Forbidden Love

Chapter 8

When Vulcan woke the following day, he was surprised to find Venus in his bed. Venus had wrapped her arms around his waist in a sort of possessive manner. He pried himself out of her grasp and headed for his garden. It was chilly this morning, so Vulcan lit his pyre before sitting down on a nearby stone bench. Only this time, when he set his pyre ablaze, it wasn't as violent or fierce as yesterday's had been. This fire was just enough to warm him. Suddenly Vulcan sensed a presence behind him. Without turning around, Vulcan sensed that there was someone behind him. But the energy he felt in the air didn't appear to be from anyone he was close to. Still facing forward, he spoke to whoever was standing there. 

"I know you're there, so you might as well come over here and tell me what it is you want from me," he said. 

"What if I'm not sure what it is I want from you?" Those words came from the softest, sweetest voice Vulcan had ever heard. He turned around dumbfounded. What was Peitho doing here? Indeed she had to know what would happen to her should she be caught. Vulcan quickly stood and crossed his garden, pulling Peitho by the arm behind his pyre so she wouldn't be seen.

"Why are you here? You need to tell me now. What else does your Mitêra want from me, Peitho?"

"While I'm sure she wants some news of you, Vulcan, my mother isn't why I'm here," she said, slightly exasperated by his accusatory tone. Again Vulcan looked at her confused. "Then what?" He asked. 

"I truly don't know Vulcan I…." Peitho trailed off and cast her eyes to her feet. Vulcan stepped forward then so that he was now only inches from her. He cupped her face with his hand and began to gently stroke her cheek.

"it's okay, Dolce mia, you can tell me," he whispered. Peitho gave him a quizzical look, then unsure of the words he just used in his native language. Vulcan smiled at the confusion on her face. "it means my sweet." She blushed slightly, took a deep breath, and decided to do her best at explaining what it was that brought her there. Though Peitho wasn't even sure, she completely understood herself.

"Vulcan, for reasons I don't seem to be able to understand, I can't get you out of my head. I haven't been able to since the night you caught me outside watching you with Venus." Vulcan smiled at Peitho's words as he stood there gazing into her beautiful blue eyes for what seemed like forever and yet too short a time all at once.

"Nor I of you, Peitho," he finally responded. Peitho's breath caught in her throat. 

"Really?" She asked, completely taken aback by his response.

"Yes, really, Dolce, but we can never be. You're from Greece, and I'm from Italy. Zeus would have my head, and Jupiter would have yours. And despite the short time we've known each other, I couldn't bear it if something happened to you because of me," he finished. Peitho seemed to take in Vulcan's words slowly and with great care. Vulcan's heart ached when he saw her gaze cloud with sadness. "I'm to be married to Venus before the year is out, Peitho. As much as Aphrodite despises her, I promise you I do so even more," he continued.

"There has to be a way, Vulcan, please," Peitho begged. She wasn't proud of the desperation in her voice, but her heart was telling her that she had to know where this would lead. Vulcan sighed heavily, thinking of the best way to make their meetings happen. 

"Alright, if you insist on doing this, then the only way I see it taking place is if we meet in secret in the mortal realm. I'm meant to start building the volcano in Pompeii tomorrow you could meet me there. I imagine you'll have to make excuses to whomever you run into on Olympus, so start thinking of those now" Vulcan laughed as he said it. 

"I will see you tomorrow afternoon then. Perhaps I can bring you a picnic lunch." Peitho answered happily. Vulcan smiled in response but stayed quiet. It was then they both sensed that Venus had woken up. Peitho froze and looked at Vulcan nervously. 

"Don't just stand there, Dolce go," whispered Vulcan in a harsher tone than he meant it to be. He watched as 

Peitho disappeared just in time to hear Venus call for him.

"Vulcan, where are you? Yelled Venus

"Coming Tesora," he answered.

Vulcan dragged his feet, walking back into his temple, unsure of what he'd say when he came face to face with Venus. As she called for him, her tone led Vulcan to believe she was in a foul mood this morning. He decided then and there to do his best to appease her, not wanting to deal with her attitude. "What are you doing today?" She asked upon his approach. "I've no plans, Amore Mia. Jupiter and Juno are allowing me a day off from forging to regain my strength from yesterday's events. Why did you have something in mind for us today?" He asked as he crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping her answer would be no. 

Venus stepped forward then and wrapped her arms around him. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his lips softly before beginning to nuzzle his neck suggestively. Vulcan gave her a quizzical look as he watched her hand slide from his chest to between his legs, where she cupped him softly. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. Venus smiled in return. Despite his internal feelings toward her, Vulcan's body reacted to her touch, and he hated himself for it. Staying silent, he waited for Venus to tell him what she wanted.

"Make love to me, Vulcan," she purred. Still, he looked at her quizzically without comment. She screwed her face up at him when he still didn't speak.

"What?" She asked.

"Just surprised is all. You didn't want anything to do with me when I wanted to marry you and was in love, but now all of a sudden, you'll have me?" Vulcan questioned. 

"Well, I haven't a choice, have I? Since Jupiter decreed that neither of us is allowed to take other lovers, no one else will come near me, and believe me, I've tried," she said. Vulcan laughed wholeheartedly at that. 

