Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! As I said, I was going to be MIA for a couple weeks but that got longer since I had to apply for colleges to transfer to and whatnot. Still, here's a quick chapter to assure you all that I haven't forgotten you or the story! It's a bit smuttier and deserving of the M rating this story has. So...if that bothers you, skim past it.


When Jason arrived home that evening, he was tired and sweaty. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, taking off his boots as he sat at the table. His mind was racing. In a day or two's time, Briseis was going to be with him and his father and mother as they went to Odysseus' court. But now that the damned Achilles was here...she'd see him. He looked over at Briseis where she was cooking dinner. Standing up, he walked over to her and slid his arms around her waist and kissed the back of her neck. "You know I love you, do you not?" He couldn't help the question and wished he would hear her say that she loved him as well. Instead, she turned and brushed her lips gently against his jaw, responding as she always did. "Yes, of course I know."

He sighed and stepped back. He longed to hear her say that she loved him, and yet as the days went by, he doubted that he ever would. "Are you happy with me, Briseis?" Sometimes he wondered. Now that he knew Achilles was alive, he knew the possibility of losing her was growing greater every day. Fortunately for him, Briseis avoided the other women for the most part, choosing to walk by herself or wade in the bay. But she would soon hear rumors or even see the man himself.

Briseis looked over her shoulder at Jason, noticing the way his shoulders slumped. Walking over to him while wiping her hands on a towel, she smiled down at him, "Do not look so sad." She set the towel down and tilted his chin up so she could look at him. Bending down, she kissed him. Usually she merely lightly kissed him. But not this time. He looked so sad, so tired... Perhaps she didn't appreciate everything he did for her. And seeing him look like that had actually caused her to hurt. Was it possible that she had fallen for this man? Pulling back from the kiss, she felt her lips tingling and she leaned forward to kiss him again.

She felt his arms slide around her and soon she was pressed up against his body. She didn't mind... Instead of creating feeble arguments or bringing up pointless excuses like she usually did, she merely let him coax her towards the bedroom. Inside and on the bed, she let his hands slide up her legs to her thighs. This time...this time she didn't mind. Her fingers found his belt and she undid it, helping with the process of undressing him this time. Perhaps she was too forward? Something caused him to pause and he drew back, looking down at her with a slightly confused look. She couldn't blame him. "Come, my husband..." She slid her hand to the back of his neck and kissed him again, "I love you."

With those three words, she had said something profound. She saw his brown eyes light up and a smile slide over his lips. Did she truly love him? Yes...it wasn't a burning, fiery passion but he had slowly worked his way into her heart. Obediently she let him lift her dress over her head and then moved her hands to his tunic to perform the same act. Her nails ran over his chest, feeling the muscles she had never really paid attention to before. The dark smattering of hair over his chest was masculine...enticing. She ran her fingers slowly down his chest, over his stomach and then back up again. How had she never noticed how he was built?

Suddenly she gasped in both surprise and pleasure. His fingers had located the heat between her legs and were now teasing her with dips and strokes against her. Pressing nearer, she responded in kind by moving one hand down to his hard erection, wrapping her fingers about him. The deep, throaty moan that slid from his lips was rather wonderful. Focusing was getting difficult and when he moved her hand and shifted his, she felt him shifting on top of her and then she felt a wonderful fullness. Perhaps she should have let herself enjoy this more often instead of wishing he'd get it over with. It really was very nice...

Pleasure. It overtook her and she felt numb from the waist down. It felt like something she had only experienced with Achilles... Breathing heavily, she glanced up at him. He looked remarkably pleased with himself – it was entertaining. She kissed him before leaning back against the bed. She felt very happy as she lay with her husband that night.

Achilles was unable to sleep that night. He lay in his bed, tossing and turning while staring up at the ceiling. Something felt wrong. Something felt off. He stood up and walked to the door after grabbing his clothes and pulling them on. Outside, he ran his hand through his hair. He still felt unsettled by the meeting with that man earlier. Something didn't sit right with him. He didn't like it. Sighing, he decided to go for a walk. The cool night air that surrounded the island would settle him, right? He was walking out on the balcony for some ten minutes before realizing that he wasn't alone.

Startled, he turned around and glanced over at Penelope. The tall willowy woman walked forward. She was an elegant woman, with thick dark hair that was thinly strewn with silver. Her eyes were a deep blue and full of compassion as she looked at him. "Having trouble sleeping, Achilles?" Her voice was a soft, smooth tone, rich and warm. It was soothing, which was what he needed right now.

"Yes... I feel like something is wrong, but I cannot figure out what is going on. I can't sleep. Something is wrong." He crossed his arms over his chest and gazed out over the ocean. Unsettled and uneasy, he shifted his weight from one leg to another.

Penelope studied him quietly before saying, "You should go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be the feast where Odysseus' advisors come to court and you'll be expected to be there. Plus there's a very lovely young woman I want you to meet and before you argue, don't bother." She smiled calmly, "Now go rest and worry about tomorrow's problems tomorrow. You cannot do anything tonight." Achilles nodded. There was something very difficult about ignoring what Penelope said. She had such a calm, relaxed nature and yet was very firm, leaving little room for argument. But she had sound advice...so he turned and walked back towards his bed chambers. Tomorrow he would work things out...tonight he would sleep.