Author's Note: I truly did try to get this chapter out sooner! I have just been so focused on The Three Gifts. The good news is that I am just two chapters and an Epilogue away from finishing The Three Gifts! Then I will have more time to focus on More Than Life. This chapter is the longest I have written for this story so far, so I do hope that it makes up for how long it took to write it:)
Love Jasmine
Chapter 6
Psyche woke that morning happier than she had ever been, and that was truly saying something with all the time she had spent with her lover, her Eros. The sun seemed to shine brighter, even the birds sang a happier tune than usual, and Psyche knew why. It is my wedding day! She thought to herself with the greatest joy.
Her father had come to her a week prior with his permission for the union, just as Eros said he would. Since then she had been spending more and more time with her father, he had told her stories about her mother, which she treasured hearing. It was still hard for him to speak about, but he got through it in honor of his wife's memory, and for his youngest daughters sake.
Now evening was nearing, and so was her marriage. Psyche looked at herself in the mirror, not able to believe this was all happening. It was too good to be true. The gown Eros had left for her was the most beautiful thing Psyche had ever set eyes upon. The fabric felt just like the fabric her soon-to-be-husband wears, softer than silk and cool to the touch. The white silk shimmered ever so slightly. Around her waist was a sash of rose silk embedded with the finest diamonds she had ever seen. The gown had little diamonds all over it, and a pattern worked into the fabric in silver. Little roses made of rose gold adorned the hem of the skirt. The straps were made of that rose colored silk that had been weaved with strands of silver. It was an unearthly creation, created by some of the finest dressmakers among the gods at the request of Eros himself.
The ceremony would be a simple one. Just Eros and his Psyche, attended by his divine parents, Aphrodite, who would perform the ceremony, and Ares as witness. Eros promised Psyche that once she had proved herself and they had been married for a month, then they would have another ceremony with both of their families in attendance.
"Daughter?" Psyche had not noticed her father standing in the doorway to her dressing room.
She looked at her father, who stood there in a fine dark purple toga that was belted at the waist, a black cape was slung about his shoulders. His salt and pepper hair was pulled back and braided. Psyche gave her father a huge smile.
"Hello father." She greeted him.
"I have something for you, to complete your outfit." King Kleitos told his daughter.
He produced a golden crown with a large sapphire in the center. Tears came to Psyche's eyes, she knew the crown at once. Her mother wore it in the painting Eros had given her of her royal parents.
"This was your mothers, she wore it on our wedding day." Her father told her.
"Father," Psyche breathed, not knowing what to say.
"Ladies, will you put this jewel in its rightful place?" Her father asked.
"Of course my king." They said.
One of the ladies took the diadem with the greatest care and placed it atop Psyches head. King Kleitos looked his daughter over, not truly able to believe that she was grown, that this very night, she would become a bride, a wife. Children would not be far behind for her and her unknown husband, both Kleitos and his late wife Eirene both came from fertile families. Had Eirene lived, Kleitos was certain they would have had several more children, perhaps even a son.
"Leave us." Kleitos said, and with a bow, the ladies obeyed. He looked his daughter over, with the crown in place, nestled among her black wavy hair, the resemblance was even more striking. "You look so much like your mother." He said softly. "I am sorry you did not get to know her."
"I am sorry I took her from you." Psyche said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You did not." He said. "The second day into the labor, the doctors told us soon we would have to choose between you and your mother. I could not bear to make that choice, between my wife and daughter, but your mother made it for me. The pain must have been excruciating, yet she said she would give it another day, and if you had not arrived by then, for the doctors to do whatever it took to save you, even at the cost of her own life. But, just a few hours later, you came into this world. Your mother got to hold you once before she died, and as she did, she made me promise that you could choose your own husband."
Psyche threw her arms around her father and they held each other close as Kleitos let tears run down his cheeks, something he never did. But these tears, this sadness, was something he shared with his daughter. They both lost Eirene that day, Psyche had lost her mother, and Kleitos had lost his beloved wife, his other half. They both cried tears, knowing each others pains, and Psyche had never felt so close to her father as she did right then.
"I love you Psyche, I love you." Kleitos said the words for the first time. "I love you, and your mother loves you." She nodded.
"I love you father," She said to him. "You and mother both."
They held each other for a while more before releasing the other as both wiped their tears away, almost like they were embarrassed by them. Kleitos took a deep breath, holding his arm out to his daughter.
"Are you ready?" The king asked, Psyche nodded, wrapping her arm through her fathers.
As Psyche was led out of the palace, everyone she had ever known, all of her fathers subjects, were lining the halls, throwing flower petals and the blue heads of Glory Of The Snow at her feet as they blew their princess kisses goodbye. King Kleitos had told his people that Psyche was to marry a prince from a far away land, Psyche had told those she knew much the same thing. Tonight, the official story was that the king was to bring his daughter to meet her betrothed at the edge of his kingdom, from there, she would continue on to her new home with her betrothed.
Psyche had tears in her eyes, tears of joy, though a faint sadness was within her. She was about to leave everything she had ever known behind, and start a life in a new land with the man she loved. As happy as she was to greet this knew beginning, it was still not easy to say goodbye to this place.
A carriage awaited king Kleitos and princess Psyche, the king helped his daughter into the carriage, then sat across from her as he watched his daughter wave goodbye to the life she had known for the last eighteen years. Her smile, her mother's smile, was blinding and filled with such genuine joy it made his heart clench. Oh how he wished she would have waited a few more years to choose a husband. This was one of the hardest things Kleitos had ever done, it was like loosing his wife all over again. He prayed to the gods that his Psyche would be happy with this unknown man she had chosen, he prayed she would be loved and well cared for. He wanted all the best for her, just as any father would want for his daughter.
The driver snapped the reins and the four horses began propelling them along. The ride towards the meadow was silent as Psyche and her father watched each other. She wished she could have more time with him, now that he was opening up about her mother. There was still so much she wanted to know, but Psyche could not bear the thought of putting off this wedding for another moment. She loved the man she called Husband, she needed to be with him, to marry him. Not to mention that if she had to wait any longer to make love to him, she was certain she would lose her mind. Those times they pleased each other so often was no longer enough, her body, her very soul ached for more, for the real thing, and she knew her husband-to-be ached for her in the same unbearable way.
"We will walk from her." King Kleitos told the driver, who pulled to a stop to let his royal occupants out.
Kleitos once again offered his daughter his arm, Psyche smiled to her father as she wrapped her arm through his and they began making their way to her meadow. Her father kept a slow pace, though Psyche herself wanted to run to her destination, into her husbands arms, she kept herself to the pace her father set. Eros had told Psyche just how difficult this was for her father, to give her away in marriage, and she understood that he wanted a few more moments with her.
