Chapter 9

Wednesday

"How silver-sweet sound lovers tongues by night, like soft music to attending ears."

William Shakespeare

After school I went to the Stables with Margret. It was cloudy and humid out, the weatherman said we have a storm coming. After Margret rode Willow, I helped her brush the mare down.

"I cannot wait to go shopping this weekend." Margret enthused. "Everything is all set for us to go to New York. Right after school on Friday we'll leave for the airport, then from there we will fly to New York and stay at my parent's penthouse. We will go out for dinner, then on Saturday and Sunday we will shop!" Margret explained.

"Are you sure you are okay going after what happened?" I asked her, looking over Willow's back at Margret. She rolled her warm brown eyes.

"Like I am going to let that low life steal my fun!" Margret said. I smiled and shook my head, I will say this for Margret, not even Armageddon could keep her from shopping.

I felt something, a pull, and turned my head to see Ariston walking into the Stables. A blush came to my cheeks and my heart began to flutter. Ariston inclined his head in greeting to me with a smile on his face. I returned the greeting with a smile of my own.

"Do you still need a ride back to our dorm?" Margret asked.

"No, I am good." I told her, not able to take my eyes off of Ariston's.

If running through the rain the four miles back to my dorm, meant being able to spend a few moments with Ariston, then it was well worth it. Besides, I love being in the rain, reveling as I dance through the wondrous drops and laugh in delight. Storms always make me feel alive!

"Alright; I'll see you later." Margret said. Ariston walked out of the Stables, to get Vrontos I presume, and I turned to Margret.

"Later." I said.

I walked down the aisle in search of the man who occupies my every thought, and found him a few minutes later walking into the Stables, leading Vrontos. I smiled and went to them.

"Hello." I said to Vrontos, stroking the beautiful stallion's cheek. The horse was happy as always. Ariston laughed once and I looked up to see him. "Hello Ariston." I greeted him.

"Hello Mera." Ariston smiled. We began to walk side by side. "I sent the drawing you did of Elianna to Kallisto, she laughed as hard as I did to see her mother dancing with a smile. Thank you again."

"You're welcome." I said.

"Are you riding?" Ariston asked.

"No, Margret already rode Willow today." I told him.

"Would you like to ride Vrontos then?" He asked. I was amazed, he is going to let me ride his horse?

"Truly?" I asked.

"Of course." Ariston said. "I do owe you for taking care of him the day we met." He reminded me. "After I warm him up you are welcome to ride him if you like."

"I would love to!" I exclaimed with a huge smile. "I will go change."

He nodded, a smile on his face. I practically ran to the tack room, I grabbed my riding breeches and changed into them in the bathroom, then came out to put my boots on. Ariston walked in as I was zippering up my boots, he eyed the old leather. They were not nearly as nice as his, they were worn in most places, but the leather was soft and supple and they were in decent enough shape. It was not as if I had the money for new ones.

"I bought them on consignment when I outgrew my old pair." I told Ariston, speaking of my boots. "On the bright side, at least I did not have to break them in." I laughed and he joined in.

It takes months of use to break in a brand new pair of tall riding boots, and it can hurt quite a bit since even the most expensive leather is stiff and gives you sores to start out with. I found that out the hard way when my father bought me a brand new pair of tall boots on my fourteenth birthday. There was a strange look of longing in Ariston's eyes when he looked at the boots.

"Do I need spurs?" I asked him.

"No, Vrontos does not like them." Ariston said absentmindedly, I nodded and turned around to close my tack trunk.

I could feel his eyes on me, it was not an uncomfortable feeling in the least. I picked up my helmet and held it under my arm.

"Ah, I almost forgot." Ariston said to me. "I have something for you."

"For me?" I asked in surprise.

Ariston smiled, went to his white oak trunk trimmed in royal blue and opened it. He came back with a pair of brand new Roeckl riding gloves. I gasped as I took them from his hands slowly. When we rode together on Monday I discovered that my gloves had finally given way and had to throw them out, so I had wrapped Band-Aids on my ring fingers to prevent blisters, it was all I could do until I could get to a tack shop sometime, but now...

"I saw them in the tack shop yesterday and could not resist." Ariston said with a smile. "Now you no longer have to wear Band-Aids."

I undid the Velcro and slid my hands into them, a perfect fit. I looked up to Ariston with a smile, still filled with gratitude at this simple gesture.

"You have no idea how much these mean to me." I told him. A fierce joy came over his features at my words, making my smile grow.

"I am happy you like them." He said to me. I became lost in his eyes until he turned to his trunk, leaning over to close it. I blushed as I realized how amazing he looks in riding apparel. He turned around. "Are you ready?" He asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I am." I said quickly.


"Your turn." Ariston said as he hopped off Vrontos. Warming the horse up did not take long at all. I looked at Vrontos, way up to the saddle on his back.

"I think I am going to need a leg up." I said, Ariston chuckled.

"Of course, he is quite a way up." He said, I laughed.

I walked over and took the reins into my left hand and held onto the saddle. I bent my left leg. Ariston came up behind me and gently placed his hands under my left shin. The feeling of his hands on my leg was distracting to say the least.

"One, two, three." Ariston said. On three, I jumped and he lifted my leg, giving me a boost; when I was high enough I threw my right leg over the horse's back and landed with my bottom in the saddle perfectly, it is one of those things you simply have to a science after doing it thousands of times. It was a very comfortable saddle, even though it was a bit big for me.

Once I was seated, Ariston let go of my leg. The stirrups were far too long, I could not even touch them with my toes.

"I will fix them." Ariston said, seeming to read my mind.

