Chaos was the primordial mass from which the first gods had emerged at the beginning of time. Without Zeus, what would happen to the Olympians? To the Earth herself?
Who was this Linos and what exactly did he have planned? She wasn’t as eager to dismiss him as Pythias and Damon appeared to be. They may think he was simply following the orders of her uncle, but she had her own doubts. She wasn’t going to blindly follow along and let him slip through and harm one of her men.
Her men. She sighed, leaning on the railing overlooking the sea. She wanted them, despite everything that had happened. They may be working for her father -- and she’d definitely take that up with him when she saw him again -- but they did something to her.
It wasn’t just about sex either. She wasn’t sure what it was. But, for the first time in her life she was leaning on someone other than her father and her other relatives. These two men had her trust, completely and utterly. She trusted them to guide them through this mess. Was she being foolish? Her father had always told her to trust her instincts. They would never guide her wrong, he’d said. Well, her instincts were driving her full-force toward Pythias and Damon.
She still couldn’t get over the way they’d acted when they found her seals. They were probably only doing their job, but she felt safe around them.
Father? Please, I need you to talk to me. I’m not mad about you sending Damon and Pythias to me. But I need you here. The seals have been attacked and you always swore to me that you would interfere if they were harmed. Please talk to me?
“He’s still not answering?”
Aella turned her head, watching Damon move toward her. He’d finally dressed when they arrived at her home, pulling on a pair of loose cotton trousers. His chest was bare, and so were his feet. Black strands framed his face, escaping from the tie that held his hair.
Damon leaned against the railing to her left, looking out to the sea.
“Where’s Pythias?”
“What? Not content with just my company?” Damon softened the words with a slight smile.
Aella blushed, turning to hide her face. Moist breath fanned against her cheek before Damon pressed a chaste kiss to her skin. He lingered, inhaling her scent, breathing deeply.
She turned in his embrace, curling her body into his larger frame. She wasn’t going to fight her feelings anymore. She was confused enough as it was without making things even more complicated.
They did something to her, made her feel in a way she had never thought she would feel. Gods, she couldn’t stop thinking about their hands on her body, their mouths moving down her skin. Learning her, possessing her. Aella shivered.
“Cold?”
She shook her head, burrowing her face into his wide chest.
“Ah, then you must be hot?” He chuckled darkly.
Placing a kiss against his chest an inch above his nipple, Aella gave him his answer. His nipple beaded, puckering. He groaned.
Without warning, he picked her up, striding toward her room inside the house. She wound her arms around his neck, letting him lead. Placing her lips against his neck, she let her tongue trace the vein throbbing there.
She was lowered to the bed, placed carefully in the centre. She wasn’t even jarred. Aella sprawled, tilting her head to watch him under lowered lids. Damon stood beside the bed, studying her.
Not content to just lie there waiting, Aella slowly brought up her hand, toying with the top button on her tunic. She teased him, drawing it out as she carefully unbuttoned first one, then two of the small circles. His gaze followed her movement, his nostrils flaring. A muscle ticked at the side of his mouth, and her lips curved with pleasure.
When she had four buttons undone, she reached in, stroking her fingers whisper-soft against her breast. Letting the material fall to the side, she revealed her actions to him, running the pad of one finger around and around her areole.
A throaty growl sounded in the doorway, pulling her attention away from Damon beside her. Pythias was watching her intently, his dark gaze devouring her. He was still gloriously nude, oblivious to any discomfort she might have had in the presence of his muscular body.
She decided to tease them both, see how far she could push this.
Unhurriedly, she released the remaining buttons, allowing her shirt to fall open. Arching her back, she showed her breasts to them, daring them to come closer. When they remained in place, she simply smiled.
Closing her eyes, she brought her other hand down, sliding it around the waistband of her loose trousers. Pulling on the drawstring to give her more room, she let her fingers slip down under the material.
Bare skin greeted her questing hand. Tilting her hips, she touched the wetness between her thighs, allowing a small moan to escape her throat. It was answered by another throaty growl, this time a hell of a lot closer. She had to fight to keep her eyes closed. She knew what she was doing, and she wouldn’t be the first to break.
Inserting the tip of her index finger up to the first knuckle, she fucked herself slowly, moving her hips up gently. Her pussy spasmed, the need almost unbearable. She needed something more. Aella whimpered.
Hands were suddenly on her ankles, holding her in place. They were firm but they weren’t hurting her. She kept her eyes closed, even when whoever it was started to gather the material of her pants, pulling them down her legs. She lifted her hips again, letting the parting material reveal her actions to their gazes.
She had no idea who threw her trousers, but the hands suddenly returned, smoothing along her calves, touching the tender skin behind her knees. Without her sight, her other senses were even more finely tuned. Callused palms rasped against her smooth skin, lighting every nerve ending they came across.
She had no idea which one of them it was, but suddenly one of them was at her head, plunging his hands into her hair. She inhaled, scenting the salty brine of the ocean, coupled with the slightest hint of Notus, the south wind that brought the wild autumn storms. Pythias.
“Open your eyes, sweets.” Even his voice was wild, hungry.
