Zeus expected Ceres to walk toward the garden.
But she changed direction.
His brows furrowed, but he followed her in silence.
She led them to the pool area.
Before Zeus could even question what she was doing.
She dove.
A perfect, graceful dive.
Zeus inhaled sharply.
She sliced through the water with ease, her platinum blonde hair fanning out behind her like liquid gold under the pool lights.
She looked like a furious siren.
A sea goddess ready to conjure a storm against foolish mortals.
And Zeus?
He was the foolish mortal watching her in absolute fascination.
'You're acting like a horny teenager again, Zeus,' he scolded himself.
But who could blame him?
His woman was a fůcking vision.
Zeus exhaled slowly before removing his shoes and socks.
Then, he rolled up his pants and sat at the edge of the pool, dipping his feet into the cool water.
Setting the two crystal wine glasses on the tiles, he poured champagne into them.
Meanwhile, Ceres continued swimming.
Back and forth. Lap after lap.
Zeus watched her every move.
And with each stroke, each flip of her body.
His hunger grew.
By the time she finally surfaced near him, he was on his third glass of champagne.
"Are you planning to finish that entire bottle by yourself?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Her tone was teasing. Calmer than earlier.
Zeus smirked. "Feeling much better now, love?"
"Hmm…" She hummed, swimming closer.
"Not really."
Then, she stopped.
Right between his legs.
Zeus stiffened.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath.
Because she was looking up at him like that.
Like she knew exactly what she was doing to him.
Like she was challenging him.
"Love, no." His voice was strained.
Ceres tilted her head, feigning innocence.
"What are you saying 'no' for?"
Her hands glided up his calves.
Higher.
And higher.
Until her fingers brushed over his already hardened length, so visible beneath the fabric of his slacks.
Zeus groaned.
He was going to fůcking die tonight.
Ceres smiled. Biting her lip at Zeus's reaction.
She would admit it.
Before, his reactions used to irritate her.
She hated how easily she could affect him, how one teasing touch could bring this powerful man down.
But somewhere along the way…
Something changed.
Now?
Seeing him like this, his golden eyes dark with desire, his lips parted as he tried to steady his breath. It sent a rush of heat through her veins.
It made her proud.
It made her excited.
And more than anything.
It made her happy.
Ceres's left hand traced the outline of his arousal, slow and teasing, while her right hand glided up and down his thigh, applying just enough pressure to make him twitch.
"Love... fůck." Zeus groaned.
His head fell back slightly, his hands gripping the edge of the pool as she kissed him through his pants.
Tracing him.
Breathing against him.
He was about to lose it.
But before he could react.
She pushed off the pool wall and swam away.
Putting distance between them.
"What the?" Zeus snapped his eyes open, looking completely stunned.
Like a child who had been given a taste of ice cream, only to have the cone taken away.
Ceres laughed.
"Join me," she teased, floating effortlessly in the water.
And then, just to make sure he couldn't refuse.
She reached behind her, pulled the thin straps of her dress over her shoulders, and let the fabric slip away from her body.
The silky material floated to the surface.
Zeus inhaled sharply.
He already knew she wasn't wearing a bra.
But when he saw something else floating up next.
A delicate, cream-colored lace panty.
"Fůck."
Zeus pulled his phone from his pocket, tossed it aside, and without hesitation.
He dove.
His long-sleeved polo and pants still clung to his body as he sliced through the water with two powerful strokes, reaching Ceres in seconds.
She was laughing.
Before he could speak, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep, intoxicating kiss.
Zeus didn't hesitate.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him as they floated together.
Ceres instinctively locked her legs around his waist.
And when Zeus pushed his hardened length against her core.
Ceres moaned into his mouth.
"You like making me suffer, love," he growled, trailing his lips down her throat before biting her gently.
"Wrong." Ceres looked into his golden eyes, her own filled with playful defiance.
"I don't like it," she whispered, her lips brushing against his.
"I love it."
Zeus let out a predatory groan.
"Swim there," she ordered, nodding toward the farthest, darkest corner of the pool.
A smirk curled on Zeus's lips. He knew exactly what she wanted.
Without breaking eye contact, he glided them through the water toward the shadows.
Just before they reached it, Ceres suddenly pushed away from him and swam ahead.
Zeus frowned in confusion.
"Hurry," she whispered over her shoulder, her back now facing him.
Zeus obeyed, reaching her in an instant.
And then, without hesitation, she whispered the words that shattered his restraint.
"From behind."
Zeus didn't need to be told twice.
Still partially clothed, he gripped her hips, unzipped his pants, pushed aside the last barrier between them, and buried himself inside her.
"Fůck." he groaned, dipping his head into the crook of her neck to muffle the sound.
Ceres bit her lower lip, suppressing her own moans as she gripped his hair.
"More," she whimpered.
Zeus's right arm wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her steady as he drove into her, his other hand cupping her breast, kneading and pinching her hardened peak.
His lips trailed from her nape to her ear.
"Do you like it when I'm inside you, love?" he whispered, his voice thick with desire.