He placed his hand on my calf and moved my leg out of the way, then proceeded to fix the stirrup leather to a perfect length, the bottom of the stirrup iron coming to about two inches above my ankle. When he finished he moved my leg back and placed my toe on the stirrup iron.

"How is that?" He asked.

"Perfect." I said, he smiled up to me and walked around to fix my other stirrup.

I could have moved my leg, but I had to admit that I liked when he did it, I liked it when he touched my calf. He was very respectful but his touch still made my skin tingle warmly. When he was done he smiled up to me.

"Would you like me to give you a lesson on how to ride him?" He asked.

"I was hoping you would." I told him with a smile.

Each horse is different, they each have their own quirks, and even though some may be similar in certain ways, it is good to talk to the horse's rider about how to correctly ride the horse in question.

"Let's start with a walk so you can get a feel for him." Ariston said.

I nodded and shortened up my reins. I squeezed with my legs gently and Vrontos began to walk in a large circle. His walk is smooth, he felt good to me.

"Are you ready for trot rising?" Ariston asked after the first circle.

"I am." I said.

"Then begin." He requested.

I squeezed with my legs and Vrontos started trotting. I posted the trot. Posting is one of the first things you learn when you start riding. Up, down, up, down, up, down, rising from the saddle and sitting in time with the motion of the outside front leg. Like his walk, Vrontos' trot was smooth, fluid but slightly quicker than Willow's.

"Very good, now gently ask him to be round, he does not take much." Ariston said.

I spread my hands apart and pulled on one rein then the other in a quick motion time after time, Vrontos' head went down and his neck curved perfectly. When a horse is round they move better.

"Good, now be still with your hands, he just needed to be asked to be round, but keep some light pressure on his mouth." Ariston instructed. Vrontos moved perfectly, doing exactly as I asked. I could not help smiling. "Change direction, when you are ready." He said, I turned Vrontos and cut through the center of the circle I was on, sitting two bumps before posting again to get on the correct diagonal.

"Are you ready to canter?" Ariston asked.

I nodded. I sat the trot then put my outside leg behind the girth and Vrontos went into a smooth canter. This is fun!

"Go down the long side now." Ariston instructed. I went down the long side and ended up cantering around the whole ring a few times. "Ask for a lead change." Vrontos' and I cantered across the center of the ring at a diagonal, and when we grew closer to the opposite side, I put what was now my outside leg behind the girth, causing Vrontos to switch legs and leads in a smooth transition.

"Walk for a moment." Ariston said when I neared him, I did as he asked.

"That was wonderful." I said with a huge smile I always get when I ride.

"Would you like to jump?" Ariston asked with a smile that matched mine.

I could feel my eyes light up, I felt like a kid in a penny candy store that had been given a million dollars to spend!

"Could I?" I asked in excitement. He laughed at my expression.

"You may. He gets excited when he jumps so you will need to hold him back, it does not take much, just a little reminder for him to keep calm." Ariston said, I nodded. "Trot the red and white cross rail."

I shortened the reins and got a trot on the circle, pulling Vrontos' head up gently while still having him collected as I made a straight line for the cross rail. It was small, only two feet, and on a horse this size it would be like stepping over a pole on the ground. I sat the trot on the way to the jump, I could feel Vrontos getting excited, I pulled back slightly on the reins and he slowed to a better speed. I gave with the reins as we went over the jump, giving the horse his neck and going into half seat.

"Very good, again." Ariston said. I posted the trot after the jump and went around to jump it again. "Now canter the vertical."

The vertical was about 2'6, nothing big. We cantered it with ease, Vrontos is a beautiful and graceful jumper with perfect timing.

"Canter the vertical to the oxer." Ariston said.

I smiled, knowing I was going to enjoy this. Vrontos seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was. We jumped the first jump then I sat back and collected him for the second, counting the strides to get the right distance. When we got back to Ariston, I walked the horse as I gave him a pat on the neck and he nodded his head, his ears forward with excitement from the jumping.

"Could I jump a course?" I asked Ariston.

"Would you like to choose it or should I?" He asked, making the smile upon my lips somehow grow.

"I will, I love making courses." I told him, he nodded.

"By all means, jump anything you like; Vrontos is more than capable and I know you are as well." He said, I smiled to him.

I was lost in Ariston's eyes and it was a few moments before I could look up and make a course. I designed my course from the jumps that were in the large arena. I picked ten jumps to jump, most of them about 4 feet tall, and a few of them oxer's!

"Alright, lets do this." I said to Vrontos, giving him a pat on the neck, I was amazed when he nodded his head and whinnied a bit.

I got a good hold of the reins, which I had shortened, then put my leg behind the girth, remembering to be gentle. We went from a standstill to a canter without so much as a walk or trot step in between. I collected the canter on the circle then we sailed over the first of my jumps, a 3' vertical. The second jump was a 3'6 oxer four strides away from the first jump. From there I turned Vrontos right and made a hook to jump the 3' bounce, meaning there is no stride in between the two jumps, you jump one, land, then jump the other. Between his fluid canter and graceful jumping, it felt like we were flying. Each time I landed, my eyes were immediately looking for the next jump, plotting my course.

I turned left after the bounce and jumped an in and out, meaning you jump one jump in, then canter a few strides and jump the second one out. It was made up of two 4' oxer's. Vrontos sailed over them with ease, I could not help the laugh of delight that escaped my lips. I turned him left towards a 4'6 oxer then right to jump a 4' vertical. The last of my ten jumps in the course I created were two 4' vertical's, another in and out.