"Are you nervous about your wedding night?" Her father asked. King Kleitos was not comfortable in the least discussing sex with his daughter, but he did not know if anyone ever had, and he could not let her go through with something she knew nothing about. He did not want her to be scared.
"I am not." She told her father in all honesty. "I know about… how things work." She assured him as she blushed, not wanting to speak of the subject with her father anymore than he wished to speak of it with her.
She was thankful when he simply nodded. What she did not want to tell him was just how much her betrothed had 'educated' her on the matter. Her heartbeat quickened and desire flamed up within her body, making her ache grow as her blush deepened from her excitement. Oh yes, she remembered all too well those times her love worked at her body with his hands, all the while whispering into her ear of all the things that were possible, all the ways a man and woman's body could fit and work together. His knowledge of physical love always left her astounded, she doubted if there was anything he did not know on the subject.
Just the thought of his hands on her body, his mouth gently kissing and nipping at her skin as he brought her to heights she never knew existed, all the while promising that when they fully make love, it will feel even more incredible… oh those sacred and achingly exciting thoughts drove Psyche to madness! She wanted him, she needed him, and the pace her father was keeping was all but driving her insane.
At sunset, they reached Psyche's meadow, Kleitos looked at his daughter, missing the sight of her already and wishing he had not squandered what precious time he had had with her. Kleitos kissed his daughters cheek and then held her close. Psyche laid her head on her father's chest, taking a moment to enjoy one of the few times in her life that her father had held her. With one last look into his daughter's eyes, the king walked away, leaving Psyche standing there, amongst the green grass that was dotted with blue Glory Of The Snow, in her wedding gown.
"You are radiant." Came her soon-to-be-husbands voice as she felt him appear soon after.
"Thank you." She whispered as he walked up to her. Eros placed his hand on her cheek and she shivered at the contact.
"I know that look." Eros whispered into his soon-to-be-wife's ear, the tone of his voice made Psyche's knees almost give out. Her hand slid up into his hair as his lips brushed against her ear.
"I need you." She whispered, that ache in her voice.
"Do not worry my love, the ceremony is short." He assured her as he inhaled the fragrance of her hair. "Then, once we are husband and wife, I will bring you to our home and make you my own." She nodded, she could not find her voice as all her thoughts faded into nonexistence.
"Are you ready?" Came a feminine voice that somewhat snapped Psyche out of her daze of desire.
The voice of the love goddess was as sweet as honey. She would be performing the rite on this night, marrying her beloved son to this mortal girl. If Psyche proved herself a loving and faithful wife, if she could wait out the month to see her husbands face, then she would be given immortality. If she could not, the marriage would still stand, until Psyche's death or until her son asked for an annulment. As much as Aphrodite tried to be happy for her son, she had a feeling of foreboding and could not explain why. But this was her sons choice, and Aphrodite would stand by her children in everything they choose.
Ares stood near his wife, watching their son and his bride approach. Psyche was a truly beautiful young woman, and the way his son looked at her made the god of war smile as joy filled his soul. He had always hoped that his soul would find a woman as wonderful as his mother Aphrodite, and it seemed that he had judging by the way Psyche looked up at Eros with all the love and devotion in the world shining in her eyes.
"We are ready." Eros said to his mother.
A goblet floated between them in the dark of the night, filled with a glowing golden substance.
"Psyche, bring the cup to your lovers lips so that he may drink of this divine liquid, so that your souls may be joined in this sacred union." Aphrodite spoke in a soft voice, marriage was no small thing, yet it could be a joyful undertaking.
Psyche took the floating goblet into her hands and raised it up to where she knew her lovers lips to be. Eros placed his hands over Psyches, then tipped the goblet to take in a drink of the sweet nectar.
"Now you, repeat the process and let your lover drink of this divine liquid." Aphrodite spoke to her son.
Eros could not describe the pride within him as he lowered the cup to his lovers lips. Psyche drank the sweet liquid that was liquefied ambrosia, the fruit of the gods. It was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. The goblet then disappeared.
"Join hands." Aphrodite said.
Eros stood in front of Psyche and took her hand into his own as his mother stood before them. Psyche saw a golden length of cloth float through the air, then wrap around her and Eros' joined hands.
"Now you may pledge yourselves to each other in this sacred union." Aphrodite said. Psyche knew the words, so she spoke first as she looked up to where she knew her loves eyes to be, and said the words with all her soul.
"I pledge myself to you in life, love and marriage." Psyche spoke the words and both she and her Eros could not describe the joy within them, a euphoric feeling that kept growing and growing with each passing moment.
"I pledge myself to you in life, love and marriage." Eros proclaimed the words as their joy greatened still.
"I now name you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride, sealing your union with the breath of your souls." Aphrodite said.
Eros and Psyche wasted no time as they both closed the distance between them and kissed with their hands still bound, sealing their union as husband and wife. Never had a kiss felt like this one, never had one held such meaning. Eros' hand slid into Psyche's raven locks as she pulled him closer to deepen this wondrous kiss.
Aphrodite smiled at the sight of her son being so happy. Ares wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders, and she laid her head on his strong shoulder. After a time, they teleported away to their home, leaving Eros and Psyche to their wedding night.
When their lips finally parted after kissing for an eternity, Psyche looked into her husband invisible eyes in wonder. He was hers now, and she was his in name as well as love. They were bound together for the rest of time.
"Close your eyes." Eros whispered and Psyche complied.
Eros teleported himself and his wife to his home, their home, on the beach in front of Olympus. Many gods lived on Olympus itself, but Eros preferred to live closer to the sea, it was part of his heritage after all, his grandfather is Poseidon, king of the seas.
"Open your eyes my wife." Eros said softly.
Psyche opened her eyes and the sight of the Aegean sea stretching out before them stole her breath away. She had never seen the sea before, never known it could be so beautiful, that the smell of the salt would be so welcomed, that the sound of the waves lapping at the shore would be so peaceful.
"Oh my." She breathed, then looked up into her husbands eyes as he watched her.
"There is more." He told her with a great smile.
Eros wrapped his arm around Psyche's waist and turned her around. Psyche gasped at the magnificent palace that stood before her, lit by firelight from torches that burned all around. The palace stood nearly three hundred feet tall, with the biggest marble columns Psyche had ever seen, and a great tower that rose above the rest of the structure. The white marble was like nothing Psyche had ever seen. Instead of being veined with black, the white stone had veins of pure gold that glittered in the light of the torches. There were balconies, carved stone railings and so many intricate details, and yet it was not overdone, it held a simplicity and elegance to it as well.
In front of the palace was a breathtaking garden that spread out over half an acre. The flowers that grew there were visible from the torches that stood on stilts throughout that marvelous garden of colors and lines.
"Welcome home." Eros whispered into Psyche's ear.
"This is all for us?" She asked in wonder, Eros chuckled softly.
