Since I’m not writing anymore, I decided to dust off one of my old short stories. I only have two, so I chose the one I feel is better which is Eros, My Love. It’s an urban fantasy with the Greek god Eros as the lead male character. I wrote the story because I like the Greek mythological love story of Eros and Psyche. My short story actually started out as a vampire romance novel I wrote in 2008 but never finished. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so I edited it into a short story with a Greek god as the hero instead of an original vampire character. So far, I’ve sent the manuscript to two publishers and a query letter to a third publisher. My query passed the initial review with the third publisher, so I’m waiting for a Senior Editor to contact me and request the manuscript. My goal is to get my short story published as an e-book.
Below is the synopsis for Eros, My Love and an excerpt as a free preview.
Gabrielle Foster never thought she would fall in love with a mythological character. After reading the pages of a mysterious journal, she finds herself enamored yet sympathetic towards the Greek god Eros. The journal paints him as a tragic and lonely god with a selfless heart that aches for companionship. But the author is a clinically insane woman, so Eros couldn’t really exist… could he?
While working the night shift at a local diner in downtown Boston, a secret admirer reveals his true identity and Gabrielle discovers her love is not unrequited.
Disclaimer: Eros, My Love is COPYRIGHT 2011 by April Bostic, and may not be copied or distributed by any means whatsoever except by prior written permission from the author.
Brooke seated my first customer at the counter. He still wore his coat and hood, so I couldn’t see his face while he browsed the menu.
I stood on the opposite side of the counter, and pulled my order pad and pen from my apron pocket. I made a point of putting the pad on the countertop in front of him so he knew I was ready to take his order. I leaned towards him because I’m always friendly and outgoing with my customers. Even though this guy rarely speaks or makes eye contact with me, I never stopped being cordial.
“So, what can I get for you tonight?” I asked cheerfully. “Our special is blackened salmon with rice pilaf and a delicious medley of greens.”
To my utter surprise, he lifted his head slowly. The moment our eyes met, I gasped in shock. I’ve seen those eyes before—bright, cerulean, and as deep as pools. I will never forget the eyes in the portrait of Eros.
I swallowed against the nervous lump in my throat while I surveyed the rest of his features. Smooth pale skin, a straight aristocratic nose, high cheekbones and pouty lips with a sensual curve. He looked youthful, definitely around my age. I couldn’t speak because my lips felt dry, so I darted my tongue out to moisten them.
The young man smiled. His straight white teeth impressed me. I had never seen him smile. The other waitresses nicknamed him The Albino Weirdo. He would come in the diner every evening, order food, and leave me a generous tip. Often times, he lingered quietly in the diner after he finished his meal. I thought tonight must be a special occasion because he actually looked at me.
He replied in a low, polite voice, “I am not in the mood for the special, so I think I will have a grilled chicken sandwich and French fries please.” He spoke clearly tonight and I detected a European accent. His voice surprised me because he usually mumbled, and sometimes I would have to ask him to repeat his order.
Because of my current state of emotions, my voice escaped in a strangled whisper. “Would you like anything to drink?”
“I would like iced tea with lemon please.”
My hand froze in mid-air as I attempted to write down his order. I couldn’t look away from him. I had to be under his spell. He slowly removed his hood, and I dropped my pen. In my peripheral vision, I saw it roll down the counter but had no idea where it ended up.
My eyes settled on the shock of platinum blond hair. This guy always wore a hood, even in the summer. His straight thick locks nearly brushed his shoulders and shone under the lights in the diner, revealing its natural gloss and health. My fingers itched with the desire to feel his hair texture.
His gaze on me didn’t waver as he sat perfectly still and assessed my reaction.
I heard the name escape my lips in a shuddering whisper. “Eros?”
He chuckled low in his throat. Suddenly, I felt his finger making small circles on the back of my hand. A second later, my cheeks flushed. I looked down at my hand and watched his long pale finger with a manicured nail, swirl around the center.
I stuttered, “W-wh-what are you d-do-doing?”
He had me transfixed and lost in his eyes. They were such a pretty shade. I felt envious because my eye color was so ordinary. We just stared at each other while his finger continued to brush over my skin in a feather-light touch. I felt flushed with heat from my scalp to my toes. My heart beat fiercely and my lips parted to exhale softly.
He raised an eyebrow. “You want to soothe my loneliness, dear one?” His pale brows were almost non-existent. At that moment, I realized he wasn’t albino; he just had a very fair complexion.
His question threw me off-guard. How did he know my inner thoughts? I decided to play dumb. “What are you talking about?”
“Gabrielle, for so long I wanted to tell you how I feel about you.” He didn’t answer my question either.
I blinked rapidly. “Excuse me?”
“I have been coming here every day just to see you.”
Stunned, my mouth dropped. “What?” My eyes narrowed when I realized what he just confessed. “How long have you been coming here to see me?”
“Since you started working here.”
“Since I started working here? You’ve been coming here for almost a year just to see me?” He nodded. “I don’t remember seeing you here every day.”
He broke the connection with our eyes and ran a hand through his hair. A few seconds passed before he spoke in a serious quiet tone. “Just because you have not seen me here every day does not mean I have not seen you. You have served many customers and I make myself appear like everyone else.” He tugged on his hood and then dropped his hands. I flinched when he put them gently on top of mine. “You have always been so kind to me. You never stopped trying to converse with me even though I would mumble a few words in return.” He sighed. “Nevertheless, I cannot watch you from afar any longer.”
I started to feel uncomfortable with our conversation and my voice rose. “So you’ve been stalking me? Is that it?”
“I am not a stalker, Gabrielle. I just…” He looked at his lap.