I ended my course cantering in a circle around Ariston, I did not dare look at him yet, I did not want to lose focus, doing so on a horse could be dangerous. I gave Vrontos a pat on the neck.

"Good boy!" I exclaimed.

We went to a trot, then a walk. Vrontos was not even winded. Once we were walking I looked to Ariston, his smile matched mine, ear to ear.

"You looked like you enjoyed that." He said.

"I did, immensely." I said. "Do you want me to cool him out?" I asked Ariston.

"Actually, I was thinking about taking Vrontos on the trail. We could use a tour guide, seeing as how I do not know the lands as you do, and there is more than enough room on Vrontos without the saddle if you would like to join us?" Ariston asked, looking into my eyes.

"I would love to." I said.

I took my feet out of the stirrups and held the reins with my left hand. I took hold of the saddle and swung my right leg over the saddle to slide off of Vrontos and to the ground. I pulled the reins over Vrontos' head, Ariston was standing there patiently waiting for them. I placed the reins in his hands.

"You should jump him cross-country, he excels in that." Ariston said. "Perhaps next time." I smiled.

"I can ride him again?" I asked in amazement.

"I do not see why not, you looked amazing on him. You two make quite a team." Ariston said to me.

I could not help myself. In my excitement I threw my arms around Ariston's neck and hugged him close. He seemed surprised again, and then he hugged me back gently, as if I were breakable.

"Thank you so much." I said. He laughed.

"You are very welcome, Mera." Ariston's hot breath tickled my ear, making me shiver.

Suddenly I felt different, something changed even though he did not hold me any differently. I felt some of the storm running throughout my body, it was because I realized he was holding me, because of how close we were. I pulled back while blushing and Ariston let me go and took a step back, again I saw him pulling away from me. He turned away from me and walked to the other side of Vrontos.

I walked with him to the fence with Vrontos between us. He was doing it again, putting distance between us. My body was still tingling, my mind running through what would happen if we were close again. My cheeks turned red and my heart pounded at that possibility. I bit my lip as my soul as well as my body communicated to me how much I longed for such contact. This yearning was too much to take, and my mind only made it that much more difficult not to walk right up to him and find a way to show him how he was making me feel... I shook my head, trying to reclaim my bearings and calm these emotions to a feasible amount before I burst.

When we arrived at the fence, Ariston threw the reins over Vrontos' neck. The horse stayed perfectly still while Ariston removed the saddle and pads from his back. I could still feel the ghost of Ariston's touch and his body. I tried to keep theses kinds of thoughts out of my mind but it was hard to do with him near. Ariston had the saddle off in no time, he placed it on the fence with the saddle pads under it and the girth on top.

Ariston came over to stand before me. He raised his hand and undid the chinstrap to my helmet, then took it off my head.

"You will not be needing that, I will keep you safe." Ariston said. I already knew that, I thought as I gazed into his the blue of his eyes.

I decided to take my hair down and pulled the gold colored elastic out, combing through my hair with my fingers to rid myself of knots as gently as I could manage; Ariston watched me as I did so.

"Any hay?" I asked, gesturing to my hair. He laughed.

"None." Ariston said, turning away from me. He gave Vrontos a pat on the neck before springing onto his back with an ease and grace that left me astonished.

My first thought was that I hoped he did not expect me to be able to do that. Ariston laughed at my expression and held his hand out to me. There was this sweet gentleness within his eyes that had a calming effect that I so desperately needed; all I wanted was to be with him, not to rush anything. I sighed in relief, both from knowing I did not have to find a way onto the stallions back and from the relief brought to my body, then I grasped his strong forearm. He pulled me up onto Vrontos like I weighed nothing to him.

I sat behind Ariston with my body flush against his, I blushed thinking about how our bodies seemed to fit together, while trying to keep those kinds of thoughts away. I wrapped my arms around his waist, his clothing was so thin that I could feel the contours of his sculpted abs. The feeling of his hot, granite like body against mine is unlike anything. My heart was pounding and I was sure he could feel it.

"Which way?" Ariston asked, his voice deep with some kind of emotion I could not name, though his tenor spoke to the desires of my own body as they flamed to life once again.

"Down there." I said, breathlessly pointing down to the right, to the woods. Ariston turned his head around to look at me, embracing my soul with sky blue, and smiled a huge crooked grin. I was left stunned.

"Hold on." He said and I held on tighter to his body. Ariston clucked and we took off at a full on gallop down the path.

It was exhilarating, my hair flapped in the wind behind me, I could see perfectly over Ariston's shoulder. I laughed and Ariston laughed with me. I was amazed at the sound, it was a real laugh. It brought such a feeling of joy to my heart.

We went through the cross-country field and then into the woods at amazing speeds, Ariston is an amazing rider and Vrontos is a true equal. We went down a hill then across a river, the water splashed on us and we laughed again. We rode like this for the next twenty minutes before he walked Vrontos as we laughed in pure delight.

"I cannot believe Vrontos is not so much as winded." I said in amazement.

"His breed is renowned for their endurance." Ariston replied. "They were war horses and messengers in the days of antiquity and long before."

"What is his breed?" I asked, I had been trying to figure that out for some time but have forgotten to ask until now. "The closest I can guess is an Andalusian."

"Vrontos is an Alki, an ancient breed. The name is Greek, in simple terms, it means strength." Ariston informed me. "Though few know it, Andalusian's, among others, are descended from his breed."

"I have never heard of it before." I said.

"The Alki are a very rare breed, lost to most. Those who have them make sure to keep them pure bred, to maintain the breeds integrity." Ariston informed me. After looking into my eyes for a time, Ariston looked back to the trail, which he had navigated without any instruction on my part.