"Of course you have love," he said, laughing again. "Please, Vulcan, I... I'm lonely." Venus admitted. His expression softened at that. He understood what it was like to be lonely. In truth, he was lonely too, but he wanted to deny her despite that. To show her what it was like to feel rejected just as she had rejected him all those years ago. He pushed her away gently, not wanting to hurt her, but she refused the relent stepping forward again and pressing herself against him. 

"You can say no all you like Vulcan, but your body isn't listening to you," she said as she reached between his legs again. This time she began stroking him. He bit his lip to stifle a moan of pleasure escaping his lips. His body was shuddering at her touch. 

This wouldn't be the first time they'd made love. They had done so just the other night when they found out they'd be married before the year was out. He had assumed Venus had only made love to him to make Jupiter jealous when he found out. She truly did seem attracted to him since he changed his appearance, but he would forever be suspicious of her because he knew how vain she truly was. All these years, all Vulcan had ever wanted was to be welcomed into her heart and her bed with open arms, and now here, he seemed to be getting what he wished for, and he wanted none of it. Instead, his mind was plagued with thoughts of a woman he knew he could never have but felt overcome with a need for her from what seemed to him like the moment he saw her. As he sat there thinking of Peitho, he grew even harder in Venus's hands. She looked up at him and smiled, believing she had won out, having no idea that it wasn't her at all that was making Vulcan feel this way. 

However, Vulcan decided that if he couldn't have Peitho and Venus was offering herself to him so willingly, he should take advantage of it. He scooped Venus up in his arms and kissed her fiercely. When he broke the kiss, he looked Venus dead in the eye and said, "Are you sure? If you want to change your mind, now is the time. Otherwise, I'm taking you to my bed and having my way with you right now. You're not the only one who's lonely, Venus." He said in earnest.

"Take me, Vulcan, do as you please," said Venus in her sultry voice that used to be so alluring to him when they were younger. 

Vulcan swiftly carried her into his temple and went straight for his bed. He placed her down gently and removed her gown in the blink of an eye before pushing her down onto the bed. He stood in front of her removing his own clothing. As he did so, Venus gazed at him hungrily. He smiled at the excitement he could see in her eyes. He was sure that his eyes mirrored hers. Venus was lovely. As beautiful as one would expect the Goddess of Love to be. She had light brown hair and eyes to match. Her lithe body was curvy in all the right places, and her lips were red like that of roses. But as he looked upon her, it was Venus's eyes he was looking into. They were Peitho's whose eyes were a deep blue color like the sea, and she had dark brown hair. Every time he'd seen her, her hair had been up, but from the looks of it, it seemed as though curls would frame her face if she were to let it down. He smiled at the vision he was painting in his head. Venus was overjoyed by the way he was looking at her.

It was then that Vulcan climbed into bed. Venus spread her legs for him, welcoming him in. He slid himself in slowly and reveled in the small gasp he heard escape her lips as he entered her. Vulcan closed his eyes as he began thrusting into her. As he did, he imagined it was Peitho that was beneath him writhing as he slid in and out of her and quietly whispered his name in pleasure. It was her deep blue eyes he was looking into while she wrapped herself around him. She was holding him there with her thighs. Venus broke his train of thought when he felt her hands cupping his face.

"Stay with me, Vulcan. Look at me." She whispered in a pleading voice. 

Vulcan opened his eyes and stared down at her with a loving smile reassuring her he was with her. He hadn't realized that he'd kept his eyes shut the entire time he'd been making love to her. Vulcan could feel his skin becoming hot as he moved in and out of her. He knew Venus could feel the heat pulsing through him as well by the moans that were escaping her body. It wasn't long before he felt her start to convulse beneath him, and she called his name.

"Come on, love, let go for me." He said softly. He watched as Venus's face changed into an expression of pure joy, and she cried out in ecstasy, panting as she came down from the high of it. Vulcan began pumping into her harder than before so that he could find his release. He leaned down and kissed her; as he had his release trembling, he collapsed on top of her. Vulcan rolled off of her and onto his side to face Venus before he spoke again.

"Are you staying with me today, Tesora, or have you had your fill of me?" He asked. She laughed in response. That 

"Well, now that I know you can make love like that Vulcan, I'm not sure I'll ever have my fill of you. Unfortunately, though, I do have to take my leave soon. Cupid and I have work to do today, unlike you," replied Venus. 

Vulcan couldn't help but notice the slight bit of contempt he was sure he heard in her voice. Venus was well known for being the jealous type in all things. Given her statement just now, she's clearly displeased that Vulcan is allowed a day off while Venus has to work in the mortal realm. She hates mortals. But what good is a Goddess of Love if she doesn't create some for those who worship her?

"Did I not succeed in making you happy just now, Venus?" He asked. She looked at him, confused.

 "Why would you ask me that Vulcan?" 

"Well, you would think that considering we just made love, you would be in good spirits and happy to start your day. And yet, you seem rather put out by the fact that you've got work to do today, and I do not. One would think that if you'd just made love and had as wonderful a time as you just claimed to, you'd want to spread some love to those who aren't as fortunate as you are."

"You're right, Vulcan. I'm sorry to have upset you. I will do my best to help some worthy mortals find love today. 

"Be kind to them, Venus. Your definition of worth tends to be different than the rest of us," said Vulcan, with a laugh. "Maybe you should let Cupid have a turn at deciding their worth. He winked at her.

Venus gave him one last kiss, turned on her heel, and left.