The Consequence
That anyone would ever guess, that was her greatest fear. Day after day she hid her despair offering heart-felt sympathy to the mother of Astinos and in return receiving sympathy back for the loss of her own son Stelios; two best friends taken in the same battle leaving two mothers grieving alongside hundreds more. She wept for her son and kept a proud face in public yet at home alone where it did not matter she gave free reign to her grief at another loss, something so personal and precious she could speak of it to no one.
Maybe it was the particular heat of the summer or maybe that the soldiers had been away in barracks and having returned for a brief while were lustful and in need of the comforts of their woman; whatever the cause fate threw two needful souls together late on a July evening and held consequences that would shake the foundations of their very souls.
Earlier that day Stelios had paid a welcome visit, bounding into the house kissing her head, eating as befitting a horse and telling her rumours of a forthcoming battle, unsettling her yet carrying her along with his youthful excitement. She had hoped her husband would return with the young bloods but he had sent word with Stelios telling her that he was delayed by duties beyond his control but assured her he loved her and would be home soon. Thinking back she remembered the dismal feeling of betrayal and the sickening knot of misery that lay heavy in the pit of her stomach, there had always been other women and he was probably fresh out of someone's bed at that moment, she had felt hurt and rejected but showed nothing to her son.
By evening Stelios had left to join other youngsters enjoying their brief freedom and she had gone to collect water from the stream, heart sore and wishing the weather would break.
"Hello Alessa, how have you been? I would have come by earlier with Stelios but mother wanted to hear all the news. You know what she's like." Astinos laughed and reached over to take the jug from Alessa's hand where she had collected water for her garden.
"She's a good woman." Alessa replied feeling a sudden rush of heat.
"Yes she is, look I'll take this for you, why doesn't your slave do it?"
"She's unwell; I've told her to rest."
"You should have asked Stelios, he's such a lazy dog."
"He wasn't here for long; I didn't think to ask him I'm so used to fetching it myself. I'm surprised you're not carousing together."
"I'll seek him out later, for now I'm just enjoying being home for a while, doing things slowly; trying to forget army life for a couple of days."
They began the dusty walk back to Alessa's home taking their time, no rushing. "Stelios said something about a forthcoming fight atThermopylae; something to do with a Persian invasion."
"There's a rumour going round; I think there's some truth to it but nothing's certain yet."
"Are you scared?" She glanced at him sideways thinking how much a man he had become. Such a handsome young man, such strong bone structure; a warriors' physique yet a kinder heart would be hard to find.
"I'm a soldier; it's what I'm trained for; what we're all trained for. If I am called upon I shall go and I shall bring glory to Sparta." His smile was wide and his eyes shone with conviction the evening sun turning his soft brown hair to burnished gold.
Arriving at the house Alessa made to take the water but Astinos refused. "Let me take it in for you, it's heavy."
"You make me feel like an old woman." Alessa gave a tight-lipped smile.
"You old, that will never happen."
Alessa's smile broadened, she felt stupidly flattered and she hoped he didn't notice her cheeks glow. "Take a cup of wine with me, we can sit in the courtyard for a moment and watch the shadows lengthen, it's been a while since I've had company."
"Thanks I'd like that." Astinos agreed, surprising Alessa and she watched as he passed through the house, so tall and with such an easy stride; a true warrior…
"Did you see my husband before you left?" She had to ask, the pain had not eased all day and she wanted something to make her believe his words but Astinos was not the one to bring it.
He shook his head as he swallowed a mouthful of wine. "He was hard pressed with business for several days before they gave us leave, neither he nor my father have returned. If a battle is coming I'm sure they'll be home before…" he was taken by a sudden fit of coughing as a dribble of wine went down the wrong way bringing Alessa to slap him on the back until he could get his breath then the slapping eased to a gentle rubbing motion. Beneath her fingers he flexed his muscles and her hands moved to his shoulders, kneading through his skin easing tension. What was she doing? Guilt tore her hands away and made her distance herself from Astinos who glanced round with questioning eyes.
"Don't stop…please, I'm still tense and sore from marching, your touch is like cold water to my skin."
Hesitating, knowing her actions had been so wrong and any further actions would take her stepping into something that could prove catastrophic Alessa wrestled with his request and her feelings. She had seen Astinos grow and now twenty years old; the same age as her son she was looking on him as though through the eyes of a smitten girl and to have him respond was something she had never expected.