"You seem to know the trail well." I accused with a smile.

"Perhaps I simply wanted the pleasure of your company." He said, I smiled and we rode for a few minutes more in silence.

"You speak fluent Greek I take it?" I asked after a moment, he chuckled.

"I do, among many other languages." He said, looking back into my eyes.

"Would you say something to me in Greek? I have always wanted to hear the language spoken." I asked with pleading eyes.

"Eímai ev̱gnó̱mo̱n pou í̱rthe mazí mou." He said fluently in his native tongue.

"And what does that mean?" I asked.

"I am grateful you came with me." He said, I could see the sincerity in his ancient eyes. I smiled.

"How do you say 'as am I'?" I asked.

"Ópo̱s eímai." Ariston said at once, not even having to think about it.

"Ópo̱s eímai, Ariston." I repeated and he smiled. "I look forward to someday being fluent in Greek."

"I could help you, if you like. I have the feeling you are a fast learner." He offered and I lit up again.

"I would LOVE that!" I exclaimed, beyond excited to have someone who is fluent in such a wonderful language as my tutor.

"We should be getting back." Ariston said, gazing into my eyes. "A storm is coming."

"I love storms." I told him.

"Are you up for more riding then?" He asked, my smile was all the yes he needed.

Ariston squeezed Vrontos with his legs and the horse galloped away with us on his back. We rode for the next hour up a mountain then walked through the woods. I could hear the rain start to fall gently on the leaves above our heads. After a few minutes the woods thinned to show miles of wooded and snow capped mountains. I smiled, I had been up here before with the girls I work with and with Margret. Ariston stopped Vrontos near the edge of the cliff.

"You see that there?" Ariston pointed to a shape in the distance on the top of a mountain, I could just barely make it out. "That is my house." Ariston said.

"You chose a great location." I said.

"I enjoy living on a mountain," Ariston told me. "My home in Greece is on a great mountain."

"Someday I am going to have a place just like that." I told him, my thoughts far away with the life I dreamed for myself. "High up, away from the noises of society and closer to the sky and the clouds. Somewhere peaceful and beautiful, where the only sound is that of the wind and of the trees. To fall asleep every night in the fresh air, looking up at the stars through my window is what I have always wanted." I sighed and smiled at the thought, Ariston just watched me with a kind of fascination. "What?" I asked him.

"I would live no other way." Ariston said. For a moment, looking into his eyes, I was unsure if he meant living on a mountain or living with me. I felt hope at the thought, my heart fluttering.

Thunder cracked in the sky and a few moments later, lightning flashed. I smiled and Ariston and I looked up at the sky together. I looked at Ariston to find him smiling at the lightning as if he was looking at someone, not something. It started raining gently, it felt good on my skin.

"I love the rain." I said.

"As do I." Ariston said with a smile, turning his face up to the rain with his eyes closed and a peaceful expression upon his face.

Thunder came, then not long after, a bolt of lightning shot across the sky in its zigzagged pattern one again, making Ariston laugh. We sat there on Vrontos' back, watching the storm for the longest time as it moved closer and closer towards us on this incredible day. I was so comfortable with Ariston that without thinking, I rested my head against his back as I watched the bolts of lightning. I could not have been more happy or more at peace than I was sitting on that horse with my arms around this incredible man. It started raining even more and I laughed. Ariston looked at me with such a smile.

"Hold on tight." Ariston said once again.

I held onto him, smiling as we galloped off and back down the mountain. It started pouring on the way back, soaking us both through and through. We laughed the whole way back to the Stables. Vrontos' hooves clopped on the stone of the Stables floor as we walked inside. We were the only ones still there, everyone else had gone home. We stopped; I was reluctant to get off, I was far too comfortable being so close to Ariston. His warmth is far too inviting. Nonetheless, when Ariston held his arm out, I took it and swung my leg over the horse and slid off.

"I will get his cooler and his sheet." I told Ariston, walking to the blanket room.

I found Vrontos' navy cooler with sky blue trim, along with his royal blue sheet, and brought it out. You have to put a cooler on a wet horse or else they will get sick. It is usually a fleece or wool blanket that wicks away moisture. Ariston already had the halter on Vrontos and his open front boots off. I handed him the cooler and watched him put it on the horse as I placed the sheet down. Then I gasped as I remembered.

"Your saddle." I said, as I turned around and began running out of the Stables.

"Mera?" I heard Ariston call from behind me, but I did not stop.

His saddle must be ruined from the rain. Knowing how much a saddle like his could cost, I ran down the path as quickly as I could and got to the arena in no time. His saddle was still there on the fence, but what surprised me was that it was not ruined. The rain beaded up and ran off the leather, leaving it unharmed. I picked the saddle up with one hand and took hold of the strap of my now drenched helmet, it would take awhile to dry out now. I turned around to see Ariston standing there soaking wet in the pouring rain, with rain running down his beautiful face. His wet shirt clung to the muscles on his abs, shoulders and arms, a sight I could not help but take in for a moment. My god he is sexy, was all I could think as I met his eyes again in the down pour.

Ariston walked up to me and took the saddle from my arm with a look on his face. He held the saddle in one hand off to the side and stood closer to me. He lifted his hand and caressed away a few strands of wet hair that clung to my face, my skin burst aflame from his touch, my heart beating wildly. His eyes scanned over every detail of my face with such an uncontrollable need while he marveled at what he beheld.

He was so close, I could smell his mint and vanilla sent on his breath. I was shivering, but not from the cold, it was from having his body so close to mine, from anticipating what I knew was coming. I was lost in his eyes, fire coursed through my veins as I realized this was truly happening.