"Oh yes my wife, just for us, and all the children we will have." He told her and her smile grew.
Eros began leading his wife through the garden, on the stone pathway that led to the front door of their home. Psyche admired the flowers that lined the path, they were of every color imaginable and grew freely and plentifully all around them. She also noticed that the grassy areas all had Glory Of The Snow growing from the earth, that made her smile.
Throughout the palace that was now her home, Psyche was truly in wonder of all that was around her, the precious gems set into the walls, the cravings in the stone and metals that lined the floors and walls and even the ceilings, the elegant and exquisite furniture that were works of art. Not to mention the paintings on the walls and the statues of gods and nymphs. The detail in the art was stunning and so realistic, and the subjects that were painted and sculpted were incredibly beautiful, all the women with perfect figures, the men all with toned muscles, much like her husband.
Eros watched his wife as she looked around in wonder, listening into her thoughts and smiling, finding that she truly loved his home, their home. He led her to their bedroom, taking his time so that she might take in more of the sights before her.
He brought her up three grand staircases and down many great halls before they came upon a certain set of white double doors, encrusted with black diamonds and piped with gold. Eros held the door open for his wife and guided her in. There were no torches in here, but once her eyes adjusted, Psyche could just barely make out the shape of a bed on the far wall to her left. Her heart rate sped up at the realization that she and her husband were now standing in their bedroom. She took a shaky breath, not expecting the sudden nerves that rose up within her.
Eros heard how her breathing had become shaky. He stood behind her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders and softly kissing her temple to comfort her. He had waited for tonight for what felt like an eternity, but he was in no hurry, he wanted tonight to last forever and wanted his wife to enjoy it as much as he was going to.
Psyche slowly turned around and looked up at her husband. He carefully removed her mothers crown that adorned her head, then used his abilities to place it on the table that was not far away. He caressed Psyche's cheek then kissed her sweet lips softly, letting the kiss linger as their breathing grew more rapid and Psyche began to relax, realizing that there was nothing to be scared of, and that she truly trusted him when it came to this, when it came to anything she trusted him.
"Do I get to see any part of you tonight?" She asked softly.
"Of course, I nearly forgot." Eros told her with a smile.
He closed his eyes and focused, making his form come into sight. Psyche watched as she could slowly see the form of her husband, his outline in the dark. Eros opened his eyes and Psyche gasped, his gray blue eyes glowed softly in the night, making them easy to see. She placed her hand on his cheek.
"I can see your eyes!" She softly exclaimed as such joy filled her. She did not expect to see even that much tonight, since for the first month they would only be together in the hours of darkness.
Eros smiled to her, hearing her heart beat a million miles a minute, and she could just barely see the perfect white of his teeth. She could not fully see his face, nor his body, but to be able to see even this much of him was a gift.
"You are handsome." She said.
"And you are beautiful beyond compare." Eros said softly, the words coming out as a breathless admission of undying love.
Psyche could not look away from his eyes, they were too beautiful, too consuming. The lovers were silent as they stood before each other, both knowing what the night would bring. Neither moved for a time, they simply watched each other, wanting to savor the moment.
Psyche traced the shape of his lips before running her finger over their smooth surface, her body growing warmer by the moment. She placed her other hand on his cheek, letting her hands roam over his face just like they did the night Eros made himself known to her. His eyes slid shut, savoring the feeling of her fingers and hands as tingles of hot electricity ran through them both from every touch. Psyche ran her fingers through his curls, watching the way they moved under her fingertips. Her hands slid down the back of his head and neck and to his shoulders. She then began undressing him, unwrapping his toga and letting it fall to the floor.
She watched the rise and fall of his muscular chest as her hands ran over his skin as they have so many times before. But tonight, everything was different, tonight she would experience something she had never known before. Eros slid his hands tenderly up her arms as her hands continued their exploration of his chest and shoulders and other lower regions she loved to touch, her hands on him was nearly too much to take, yet he did not rush things along no matter how much he wanted her. Eros' hand slid up to Psyche's neck and a soft moan escaped her lips in the night as his fingers caressed her skin.
She looked up into his eyes as his hands began undoing the clasps on her dress, untying the bow at her back. The silk fell from her body, leaving her naked before her husband. Eros took in the incredible sight of her body, her body was sacred to him, just as her soul was. And now she was his, truly his, and the night he had so longed for had finally come to be.
The magic in the air, in every touch, in every look, left them in another world together. Eros began caressing her, his hands exploring her form and wondering at how incredible it felt to touch her skin. His hands ran up and down her torso, over ever inch of her burning flesh, her breast, her shoulders, her arms, her flat abdomen, making Psyche's knees nearly give out at the feeling. He always did this to her, caressed and teased her before going any further. Psyche exalted in it and so did Eros. He knew how to enjoy these building moments, and touching her skin was a joy and a pleasure beyond words for him. But tonight, he would not make himself stop as he had all those other times. Tonight, he would make her his, he would lay claim to her body, sealing their union with passions beyond words.
When Eros once again ran his hands over her shoulders, Psyche closed the space between them, bringing their naked forms together for the first time as husband and wife. She ran her hand up his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned up to kiss his lips. The kiss was long and passionate as Eros' hands went to caress her back and sides, to ever part of her, then he wrapped his arms around her, holding her burning body close to his own as he deepened the kisses they were sharing.
"We do not have to do this tonight," Eros whispered against her lips, his voice filled with desire. "My dear wife, we can wait if you wish it."
"I do not wish," She said, her voice nearly a moan. "Please husband, I need you to make love to me tonight. I cannot wait anymore." Eros smiled and kissed her again, knowing that she was ready for this.
He bent down, Psyche's legs had already given out so she went with him. Eros slipped his arm under her legs and literally swept her off her feet. He kept kissing her as he made his way to the bed. Once there, he climbed onto the bed, still holding his wife in his arms as he walked on his knees to the center of the king-sized bed. It was there that Eros laid his naked wife down before him on the silk sheets.
He looked upon her as he sat before her, taking in every detail of her, the deep blush on her cheeks, the desire in her dark eyes, the way her black hair fanned around her head like a halo, the shape of her voluptuous body that clearly craved his, that waited with the greatest anticipation for his own.
Just the way her husband looked at her made her give a moan. She wanted him now, she did not want to wait anymore, she felt as if she had been waiting an eternity for tonight. She parted her legs before him, an invitation, a plea. Eros moved to hover over her. Psyche leaned up and wrapped her arms around him as she met his lips, each kiss making her want him all the more. Eros wrapped his arms around his wife as they slowly reclined on the bed and as they continued to kiss. He looked into her eyes.
"I love you Psyche." He whispered.
"I love you husband." She whispered back.
