by Simon Archer
My mouth continued to stay open as all of the pieces fit together. I was being thrown for a loop, since I never expected to see that desire in my nemesis’s eyes.
“I’m just… I’m just gonna go in my room,” I announced. I pointed lamely at my door and reached out to take the handle when Karen’s voice stopped me.
“No, Cameron, wait. Please.”
It was the “please” that did it for me. I wasn’t sure I had ever heard Karen use the word please in the entire year that I’d known her. It was the plea of a girl who imagined she was in trouble, someone begging me to hear her out.
I let out a long exhale and turned on my heel to face her and her soldier. There was still lust and desire in their eyes, but there was also fear. “What’s up?” I said, unable to think of anything else to say.
“I…” Karen sighed, also unable to think of what to say.
The soldier rose to her feet, still naked. She was unashamed in her nakedness and I could see why, she had gorgeous muscles and thighs to kill, and perky nipples that were just begging for me to reach out and taste. She wrapped her arm around Karen’s shoulder, and to my surprise, she let her. She kissed the top of her head and then extended her hand to me over the back of the couch.
“Hi, I’m Rachel, daughter of Hecate,” she said with a melodic voice, unphased by the tension between Karen and me.
I didn’t take her hand, distracted as I was, “Hi.”
I wanted this conversation to end as soon as possible. I didn’t know if I could hold a conversation with them both when Rachel was as naked as she was.
I tucked the papers under my arm and crossed them across my chest. “Let me guess. You want me to pretend I never saw anything because you don’t want anyone to know that you aren’t completely focused on your studies?”
“That’d be nice, we don’t want to advertise our relationship, especially after the announcement the Stratego made today.” Karen admitted as she bit the corner of her lip.
I released my hands and groaned, my conviction draining out of me like air out of a balloon. “What the hell, Karen? Seriously? We have to live together now. Whether we like it or not.”
“You wouldn’t understand, Cameron,” Karen said. She still managed to undercut me in her tone. “When Rachel and I saw each other, there was this…” Karen’s voice trailed off as she looked up into Rachel’s eyes.
“Connection,” Rachel finished her sentence before leaning down and kissing her.
“Ahem,” I coughed, trying to get their attention. Though part of me was actually enjoying the show.
It was like I wasn’t in the room anymore. I looked around the room for inspiration and spotted the pillow Rachel’s head had been on moments before. I reached over the back of the couch and lobbed it at the two of them. The shot smacked Karen in the head, and she reeled back in surprise.
“What the hell?” I repeated, waving my hand up and down, indicating the pair of them.
“I can’t help myself,” Karen said. Her voice dissolved into a whine as she spoke. She looked up at Rachel with wide, tempting eyes, and they nearly started kissing again before I threw the other couch pillow at the pair of them.
Now out of ammo, I really hoped that last shot would keep them apart. “Karen, this is serious,” I said, keeping my voice stern, like a parent scolding a child. “You know you just got drafted, you have to prove yourself, right?” I gestured to Rachel. “You really think a one-night stand is worth that?”
“This is more than a one-night stand,” Rachel insisted. “This is...”
“Something more,” Karen swooned.
“You’re literally killing me,” I growled.
“You don’t have to like it,” Karen snapped at me, her sweet demeanor suddenly gone when she addressed me. “You just have to accept it.”
“I don’t actually give a damn what you do in your free time,” I admitted with a casual shrug. “I don’t mind keeping your secret, but keep your goings-on in your room, okay?” I made big, sweeping gestures with my arms to indicate the room we stood in. I snatched up my papers before they fell to the ground again.
Karen and Rachel shared a look between the two of them before looking back at me. Rachel smirked, “Are you sure you want us to stay in her room?”
I looked at her, incredulously, and then over at Karen. Only to see the same look of desire from before back on her face.
Karen raised an eyebrow suggestively and with a single flick of a finger, the blanket that had been covering her, was now pooled around her feet.