"Étsi, apístef̱ta ómorfi̱." He whispered in Greek as his thumb caressed my bottom lip ever so lightly. "Kóvei ti̱n anása." I did not know what the words meant, but the passion with which they were spoken brought everything within me to life once again; and kissing him was no longer a desire, it became a necessity.

Gazing within those eyes there was no question that I was his for the taking, and needless to say, I wanted him. Ariston's breaths were quick, as rapid as my own. He leaned down slowly, my eyes closed and my head tilted up waiting for his lips, for the kiss that did not come. His hand disappeared from my cheek a moment later. I opened my eyes to find Ariston five feet from me. I wanted to say something to him, ask him to not pull away from me again, beg him to kiss me, yet in that moment, looking into his eyes, I found myself unable to form words.

"Forgive me." Ariston said, shaking his head. "We should get back to Vrontos." He turned and walked away from me, towards the Stables.

"There is nothing to forgive." I whispered since it was the loudest sound I could make, but it was too late, he was already well down the path.

I stood there in the rain for a moment, trying to collect my thoughts, before heading back to the Stables. Ariston was nowhere to be seen when I entered, I went over to Vrontos and stroked his cheek, my soul lost in what almost happened, in what I so desperately needed from him, though it went far beyond anything I was able to put into words. I sighed as I gave Vrontos' neck a few strokes and kissed his cheek, then went back to his face; The horse seemed happy at my attention, his ears forward while my thoughts went around and around. I know Ariston feels something for me, more than something, I see it in his eyes, I feel it every time in the way he looks at me and how he touches me. So I could make only one reasonable conclusion from his behavior. He has been through a terrible tragedy, wounds like that take time to heal. Perhaps he is not ready for this yet.

"For you." I turned around and smiled. Ariston stood there drying his black curls with a towel as he held a towel out to me. He seemed to relax seeing me smile. He is definitely worth the wait.

"Thank you." I said, taking the towel.

I dried myself off as best I could, along with trying to dry out my helmet, while I watched Ariston as he took care of Vrontos. I walked with him when he put the horse in his stall. After locking the door, he went with me to the tack room to return his tack and my helmet. We stood in there after I changed into my sneakers, and I looked upon him while being in wonder at how he makes me feel so much more than anyone else ever has. Ariston looked at me with an apologetic smile as he noticed my clothing before looking into my eyes once again.

"Your clothes are still soaking wet." He said.

"I will change when I get back to my dorm." I assured him with a smile.

"My house is closer," Ariston said. "Why don't you come with me and I can give you something dry to wear and make you something warm to eat. I will bring you back to your dorm later on this evening." He offered, to which I nodded.

"I would like that." I told him with a smile.

The chance to spend even more time with him and get to see that house on the mountain where he lives was truly irresistible. It was still pouring when we were about to go out to his beautiful car, the rain coming down in heavy sheets, creating deep puddles everywhere.

"Here," Ariston said, handing me a white and gray raincoat.

"Thank you." I said, wondering where it came from. I could have sworn it was not in his hands a second ago, of course I was far too lost in the beauty of his face to look at his hands.

I slid my arms through the sleeves and pulled it over my head, it seemed to be his size, which made my smile grow. Ariston held his hand out for mine, my smile grew as I took hold of his warm hand. We ran out to his car in the rain, laughing and splashing in the puddles as we went along. Ariston held my door for me as he always does before getting into the drivers side. His black curls were dripping water as he turned the heat and the radio on. Ariston and I sang on our way to his house.

After driving through the woods on a road I did not know, we took a right onto a stone driveway that gently wound up a mountain. Five minutes later we came out of the woods and upon a stunning mansion in the style of a French Chateau with Grecian marble columns and stunning details. My first reaction was that the house was far bigger up close. The house and the pillars were white marble veined with what looked like gold instead of black. Everything was partly covered with ivy and blooming jasmine flowers.

I looked on in amazement as Ariston drove around the circular drive to a four-car garage, the door of which was already open. Inside, the garage had room for ten cars. I saw the Black Range Rover he used when he brought Vrontos to the Stables, a Red Lamborghini, a Green Muscle Car and five other cars that looked to be custom jobs.

Ariston and I got out of his car, the rain still pounded outside as we walked up a few steps and Ariston held the door for me. I made sure to wipe my sneakers off before I walked into a huge, long hall that looked like it went from one end of the house to the other. The ceilings were fifteen feet tall and painted with a mural of Gods and Angels in stunning detail while the walls were a pure white. The floor was of white marble inlaid with designs in green marble.

Fine paintings lined the walls, I looked on in silent awe as I walked with Ariston down the hall. We passed a huge doorway that led to a huge kitchen with cherry wood cabinets and ornate gold handles with counters of that gold-veined marble.

Further down the hall, there was a point where the wall stopped, and through that huge opening was the sunken living room with cranberry colored couches and beautifully carved wood tables. On the right wall was a grand fireplace of pure white marble carved to perfection, with a stunning mantel that took my breath away. What amazed me even further was that there was no back wall, it was open to a covered balcony that was supported by marble columns. I could hear the rain still pouring as I glanced outside while we walked.

As we continued down the hall, I saw that except for the single set of double doors on the far end of the hall, all the doors were on the left side of the long hallway. On the right wall were grand windows that looked out on the idyllic front garden. Ariston led me through the double doors at the end of the hallway and into a grand bedroom that was only a little bit smaller than the living room we passed a few minutes before. It had pale blue walls and black wooden floors with a beautiful dark blue rug. The first thing I saw when I entered was a king sized bed made of carved white marble with a royal blue comforter and white sheets. To my right, on a diagonal wall was a carved wood door.