And with that, at long last, he slid into her, bringing an end to her virginity. Psyche gasped and clutched onto his back at the feeling, but not only from the dull pain, it was an undeniable pleasure that filled her, he filled her, and his warmth within her was undeniably the sweetest feeling she had ever felt. She looked into his eyes, they were both lost in wonder of this sensation. He waited a moment, making sure she was alright, then he began moving into her slowly as her body arched against him and things soon became far more passionate as they both lost control, their lips locked in battle as their bodies moved together, constantly trying to get closer…
Eros and Psyche laid in each others arms, face to face, after having consummated their union, their love. Now they were truly bound together, now they were truly husband and wife, and neither of them could have been happier. There was this unearthly weightlessness that they shared. Psyche never knew anything could feel like that, it was even more incredible than all touching and kissing she and her husband had exchanged before this night. Eros himself was beyond wonderment. He had been with hundreds of women in his time. Yet not one could hold a candle to what he had just experienced with his Psyche, his wife. The love they shared deepened their passions to the point of madness, with every movement, every look, every moment. Nothing else could compare to it.
As Eros looked into his wife's dark, heavenly eyes, he wanted to say something to her. Tell her all that this night meant to him, once again proclaim his eternal love for her, tell her that she meant more to him than anyone else in this world or any other. But he was unable to form words, that sacred silence enveloped them as it had so often before. But tonight, everything felt different, everything was different. It felt as if it was a whole new world they were living in, nothing would ever be the same, and they would never be parted. Eros kissed his wife, a long, tender, lingering kiss that made both of them lose track of any thoughts that might have been in their minds. They both sighed, then they looked into each others eyes.
"I am so happy." Psyche whispered. "Life is perfect, you are perfect, that was perfect." She did not know what else to say, how to explain how she was feeling, how he made her feel.
"Oh my wife, you are the moon and the sun to me." He said softly, caressing her cheek, running his fingers down her neck and shoulder and arm as he spoke. "You are the stars, and the flowers, and the trees and the sky. You are the rainbow, and the morning dew on the blades of green grass. You are all that is beautiful and good in this world to me, and I love you, more than life."
"More than life." She agreed and they kissed again.
Psyche snuggled into her husbands embrace, wanting nothing more than to disappear within him, to live forever in his soul, in the bounty of his love.
"My wife, when the sun comes up, I must leave, but I will return when it sets again." Eros said softly.
"Please do not go." She begged him. "I need you here with me."
"But I must." He said, kissing her hair, breathing in its sweet scent. "I am no longer hidden from your sight, so when the sun comes up, I must leave if we are to be together." Psyche sighed heavily.
"Very well, but I will miss you terribly." She told him, looking up into his gray blue eyes.
"And I will miss you." He whispered.
Before another thought could come into his mind, Psyche began kissing her husband passionately, knowing that if she was to be able to make it through the day tomorrow, she would need him for the rest of the night. She pushed him onto his back as she climbed on top of him and his hand clung to her hips…
Eros woke right as the birds began to sing, heralding in the morning. His wife was still sound asleep in his arms. He smiled as he ran his fingers gently through her tangled black hair. She had been incredible last night, she had fulfilled every fantasy he had ever dared dream of her. But more than satisfying his sexual desires, she fulfilled his soul and he knew that he fulfilled her own. Eros leaned down and softly kissed her petal soft lips. Psyche moaned softly as she responded to the kiss. When the kiss ended, Eros looked down on his wife and laughed softly, seeing that she was still asleep. She had always done that to him, she could fall asleep in any place, at any time, and she slept like the dead. He had to tell her he loved her one more time before he left, he had to look into her eyes. Eros decided to use another tactic to wake her, one he knew from experience would work.
He began kissing her neck as his hand went to caress her breast, her body responded to his touch immediately, just like she always did. He continued to kiss her neck as she began to moan, the sounds drove him crazy. His lips continued down until they came to the soft flesh his hand had just caressed. Her body began to move as her moans became louder and she began whispering the only name she knew him by.
"Husband!" She sighed, though she was still half asleep.
His lips and tongue continued their work as his hand slid down her flat, toned stomach and down to that sweet place where pleasures lay. The moment his fingers went to work, Psyche's eyes few open with a gasp. He did not stop, he could not stop touching her until her brought her to that point as her body arched underneath him and she called out his name. He looked into her eyes, the sun was beginning to rise, though it was still dark in their bedroom. She laid there, her messy hair surrounding her like a halo, her breathing rapid as her chest rose and fell with each breath, her lips parted in a silent plea for more, her eyes glazed over in love and lust as they begged him to make love to her. He wanted to make love to her again, just as he had last night, but he used every bit of will he had left and restrained himself, knowing that the sun was rising.
"I must go." He said in a deep voice, his own breathing was as out of control as her own.
Psyche slid her hand into his curls and brought his lips down upon her own. She slid her tongue into his mouth and they both moaned as his body moved to cover her own. Her legs were wrapped around him, he would have had her right then, but again, he stopped himself. He only found the will to do this, because he knew that if she saw him in the light of day, they would have to part ways, and he would not be able to see her again, and that was more unbearable by far than waiting until that night to make love to her.
"Stay with me." She pleaded as her hand caressed his cheek. "Make love to me again, please."
"You will see me if I do not leave soon," He said in a gruff voice. "The sun is rising."
"Can't you just make it stop in the sky for a few hours?" She asked in irritation.
Eros laughed, knowing that among his family, they had more than enough power to stop the sun in the sky. Though he doubted his uncle Apollo would do that just so his nephew could make love to his new wife once more.
"I am afraid not." He said softly.
"There must be some way you can stay." She said, pleading. He thought and then smiled as an idea came to him.
Eros took hold of the silk sheets and ripped a long strip off, then proceeded to tie it around Psyche's eyes.
"Keep this in place, and I will stay with you wife." Eros promised as he kissed her neck in just the spot that it drove her crazy. A loud moan came from her lips.
"I will." She promised, her voice uneven and urgent. Eros could wait not a moment longer and moved his body to connect with his wife's…
Eros collapsed on top of his wife after they reached that height together, that moment of sweet release. He laid his head on her chest as her arms and legs were still wrapped around him, though now gently so, where as before they were clenched around him, begging him to stay for longer, to get even closer to her. She ran her hands through his curls as they laid there.
"I love you Psyche." Eros proclaimed in a breathless voice.
"I love you Husband." She said the words in the same breathless way, then they both laughed in delight.
They stayed like that for an eternity. Psyche was exhausted, between last nights love making and this mornings, she had barely gotten two hours of sleep, but she did not mind, not in the least. She would take her husband over sleep any day.
She soon fell into a sound sleep and Eros laid there with her, knowing he had to get up but not able to find the will to do so. This was his home, here with their bodies together, his head laying on her chest as he listened to the steady sound of her heartbeat, their arms wrapped around each other. How can I leave my home? My beloved wife? He wondered to himself.
