She runs into him by accident, in an inn on the coast, on her way back to the Adrestia. When Kassandra comes down for dinner, the common room is noisy and crowded, and he is disguised as a simple traveller, in a plain grey hood. But she'd recognize the line of those shoulders everywhere.
"Brasidas." She keeps her voice low as she bends down to greet him. "It's good to see you."
"Kassandra!" His eyes light up at the sight of her, and he grasps her hand in a firm greeting.
They share a meal and they talk, and it feels natural and right. He tells her about his mission, and she entertains him with amusing anecdotes of her travels, enjoying the sound of his laugh, deep and sonorous. Every now and again, his hand brushes against hers in passing, as he reaches for the wine, or a piece of bread, and every time it happens, his touch sends sparks along her skin, little specks of heat that coalesce in her belly until she can hardly bear it any longer. Does he feel it, too, she wonders, that fire, that irresistible attraction? Catching his gaze, she allows her tongue to dart out to lick a drop of wine from her lips, and he swallows, eyes fixed on her mouth, his left hand clenching into a fist. Oh yes. He is just as far gone as she is.
The evening passes quickly, and soon it is time to retire. As she rises to say goodnight, Brasidas places his hand on hers. It's the lightest of touches, gentle and unobtrusive, and when she meets his eyes, his eyebrow rises in a mute question. She nods once, almost imperceptibly, then heads for her room. He knocks on her door only minutes later.
The door falls shut behind him, and it's just the two of them, finally. Kassandra glances at Brasidas and sees his lips curve up in the hint of a smile. There's no need to discuss it. They both know what's going to happen, and it's about time, too! She's wanted him since the very first time she saw him fight.
More than once in the past weeks she's regretted letting him go, back in Korinthia, after they'd defeated the Monger's men together. A pleasant frisson races down her spine at the memory of that fight. The way he fell into step beside her, watching her back… in all her life, it has never felt so right to have another warrior fighting by her side. And what a warrior he is! Kassandra can still see him in her mind's eye, all grace and power and courage. She should have had him right there and then, with the warehouse in flames behind them, their blood still racing from the battle and the blood of their enemies coating their blades. She should never have let him walk away. But she won't make the same mistake twice.
She's waited for this, anticipated this moment in her mind for all those weeks. And yet… There's a moment of awkwardness now that they're alone, and she turns toward the window, trying to give him space.
"Kassandra." His voice is warm and mellow, like honey. "Do you want to talk?"
"No." She shakes her head. "I want you to kiss me. And then I want you out of those clothes."
"Fair enough." It's a real smile now, as he pulls her into his arms.
Lovely arms they are, firm and strong and well-muscled, and there's nothing tentative in the way he holds her close, nothing hesitant in the way he claims her mouth. His lips are soft, though, and his beard tickles her a little. It's a good first kiss, not too greedy, not too sloppy, skilled and decisive, and she wants more. A lot more.
Far too soon, he lets go of her, taking a step backward, and by Zeus, he's gorgeous like this, flushed with desire, breathing hard, yet fully in control. A strong man, a man worthy of her. A man she could see herself falling for, if she's not careful.
"Let me help you with your armour." His fingers brush against the straps of her shoulder guard, and she nods. When it comes off, he places it carefully on the table, and she turns to face him, reaching for the clasp of his cloak. They work in silence, with quick, practised movements, taking turns until they're both naked. Every time his fingertips brush against bare skin, she feels a spark against her skin, and by the time they're finished, she is tense like a bowstring.
Brasidas takes a step back to look her over. "You're a goddess." There's a rough edge to his voice now, and his gaze is like a hot caress on her skin.
Kassandra returns the favour, drinking in the sight of him: a warrior's body, lean and strong, plenty of scars to prove his valour; his wide chest, covered in dark hair; his strong thighs. He's hard, so hard that his cock curves up against his flat stomach, long and thick and perfect, and she moans at the sight of him.
His hands clench into fists. "I want you."
"I can see that." She smiles, as she gestures toward his crotch, but he remains dead serious.
"That," he scoffs, "is just my body clamouring for attention. I want more. I want all of you." He pulls her into a firm embrace, his arms encircling her body, tight like a vise.
