Ah, the sweet torture of having the one you want so close by but not being able to be as close as you truly want.
I'd enjoyed our trip, short as it was, to the Underworld. Androkles was so attentive during our time there. But that was something I should have expected. We were in an unfamiliar place, so even with Alexis, I wouldn't know where things were. Lady Persephone and Lord Hades were gracious hosts and showed us around their immediate property. I wished I had sight when Lord Hades offered to let Androkles hold Lady Chara. She was, of course, adequately swaddled to ensure no skin contact would be made. Rea whispered to me the details of the sight. Of my tall, broad-shouldered, muscular fiancé cradling the tiny, bundled infant with such care and a look of worry and possibly fear as he did. Andy later confessed he was afraid, not that he would die from perhaps touching her but that he would hurt her or drop her. It was rather sweet that his worry was never for himself but for her. This made me wonder how he will be when or if we start a family. If his behavior towards Lady Chara indicates, h
“Yes, many things can change how someone sounds. When we went to see Lord Hades and Lady Persephone, the Olympians and daemons had a different tone in their voices.” I agreed. “Dio was rather sparse on the details about you two, other than the wedding is soon,” Cassatt said. “Yes, tell us more about the two of you. Of how you got to the point of marriage.” Aigialeus encouraged starting to eat. “It isn’t all that exciting a story,” I said. “It isn’t all that thrilling.” Andy agreed, wanting to downplay our meeting like I was. “I’m from one of the Eastern villages. I met Androkles when a chimera attacked, and he found me in the debris. The chimera had been spotted a few times before. So, we were lucky it waited to attack.” I smiled softly. It was strange to look back on that day and be able to smile, but I can do that because of Andy. “Though he introduced himself as Andy,” I explained. “He saved my life when he decided to bring me to the Apollo tents. He caused quite a scare.” “
I still can’t believe Diokles brought our brother and his wife here from the mortal realm to attend the wedding. It was certainly interesting to meet him. And jarring. I don’t think I was prepared for how much we look alike, how much he looks like our father. But at least he looks different enough from our father not to be unsettling. I was grateful to Ismene-Eirene for taking Diokles away with her. Though I’m on the fence about how good of an idea it was for him to leave. With him here, he acted as the middle ground. He’s the one that knows both of us. So, in that way, it would offer us both some stability. Yet if he were here, I’d probably feel under observation and not truly get to know our brother. “I love our brother, but he can be a bit much sometimes. Especially when he’s excited.” Aigialeus chuckled after they had left. “Um, yes. I would have to agree with that. Dio is an… acquired taste, especially among Olympians.” I nodded. “But he’s a good kid. You both are.” he smiled,
It was different hosting my brother and his wife as guests in my House. All the staff could sense it. They were each a bit unnerved at first, given how much my brother looked like me, like our father. But they relaxed when they were told he wasn't Nikos.I still don't know what Ismene-Eirene took Cassatt to do, well beyond visiting her parents, but they seemed to have bonded. Which is good as soon they will be family. Even if this will probably be the only time we see them, I'm glad we had the chance. It made me happy to see how well Ismene-Eirene got along with Cassatt and my brother."You seem… happier today," Ismene-Eirene commented as I walked her to her room."I do?" I asked, furrowing my brow.
I knew my grandmother enjoyed jewelry. But the reasons for her buying it were lost with her. I stood there, wishing I could see his face to see if the gift was good or bad. I tilted my head a little when he didn't know what to say. Was that a good or bad thing? Maybe this wasn't the broach that was his, only one similar. Would that be worse? But then I had my answer. I was suddenly on his lap, getting comfortable. But then his arms moved around me, and I felt him take shelter in the curve of my neck. "Andy..." I said softly. Has he ever hugged me before? In return, yes. But has he ever reached out to me? I couldn't remember right now. It didn't matter. What matters is that right now, he initiated this contact. This may be the closest and most intimate we've been, but I like it and am not about to run from it. I ran my hand through his short hair before holding my arms around him. "You're welcome, Andy," I whispered as I leaned my head into his, holding him and running my hand thro
Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm doing. I've mostly just been following instinct. Years before I met Ismene-Eirene, I'd promptly ignored everything my father and Eugenius told me about sex and how to treat women. Oddly it was Aigialeus who gave me advice before the wedding. It seemed sound. He told me to go with the flow, pay attention to her needs, put her needs before my own, and stop if she ever said to. I trust him. I know his first marriage was arranged, and by his own words, they slowly became friends before sharing a bed. And he was genuinely broken-hearted when she died. And then, to see him with Cassatt, they have a happy marriage. So, I'll go slow. I'll let her set the pace. Easier said than done. She's driving me crazy, touching me like this. I know she's not intentionally torturing me. She's doing this to learn the layout of my body in a way she couldn't before. It is not her fault that her touch ignites something inside me that feels more primal. I groaned into her shoul
I don't know how I managed to have this woman as my wife, but I'm happy she is. I tried to remember the few pointers I'd been given since puberty, especially since our engagement. My brother was vaguer in his suggestions, but Diokles and Hypatos were more explicit. One of their unrequested suggestions was to use my tongue. When I first heard that suggestion, I wrinkled my nose because that didn't sound very sanitary. In my defense, I was sixteen and had recently been dragged to the brothel by my father and Eugenius. So, the notion of sex in all its forms turned my stomach. But right now, as I looked at Ismene-Eirene, my wife, my love, even if I haven't told her that part yet, I understood the reasoning better. Looking at her flushed skin and slick thighs from the pleasure my fingers had brought her, I felt this urge to taste her. So, I did. I dipped my head between her thighs, licking them clean before my tongue found its true target. "Annnndy…" Ismene-Eirene exclaimed. Apparently,
Two months. It’s been two months since our wedding. I’m still learning some of the ins and outs of being the Lady of Ares. I’ve at least been prepared to run a house by my parents. It’s more the politics of being a council member’s wife I’m adjusting to. Androkles has been fantastic through all this. Not that I expected less from him. He’s always been supportive of me and wants to be sure I have my independence. We have managed to adjust to married life. I’m sure the fact that we were friends first certainly has helped in that adjustment. Though I sometimes wake up disoriented by not only the new room but his arms around me and his naked body pressed to mine. Not that I will ever complain about that. In Andy’s arms, I know I am the safest woman in Olympus. And I certainly have enjoyed the physical intimacy of our marriage. We both have. I still can’t believe how much I have enjoyed sex. That first night was beautiful, even though we were both nervous. And each night since has been b