Ceres shook her head.
"No," she gasped.
Zeus's rhythm almost faltered.
Until she finished her sentence.
"I love it. I love it when you're inside me."
Zeus lost it.
His thrusts became deeper, rougher, hungrier.
"Oh god," Ceres moaned, her release creeping up fast.
"Turn me around," she panted.
Zeus obeyed without breaking their connection.
And then she kissed him.
That was it.
He couldn't hold back any longer.
Zeus drove into her desperately, their moans muffled against each other's lips.
Ceres felt it. Her body tightened, heat exploding from her core as she reached her climax.
To keep herself from screaming his name, she bit down hard on his shoulder, right through his wet shirt.
But when she felt Zeus spill his release inside her.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips.
Their bodies were still trembling from the aftermath when bright lights flooded the pool area.
Ceres barely had time to react.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Ryzel's furious voice roared from the poolside.
Zeus turned his head slightly and found him standing right next to their forgotten wine glasses.
A mix of shock, rage, and betrayal surged through Ryzel's veins as he took in the scene before him.
Anyone with a functioning brain could tell exactly what was happening between Ceres and Zeus in the pool.
His blood boiled.
He didn't even register the hurried footsteps of his parents, his sister, or even his fiancée, Ciena.
Without warning.
Ryzel charged toward the pool.
And jumped in.
"Get the fůck away from her!" he roared, surging forward and grabbing Ceres by the arm.
"Ah!" she cried out in pain.
A loud crack echoed in the air.
Zeus's fist collided with Ryzel's face, knocking him backward.
Ryzel's grip on Ceres immediately loosened, allowing Zeus to pull her protectively behind him.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Zeus snarled, blazing with fury.
Instead of answering.
Ryzel lunged and threw a punch of his own.
The impact of his fist connected with Zeus's jaw, causing the latter's head to snap to the side.
"Oh my god, Ryzel! Stop!" Ceres shrieked.
"Ryzel, enough!" Ciena cried out, frozen in place.
But Ryzel wasn't listening.
His chest heaved as his voice broke with something unhinged.
"She's mine! Ceres is mine!"
A stunned silence followed his outburst.
Ciena's face paled.
Ryza and Mrs. Clark gasped audibly.
"You piece of shît!" Zeus snarled.
And without a second thought.
He punched Ryzel again.
Ryzel swung his fist back, ready to throw another punch.
But he never stood a chance.
Blinded by rage, he wasn't thinking clearly.
Zeus was bigger.
Stronger.
Unlike Ryzel, he actually knew how to fight.
Blow after blow, Zeus's fists connected with Ryzel's face.
Blood spattered into the water, mixing into a swirling crimson haze.
"Zeus, stop!"
Ceres's voice finally cut through his rage.
He froze.
His chest heaved as he turned toward her.
But Ryzel kicked him underwater.
"How dare you touch what's mine!" Ryzel's voice was hoarse, his nose and lip bleeding profusely.
He turned his furious gaze to Ceres.
"Come here!" he barked.
Ceres's eyes widened.
He spoke as if he had any right to order her around.
As if she was some object that belonged to him.
The audacity almost made her laugh.
She opened her mouth to throw back something cutting.
But before she could.
Zeus struck again.
His powerful kick sent Ryzel skidding backward underwater.
Even through the water, Ryzel felt it.
Fück, that hurt.
"Yours?!" Zeus's voice boomed in fury.
Before Ryzel could recover, Zeus grabbed the back of his collar.
And shoved his head underwater.
"Stop!" Ciena's panicked scream rang out.
Zeus yanked Ryzel back up.
The man gasped for breath, choking on water.
"You gave up that right when you broke up with her!" Zeus snarled.
And shoved him under again.
"You discarded her for someone lesser!"
He did it again.
"And I'd be damned if I let you hurt her again!"
Zeus was about to drown him once more.
But this time, Romos's voice cut through the chaos.
"Zeus! Enough!"
The commanding weight of his voice made everyone freeze.
Zeus's golden eyes snapped to him.
Romos stood at the edge of the pool, his expression stern.
"Let him go," he ordered. "Are you trying to commit murder in my own house?"
Zeus's jaw ticked.
For a moment, it looked like he might ignore the demand.
But then, with a look of pure disgust, he shoved Ryzel away.
Only to throw one last punch to his already bloodied face.
Romos cursed under his breath.
Zeus didn't care.
He was done here.
Without another glance, he turned to Ceres.
He shrugged off his drenched long-sleeve polo and wrapped it around her body.
"Let's go, love," he said, his voice eerily calm as he gently guided her toward the pool's ladder.
But just as they passed Ryzel.
The other man called out desperately.
"Babe, no."
The endearment made Ceres pause.
That was what he used to call her when they were together.
Zeus's entire body tensed.
Then, in one smooth motion, he turned his head and glared down at Ryzel.
"Stay the fück away from my woman."
His voice was low, deadly.
A warning.
"Or I swear. This won't be the last beating you get."