“Watch me? You just said you’ve been watching me from afar.” Annoyance was evident in my tone. God or no god, Eros gave me a creepy vibe. I had already concluded his identity because he didn’t try to dispute me or deny it.
A second after my brusque words, Eros’ eyes hardened into sapphire stones. I braced myself and gulped nervously. I wondered if it was wise to speak shortly to a god.
Surprisingly, he didn’t reprimand my sharp tongue. “You intrigue me, Gabrielle Foster, and trust me… there are not many humans who can keep my undivided attention for an extended period of time. The day you started working here, I saw you leave after your shift ended and I thought…” He swallowed hard, and I watched his Adam’s apple move in his throat. Then he spoke quietly. “I thought you were the most beautiful human I had ever seen. You see, in addition to influencing Mankind with love, lust, and sex, I like to watch them as well. I am an observer, but have to remain inconspicuous.”
Eros sighed heavily and frowned. “No longer will I just observe you, Gabrielle. I want you to know who I am. I have wasted so much time. I should have been trying to pursue you. Before I arrived here, all the other gods sensed my loneliness on Olympus, and soon I became withdrawn. My father approached me one day and told me I could take a holiday. He allowed me a certain amount of time on Earth. You see, we cannot stay here for too long, so we must return home. Only I never expected to…” He paused and sighed again. “There are rules that cannot be broken between us and mortals. But I just…” Eros sounded frustrated and I didn’t understand what he was trying to say.
I struggled to absorb everything he revealed to me. I had no idea he watched me. He knew I had read the woman’s journal. I wondered what else he knew about me. The weight from knowing his identity, hearing his admission, and the validity of the journal hit me all at once. I tried in vain to get a grip on my emotions. My heartbeat sounded so loud and I could hear my blood whooshing in my ears.
I thought I had lost my mind when I noticed the diner blurred out of focus. All I could see was the Greek God sitting at the counter in front of me. Time seemed to stand still and the sounds around me disappeared.
In an attempt to calm myself, I took short rapid breaths. “What do you want from me?” I asked desperately.
His head moved closer so we were close enough to kiss. “I want to give you something.” He licked his lips, and I swallowed hard again. “And I want you to give me something in return. I do believe it will be mutually beneficial.”
My brows knitted in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“You wished to meet me and soothe my loneliness. I want to fulfill your wish. I know you barely know me, but I know you.” His lips moved within a hairsbreadth from mine. “I am sorry, my lovely Gabrielle, for not sending you the man of your dreams.” His warm breath smelled sweet like a candied apple. “Your heart has suffered greatly and I am the reason why your relationships never last.” He shook his head slightly and wore a guilty expression. “Oh my darling girl, it is not your fault.”
I gasped loudly because Eros looked inside my heart. So many nights I stayed up and wondered why I couldn’t keep a relationship. Why couldn’t I connect with any of my boyfriends? Was I doomed to spend the rest of my life alone? Men always told me they were the reason our relationship didn’t work… not me. After many failed relationships, I started to believe it really was me. I had concluded I was incapable of having a lasting relationship. I was convinced something inside of me was broken. The worst part was… I didn’t know how to fix myself.
Eros’ voice brought my head out of the clouds. “It took me awhile to realize why I kept failing you. It is because I am the one who needs you. I cannot wait any longer. I want to be with you and take you home with me. It is the only way.”
I jerked away from him, and suddenly the diner came back into focus and the sounds around me returned. I stumbled on my words as I tried to collect myself. “I… uh… I have to…” I walked away from the counter but Eros didn’t take his hypnotic eyes off me. “I’ll put in your order now,” I said in a trembling voice.
After Eros finished his meal, he borrowed a newspaper from an old man sitting next to him. He read it slowly, and I assumed he was trying to pass the time because we didn’t have another conversation for the remainder of my shift.
Eros confirmed my suspicions and stayed at the diner until my shift ended. When I went to the back to grab my purse and coat, he stood next to my locker. I yelped in surprise and put a hand to my chest to steady my heartbeat. He seemed to move with a silent inhuman speed.
“Please come with me right now,” he said quietly.
I stood motionless with wide eyes. He surprised me again when he pressed his lips to mine. His tongue swept across my lips, asking permission to enter. I obliged without question and let him slip his warm tongue inside my mouth. My eyes then fluttered close and I immediately took the opportunity to taste him. His mouth had a delicious flavor like red licorice, my favorite candy. Our tongues swirled around each other passionately. I couldn’t resist, I just had to indulge myself for a while. His kiss nearly stole my breath away.
I felt content in the god’s embrace. Comforting warmth filled my entire body. The wonderful sensation wrapped around me protectively and brought a heavenly scent like a soft cotton blanket, warm and freshly laundered from the dryer. Eros made me feel safe and cared for. I relished the feeling and I wanted to stay in his arms and enveloped in his fragrance. This was where I belonged.
Suddenly, an overwhelming emotion washed over me; something I haven’t felt in a long time. It came with a force so strong that my heart sang the word: Love.
Our lips unsealed from one another and his mouth moved next to my ear. “I will meet you outside in the back alley,” he whispered.
He released me from his embrace and a cold emptiness seeped into my body. When I opened my eyes, he was gone.
In that single moment standing next to my locker—the smell of cooking grease in the air and the buzzing from the florescent lights overhead—I finalized a decision I knew would be risky and probably change my life forever. I didn’t try to rationalize it or debate myself because I realized the moment I’ve been waiting for was right outside. The man of my dreams had come to take me away with him.
I put on my coat and bundled up. Then I dashed out of the back exit to meet Eros in the alley.
