Chapter 9: The Massage

ANNABETH

Carefully maneuvering over the edge of the canopy bed, Annabeth attempted to work her limbs out of their soreness. She regretted not bringing any nectar with her when every step she took brought painful pinches from her core and up her navel. Her legs were worse. They felt like jelly hence the need to grab the canopy poles to hold herself upright.

A small snicker radiated from her left. Percy was standing outside the bathroom door, a towel around his hips, and a mischievous look on his face.

"Good morning, babe."

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain and come help me."

"Are you hurting a lot?" He asked as he walked over to her.

"I can't walk." She looked at him then and saw the hickies. Gods, really Annabeth. Percy was also looking at her naked body, focusing more on her purple splotches in her breasts.

"I am so sorry, Annabeth." He cupped one and Annabeth stiffened, not in pain.

"Um...I am sorry, too. For your neck and...Oh gods!" She stared in horror at his arm where she had punched him yesterday. The bruise was large and ugly, black and purple and red.

"Oh yeah about that...it does hurt when I move my arm, but it's all right."

"No it is not. I hit you just for a stupid reason and now look at it. How will we go to the beach if you're covered in bruises?"

"Well, you are too. I bet your bikini won't hide that."

She looked down at herself again, Percy's hand still cupping her boob. He let it go quickly, not realizing he'd been doing so.

"You can hardly walk to the bathroom, I don't think you'll have the strength to even make it down to the beach." Percy explained.

"Are you not sore at all, Seaweed Brain?" She asked.

"Faintly. Here I'll help you." He put his arm behind her knees and shoulders and carried her to the bathroom.

"I'll draw you a bath and some breakfast, alright?" He didn't wait for her to answer as he shut the door.

...

"Do you feel better?"

Annabeth sat in the tub's warm water, the liquid easing her soreness a bit.

"I do. Thank you." She said.

"Here eat some more." On any other occasion, Annabeth would've objected being treated like a baby. Percy fed Annabeth blue berry pancakes in which she refused for him to do the choo choo train and feed her in the mouth. He ate his right alongside her.

"I heard they give really good massages in here. We can have someone over to give you one, if you'd like. You know...to tend to the soreness."

"I know a better idea. You give me a massage." She said with a playful look.

"What? I am not professional. But...I think I prefer that. I don't know if I'm good, though."

Annabeth regarded him with a look of are you joking.

"Percy, we just had sex for the first time last night. You were on top and...you knew what you were doing. I liked it. I pretty sure you can give me a massage." She said softly, Percy's eyes glimmering a little.

"If you say so, then I'll do it." Then he smiled, truly smiled-a smile that made her insides flutter.

Annabeth just looked at him, taking him in-every feature of his face that she loved and was forever thankful for. Percy noticed her staring so he did the same with a genuine smile. Then he closed the space between their faces, their lips meeting in a truly pure kiss.

...

"Isn't there a special oil I am supposed to use?" Percy asked for the third time.

"Seaweed Brain, all you need is your hands and maybe body lotion if you want."

"And where do I start from?" If he asked one more question, Annabeth was sure she would throttle him.

"Percy...just start from the shoulders and make your way down."

"Alright."

She was lying on her stomach in the bed, wearing a lavender cream colored bikini (Aphrodite's gift) with Percy looming over her to give her a massage.

She hoped to be able to go out of their hotel room to do some activities, but with her body aching like that, she preferred to stay in and just relax in the infinity pool.

"Do you want me to do the whole padding and everything?"

"Whatever you feel like doing, as long as my body aches less."

"You know...they say that when you are sore from doing something, it be best to...you know...repeat it. So you're body gets used to it." He was so suggesting a round 2.

"Um...I think...yeah." Annabeth said.

"We can try later on if you want." He said while rubbing at her shoulder blades.

"Yes." That was all she said. Annabeth honestly felt excited about it. To do it again, she could not wait. And as if on cue, Percy moved his hands to her back and waist, sending a wave of heat between her legs. An audible whimper slipped out and Percy's hands tensed behind her. She nudged him to keep going and he did. It was only until he started massaging her thighs, that her body jerked slightly, asking for his hand to move up higher.

"Annabeth..." His voice quiet.

"Keep going."

And he did, except this time he flipped her around and looked at her while he massaged her legs. She was good at hiding expressions, but not this time. Her face contorted arousal and desire...and Percy saw it all, that he decided to massage her with kisses instead of hands.

Percy kissed her thighs, legs, and ankles, all the while Annabeth gasped in anticipation. She wanted to urge him on to rip away her clothes and kiss her all over, but she withheld. She enjoyed the foreplay.

"Do you want to do it again?" He asked her, his arousal clear on his face.

"Yes." And so they did.

Annabeth was definitely enjoying him more and more after the first time. They did it once and twice and thrice that morning. Her muscles still ached a lot but the movement had improved her soreness for the most part. Their activity had improved a lot since Percy didn't have to hold back force. They both were a mess of noises once more which they really needed to work on or else they would probably get kicked out. But how was she to hold it back? Percy hit her in all the right places and not to mention what his lips could do to her. She had gripped him so hard that both his forearms were red. Percy had bit her nipple a little too hard and was now red and plump.

They sat together against the bed frame, looking into the ocean outside, and held each other-Annabeth making circles on his chest. One thought kept coming back to her again and again: she could really get used to this.