Arcadian Nights

by Marie Medina

  He looked up into her eyes. She was playing with him, but her desire was very real. She wanted him. He ran his hand into her hair and pulled her to him for a kiss. She tried to rub against him, but he held her away. He kissed her deeply. Instead of becoming aggressive, she melted in his arms. She let him explore her mouth, sighing as he enjoyed her sweet taste. He’d told himself he only meant to shut her up and slake some of his lust before leaving, but he found her intoxicating. The gentle way she yielded intrigued him. He had not expected a soft, sweet kiss.

  She broke the kiss first, climbing off him and stumbling back a little. “I release you. You’re free to go now.”

  He felt something cold touch his arm. He looked down and saw the mark she’d given him was gone. However, his erection hadn’t gone anywhere. “But I still want you.”

  “It will wear off. It’s like any other sexual stimulus.”

  “Look at me.”

  “Why? So you can gloat?”

  “I won’t do that.”

  She turned to look down at him. She seemed to be struggling to maintain her composure. “What then?”

  “See me again. I want to talk about this more.”

  She laughed. “I’m not an idiot.”

  “You said I was different. Give me the chance to prove it.”

  “Why?”

  “You wanted me to pay attention to you. I did. Now I’m interested. I won’t just go away.”

  “Fine. I can’t stop you.”

  “Come to Arcadia with me tonight.”

  “Arcadia? In Greece?”

  “Yes, it’s where I was born. On Mount Cyllene. It’s the home of poetry and literature, so you may find it stimulating. Some men still seek the gods there. Iris has a temple near there, sort of like a club almost. We can have dinner and talk.”

  “A date?”

  “Whatever you want it to be.”

  “And afterwards?”

  “Why don’t we see?” Even with the spell lifted, he knew his fate was still in her hands. He might have succeeded in upsetting her, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to make her do anything she didn’t want to do.

  “You seem to have calmed down.” She gestured to his pants.

  His erection had gone away. “Yes. And I’m still interested in you.”

  “I’m a nice little mystery,” she joked. The black cat rubbed her ankle, and she knelt to pick it up.

  “Yes, you are. I understand what that’s like. You said you wanted to make me feel something. You seem to have broken through my barriers. Give me a chance with yours.”

  She actually smiled. “Okay. We’ll see.”

  He stood up. “I suppose you didn’t expect it to end this way.”

  She looked at him for a long time. “No. You’ve surprised me. I actually thought you’d give in just to be free.”

  “And never speak to you again?”

  She shrugged. “Perhaps.”

  “I almost gave in. You pulled away. You could have had me if you hadn’t broken that kiss. Your response was quite irresistible.”

  She looked down. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  He decided not to push, thinking he could get more answers that evening. “Tonight. I’ll come by at seven.”

  He turned and walked away, wondering how he was going to keep anyone from finding out about this until the next day.

  Chapter Three

  Eris looked at herself in the mirror. “What am I doing?” She hadn’t intended to release Hermes from his spell any more than she’d intended to go on a date with him. He would arrive to pick her up in about ten minutes. She wore a knee length black dress with a scoop neck and sheer, silky sleeves. She looked nice, but not too nice. She’d done simple make up, just dark red lipstick and black eyeliner. Her long dark hair she let fall free down her back.

  Would he still think she was “trying”? Or would he even be able to tell one way or another? Her brother Ares could read women well, at least when sex was involved, but she didn’t know about Hermes. He certainly outstripped most gods intellectually, but how was he with women? She couldn’t exactly ask Aphrodite, who would probably throw something at her the next time they met.

  She didn’t feel that confident about her ability to read him. She’d assumed he would want nothing to do with her as soon as the spell was lifted. Why was he still interested? He wasn’t the type to take revenge. She hadn’t gotten her roll in the hay. Was she going to be able to get him to speak up for her? She didn’t want to get her hopes up.

  She felt her whole body flush as she thought about the way he’d kissed her. He’d been trying to distract her, make her be quiet, but he’d certainly enjoyed it. She’d been able to feel that much. It had scared her how much she’d liked it. She’d pulled away, thinking that would be the end of it, and then he’d asked her to see him tonight. What if the last effects of the spell faded away and he decided not to come? She knew men found her attractive, but she also knew her spell hadn’t completely worn off when he’d asked her. He’d even said they would see about what happened after the date. Did he really want to sleep with her? She didn’t know. Besides Aphrodite, no one seemed to know of anyone else Hermes had been involved with. There had to be others. She felt a little twinge of jealousy when she imagined him fucking Aphrodite in the woods. She pushed that thought aside when she heard a knock on her door.

  Her bedroom door.

  She opened it to see Hermes standing there.

  “How did you get in here?”

  He smiled. “I’m Zeus’ messenger. I can go anywhere I please. Very little can keep me out.”

  She nodded. “I see.” He was wearing a tuxedo, and she wanted to laugh. She squeezed her lips together and smiled. “Am I underdressed?”

  His gaze moved over her slowly, and she tried not to blush. It didn’t work though. “You look beautiful.” He straightened his tie. “You disapprove?”

