Pandora's Mistake (Fate of Eros #0) (The Fate of Eros Series) by E.B. Black

figured that she was the type of woman who would run home and tell Epimetheus about the kiss they shared. Epimetheus would not only beat Prometheus when he found out, but he'd probably ban Pandora from ever seeing him again.
    He looked down at her arms and sucked in his breath. Scratches decorated her skin like a wild animal had ripped into her. He longed to run his fingers down her wounds and kiss them gently, but the chains didn't allow him to move his hands. She caught him staring and crossed her arms to cover it up.
    "Did Epimetheus do this to you?" Prometheus asked.
    Pandora swallowed and looked away. "No."
    "You don't have to lie to me," Prometheus said. "He's my brother. I know how he is."
    Pandora met his eyes. "I'm not saying he's never hit me. This time was just… different. "
    "Did you tell him about our kiss?" Prometheus nervously sucked in his breath.
    "No," she whispered.
    "Don't ever tell him. He'll be angry if he finds out." I don't want you to get hurt. He left the words unsaid.
    "I know." Pandora clenched her fists. "He killed a man yesterday."
    "For doing what?" Prometheus growled, angry that his brother was killing humans even though they had no way to procreate. He had made his brother promise to protect them when he was first locked up.
    "For touching my chest," Pandora whispered.
    As much as Prometheus wanted to stay angry with Epimetheus, he felt himself wishing that man was alive again instead...so Prometheus himself could kill him for touching Pandora.
    Prometheus narrowed his eyes. "You know, it's strange the way you have gotten yourself stuck between Epimetheus and myself. We are both possessive of those we care about and you're taking advantage of it."
    "What do you mean?" Pandora asked.
    "Don't play coy with me." He stared in fascination as she dipped the spoon in the broth again, but this time, she fed herself. Her full lips devoured the spoon in a way that made him hard, even with all the pain he felt. The quick peek of pink tongue as she licked the broth from her mouth made him want to grab her and kiss her.
    "Everything you do," he continued. "From the way you eat to the way you move is dripping with seduction. Zeus knew neither my brother nor I could resist a beautiful human."
    Pandora blushed and stroked her hair with her free hand. "You think I'm desirable?"
    Prometheus narrowed his eyes. "I think you're dangerous. You were probably in on Zeus' plan all along."
    Pandora rolled her eyes and picked up the spoon to feed him more broth. "Just drink your broth and stop making things up."
    Prometheus swallowed a gulp in an exaggerated manner. "The only reason I trust you to feed me is because I can't be poisoned; I'll regenerate."
    Pandora clenched her teeth. "Everyone isn't after you! Sure your punishment was harsh, but what else was Zeus supposed to do when you stole from him? Couldn't you have tried to talk to him instead? Maybe he treated you this way because you were being unreasonable."
    Prometheus glared at her. "Why do you defend a man who hates your kind so much? Zeus wanted to destroy the human race, but I assisted him during the war of the Titans and he agreed to let you live, but he made you weaker..."
    Memories slammed through Prometheus' mind as he told her the story.
    *** *** ***
    Prometheus stared unhappily at the clay he was shaping in his hand. No gold flecks shined at him. Instead, it was filled with silver. The color glowed lifelessly like the moon. He wanted the rich, golden sparkle of the sun, but Zeus thought it was too much. Humans shouldn't be as pretty as gods. It was bad enough that they sparkled at all. They should know their place, beneath the Olympians.
    The Fates had predicted Zeus overthrowing Cronus and that was a big part of the reason he succeeded. Prometheus knew that frightened Zeus. He didn't want humans to be able to tell the future like the Fates could. They'd be able to foresee the destruction of the gods and possibly even cause it, so Prometheus had