"Brasidas…" There's no way Kassandra can wait any longer. She needs to kiss him again, properly this time, no holding back. When their lips meet, she opens up for him, biting down quickly on his lower lip, daring him to reciprocate.
He growls, deep in his throat, and it's as if a dam has broken. He kisses her back with a ferocious greed that drives her crazy, his tongue exploring her mouth with a thoroughness that leaves her breathless. And just when she thinks it can't get any better, he pulls back a little, catching one of her taut nipples with his mouth, swirling his tongue around it, making her whine with delight.
"More. Harder." She hardly recognizes her own voice, strangled with need.
He willingly obliges, sucking eagerly now, and she feels the pull all the way through her body. His hand is cupping her other breast, clever fingers teasing and pinching her nipple, lighting a fire deep inside her. Threading her fingers through his hair, she yanks his head back. "More. Please."
"Yes. More." He's trembling, too, she realizes. His cock is pressed up against her belly, leaking fluid against it, and for a moment, she fears this is going to be over before it starts, but of course he has more control than that.
Taking two deep breaths, he runs his hands all the way down her bare back, and before she knows it, he's on his knees before her, gripping the back of her thighs tightly as he buries his face between her legs. She cries out at the first firm swipe of his tongue through her folds, because it is so good, and she feels him chuckle against her, but he doesn't stop, not even for a moment. And she's so wet already, she can feel it on her thighs, so wet it's almost embarrassing. A thick finger slides inside her, then another, spreading her, opening her up, and she loses the ability to care, clenching hard around him, because, yes, that's what she wants, what she needs.
"Kassandra." His voice is shaky now. "I swear I'm going to take my time with you later, but now-"
She nods, and that's all the invitation he needs. Smoothly, he surges up again, and there's the wall behind her, and he props her up against it, yanking up her left leg to wrap it around his waist. And with shocking swiftness he's there, hard against her core, that magnificent cock pushing against her slick heat and she can't see an earthly reason to deny him. Taking hold of him, she guides him to the right spot, and he moans at this, his hands gripping her harder.
"Please," she gasps, and he nods, sheathing himself inside her up to the hilt in one smooth stroke, making her cry out with the sudden sweet shock of it.
He pulls back, and this time he goes slower, more controlled, allowing her to feel him filling her inch by delicious inch. And by the gods, it is every bit as good as she thought it would be. Brasidas makes that noise again, halfway between a growl and a moan, and he buries his face against her shoulder, a shudder running all over his powerful frame as he tries to catch his breath.
The angle isn't quite perfect, and surely, not even he has enough strength to hold her up indefinitely, but they're both so worked up that there's no need for subtleties. One of his hands cups her ass and the other one keeps a firm grip on her hip as he aligns himself carefully, then begins to move. And it's good, so good, and she's wanted this for so long and before she knows what's happening, her climax hits her, and she cries out, almost disappointed because it's over so quickly.
But Brasidas surprises her, biting down hard on his lip and riding it out, and when she expects him to pull back, he shakes his head and just keeps going, harder and faster now. She draws a long, shuddering breath, and then she cries out again, and again, because he simply refuses to let her come down, hitting her in the right spot over and over, keeping her right there on the crest for longer than should be humanly possible. Again and again, pleasure washes over her, again and again she gasps his name until he finally finishes with a last, hard thrust, leaving her sobbing and shaking as he wrings one last orgasm out of her.
She can feel his seed trickling down her thighs as he pulls out of her, but she couldn't care less. Her legs feel wobbly, and she's glad for his steadying hand.
Brasidas looks just as wrecked as she feels, panting hard, his lip bleeding slightly. "Damn it, you-" He closes his eyes, resting his forehead against hers. "You're going to be the death of me."
"Ah, I hope not." Smiling weakly, she allows him to pull her over to the bed, sinking down onto the cool linen sheets with him. "Will you stay for the night?"
"Absolutely." He pulls her closer, pinning her down at his side with one arm. "I'm not letting go of you."
She smiles, even as her eyes fall shut. "I'm not going anywhere. Sleep now." She breathes an affectionate kiss on his bearded cheek. "I need you well rested tomorrow."
Huggles and thanks to my wonderful beta suilven.