I stood frozen in place as I realized what was happening. Surely, this couldn’t be reality. With the history between Karen and I, I was quite confident this was a dream.
Karen took a step forward, stepping over the blanket toward me. I gaped at her before I could recover, forcing my jaw closed. She closed the distance between us and took the papers from me, tossing them to the side with very little regard. She stood mere inches from me, her nipples brushing against my shirt, and I fought the urge to reach out and touch her, still unsure if this was actually happening.
“What are you afraid of?” she asked, her voice low and raspy. Despite my brain fighting against it, my body couldn’t help but respond. I felt my cheeks warm, and the feeling flooded my body as my mind raced to a different beat. Karen walked around me, trailing her fingers across my chest as she did so, until she was standing behind me. I could still feel the warmth of her body through the fabric of my shirt, and with her hands wrapping around me she grasped the fabric and began slowly removing my shirt.
I still stood there, shellshocked, but Rachel was now walking toward me, her body perfect and muscular, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. My chest now exposed, Rachel ran her hands up the muscles of my stomach and across my bare chest, leaning in toward me as she did so. I was surprised by something sharp as she playfully nipped my earlobe before pulling back and looking into my eyes, hers dancing with mischief.
“What should we do with him?” she asked playfully, looking over my shoulder at Karen.
“Whatever we want.” Karen muttered seductively. Karen was now running her fingers down the muscles in my back as my brain finally caught up to what was happening. I decided to focus on Rachel. Since we’d just met, she seemed like the more neutral starting point.
I freed my hands from my side, sliding them up her hips before wrapping them around her waist. I pulled her close, her breasts pressing up against my skin as a result. Her face was within an inch of my own, and I pressed my lips against hers. She responded quickly, her lips parting and her tongue brushing against my own. She slid her hands up around my neck, pulling me closer to deepen the kiss.
Meanwhile, Karen ran her hands down to my beltline and around to my front, her palms caressing the bulge beneath the fabric of my black pants. The fabric became snug as I reacted to her touch, and in response, she began making quick work of my belt buckle. Before I knew what was happening, my pants and my boxers were in a puddle on the floor, and Karen’s fingers were wrapped firmly around me. She performed slow, even strokes as the warmth of her breath danced against my neck. The sensations wiped the concerns from my brain, bringing me fully to the present, and I ran my hands up Rachel’s side and forward to cup her breasts. My fingers found her nipple, and she gasped as I rolled it between the pads of my thumb and my forefinger, breaking off the kiss as she did so. I brought my head down and took her nipple into my mouth, teasing it with my tongue as she squirmed against me.
Behind me, Karen’s stroking had me rock hard, and I wanted more. I let my hand trail down Rachel’s stomach, sliding between her legs until I found the perfect spot. Her hands grasped onto my shoulders, her fingernails digging into my skin in response, and I traced circles with my fingers against her sweet spot as I continued to flick my tongue against her nipples. Her hand dropped down to where Karen was busy, wrapping her hand around her lover’s, and together they stroked in harmony as I struggled to stay focused on my own task. Being
sandwiched between these two women felt amazing, and yet, I was aching for more. I ran my tongue up across Rachel’s breast, coming up to look into her eyes, before grabbing her by the waist and pushing her backward. She stumbled backward in cooperation, a slight furrow in her brow as she tried to figure out what I was doing.
The couch was behind her now, and I spun her around to face the couch before returning my hand between her legs. She leaned back against me, letting me take on her weight as she writhed in pleasure. Karen still had her hand wrapped around me, but she now found her hand between her lover’s legs as well, as I pulled Rachel against me. Karen released her grip, letting the wetness that we both felt envelop me, drawing me in. I slid one hand up Rachel’s spine and she didn’t hesitate, draping herself over the back of the couch and welcoming me inside of her.