It was not easy, but he somehow found the will to get up and bathe. He went back into their bedroom to see Psyche curled up on their soft bed, her body wrapped in the tangled sheets. Eros smiled, but then again, he had been smiling all morning. He had stayed with her after dawn, but she had not seen his face, so the rules were intact. He walked over to her and carefully removed the blindfold that was still tied around her head. He threw the piece of silk away and gently kissed his wife's forehead.
"I love you." Eros whispered into his Psyche's ear, then teleported away in golden light as his wife continued to sleep soundly in their bed.
Psyche woke that afternoon in their bed. She stretched and smiled in the silk sheets that wrapped around her naked body. She felt unbelievably good and happier than ever before as she sighed softly. Her first thought was of her husband, her eyes flew open as she stared at the golden ceiling. I am a married woman, she realized. Wedded and bedded, she thought with a growing smile as a blush painted her cheeks.
She felt different, but she had felt different last night as well after she had given her maidenhead to her husband. She felt whole, complete, and hungry. She sat up and looked upon the bedroom she shared with her husband for the first time in daylight.
The walls were made out of teal mother of pearl, the fifteen foot ceilings were clad in silver and the floors were made of marble that had other colored marble inlaid in shapes of flowers and vines, creating a garden in the stone. The bed itself was a piece of art. It was carved out of dark stained wood with Greek key symbols. The headboard of the bed rose up in an ark with more carvings of Greek key symbols. There was no footboard, which meant that the balcony at the other end of the room was visible, and so was the deep blue sea it looked out upon.
Psyche walked out onto that balcony, looking at the garden three stories below her, then the soft sand of the beach, then a hundred feet beyond that, to the blue green waters of the Aegean, which eventually turned into that deep, rich sapphire blue. She stayed there for a time admiring the view from her new home, and oh did it feel like home! Then her mind drifted to her husband again, to his hands, his lips, his body and how it fit seamlessly with her own. Just thinking of the way he moved, the passion and tenderness within his touch, his lips as they traveled across her body, it made her skin feel as if it were bursting into heavenly flames. She took a shaky breath and smiled as that ache became known deep within those sacred parts of her body. But it was more than a sexual hunger, she longed for his presence, the sound of his voice. She longed to feel him near.
She wondered where her husband was, what he would be doing today. She knew he was thinking of her, somehow, she just knew. She could always feel when he was thinking of her, just as he could always feel when she was thinking of him. They were connected like that, on the deepest of levels. Psyche wanted to kiss her husband, she wanted him with her today more than anything, but she would wait out the month as she promised to.
With a soft sigh, Psyche turned and went back into the bedroom, wondering what she would do today. Her eyes drifted about the room and she noticed the candle and a kind of lighter on a table. She knew she would never light that candle, no matter how much she longed to see his face. A month would be nothing to wait, so long as she had him during the nights.
Psyche went through one of the three doorways in the room, it led to a marvel of a bathroom with a tub that was nearly the size of a pond in the center. Psyche stepped into the water and nearly jumped to find it perfectly hot. She slowly sunk into the wonderful water and for the next half hour swam around as she bathed and sang.
When she got out, she used one of the red bath sheets to dry off with. That was when another door caught her eye. She wrapped the long towel around her body and went through that door, only to freeze the moment she stepped into the first of many rooms of her personal closet. This room was filled with the most stunning jewels she had ever set eyes upon. The room was bigger than their bedroom and the rows upon rows of priceless, flawless jewels took her breath away. Rings, earrings, bracelets, anklets, armbands, necklaces, headpieces, broaches, so on and so forth the list went of what was within that room. Some had small stones, others had stones that were bigger than her thumb. She saw every color of the rainbow in the precious gems and metals before her.
Color change sapphires, rich red rubies, Padparadscha sapphires that were a beautiful pink orange color, fire opals, black opals, every color of diamonds imaginable, deep green emeralds, light and rich blue aquamarines, and every color of pearls known in Poseidon's sea. And the metals of their castings were just as spectacular. Psyche never knew so many colors of metals existed, she only knew of gold and silver, that was what she had known her whole life. But before her was red gold, pink gold, just about every shade of gold in Gaia's earth. Then there was silver, but there was another metal she did not know. This metal was a bright white and held an ethereal glow, to the eyes of the gods the metal glowed slightly blue. This metal was called adamantine, and it could only be forged by the gods. Since the metal was stronger than diamonds, it was also used to make weapons for the gods, and cooking tools.
Psyche walked around looking at these gems in a trance. Surely they could not all be meant for me, she thought in wonder, then smiled and shook her head softly. I had no idea I was marrying into such wealth, she thought to herself. Eros had given her gifts on occasion, but he never spoke of his families wealth, let alone his own. In Psyche's mind, she saw thought she would marry her husband, then they would run off somewhere in the woods, to a small little home that was just big enough to have a family in. She had wanted that home more than anything, but never did she ever dream she would get all of this, everything she had ever dreamed of.
She was almost afraid to touch these jewels, even though they were clearly meant for her. Psyche spotted another set of double doors and went through them, only to one again be taken completely by surprise and left in wonderment.
The room she entered in a daze was filled with row upon row of the most beautiful dresses she had ever set eyes upon. They made the fine dresses her father had ordered made for her seem like rags. This room was by far even bigger than the one that contained the jewelry, she even spotted a staircase and she could already guess that more garments awaited her on the lower level. The ceiling was made of glass, letting in more than ample lighting from the glorious sun that shined directly above.
Once the shock wore off, at least it had begun to wear off, she smiled. That smile grew and grew. As a princess from a rather wealthy royal family, she was accustomed to luxury... but this surpassed anything she had ever imagined even when she was at her most vain! Excitement filled her as she dropped her towel from her now dry body, and began pulling the dresses down one by one to try them on. Each was made of that soft material that her husband always wore, it was softer than silk and cool to the touch. The material was called cloud silk, it was woven out of the clouds themselves, another feat that only the gods could accomplish.
She twirled in front of the mirror in the pink gown feathered with gold. Then she put on the next dress, a dark green one with the design of a tree growing up the front of the gown in gold thread. The next dress was silver and shined like the moon, it seemed to be made out of the metal though it was comfortable and lined with blue cloud silk. The next gown was made out of orange cloud silk with a pleated skirt that went to her knees, the slashes in the material showing off the dark pink lining underneath.
The next gown was a rich purple with a provocatively plunging neckline and a slit up the flowing skirt that went to her mid thigh. It had no embellishments, nor did it require any, the smooth, flowing cloud silk satin was elegant and sexy as it was. This became Psyche's favorite gown so far as she thought over what her husband's reaction would be when he saw her in this number. She had to smile and giggle at that thought.