Looking to the left I saw an area for reading; there was a white marble fireplace that was reminiscent of the one in Ariston's living room. In front of it was a comfortable looking puffy chair and footrest, with an end table at its side with a few books stacked upon it. My first thought was that the chair looked lonely. Looking beyond the sitting area, I discovered that just like the living room, there was no back wall, only an opening that led out onto the balcony, which was supported by the same columns. White silk curtains blew in the winds from the storm. The room was beautifully designed and impeccably clean, and I was beginning to realize to whom it belonged.

"Is this your room?" I asked Ariston, feeling warmer at the thought.

"It is." Ariston answered. "I will be right back."

He disappeared through a door to the left of the bed and I was left alone in his room. After a few moments I went up to the covered balcony and went out. The view was even more spectacular than the one from the cliff we had looked upon together not long ago. With the peaks rising in the distance and the wooded valleys and lakes, it was truly something to behold. It was beautiful to watch the rain fall. The storm did not seem to be ending, in the distance I could hear thunder, it seemed to be growing closer.

"On a clear day you can see for miles." Ariston said from behind me. I turned around to see him standing there with a smile, holding green folded clothing that looked like silk.

"It is beautiful, this whole house is spectacular." I said to him with wonder in my voice.

"Thank you." Ariston replied then handed me the clothing, it was softer than silk and cool to the touch. "Unfortunately I do not have any women's clothing. I hope my pajama's will do until your clothing is dry."

"They will, thank you." I said to him.

"This way." Ariston said with a nod of his head.

He led me through the door on the diagonal wall and I gasped at his bathroom. It was a round room with pale gold walls and a pool in the center that had a waterfall splashing into it from fifteen feet above. Steam rose off the hot water; it was incredibly inviting, and looking down I could see the mosaic pattern of red and a brilliant gold that covered the bottom. Off to the side was a single marble sink on the rounded wall with a large silver framed mirror posted above it. On the opposite wall was a shelve with white and gold towels. I looked up and noticed that the roof was a glass dome, the rain pounding down upon it. It was unlike anything I had ever seen.

"Wow." I breathed.

"You are welcome to bathe if you like. The towels are over there, and the soap is there." Ariston said as he pointed them out. "I am going to the kitchen to make us some dinner. You can meet me there when you are finished." I nodded and Ariston looked into my eyes for a moment. "Take your time." He said, glancing back. "And bring me your clothing when you are done so I can dry them."

"I will, thank you." I told him. He nodded before turning and walking towards the door, which he closed behind him when he left the incredible bathroom.

I looked around, still in wonder at this place, it was magical, like something out of a dream. Not that I would know, I never remember my dreams. I placed his clothing on the cushioned marble bench that sat beside the door and peeled my wet clothing off my body. The heat from the bathing pool was enough to prevent goosebumps. I decided I would bathe to take the chill off, the pool was way too inviting to pass up. I dunked my big toe into the water to find it perfectly hot. I walked down the steps and when I reached the bottom of the steps, it was waist deep. The further I walked the deeper the water got, to the point where I had to swim. It was wonderfully relaxing, easing my tired body as I sang from joy. I ended up floating for a while and looking up at the dome, watching the rain patter onto it. I could have stayed within this warmth for hours. After a time, I swam over to where the soap was, it was in a blue glass bottle with words written in silver that I could not make out. I popped the top, wondering if this is where Ariston's wonderful scent comes from. But to my surprise, the soap did not seem to have a scent to it.

I thoroughly washed away today's muck, then swam for a bit more before finding the will to get out and dry off with a gold towel. His towels were incredibly soft and dried faster than I thought possible. I put on Ariston's PJ's, they were amazingly lightweight and I could not truly mind how they hung from my body in a way that accentuated it. Everything was too big for my smaller frame, but the pants had a drawstring, so I made them fit. I fastened the fabric covered buttons of the long sleeved shirt, leaving only two undone. There was something comforting in wearing Ariston's oversized clothing; almost like when I would wrap up in my father's bathrobe when I was a little girl, but at the same time, this was different in a way that brought a blush to my cheeks and a smile to my pink lips.

I picked up my wet clothing with the towel, wrapping them into a ball before leaving the grand bathroom. I found the kitchen easily enough; Ariston was placing two bowls of steaming soup on a small round table in the back of the kitchen when I entered. He had also changed, he now wore gray pajama pants and a blue three-quarter-sleeve shirt with buttons undone to his chest, even in such simple attire he looked amazing. He smiled to me and looked me over.

"You look lovely, you should wear my clothing more often." He said, then closed his eyes and laughed. "I did not mean that the way it sounded." I laughed.

"It is alright." I told him. He walked over to me and took my ball of wet clothing and towel, then Ariston guided me back to the table and held my chair out for me.

"I will be right back." Ariston told me after I sat down. "Help yourself to the soup."

Ariston left the room and I took a sip of the soup, it was lobster bisque, creamy and delicious with big pieces of lobster in it. The warmth was incredibly comforting, even after the long, hot bath I had just taken. I sighed and took another spoon full, I had eaten half the bowl by the time Ariston returned.

"How is it?" Ariston asked.

"Perfectly delicious." I told him with a smile. He smiled and took the seat across from me. "I love your towels by the way; I have never used any that dry that fast. What are they made out of?" I asked him out of curiosity.

"Cloud wool." He answered as he laid his napkin on his lap, not taking his eyes off me, almost as if he were gauging my reaction.