If I thought Karen’s hand felt amazing, that was nothing compared to what I was currently experiencing with Rachel. She moved her hips slowly and deliberately, hitting every nerve as she did so. It was tantalizingly slow and methodical, and it felt like lightning shooting through my body. I wanted to go faster, harder, but Rachel wouldn’t let me. Despite our current position, she was definitely the one in control. I held onto her hips as we rocked together, until Karen broke free and walked around to talk to Rachel.
“Turn over,” Karen ordered, murmuring the words into Rachel’s ear. Rachel didn’t hesitate, turning over to sit on the back of the couch, her legs spread, one on either side of me. I slid my hands across her silky smooth legs, and Karen took me into her hands, guiding me back inside Rachel, who threw her head back and moaned in pleasure. Karen’s hand lingered, dancing circles right where I had been moments ago. Rachel’s back arched, and I could tell she was fighting to keep herself in place, so as not to break contact with me. Moans and guttural noises escaped her lips as she responded to Karen’s touch, and they slowly became more and more intense. Karen locked eyes with me, smiling mischievously before diving down, removing her hand and sending her tongue dragging not only across Rachel’s skin, but across mine as well. Rachel was writhing in pleasure by this point, her voice coming out in squeaks, and I could feel myself reaching a climax as well. Karen’s tongue did nothing to slow the process down, and finally, I pulled Rachel’s waist in toward me as I thrusted forward, the release feeling incredible after the slow burn that Rachel had insisted on. Rachel sat upright and let out a high-pitched groan as she gripped my shoulders tightly, her entire body tensing up and clamping down before relaxing and melting into a puddle on the couch. I slipped out and took a deep breath to steady myself, still processing what had just happened.
I finished getting redressed, Karen and Rachel choosing to remain in the nude. Suddenly, there were two small pops as though two kernels transformed into popcorn. Khryseos and Argyreos appeared on either side of me. Their ability to teleport from place to place was rather useful in general, but right now, my favorite part of that power was the looks on people’s faces when they suddenly popped into existence.
Karen’s face grew wide in disgust at the sight of them. But it was Rachel’s reaction that really stole the cake. She leapt about a foot in the air and ducked behind her lover. The reaction surprised both Karen and me so much that we couldn’t do anything but stare at her incredulously.
Khryseos and Argyreos joined in with Karen and me at looking at Rachel, but both of them looked more amused than offended at Rachel’s response to their presence.
“What?” Rachel asked defensively. “I’m allergic to dogs.”
As if on cue, Rachel let out a violent sneeze right into Karen’s hair. I barked out a laugh as Karen’s body rippled away from Rachel, completely disgusted. She held up her hands and stepped away from her, out of sneezing range.
My new roommate was then consumed with her partner’s heavy sneezes, which continued once, twice, three times more until she ushered her into her bedroom.
I looked down at Khryseos and Argyreos, who smiled up at me as if to say, “What was that all about?”
“I have no idea,” I admitted. “But I can tell you one thing.”
“What?” the dogs seemed to respond with their loose tongues and cocked heads.
“I hope I don’t walk in on people having sex for a while,” I said with a shiver as I ventured into my room.
As the universe would have it, I got no such luck.
My first class of the semester was Grecian art, and anyone who knew anything about Grecian art knew that the Greeks like their nudity. I walked into the art studio the next morning and was met with an onslaught of statues, vases, and paintings all featuring breasts and penises.
When I first found out I had this class, my first hope was that it wasn’t in the same art studio that I worked in with Kari. I hadn’t stepped foot in there since I went to retrieve the scythes that ended up breaking during the harpy battle. I wasn’t sure I could face that room and would request a transfer immediately if it turned out to be there.
However, that was one small mercy that when I entered the art building, the studio where this class was held was on the other side. Though, that was as lucky as I was going to get all day.
The classroom was set up with twelve easels, all placed in a circle. There was a round stone platform in the center of the circle, though there was nothing on it at the moment. The easels were equipped with large canvases, and black pieces of charcoal awaited us on the shelf.
I nearly stopped in my tracks as I entered the room. After my night yesterday with Karen and Rachel, I was not ready to face this kind of class.