She went through the dresses, and soon discovered a section of gowns and garments that were clearly not for use outside of the bedroom. They were sheer, some had lace, some looked like netting. Some were long, some were so short they would barely reach her thighs. Psyche could not look at them without blushing. She knew what garments like these were used for, and she decided that when her husband returned that night, she would wear one of these for him, just to see his reaction. Psyche went back to playing dress up with more modest gowns and loved every moment of it.
Aphrodite stood in the middle of Psyche's closet, looking upon her new daughter-in-law as she spun around in one of the silk gowns her son had given his wife. She was clearly not the same girl Aphrodite had first laid eyes upon, she was different. Of course Aphrodite knew all too well the changes that are provoked by what Psyche and her son had shared for the first time on their wedding night. But it went deeper than that, this change. Psyche had this genuine joy and light within her eyes, her former vanity was no longer present.
Aphrodite smiled as she watched her son's wife, thinking that perhaps this match was not so bad after all. She had seen how happy her son was when he wed Psyche last night, and the joy within his eyes, how his face lit up this morning when they spoke. She had seen Eros in love before, but never like this. They were soul mates, Eros and Psyche, that much was clear, especially to a love goddess.
Psyche turned around to get another dress to try on, and that was when she saw the woman standing in the middle of the enormous closet watching her. She was easily the most beautiful woman Psyche had ever seen. Her long, golden blond curls were pulled back in an elegant way with a few ringlets falling free around her to frame her stunning face. Her face was like a symphony, her elegant nose, the angle of her cheekbones, the rosy pink of her lips and her elegant jaw and chin. The woman's eyes were the color of shallow water in Greece, that stunning blue green. The woman had a toned, voluptuous body, much like Psyche's own, only the woman was a half a foot taller than she. She looked to be around twenty-five years of age. Though truth be told, she looked ageless, she was a timeless beauty.
The beautiful woman curtsied to Psyche as she looked on in surprise, wondering who this woman could be and why she was standing in her closet.
"My lady," The woman began in the most elegant and melodious of voices. Her voice sounded like sweet honey. "I am Cassandra. Your husband has bid me come and be your handmaiden, to keep you company while he is away."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Cassandra." Psyche greeted. "I am Psyche." The lovely woman bowed her head to her again.
Aphrodite had asked this of her son since she wanted to get to know the new member of their family. Eros willingly allowed this, he wanted his mother to know his bride. His mother was a very dear woman to him, and he wanted Psyche to feel the same about her. Instead of just saying that she was a friend of Psyche's husband and there to visit, Aphrodite decided to be her handmaiden. How Psyche treated those 'below' her station would speak magnitudes more than how she would treat her if she knew that she was in fact Eros' mother, and the goddess of love.
"Is there anything I can get you my lady?" Aphrodite asked.
"Some food would be wonderful, I am famished." Psyche said with kindness in her voice. Aphrodite smiled, enjoying that her words were a request, not a command as she might have once said them.
"Of course." Aphrodite said. "Would you like to eat outside on the beach?"
"I would love that." Psyche said with such excitement.
Aphrodite led Psyche through the grand halls as the she looked around in wonder at the place that was now her home. It put her fathers palace to shame, even her three sisters, who were all well married to kings and wealthy princes, could not boast of owning such a home, or having such extravagant gowns and jewels.
Psyche walked next to her mother-in-law on the path towards the beach. The gulls were crying and the waves were crashing as the wind blew on this beautiful day. There were a few clouds in the sky in the distance, but the Zeus' sky was mostly blue.
Psyche's bare feet sunk into the soft sand she wiggled her toes, not able to help the giggle that escaped her lips. Aphrodite watched Psyche with a smile, seeing how genuine she had become, how real her laughter was. But what did she not have to be happy about? She was married to an incredibly loving god who worshiped the ground she walked upon and lavished her with the finest things to ever grace the heavens and Earth. Psyche was blessed, but instead of feeling entitled to this love, this blessing made Psyche humble. It was humbling, after all, to be loved by such a man and to love that man so profoundly.
Aphrodite sat down in the soft sand and Psyche sat next to her, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. Life still felt like a dream to her, and she wanted to never awaken from this paradise. Soon after, four beautiful women brought out an array of food and fruits and laid the platters on the sand. Psyche stared at the women, they were all incredibly beautiful, without a single flaw between them. One had brown hair and green eyes, another had black curls and eyes the color of sapphires, another had golden blond locks with teal eyes and the last had brilliant red hair and stormy gray eyes.
"Are you my husbands servants?" Psyche asked the women.
"We are my lady." Responded the one with the brilliant red hair, her voice a respectful and yet friendly tone. "I am Sophia." She introduced herself, then waved her hand to the brunette.
"And I am Theodora my lady." She introduced herself with a bow of her head.
"And I, my gracious lady, am Xenia." The lovely woman with golden hair introduced herself, then looked at the black haired beauty with eyes the color of sapphires. "And this is my sister Zoe." The black haired beauty bowed her head to Psyche.
"We have been your husbands faithful servants and friends for years beyond count," Sophia told Psyche in her gracious voice. "And we are all delighted that he has finally chosen a bride. We will serve you as devotedly as we have served your husband."
"I thank you for that." Psyche said.
The ladies smiled and walked away, and Psyche could not help the jealousy in her heart, wondering just how devotedly they had served her husband. She knew that he had had many lovers before herself, but she could not help but worry with four stunning women sleeping beneath the same roof as she and her husband. The thought of her husband touching another woman as he had touched her was too much to take. But he had promised her, sworn to her that he would never lay a hand upon any other woman except for herself and she did trust him more than anything, she just worried, she was afraid that she would not be enough for him.
"Are you alright?" Aphrodite asked.
"May I ask you something?" Psyche asked the beautiful goddess beside her. Aphrodite was by far more lovely than those maids.
"Go right ahead." Aphrodite said.
"Just please do not take offense." Psyche said and the goddess nodded. "Were you and my husband ever… lovers?"
That made Aphrodite burst into laughter. It was not as if the gods never partook in such activities with their family. The gods frowned upon incest among the mortals because their genetics are far too weak to be able to withstand interfamilial mating, and so the children of such unions can turn out wrong and in some instances, insane. But the gods are not human, and so their children are not worse off if their parents are siblings, or even if their parents are father and daughter, or mother and son. Sometimes family members will make love simply for the sake of pleasure, but other times they fall deeply in love, and in those occasions, they do marry.
In fact, Aphrodite herself was married to her great uncle. The goddess of love was brought into this world by her parents Dione and Alexander. Dione is the daughter of Poseidon, king of the seas, and his wife and queen Amphitrite. Alexander is the son of Ennina, who the Greeks know as Athena, and her husband Cronus, Zeus' foster father. Ennina is Zeus' eldest, and Aphrodite married Ennina's twin brother, and therefore her great uncle, Ares. And oh how she loves him! Their love and passion stood the test of time and so many trials and was even stronger for it. They are soul mates, they are Ares and Aphrodite, they are war and love, two entities that are not as different as most would think. After all, many wars have been fought over love, and those who fight in them, are fighting for those they love. Therefor, love can drive a war, but it can also bring peace and harmony.