Aella complied, meeting Pythias’ penetrating gaze. He jerked his head, and she followed his gaze to Damon, patiently waiting below them. He had his eyes locked to her hand between her thighs, his own hands were smoothing above her knees now. Damon was lying between her legs, his wide shoulders just brushing her ankles.
She parted her legs, giving him more room. He looked up with a wicked glint, running his palms even closer to her now still hand. She couldn’t tear her gaze away, helped in part by the strong hold Pythias had in her hair. It was just enough to remind her of his presence beside the bed, but wasn’t quite enough to call her attention away from Damon between her thighs. She mewled, arching her hips.
“Please…”
“Not yet,” Pythias replied. She rolled her eyes up, studying him for a moment. With a frown, Pythias directed her gaze back to Damon.
“Now, watch.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. Panting now, she turned back to Damon, watching as he slowly brought his left hand up beside hers. Drawing her hand away, he sucked her fingers into his mouth, enveloping them within the moist cavern. He nipped her fingers, soothing the sting with his tongue, ensuring he got every last taste of her.
Aella squirmed beneath him.
“Please, Damon. I need…”
Damon grinned, leaning forward to blow a puff of air against her sensitive flesh. Her pussy spasmed again, almost painfully. She cried out, trying to clench her thighs. He stopped her with a firm grip on either thigh, holding her open to his gaze.
“Please!”
Now, Damon. Give her what she wants. Pythias’ voice was a demanding presence in her mind.
Damon looked up above her head, smiling wickedly at Pythias. Holding the other man’s gaze, Damon lowered his face, sliding his tongue along her slit. She bucked in his grip, straining to get closer. Harsh pants and gasps filled the room, accompanied by the sounds of Damon feasting on her. His mouth was magical,
his tongue finding every secret sensitive bit of flesh between her thighs. He circled her clit with the tip of his tongue, drawing it into his mouth to suck hard.
“Oh, gods… please… I-I, oh, Damon…”
She tried to toss her head, hampered by Pythias’ strong hold. Rolling her eyes, she pleaded with him. He released her suddenly, sliding onto the bed beside her. The movement placed his cock inches from her face. She stretched her neck, nuzzling the hard shaft with the side of her cheek.
Pythias grabbed her hair again, fisting the red strands with one hand. His mouth was open, deep, gulping breaths escaping him.
“Suck me, Princess. Please.”
She complied readily, bucking into Damon’s mouth even as she took Pythias within her own. The burst of flavor on her tongue instantly went to her head. He tasted of the sea, salty and powerful.
She moaned around his glans, running her tongue along the edge at the top of his shaft. She tried to take more of him within her mouth, but she could only take so much without choking. He was too thick. Not that she was complaining. Instead, she suckled just the head, tilting her head so that she could watch his face. It wouldn’t be a comfortable position for long, but she was hoping she wouldn’t have to wait long before she got the taste of him she was hoping for.
Damon surged above her, pushing her thighs up and holding her in place. His cock brushed against her quivering flesh and she gasped around Pythias. He reacted by tightening his hold on her hair, bucking into her mouth before he got himself under control again.
They were all hanging onto their control by a thread. It would only take a single movement and she feared she would lose herself in these men. She wasn’t sure if she should fear it or embrace it with everything in her.
Damon slowly pushed into her, fitting their bodies together. Aella tossed her head, Pyth’s cock slipping from her mouth. She cried out, overwhelmed by the sensations.
Every nerve in her body was on fire, all centered on the quivering flesh between her legs. Damon stretched her body, straining the walls of her sex. She gasped, unable to move until his pelvis bumped into hers.
Pythias tapped the head of his cock against her lips.
“Please, Princess.”
She opened her lips, licking the drop of fluid that was weeping from his slit. Swallowing, she licked along the head, moving down the shaft.
Damon groaned, tucking his head against the side of her face, drawing deep breaths.
“Gods, you feel good. Tight and wet. I’m not going to last long.”
Smiling to herself, Aella sucked up the skin at the base of Pythias’ shaft, bringing up one hand to cup his sac. Enough talking, boys. Fuck me, now.
Damon snapped his hips, pulling out and driving deep within her. She couldn’t concentrate on what she was trying to do. Gasping for breath, she tossed her head again. Keeping her hand on Pythias, she stroked his shaft, desperate to give him some kind of pleasure. She didn’t want him to be left out. It wouldn’t be long before she lost it entirely and she wanted both men with her when she went. She was close…
Pythias’ hand joined hers, his thumb running over the hole at the tip of his cock, gathering moisture and slicking it back over his shaft. She gasped, her eyes drawn to the sight.
Damon surged into her again, crying out. Oh, gods, soon.
Aella tensed, deep contractions starting in her belly. Her pussy clamped down hard on Damon, hampering his powerful strokes. She screamed out her pleasure, tightening her grip on Pythias. He groaned, bending forward, swallowing her cries with his mouth on hers.
She felt the splash of heat on her hand a second before Damon tensed, jerking once more, releasing his seed within her.