“Come on in and take a seat,” the teacher encouraged us.
I felt an arm slip through mine, and I turned to see Bethany with a bright smile on her face.
“Oh, thank the gods,” I sighed. “I don’t have to endure this by myself.”
“Cameron Alpin,” Beth said with a mock gasp. “Are you a prude?”
“Not in the slightest,” I said defensively. “You should know that by now.” I teased her about the previous day. Inwardly I was also remembering the nights and days spent with Jade and Hailey and Daniella… I was definitely not a prude. “I just… hate drawing.”
Beth released an amused laugh. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
We found a pair of stools next to one another and settled in with the other students. I recognized a few students from last semester, second years who still had yet to be drafted. There were also two new recruits, as evident by their red sashes with no black stripe. I was surprised to see them in this class, but not as surprised as I was when Karen walked in the door.
I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of my new roommate this morning and was hoping we could keep it that way the entire year to avoid any awkward encounters, but as it would turn out, Tyche was determined to keep me tremendously unlucky.
Karen shot me a glare, hot as a rod of iron straight from the forge, though it was mixed with a hint of confusion and sexual tension. Then she sat down at the last available seat, the one directly across from me.
Beth hid behind her easel and looked at me, expecting an explanation for Karen’s strangeness. I rolled my eyes and waved my hand, indicating that I’d tell her later.
“Welcome everyone to Grecian Art!” the teacher said with a level of enthusiasm that only morning people could possess. She had a puff of brown curly hair that formed a perfect sphere of an afro atop her head. She held it all out of her face by a large polka-dotted headband. Her dress was tea-shaped and matched the same white and blue polka-dotted pattern of her headband. She wore bright red lipstick, and the whole ensemble made her look as though she popped out of a 1950s movie.
“My name is Vivien, daughter of Athena,” Vivien said with a polite curtsy. She stood on the center of the cement stool and turned to address all of us. I wondered how she didn’t get dizzy from turning so much.
“While many people know Athena for her wisdom, her tactics, and her battle strategy…” Vivien began with a small giggle. Beth and I shared a look, inst
antly agreeing that this teacher was going to be ridiculously annoying. I had a second thought, wondering how the hell a cinnamon roll like her could have passed any of the physical training required for soldiers of the Military. “Athena is also the goddess of creativity, which is what we are going to be working on this semester. We will also be studying the history of Grecian art. Now, today is going to be all about testing your basic knowledge.”
Vivien spread out her arms as if conducting an orchestra. “There will be no judgment here. This is different from your other classes at the Academy. Here, we are all about your learning technique and history, yes, but I recognize that not everyone is talented in the arts. So as long as you are consistently trying your best, you will pass.”
The two first years nodded enthusiastically while one second year with a gap-toothed smile stared at Vivien as though she were speaking to the girl’s soul.
“Does anyone happen to know one of the first Greek artists to study human anatomy for the purposes of sculpting?” Vivien quizzed us.
Three names popped into my head after a couple of seconds of thought. When no one else raised their hands, I dared to lift mine in the air.
“Yes?” Vivien said with a delighted chirp as she pointed to me.
“Praxiteles, Skopas, and Lysippos,” I recited, making sure to put the emphasis on the correct syllables of these difficult Greek names.
Vivien’s face lit up like a flower blooming in the spring. “Correct. Well done…” she trailed off, letting me fill in my name.
“Cameron, son of Hephaestus,” I said monotonously. Honestly, I was surprised she didn’t recognize me. It was kinda hard not to know who the only male demigod was.
“I use that question to sift out the Greek historians of the group,” the teacher said with a little giggle that made me feel like I’d just stepped into a faerie’s trap rather than answered a simple question. “Surprising that a son of Hephaestus would get that right.”
My mouth opened in shock, and my eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Did she just… backhandedly compliment me? I looked over at Bethany for confirmation, who looked dubiously of this daughter of Athena. I quickly deciphered that this teacher was much more than the giggling fool she wanted everything to think she was.