  She looked up and thought she saw a mischievous gleam in his eye. “No. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

  “At least it got you to smile. I can’t say you smile much.” He offered his arm. “Shall we go?”

  She took his arm as they walked down the hall. “Isn’t that what everyone says about you?”

  “You know, it is. We must be perfect for each other.” He looked at her as if he was serious.

  “Are you playing with me?” She felt he would tell her the truth, but he kept surprising her.

  He touched her hand as it rested on his arm. “Maybe just a little. I want you to feel at ease.”

  “So you can learn all my secrets?”

  He opened the front door for her. “Do you have secrets?”

  She felt very warm under his candid gaze. “Yes. I do.”

  He looked down at her for a long moment and then leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “You aren’t the only one.”

  As they walked down her front path, Eris began to wonder what she’d gotten herself into.

  * * * *

  Hermes watched Eris as she listened to the young man reciting a poem to his sweetheart at the next table. She had just said yes to a marriage proposal, and he’d asked for everyone’s attention so he could read a poem he’d written for her. Everyone clapped when he finished and the young couple kissed.

  “What did you think?” he asked when she turned back to him.

  “Very nice. Too sentimental for me, but it had excellent rhythm. He’s got a natural talent.”

  Hermes nodded. “Are you having a good time?”

  She looked down and smiled, and then met his gaze. “Did you really just ask me that?”

  He sighed. “Will you forgive me if I humble myself and admit that I can’t tell?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Good. I’ve been thinking about what you said about the Fates.”

  “Yes?”

  “I think it’s interesting.”

  “And?”

  “Like Aphrodite, you were created, not born.”

  Eris tensed at the godde
ss’ name. “I think that’s the only thing we have in common.” She scowled down at her plate.

  He pushed forward to distract her from the association with Aphrodite. “That makes you special. Don’t you think you must be important if the universe didn’t simply wait for you to be born?”

  She looked up. “I suppose. I’ve never thought of it. I don’t do anything another couldn’t. How am I then special?”

  “I can’t really say. It’s why I wanted to see you again. I think we’re very alike.”

  “How?”

  He sighed again. “You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?”

  “It’s in my nature.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe it is. I mean our belief in the Fates. You know more about them than anyone else, it seems.”

  “I do. No one else ever visits them anymore. Olympus forgets them until some tidbit of knowledge is needed.”

  “You think so?”

  “Aphrodite went to ask if Poseidon and Layla had met through the work of the Fates. Lachesis said it was the first time she’d seen Aphrodite in over one hundred years. Zeus pops in every decade or so to pursue his periodic affair with Clotho. Their advice and guidance is rarely sought anymore.”

  “I suppose that’s true.”

  “You seem to put faith in them though. I like that.”

  “So you like me?” He held his breath, wondering how she would take the question.

  “I’ve made it clear how I feel about you.”

  “But you care too much to only want me for that. I wouldn’t annoy you so easily if it were only that.”

  Her eyes flashed at him. “Maybe you’re just that annoying.”

  “Maybe.” He leaned back as dessert arrived. “You do like chocolate?”

  She smiled. “Of course.”

  The dessert was enormous. Chocolate ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and chocolate chips with chocolate wafers and shavings arranged all around it. He looked up and saw Iris, just for a moment, before she ducked her head back in the kitchen. If she’d seen them, soon Eros would know, which meant his mother would too. Then all of Olympus would indulge in collective eyebrow raising. He decided to enjoy being alone with Eris while he could.

  She laughed. “You obviously like chocolate.”

  “So you can forgive how annoying I am?”

  She picked up a spoon and took a bite of ice cream. She closed her eyes as she swallowed, and then looked at him again. “Yes, but I’m still not sure what your intentions are.”

  “Why not?”

  She ran her spoon through the syrup, picking up a few chocolate chips on her spoon. “Well, you don’t have to put forth this much effort to have me, and you’re being a little too flirty to just want information. I’m still puzzling over you.” She licked her spoon.

  He paused, trying to push away the memory of their kiss. “Perhaps the Fates have kept something from you.”

  She stared at him a long time. “If you try to tell me you’re in love with me, I’ll walk out of here right now.”

  He shook his head. “Why would that be so terrible?”

  She rolled her eyes. “It would be a lie, and I don’t feel like being played with.”

  “You’re a tough girl. You could handle it.”

  “And that would make it okay? Because I can take it?”

  Hermes tried to collect his thoughts. “I’m not playing with you or trying to get anything from you, Eris.”

  “Take me home.”

  Instead of saying what he wanted to say, he put some money on the table and then with a thought took them back to her house. They arrived in her bedroom, standing very close to each other.

  “You could have gone home on your own. I didn’t have to bring you,” Hermes said.

  “I know, but I wanted to say good night properly.”

  He held her chin and looked into her eyes. “You think I’ll be done with you once I’ve had you. You think I’ll lose interest and leave you alone.”

  “Yes.”

  “But before you said you weren’t sure.”

  She ran her hands up his chest. “One way to find out. Leave now if you don’t want this.”

  “I don’t want to fuck you. I want to make love to you.”

  She pulled away. “You don’t love me.”