Thinking back to the question at hand that Psyche had asked of her, the goddess of love could not help but laugh. Though it was allowed among the gods, Aphrodite had never made love to her son, nor did she hold any desires for him.
"No my lady," Aphrodite answered when she had sobered a bit. "We have never been lovers, not even for a night."
"But you two are close?" Psyche asked and Aphrodite nodded.
"Very, but I can assure you that there is nothing romantic between us." The goddess said and Psyche nodded.
"That is good," Psyche said. "I could not compete with a beauty such as yourself."
"I thank you for the complement, but there is no competition for your husbands love." Aphrodite assured her daughter-in-law. "He loves you like he has never loved any other woman. I have seen him with the others he was with, but none have ever had the hold on his soul that you do Psyche. You possess him, utterly, totally you alone are the owner of all that he is. Trust me when I say that his eye will not stray to other women, he belongs to you. He will be a faithful husband, trust me on this." Psyche nodded.
"Even though I already knew that, it is still wonderful to hear." Psyche told the goddess. "And I will be a faithful wife to him, I could not want another man after being with him. No one could ever own up, or even come close to him for me. He possesses me as I possess him, I am his and his alone."
"I am so happy to hear that." Aphrodite told Psyche in all honesty.
They went back to eating the incredible food before them. The cheese was the best Psyche had ever tasted, the crackers were rich and hardy, the olives ripe, plump and delicious. All the fruits before them were the best Psyche had ever had, and the fish was cooked to perfection. Psyche had never had clams before, she found she favored them.
"Are you married Cassandra?" Psyche asked, Aphrodite smiled and nodded.
"I am, for many years now." She told her with pride. "He is a good man, and a relentless warrior."
"He sounds like my husbands father." Psyche said.
"Is that so?" Aphrodite asked, Psyche nodded.
"He does enjoy speaking of his parents, telling me what little he can." She told the goddess. "He tells me of his fathers strength and skill in battle, of his laughter and humor. He also loves to talk about his mother, saying she is beautiful beyond all compare, so kind and loving."
"Like me?" Aphrodite asked with a smile. Psyche smiled.
"Only you are too young to be his mother." Psyche said. "But what he speaks most of is the love his parents have for each other, telling me what a beautiful thing it is." Aphrodite felt her soul swell with pride and love. "Do you have any children?"
"Quite a few, both with and without my husband." Aphrodite said.
Psyche was shocked that she would be so nonchalant about such a thing. It was a serious matter to have a child outside of marriage where she came from. The goddess of love heard Psyche's thoughts and smiled kindly to her.
"You see, where your husband and I come from, such things are not frowned upon." She explained.
"But why? Isn't it wrong to bear a child to a man who is not your husband?" She asked.
"It was not so simple as that." Aphrodite told her. "My eldest daughter, her father is dead." Psyche gasped, her hand flying to her heart.
"I am so sorry to hear that." Psyche said in all honesty. "Did you love him?" The goddess nodded, her eyes far away, thinking of Adonis.
"He was my first love." Aphrodite said softly. "He was a hunter of great renown. I was fifteen when we met in the woods, and he was so handsome. Every day, we met in the same spot from then on. He would clean his kills and make a fire to cook us a meal." The goddess smiled at the memory, her eyes nearly filling with tears. "It was not long before we became lovers. We were crazy about each other, we knew we were going to get married, everyone knew it.
"But before we could wed, he was killed by a wild boar on a hunt. I was devastated to say the least, and just a few weeks after the incident, I came to understand that I was pregnant with his child. When my time came, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl. She needed a father, and although I had many suitors, I could not choose one, I could not stand the thought of being anyone else's wife but her fathers. But with time, I did marry. He was a good man my husband, one who took good care of me any my daughter, and though I grew to love him, it was never enough.
"His brother however, I became deeply attracted to. The man had had his eye on me from the time I was a girl. He was madly in love with me, and with time we too became lovers." She told her.
"But what about your husband?" Psyche asked.
"Let me finish." Aphrodite said with a kind smile and Psyche nodded. "With time it became clear that I could not stay married to that good man, since I was so in love with his brother. I told him the truth and he let me go. Once our marriage was at an end, I married his brother and he and I have been happily married since."
"What of your first husband?" Psyche asked. Aphrodite smiled.
"We are still good friends," She told her. "And he has remarried and is so very happy with his wife. We had some good times together, but things never truly worked between us, something was always missing. Where I come from, we would never ask two people to stay married if it was not right for them. But also, it is a freer society, where men and women are free to enjoy and explore their sexuality without fear of prosecution."
"I see." Was all Psyche could say, she gave the goddess an apologetic smile. "I do not mean to judge you, it is just that these ideas are brand new to me."
"I understand that." Aphrodite assured her. "The way we see it, it is different for everyone. Some will only want one lover, one spouse, but others may want lovers before they wed and sometimes after they wed. We give our people the freedom to choose and do our best not to judge them."
They spent most of the afternoon on the beach talking. Psyche found that she truly enjoyed Cassandra's company. Though there was clearly something worrying the woman, she was still sweet to Psyche.
"Your husband tells me you enjoy reading?" Aphrodite asked.
"More than almost anything!" Psyche said with excitement in her eyes.
"You should see the library then." Aphrodite said as she rose to her feet and held her hands out.
Psyche placed her hands in Cassandra's and let the woman help her to her feet. She was amazed to find that the woman's skin was just as warm as her husbands, and just as hard, like granite. When Psyche was on her feet, she looked up into the blue green eyes of the woman before her.
"Your skin is just like my husbands." Psyche whispered. "Are… are you what he is?" Aphrodite smiled, though she was clearly surprised that Psyche would notice that.
"Yes, I am." The goddess answered.
"So, you are older than you look?" Psyche asked.
"You could say that." She replied. "Come."
Aphrodite led Psyche to the library that was at the other end of the palace. They walked into a large round room, every wall was covered with scrolls and books, then there was a staircase that ran up the side of the curved wall. Psyche's eyes followed the stairs up to a second level of all books, then to a third, then a fourth. Finally, Psyche just looked straight up, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head as she saw the twenty stories above them. She realized that they were in the tower she saw outside and her eyes glittered with tears of joy as she thought of all the books this place must hold.
Psyche spent the rest of the day reading with Aphrodite. There were brand new books that Psyche had never read, so many stories to discover. She was in paradise, so enraptured with every word upon the parchment.
