esire by Valery Faye
The next chamber was half empty. Was this Envy and Charity’s room? Envy had packed his side of the room with fabulous furniture and decor, whereas Charity gave everything away, leaving his space barren and lonely.

When Nina reached the next chamber, she was no longer afraid. She’d been through the weirdest, most bizarre day of her life. She’d met gods, and soon, she’d meet with Chastity and end her on-going pain once and for all.

Nina took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

A man called from within. “Come in, darling Nina.”

“Chastity!” Nina squealed and opened the door.

Half the space was decorated in a deep, luscious red, the other in pale blue. One of the siblings sat on a stool directly in the middle.

Nina looked around. “Where’s Lust?”

The man grinned. If Happiness was adorable, this god was handsome beyond Nina’s realm of imagination. He was bronze and had the muscles of a warrior. His hazel eyes were exceptionally clear, and he had the most kissable lips she’d ever seen. He wore no shirt.

Then it clicked.

No way he was Chastity.

Nina’s eyes narrowed, betrayal blazing through her. “You’re Lust.”

“That I am, darling.”

“Where’s Chastity?” Nina demanded. “When will he be back?”

Lust laughed and pointed toward a corner on the blue side of the room where Chastity lay bound and unconscious.

Nina gasped.

“Don’t worry,” Lust said. “He’s just sleeping. I would never hurt my brother. He’s my blood. I love him. We have the same face. But I guess I’m so damned competitive. I couldn’t let him win you over. You were worth far too many points in our game.”

Nina shook her head. “What are you going on about?”

“Love, you’re just another tally on the scoreboard, no matter whose side you’re on.” Lust stood and stretched. “By the way, the deer was me.”

Nina tried hard not to imagine her lips exploring every inch of him.

He continued. “You see, we’re in a little competition, and Chastity’s actually giving me a run for my money. Scoring you for his side would have given him a huge advantage over me, and I couldn’t allow that.”

Nina’s jaw slackened. “You’re lying.”

“Whoa, whoa, darling.” Lust laughed, walked toward her. “Accusing gods of lying can have dire consequences.” He licked his lips, sending the butterflies in Nina’s stomach all aflutter.

Nonetheless, she forced herself to focus on the issue at hand. “Well, if what you’re telling me is true, then why am I worth so many so-called points?”

Lust took Nina’s head into his soft hands and tenderly angled it up so they were eye-to-eye. She couldn’t help stealing glances at his pouty lips. She wanted them on her neck, on her nipples, on her moist cunt. But, no. No! This was how she’d gotten into trouble all those other times. This was how those men had taken advantage of her and how the last one had broken her heart.

She closed her eyes and tried to will away her desire for Lust.

He bent down and whispered into her ear. His lips and hot breath brushed against her skin and made her tingle all over. “Because, love, you were teetering.”