"I am sorry Alessa I should not have said that." He hung his head, hair falling like a curtain shielding his face, obviously ashamed of being caught in the moment and now suddenly remembering that she was his best friends' mother and eighteen years older than himself. "I'll go and find Stelios, please forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive. Astinos please stay…your shoulders are reddened and sore; I'll fetch some oil." after a moment she returned with a small pot, poured oil onto her hands and began smoothing the lotion onto his skin. Astinos closed his eyes and his lips, slightly parted, emitted soft groans of mounting pleasure. "There is somewhere more comfortable." Alessa whispered, no longer in control of her thoughts or her feelings, "would you come there with me?" A second of hesitation then Astinos stood and slid his hand into hers together they stepped across the forbidden line and into her bedroom.
The last glints of evening sun came through the window falling on Astinos' dark oiled skin outlining the taught muscles as Alessa removed his tunic leaving him in a brief loin cloth that barely concealed his excitement. He lay down on his front allowing her to continue to massage every inch of bare skin sliding fingers up onto his buttocks and creeping round as far as the material would allow her to reach; he pushed himself up allowing her hand to slip around and grasp his manhood. Drawing a sharp inward breath as her fingers tightened.
"How many women have you had Astinos?" She breathed moving her body against his.
"None." The word was gasped into the pillow and barely audible but made her smile in the realisation that anything she did or showed him would be new, there were no tender virgins, no slave girls to compare herself with, she was a woman who knew how to please a man and there was so much for this young blood to learn.
"Then I must be a good teacher." She whispered, kissing his shoulder, nipping at the skin, moving her left hand rhythmically before he groaned low and bestial crying out as he spilled himself over her fingers.
"Oh my sweet boy…welcome to manhood."
Astinos dozed in a post-orgasmic slumber, a brief sleep that allowed Alessa to watch him, will him to wake. To consider the consequences should Stelios return and find his friend in his father's bed with his mother but all it gave her was a feeling of exhilaration and triumph and a need to continue Astinos' education.
From the sound of his breathing it did not seem likely that he would stir soon enough so with kisses and caresses she brought him back to her smiling sleepily, drowsy in the evening heat.
"You are beautiful Alessa." He wriggled onto his back reaching out to draw her near but she was not ready for cosy embraces. Sliding a leg across his hips she straddled him eyes locked on his, watching every changing expression as she lifted her gown revealing herself, wanting him to see every part of her form; to bring his night time fantasies to a tangible reality.
"I am yours to use as you will, explore every part of me, free your imagination nothing is prohibited. I will guide you to places that give a woman such pleasure she will cry out at your touch…"
For a moment he lay looking at her, letting his eyes wander across her curves and linger on the dark shadow between her thighs lifting slowly to trace a line to her navel and up to her breasts. His breathing becoming rapid as his manhood stirred again.
"Can I kiss you?" Again the questioning eyes not wanting, for all her invitation, to act on presumption.
Alessa smiled, amused at such an innocent request, then bent to let her hair brush his chest as she located his hands and pushed them above his head holding them tight at the wrists as her lips found his and her tongue worked into his mouth.
The sun set and a cooler evening breeze pushed shyly into the room doing its best to dry their sweat but lust kept skin sliding against skin, salty to the taste adding to their passion. Astinos was greedy, fuelled by a need to fulfil his desire and several times Alessa berated him for his haste slowing him down, deliberately denying what he wanted most until she herself had been satisfied.
Only then did she allow him to take his pleasure smiling down at her, moaning as he moved running his tongue along her lips nipping, biting forgetting tenderness, driving himself deep within her, crying out at the final pulsating moment then sinking into her arms where together they slept until darkness fell.
Bathed and dressed they sat again in the courtyard. Torches guttered in the warm breeze and the scent of Jasmine was on the air. Neither spoke both were lost in their private thoughts but sounds of revelry could be heard in the distance and Alessa knew that Astinos could not stay.
"Go and find Stelios, he'll be wondering where you are."
Astinos nodded and rose to his feet, there was an awkward silence between them and neither knew how to say goodbye. In the end Alessa placed a gentle hand on his arm and led him to the door. "Go, you're missing your night of freedom."
A brief parting kiss hidden by the shadows then she watched as he walked up the road and headed into the town.
Alessa sat and watched the stars reliving every moment of her time with Astinos. Recoiling in guilt at her unfaithfulness yet hugging herself in disbelief of his lust for her and wishing he had not gone. She missed him now after just an hour apart, how would she feel if she never saw him again, if he left for the barracks without a word of goodbye. A grinding ache deep inside denied her sleep, if she went into the bedroom the smell of their passion would still linger there and if she tried to sleep the face of her husband would haunt her dreams. So she sat and sat nursing her churning guilt until as a new day split the dark sky Stelios stumbled through the house to find her.
