you. I know we're supposed to keep this quiet, but you've got Cupid, and I had no one until this morning. Athena is my most trusted friend. I swear on my love for you that she will keep our secret," finished Peitho, unable to keep the worry out of her voice. Vulcan's heart ached at the expression on Peitho's face. He felt awful. It hadn't dawned on him that Peitho was doing this all on her own while he had Cupid at his back. Vulcan cupped her face in both of his hands and kissed her forehead lightly.

"You thought I'd be upset if you told her," said Vulcan quizzically, breaking their silence.

"Yes," answered Peitho. Vulcan gave her a sad smile.

"I'm sorry you felt that way, Dolce. I love you. Please don't ever be afraid to tell me anything. Peitho smiled at the sincerity in his voice.

"I love you too, Vulcan," said Peitho, before leaning over to kiss him. When their lips touched, she rolled over so that she was now on top of him as she deepened the kiss. Vulcan moaned in response to her actions as her hands explored his body. He couldn't help but reciprocate. He slowly ran his hands up and down her back as they kissed. Soon he was cupping her ass with both of his hands. It was then Vulcan took control. He rolled over so that Peitho was now beneath him and reluctantly broke their kiss, leaving them both panting breathlessly. Vulcan reached down to grab the skirt of her dress and pulled it up slightly. He pressed his forehead to hers before he spoke.

"Are you sure, Peitho?" He whispered nervously. She shook her head in response.

"Please, Vulcan, make love to me," she answered.

Vulcan nodded. He noticed a nervous look beginning to cross Peitho's face as he did so. He placed a hand on her cheek and lightly stroked it with his thumb.

"Don't worry, mia amore; I'll be gentle."