"Your husband will be returning shortly, I will see you tomorrow." Aphrodite said to Psyche, she looked up to see the woman on her feet.
"Tomorrow then." Psyche said and Aphrodite exited the room and waited until she was out of sight before teleporting away.
Psyche put the scroll in her hand down at once as such excitement filled her. She looked out the window to see the sun beginning to set. She flew off of the divan she had been lounging upon and ran as fast her feet could carry her up to the bedroom she shared with her husband.
She changed into one of the short, sheer garments that was for her husbands eyes alone. This one was made of a deep crimson lace. She walked back into their bedroom and went out onto the balcony to watch the sunset over the Aegean. As she watched Apollo drive his chariot across the sky, she was nearly tapping her foot in anticipation, the sun was not moving fast enough for her liking.
Meanwhile, the goddess of love teleported to see her son, who was waiting for her on Olympus. Eros had the same smile on his face that had been there all day. He was not the type to be melancholy, but he could not remember the last time he was this happy. No woman had ever made him this happy ever before.
"So? What do you think of my wife?" Eros asked his mother.
"She is a sweet girl." She said, Eros sighed at the reluctance in his mother's tone. There was something in her eyes, a worry that ran too deep to explain.
"But?" He asked.
"But, I cannot shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen." She told her son in all honesty. "I fear that you will be hurt beyond repair, and I cannot even stand the thought."
Aphrodite was a full-fledged love goddess, that meant that she had experienced all the aspects of love, both the good and the bad, the blissful and the devastating sorrow that comes from lost love, from being parted from someone you love so deeply. Eros himself was not a full-fledged love god yet, there were two elements he had not experienced, one of them he now had, which was the love of his soul mate, his Psyche. The other was lost love, something Aphrodite never wanted her son to feel. She wanted to protect her son, but knew that the Moirae had already woven his course.
"I will not leave her." Eros said at once. "Not for the world will I leave my wife."
"I am not asking you too, I see how happy she makes you and how happy you make her." His mother told him, walking up to place a hand on her beloved sons cheek. "For your sake I wish I could shake this foreboding." Eros smiled and kissed his mothers cheek then held her.
"You are no prophetess mother." He reminded her with a smile. She smiled and nodded, praying that he was right.
After bidding his mother goodnight, Eros teleported home, to where he felt Psyche. She stood there, silhouetted in the night as she stood on the balcony in their bedroom, looking out over the sea. Eros' jaw dropped as he looked over what little she was wearing, one of the enticing garments he had prepared for her.
Psyche's heart skipped a beat before going into over time, she felt her husband the moment he teleported in. She turned around to see his gaze running over every inch of her barely covered body with hungry eyes. He met her eyes and that was it, there was not even time for a 'Hello' to pass between them. What they needed went beyond words. They quickly crossed the room and wound their arms around each other as they kissed. Psyche's hands quickly worked to remove his tunic. Eros lifted his wife into his arms, her legs wrapping around him as he carried her to their bed. He took hold of the garment and ripped it at the seam, it was easily one of the sexiest things her husband had ever done in Psyche's mind. Once her body was exposed to his, he wasted no time in capturing her lips and connecting their bodies…
Eros and Psyche both were so happy he was home again, in their bed. They had food sent to them and they currently sat on their bed as they ate strawberry ice cream, the final course. There was something about eating in the dark that made all the food taste better, or perhaps it was just that they were near each other that everything seemed richer.
"How did you find Cassandra?" Eros asked his wife of his mother.
"She is an incredibly sweet woman, I can see being great friends with her." Psyche told her husband and he beamed, so grateful that his wife and mother were getting along.
"She is incredible," Eros said. "She is very dear to me, but not in a romantic way of course." Psyche nodded.
When they were done eating, Psyche laid on her husband's chest, but one question kept repeating itself in her mind, one that she was afraid to know the answer to. Eros heard the question in his wife's mind and kissed her hair, he would keep nothing from her.
"Yes my wife," He softly answered her unspoken question. "I have made love to the ladies you met today, except for Cassandra." Psyche's heart fell a bit at this realization. She did not want him with any other women, she wanted him to be hers alone. "I told you that I have had many lovers." He reminded her.
"I know," She said softly. "But it is different when they were presented to me, when they live in our home."
Eros pulled back to look into his wife's eyes with a thoughtful expression. He did not like the worry and fear he saw in his beloveds eyes.
"Tell me what troubles you." He said.
"I fear I will not be enough for you." She told him in a soft voice with tears in her eyes. "I fear you will tire of me, and when you do, those women are not far away."
"Psyche," He said as he shook his head, not able to believe she could think such a thing of him. "I would never hurt you like that. Do you not know how much I love you? How much making love to you means to me?"
"But you are still a man, men have needs." She stated. "And rarely can one woman fill them for most men, from what I am told."
"I am not most men." He said. "And women have those needs as well. Are you telling me that I should be worried about you desiring other handsome men?"
"Gods no!" Psyche said at once. "You know I would never do that to you!"
"Just as I would never do that to you." He told her with a smile, his voice kind and patient. Instead of just telling her that he would not betray her and that was the end of the story, he wanted to talk this out with her so that she would understand and not feel threatened by any other woman. "When I am around other women, it is like…" He sighed, trying to think of how best to put this, how to explain that she had consumed his soul and no woman could ever replace her. "It is like how you felt around Tristan of Athens." Eros told her. "Remember? He was handsome, rich and would have been devoted to you had you given him the chance. He was everything you had wanted, yet you only had eyes for me. Making love to him never even crossed your mind. So let me pose a question to you. Could you see yourself bedding another man?"
"Of course not." She said. "How could I, after having know you? After having your love no one else could hope to compare. No one else would be enough." Eros smiled.
"That is exactly how I have felt since the first day I met you, when I saw you dancing in your meadow." He told her, caressing her cheek. "Before you, my eye would roam over the figures of other women and desire would dance within me from the sight. I would take those willing women into my bed and we would enjoy each other. I did have relationships that went beyond sex some of those women, but none could hope to come close to you.
"Since you, I cannot even see other women in such a light. No matter how beautiful the woman may be, she might as well be as homely as an old crone when compared to you. Your love has made me unable to want anyone else. No woman could ever hope to come close to your for me, you are everything to me, and I swear on all that is sacred and holy that I will be faithful to you. I have not touched another woman since I fell in love with you that day, nor will any other woman but you ever know my touch again."
Psyche kissed her husband, realizing how idiotic she was for doubting him in the least. She loved him and he loved her, that was all that mattered. And she trusted him, knowing that he would never betray her. He would be the husband that every woman dreams of, and she would devote every moment they were together to making him happy, just as he does for her. She did not want any other life than him and books, and perhaps a child or two in the near future. Their life would be filled with the greatest of joys, both Eros and Psyche were sure of that much.
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