  He put his arms around her waist and drew her back to him. “So what? Does that mean I can only sate my lust with you? I can only show you love and tenderness if I love you?”

  “Don’t play games with me.” Instead of pulling away again, she kissed him heatedly.

  He crushed her body to his, returning her passion. When they let go, he said, “Ask me to leave if this isn’t what you want.” He kissed her gently, and then moved his lips down her neck.

  She sighed and ran her fingers into his hair. “How do you know I’ll let you have control?”

  He bit her neck and smiled as she gasped in pleasure. “Maybe I’ll take it.” He felt her hot skin against his and looked down to see their clothes gone. He wore nothing, but she still wore very tiny black lace panties and a strapless black lace bra.

  She looked at him, her eyes full of desire. She ran her hand over his hard cock. “Better than I imagined.”

  “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

  She broke their eye contact and focused her attention on his cock. Her determination to ignore anything even slightly emotional intrigued him.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  She got down on her knees and swirled her tongue around his cock. Pleasure shot through his body as her skilled tongue manipulated him. Her soft lips felt heavenly encircling his cock.

  “Eris.” He could hardly speak above a whisper.

  She pulled away and giggled, rubbing his cock in her hand. “You approve?”

  He took her by the arm and brought her to her feet. “Stop hiding from me.”

  “Most men wouldn’t object to such attention.” She walked to the bed and bent over it, pulling her panties down. “Take me, Hermes.”

  He stood in position behind her. She looked so inviting he had to make himself slow down. He ran his hand over the soft curve of her ass, down to her pussy. She was hot and wet, and she moaned as he fingered her. He rubbed his cock over her, and then grabbed a handful of her hair and raised her up a little to nip at her neck. He put his hand on her shoulder and pressed her into the bed.

  “Fuck me, Hermes. Hold me down and take it.”

  Her lust-filled voice made his cock jump, but he pulled back and flipped her over, pushing her to the middle of the bed. She looked confused as he climbed onto her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking you.” He moved into position and held her face in his hands, not letting her look away.

  She seemed close to panic. “What if I say no?”

  “So holding you down and fucking you over the bed is acceptable, but having you like this is offensive?”

  “I didn’t say that.” She tried to look away.

  He kissed her cheek. “I won’t force you.” He moved his lips to hers, kissing her gently. “Don’t you still want me?” He moved his cock to her pussy and entered slowly, just an inch.

  “Yes.” She’d closed her eyes.

  “Look at me.” He moved into her, making her sigh. “I want to look into your eyes as you come.”

  She opened her eyes. “Why?”

  “I’ve been fantasizing about you for weeks. This one is my favorite.”

  “You don’t fool me.”

  He moved into her completely, enjoying being engulfed by her hot pussy. “And you don’t fool me. You’re so afraid to feel anything but lust.” He thrust into her several times. “I’m the one who’s going to make you feel something.”

  She wrapped her legs around him. “All I feel is your cock.”

  He thrust into her, his cock learning her sensitive curves as the pleasure on her face spurred him on. “Stubborn, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. You can’t make me f
eel something I don’t.”

  “Hiding it from me doesn’t make you feel it any less.”

  She pushed against him and flipped their positions. She sat up and began riding his cock. She felt even more amazing as she rode on top of him. He reached up and pulled her bra off, cupping her full breasts in his hands, his thumbs working her nipples.

  She moaned louder and rode him faster. He could feel her quivering, ready to come. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled himself up. Using one arm to hold her to him and the other hand to make her look at him. He thrust up into her, high and deep, and then she exploded around him. She closed her eyes but he kissed her, not wanting her to shut him out. She ran her nails over his back and rubbed her clit against him as she trembled and moaned.

  She opened her eyes, preparing to say something, but he cut her off as he thrust up into her and came. She sighed as he held her tighter.

  “So beautiful,” he whispered against her lips. He kissed her gently on her lips and cheeks as the pleasure of his release flowed over his body. Her heated skin and heaving breasts rubbing against him heightened every sensation. He nuzzled her neck. “You’re amazing.”

  She met his eyes guardedly. “You were good.”

  He sighed. “So am I banished now? You’ve had me and don’t need me anymore?”

  She climbed off him and he let her go.

  “I want to see you again,” he continued.

  “I won’t stop you.” She put her hair up and wrapped a black silk robe around her body.

  He felt cold. She’d pulled away from him so quickly, as if she really had felt nothing as they became one. “At least I was good. Is that all? Did I not live up to your expectations?”

  She looked at him, but her face revealed nothing. “You weren’t what I expected, I guess.”

  Earlier that day, she had pulled away from their kiss and refused to look at him. She had seemed so vulnerable. Was that the only glimpse of her heart he was going to get?

  “Could this happen again if I played by your rules?”

  She smiled. “How do I know you’d be a good boy?”

  “You said I’m honorable to a fault. What if I give my word?”

  She shook her head, but she was still smiling. He didn’t know if she was laughing at him or if she didn’t believe him. “You want to fuck me again that bad?” She climbed back onto the bed and ran her hand over his chest. “You did seem pleased.”