"The clouds themselves?" I asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow, knowing from Mythology that Greek Gods were said to wear clothing woven from such a material. Ariston gave a nod, still watching me while I tried to see if he was testing me.

"Only my family and others like them have the ability to weave it." He stated. Except for a slight smile on his face, he was completely serious. "Everything in my home and quite a bit of my clothing is either made out of cloud silk or cloud wool." The smile slid from my face, confusion taking its place. Is he serious? I looked at him for a moment then started laughing.

"You had me going for a minute there." I told him. Ariston just smiled and looked at me. "What about your soap then? Why does it not have any scent to it?" I asked.

"Instead of making you smell differently, my soap enhances your true scent." Ariston explained.

"I wonder what I smell like." I said to him.

He held out his hand over the table and I placed my hand in his. He brought my palm to his face and inhaled with his eyes closed, his smile growing. He opened his eyes and looked into mine.

"You smell like raspberries and rainstorms." He told me, his voice had a hypnotic tone to it.

I could feel the blush on my cheeks deepen at the look in his eyes and the electricity running between us. We were lost in silence and in each others eyes for a moment until a ping sounded from the oven.

"That would be the pizza." Ariston said, letting go of my hand. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and rose from his seat. "Are you still hungry?" Ariston asked.

"Very." I told him.

I have been eating more and more as of late, if I were having sex I would be worried. I knew that it was only because I have been working more. Ariston took the pizza out of the top of his stainless steel double oven. The scent filled the room, making my stomach growl, it was heavenly. He sliced the pizza up then brought it over to the table on a pan.

"Margarita pizza with olives?" I asked with a smile.

"It is one of my favorites." Ariston said. "I would be happy to make something else if you do not like it."

"No, it looks delicious." I told him, taking a piece, it was hot in my hands. I was so hungry that I bit into it immediately, not even thinking that it could burn my mouth. To my surprise, it did not burn. But the taste... a moan left my lips at the first bite.

"That good?" Ariston asked with a laugh. I blushed and nodded.

"I have to say that in all honesty, this is the best pizza I have ever eaten." I said after I had swallowed, then I took another bite. We were silent as we ate, we each finished off half of the large pizza.

"Did you cook this from scratch?" I asked, a pizza this good could not come from a freezer.

"Yes I did." Ariston said.

"Are you just saying that to impress me?" I asked, Ariston laughed.

"No, I am not." He said with his crooked grin. "My sister taught me how to cook, she is very creative."

"You should let me cook for you sometime." I said.

"I would like that." Ariston told me. I smiled.

"Lucky for you my father taught me how to cook," I told Ariston. "My mother has always said that the reason she does not cook is for my father and I's health." Ariston laughed.

"That bad?" He asked.

"You do not want to know." I said, he laughed again and I joined in. I loved hearing him laugh, it was a kind of high to me.

"I understand what you mean. My brother makes wine," Ariston began. "He can make some of the most delicious vintages that have ever graced the Heavens and Earth, but every now and then he gets an idea and it does not go as well as planned. Such as his concoction of tangerine, salt, olive oil, and honey."

"That sounds... interesting." I said, trying to be kind. It was not as if I knew the first thing about wine.

"Let me warn you, it does not taste near as good as it sounds." Ariston said and we laughed together. "Would you like some dessert?"

"Do not tell me you baked a cake." I said and he laughed.

"No, I was thinking more along the lines of Ben and Jerry's." He said. "I have a few pints in the freezer."

"That would be great." I said.

Ariston made us cones of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and we ate it at the counter. Somehow, he had my favorite flavor, Mint Chocolate Cookie. He said that it is his favorite as well.

The sun was just beginning to set behind the clouds, I knew I should be getting back soon but no part of me wanted to leave him. I could not stand the thought of not being with him, it was torture.

"Ariston?" I said.

"Yes?" He answered, looking into my eyes.

"Could I stay here with you for a while?" I asked him. "I need time away from school, from everything." And with you.

"Of course." He said, his smile growing. "I could use the company and truth be told, I am not ready for you to leave just yet." I smiled and blushed at his confession. "Would you like to watch a movie?"

"I would love too." I replied. We walked into the beautiful sunken living room. The rain still continued and the thunderstorm had begun to come closer, I smiled at the sound.

We sat down on the couch side by side and Ariston picked up the remote and turned on his 55" flat screen. We spent the next half hour joking around while trying to pick a movie. We decided on a comedy, Mel Brooks' Spaceballs, a true classic. Ten minutes into the movie, thunder crashed overhead so loudly it hurt my ears and the power went out, leaving Ariston and I in the pitch black. Ariston laughed and shook his head, I could just barely see his outline in the dark. The lightning flashed and for a moment in time I saw his face in perfect clarity.

"Well, so much for the movie." Ariston said, as thunder followed.

"We could do what my family always does when the power goes out." I told him. "Read to each other with flashlights."

"I think I have some candles somewhere around here." He said. "I will be right back." He rose from the couch and disappeared into the dark of the night.

I sat there for a few minutes before a flame flickered to life in the corner of my eye. The first thing I saw in the light of the candle was Ariston's beautiful face. He lit countless more candles and set them up around the room, on the mantel of the fireplace and on the tables. I had to admit that it was romantic. He brought over a leather bound book and handed it to me while taking his seat next to me.

"This is a book I picked up in Greece," Ariston told me. "It is a collection of poetry and sayings from ancient to modern day." I smiled and opened it. It looked to be hand written. I read the first quote I saw by Mistinguett.

"A kiss can be a comma, a question mark or an exclamation point. That is basic spelling that every woman should know." I quoted.

"Agreed." Ariston said, we laughed and I handed him the book.