Aella let her head drop to the pillow beneath her, sucking weakly at Pyth’s tongue. He released her mouth, sitting up. The sounds of hard panting echoed around the room. Damon pulled out, sliding up to lay on his back to her right. Pythias maneuvered her until she was draped across Damon’s chest. He followed her down, curling his arms around her and resting his face against her shoulder.
Her brain was muddled, clouded with passion. What had just happened? She hadn’t been expecting that level of intensity.
Sighing, Aella burrowed deeper into Damon. Her throat closed up and her eyes watered. She was suddenly afraid that she couldn’t give up these men. They’d touched her deeply. But they worked for her father. They were so much older than her, what would they want with someone who was practically a babe compared to them? She had no experience, hadn’t lived the adventures they must have. There was no hope of a future with them. Their duty wasn’t to her, and she wouldn’t -- couldn’t -- come between them and one of the most powerful gods in the world.
What was she going to do?
Chapter Four
“I don’t like this at all.” Pythias scowled at her, his arms crossed over his burly chest.
“I don’t see that we have much of a choice. Do you really want to wait around until Linos decides to move against you? If we strike first, and set him up in a place where we have control, the two of you can defeat him. I know you can.”
They were sitting in her dining room, dishes scattered around them from breakfast. The sun shone in brightly, lighting the room until it seemed like they were outside.
She’d woken early, with the sudden knowledge that she couldn’t afford to wait around growing more and more attached to these two men. The more time she spent with them, the more she fell in love with them, and if that wasn’t crazy enough, she didn’t know what to do about it.
They would leave her when this was all over. They were promised to Poseidon, and he wasn’t likely to give them up so they could spend time with his daughter. No, the only way she could protect herself was by forging ahead and getting this all over with.
Her heart clenched in her chest. Linos would pay for what he did to her seals, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on them now. Later, when she was past this threat, she’d probably fall apart. She would miss them terribly. They’d been her constant companions in the last decade. The seals were her responsibility. They’d become her children and she wanted to rip the spleen out of the man who murdered them.
Aella shook her head, she wasn’t the type of person who normally condoned bloodshed of any sort, she was more apt to believe in the innocence of every creature until proven guilty, but that was before her babies had been harmed.
Phocas and the other two seals were hidden in her private pool at the moment. They hadn’t been happy about being taken out of the sea, but she had no choice. The small colony near Foca had been relatively tiny compared to the colonies established elsewhere around the Mediterranean and West Africa. There had been about twenty of them in this area but she still couldn’t believe there were only three survivors. This was almost as bad as when so many seals had died off North West Africa. Within a month, almost half of the seals in the area had passed away because of an algae bloom in their territory.
“My seals are extremely sensitive to disturbances in the environment. It’s bad enough they continually get caught in fishermen’s nets. They end up shooting them despite their protected status. It isn’t right. I don’t need some madman coming after them and killing even more.” Aella wrung her hands, imploring them to listen to her.
“I see her point, Pyth. If we can lure him to a particular spot, we can even the odds a bit and try to ensure we come out the victors here. I don’t trust Linos, he’s always had something up his sleeve.”
Pythias paced in front of them, scowling. You risk her life by doing this!
We risk her life by doing nothing, Damon didn’t hesitate to return.
Aella ignored them, or at least she tried to. They may care about her in some way but it still didn’t change the fact that they were beholden to her father. Poseidon wasn’t one to let go of his possessions easily. And that’s exactly how he’d see the two men. They had served him for millennia, doing his bidding. Oh, she knew all about the things her father demanded of his w
arriors. They were all immortals, some of them were even her siblings. They did a number of duties ranging from spying for him, to killing for him.
Some merely protected his sanctuaries, but she had a feeling her father wouldn’t have sent untrained men to watch over her. He was a little too protective of her for that. No, he’d send men that he knew would be able to meet any threat. It made her respect the two men even more. For Poseidon to trust them with such a task meant he valued them highly. She knew exactly how hard it was to impress her father.
“Fine. I understand the need to do something now. I’m not exactly happy about the idea of waiting to see what his next move is either.” Pythias rotated his shoulders, stopping to look at Damon.
She turned to the other man as well. This might have been her plan but she had no idea how to execute it.
“We have to get him into one of the temples. It’s the only place I can think of where we might have the advantage. Even if Zeus tries to help him in any way, we’ll still have the advantage of home ground. Poseidon would know the instant we stepped into one of his temples.”
“So it wouldn’t matter if Zeus is trying to block us from communicating. Even he can’t block another god from hearing what goes on inside his own temple. He doesn’t have the power to do that.” Pythias grinned. “We may just be able to pull this off after all.”
Turning to Aella, Pythias lifted her off her feet, causing her to squeal. He planted a smacking kiss on her mouth, before releasing her to walk out of the room. She touched her lips, staring after him.
Damon laughed. “Don’t mind him, he gets like this when he’s excited about something. He’ll be planning strategies all day, going over them and over them until he has every angle worked out.”
She glanced at him, looking away. “So, what do we do now?”
She was starting to sound like a damn recording, but she had no clue what step to take next. Ask her to look after animals, or where the best place to get bargain shoes in Athens and she was the right girl. Find and dupe an insane immortal? Uh, not exactly something she was used to.
Aella's Song Page 4
