Excerpt: Venus Envy by EM Lynley

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Venus Envy by EM Lynley
Release Date: 10/2009
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
ISBN: 978-1-60088-462-7
Buy Link: http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/venusenvy.htm

Blurb: Sancus, Roman God of Loyalty and Honesty, snubs an advance from Venus. Furious, the Goddess of Love convinces Cupid to cast a curse on him, causing Sancus to be attracted to every hot guy he meets. In fact, he can't say no. During a week of almost non-stop arousal and sex Sancus meets Aurelio, a mortal that desperately wants to see again, but until the curse is lifted he fears ruining the chance of a real relationship. The only way to end the curse is for Sancus to untangle the finely-woven threads and discover it's actually a love spell.

Excerpt:

Venus noticed Sancus from across the room. It was hard not to. Certainly the most delectable thing in the room, she hadn’t had a taste of this particular Roman god yet. She slinked over to where he stood at a tall bookcase reading the titles, obviously looking for something in particular.

Venus stepped to within a foot of Sancus and breathed in his clean, citrusy-masculine scent. Mmm, he smells heavenly. Not like those dirty, sweaty agricultural gods of whom there were far too many. They reeked of dirt, manure and all manner of disgusting farm animals, and she found them distinctly unappetizing. But Sancus, now he was in a class of his own.

As the God of Honesty, Loyalty and Contracts and somewhat of a legal expert as gods went, he mediated disputes between the deities. Refined and civil, he certainly wouldn’t paw at her in a dark corner or—worse― in front of a roomful of drinking buddies. Known as a skillful and considerate lover, rumors abounded about both his endowment and his repertoire of intriguing lovemaking techniques. His past partners said he had a cock as beautiful as his face and body, and in Venus’s opinion, both were exquisite.

Sancus would be a delicious conquest.

He didn’t turn around as she approached, though he tilted his head in her direction, indicating he knew of her presence. He still didn’t turn, even as she got within a couple of feet. She closed the gap farther, only inches away from him now.

“Mmm.” She inhaled deeply again. “Sancus, can’t you think of something better to do than read?” she cooed into his ear.

“I’m in need of a volume on…” He continued to peer at the shelves, not bothering to turn toward Venus.

He should be able to smell—taste—her excitement. She felt her own arousal pool between her legs as she moved closer, the heat from his body radiating through her thin, gauzy, almost translucent gown. Her nipples peaked, a pleasant ache that propelled her forward. She pressed herself against him, fitting her curves against the delicious contours of his back, enjoying the feel of his flesh through the sheer fabric.

“Hello, Venus.” He stared at the titles on the shelf in front of him. At least he knew who it was.

“Sancus,” she purred into his left ear. As she pressed her body snugly against him, she imagined the corded muscles of his arms wrapped around her, his strong legs intertwined with hers as they made love on her bed—or better yet, on one of the desks here.

Sancus stepped forward half a pace, breaking contact as he reached for a volume on an upper shelf.

“Let me take your mind off those dusty old books, Sancus.” Her voice held an unmistakable invitation. How can he not jump at the chance?

“I don’t have time for that right now, Venus. I’m on a deadline.”

Although charmingly dedicated to his work, this was a bit much, she thought.

“In that case, I can take a rain check for a more convenient time. Or better yet, let me help?” She took the book from his hands and brushed her breasts against his arm. Heat pulsed through her from the slight contact. Why had she not pursued him sooner?

“Venus.” He turned toward her.

She fixed her gaze on his unbelievably green eyes and released an involuntary moan as her pulse quickened. She wanted to caress his gorgeous cheekbones, run her fingers through his long, wavy blond locks.

“I’m sorry, Venus, but I’m just not that into you.” He pulled the book from her grasp, turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

Still very much aroused, she watched him walk away, his words and his retreating footsteps echoing through the marble hallway.

Her heart raced until the blood pounded in her ears. She only realized she’d balled her hands into fists when the fingernails dug into the soft flesh of her palms. Not that into me?



* * * * *



Venus slammed the door after entering her house, kicked off her Manolos and stomped into the drawing room. With a disgruntled huff, she threw herself down on the chaise longue and rang a tiny bell sitting on the marble table next to her. Within moments a handsome young man wearing a tiny pair of silver satin shorts and carrying a tray of assorted sweetmeats entered the room. This one was called Pino, or possibly Tino. She had two servers, twins, and she often mixed them up. He knelt down next to the chaise, and Venus perused the items on the tray. She picked up a chocolate truffle, took a bite and then quickly spat it out onto the tray.

Have I put on a few pounds? She wracked her brain, needing an explanation for Sancus’s unexpected rebuff. Venus considered her shape. She looked good. She looked damn good! Maybe she didn’t go for kickboxing or Pilates like some of the younger goddesses, but her shape and curves were classic! Painters and sculptors had been portraying her for millennia! Could the other goddesses say that? No! Everyone else considered her still beautiful and desirable, so Sancus was the one with the problem, not her! Maybe she’d lay off the truffles for a week or two just in case.

Still indignant, she chose a glistening piece of honeydew melon instead of chocolate and popped it into her mouth. While nibbling on another slice of fruit, she let her eyes wander over the youthful servant still obediently on his knees before her.

He’d make a tasty afternoon snack—with no calories! She wasn’t in the mood for love anymore, thanks to that asshole Sancus. She wasn’t about to let his slight go unpunished.

“Cupid!” She shouted so loudly, Pino—or Tino—jumped a foot in the air then turned to her with an apologetic glance. She didn’t feel like berating her servant just now.

Bored with the fruit while waiting for Cupid to arrive, she popped a chocolate-dipped strawberry into her mouth, savoring the sweetness and making juicy, wet noises. She eyed Pino as if the idea of putting him next on her personal menu seemed a lot more likely.

While she warmed up to the notion, Cupid sauntered into the room, adjusting his loincloth in a manner Venus found distasteful. Had she really raised such an uncouth offspring?

“You bellowed, Mom?” He fluttered his wings and placed his quiver of arrows on the floor near the foot of her chaise longue with a resounding thud.

“Don’t call me Mom!”

“Why not? You are my mother.”

“I don’t like the idea of someone thinking of me as a mother.”

“No danger of that; you aren’t remotely maternal.” He leaned over, peered at Pino’s tray and selected a chocolate morsel, offering the youth an inviting wink at the same time.

When Pino grinned, Venus felt her blood boiling again. Her plaything seemed more interested in her son than her.

Sitting up, she shoved Pino away with a bare foot, causing him to drop his tray. He glanced up with fear in his eyes and scrambled to collect the scattered snacks off the floor before rushing from of the room.

“Did you happen to see The Devil Wears Prada?” Cupid watched the youth’s hasty exit with an annoying smirk which only aggravated Venus’s foul mood.

“No, why?”

“No reason, really. So why did you want to see me, to help train your servants?” Cupid laughed, gave her a half-leer, and settled himself onto the chaise longue beside her.

“No, something more important than that. It’s Sancus. I want you to put a curse on him.”