"Your turn. Read me something." I told him. He smiled and flipped through the pages for a few minutes before beginning to read.

"This is one of my favorites." Ariston said and began reading:

"When to the sessions of sweet silent thought,

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:

Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,

For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,

And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,

And moan the expense of many a vanish'd sight:

Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,

And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er,

The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,

Which I new pay as if not paid before.

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,

All losses are restored and sorrows end."

I was in amazement, there was something about the way he read the sonnet that made my heart flutter. Or perhaps it was the way he looked by candlelight.

"That is beautiful." I told him. He smiled and handed me the book.

"Sonnet #30 by Shakespeare. Your turn." He said, my smile grew as I looked through them and then read a quote by an unknown poet.

"If I could be any part of you, I'd be your tears. To be conceived in your heart, born in your eyes, live on your cheeks, and die on your lips." I said, then sighed and shook my head with a smile, moved by the beauty of the words I had just read. I smiled to Ariston as I met his eyes and handed him the book.

"Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires." Ariston quoted, then stated that the poet was named Francois de La Rochefoucauld. Ariston looked up to me with a smile and handed the book back to me. I loved the way he watched me, it made me blush and my smile grow.

"And yet I wish but for the thing I have: my love is as boundless as the sea, my love is deep, the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." I quoted.

"Romeo and Juliet." Ariston said before I could. I smiled and handed the book back to him.

"A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy." Ariston said then added in that the poet was named George Jean Nathan. Ariston looked into my eyes.

"Do you feel tenderly drowsy in my presence?" I asked jokingly, Ariston chuckled.

"Constantly." Ariston answered before handing me back the book, meeting my eyes. It was a few moments before I could find the will to look at the book and find a quote.

"I remember this one." I said to him. "I came across it recently and fell in love with it." I read my passage by the light of the flickering candles. "A woman's happiness is not in the glory and lordship of a man. Neither is it in his generosity or clemency; it is in a love that binds her spirit to his, pouring out her love into his heart and making them a single member in the body of life and one word on the lips of god." I quoted.

"Kahlil Gibran." Ariston said with a smile.

"After you quoted him, I looked up some of his work." I told him.

I could not get over how beautiful he looks by candlelight and how perfect the moment was with the thunderstorm overhead and Ariston at my side in his beautiful house. After a few moments I handed the book back to Ariston. He looked through it then stopped at a page with such a smile.

"I purified my lips with the sacred fire to speak of love, but when I opened my lips I found myself speechless. Before I knew love I was wont to chant the songs of love, but when I learned to know, the words in my mouth became naught save breath and the tune within my breast fell into a deep silence." Ariston quoted Gibran in such a way it left me speechless, lost in the moment when he looked into my eyes.

Ariston raised his hand and caressed my cheek, his touch so tender, I closed my eyes at the feeling. I felt no need to go any further and try to kiss him. The moment was perfection and beauty at their best. When I opened my eyes I found him watching me in silent fascination. I raised my hand slowly and placed it on his cheek, something I have been longing to do for a while now.

Ariston closed his eyes at the feeling and gently leaned his face into my hand, taking what was left of my breath away. I sat there in a state of wonder as I examined every detail of his perfect face, the curve of his brow, the shape of his full lips, his flawless cinnamon skin. His face was like a symphony by Mozart, perfectly composed. I cherished how his warm cheek felt against my palm. Moments later Ariston opened his eyes and looked into mine.

We were not making love, we did not even kiss, but the inexplicable intimacy we shared left us wordlessly and hopelessly locked into each others gaze.

We stayed like that until at some point, whether it be hours or moments later I will never know, the lights came back on. We removed our hands from each others cheeks and looked around. The TV came back on and Spaceballs resumed playing. Ariston and I looked to each other once more, it was a moment before he could speak, which somehow made me even more breathless. He smiled to me that incredible crooked grin.

"Shall we?" He asked, nodding towards the movie.

I nodded and we turned our attention towards the flat screen. At some point I laid my head on Ariston's shoulder and he wrapped his warm, muscular arm around me. I had decided that even though I would not rush him, I would not hold myself back from enjoying the comfort he had to offer. I cuddled into his side, seeing no reason not to.

By the point in the movie where they are "combing the desert" Ariston was lying down on the couch with me on his chest and his arms around me, holding me close as my head rested in the crook of his neck, breathing in his heady scent with each breath as my right hand rested on his chest. I have never been happier or more comfortable in my life than I was laughing in his warm embrace as we watched the movie. It felt almost too good to be in his arms, I never wanted to leave his embrace. The way he caressed my hair and held me made me realize that he felt the same for me.

We laughed until we cried, Ariston seemed to get a bigger kick out of watching me laugh than watching the movie. We watched the credits until Ariston went back to the menu.

"I love being here." I told him as I laid in his arms.

"It is a great house." Ariston said. I laughed once and shook my head.

"No, not here," I said, cuddling into his arms, letting out a sigh filled with everything I was feeling. "Here." He held me closer, understanding my meaning.

"I love having you here Mera, more than I can say, and more than I should." Ariston said softly. I raised myself up on my elbow and looked down into his eyes, his head resting on a pillow as he looked up at me.

"Do not say more than you should." I told him. "Not tonight." Ariston nodded a moment later. He smiled to me and kissed my forehead tenderly, making me melt.

"What next?" Ariston asked softly.

Looking down into his eyes, I wanted with all my being to say a kiss was next, even though I knew he was talking about a movie. I will not rush him, I will wait for as long as it takes.

"Anything you like." I said and laid my head back in the crook of his neck. This is more than enough, for now.