A double take in the mirror and an arched eyebrow later, and the Warrior Princess seemed more than ready to give instant heart attacks to any man or woman at that party with her presence alone- no lethal fighting skills required. In short, she was quite content with the way she looked- the Queen's costume fit her like a glove and the contrast between the red and golden veils caressing her body and the silky dark hair cascading down her shoulders….now that was an image to die for….Plus, knowing that this was the bitch's favourite costume, that only made her feel even more anxious about their following encounter…- it sure painted a wicked, wicked smile on her half parted lips. Amytis was definitely going to curse the minute she had decided that challenging the Chosen of War was a good idea …

….As for Ares….let's just say that he was already in over his head when it came to their intricate relationship- definitely standing on the edge of a precipice without having the slightest suspicion that one more step was all it took for him to head for its bottom faster than one of Artemis' silver arrows . Given that words weren't precisely something the Warrior Princess could rely on- not when they came from him anyway- she was extremely interested to find out just how strong her influence over him really was….Could she actually control him in any way? What exactly was he willing to give up in order to hold on to what they had? If there had ever been a right time to face the truth, this was it…

With these types of thoughts in mind, the gorgeous Chosen of War added one last touch of bloody red on the lips and a tiny bit of bronze shimmer in the inner corner of her eyes, giving that dark, metallic grey shade that she had decided to apply on her lids an even sexier, look and, drawing in a deep breath she called him….

"Aressss…."

Unlike other times, when she usually allowed those tantalizing vibrations of his name to take over her for at least a second- one second of pure, irreplaceable pleasure- this time was different- the sharpness of her voice being a hard thing to miss.

" What did I do now?!" he asked the instant he flashed into the room – without waiting for the confirmation that she was still upset with him- the tone of her voice alone was all the clue he needed.

" I don't know…..yet….But now that you've mentioned it, judging by that guilty look, you must have done something! " she acidly pointed out , narrowing her eyes at him, only to chuckle playfully when she noticed just how nervous her statement had made him….. " You're turning soft, War God!" she taunted.

" You wish! I was just being cautious" he jokingly defended himself, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest when he realized what exactly it was she was wearing. " With your mood swings lately, one might never know!" he remarked, utterly distraught though, unable to unglue his gaze from the costume….How did she get it and when? Was it Amytis who had given it to her- probably in a cruel attempt to tease him- or ….was it all a coincidence, and he was in fact staring- dumbfounded- at a totally different outfit? Maybe he was just being paranoid…..

" My mood swings?!" she asked, shooting daggers at him- obviously bothered by just how quickly that accursed costume had captivated his attention. Even when she was not in the room, in one way or another, the witch was still on his mind.

" Don't think I haven't noticed….You're not pregnant are you?!" he gravely inquired -the devilish smirk playing on his sexy lips only managing to agitate her even more. Holy Zeus, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't understand how his mind worked- or if it worked at all- and not having a clear idea about how exactly his heart was divided- she couldn't hate him, she couldn't love him….and as much as she wanted to, she couldn't slap that stupid smirk off his face…..What was left?

" You wouldn't…..!" she growled- almost menacingly- stepping closer to him.

" I don't know….yet….But now that you've mentioned it …." he replied, using her own words against her. "You should have seen your face though…." he added, meeting her half way. There was no distance between them now- and usually it would have been impossible for him to just stand there so close to her without touching her in any way, but now, his naughty fingers appeared to be far more fascinated with the elegantly flowing chiffon veils surrounding her waist than by the person wearing them….

" Not funny, Ares…." she sternly stipulated, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. If she could only read his mind, just to make sure…..

" Not for you maybe…" he mechanically answered, his mind obviously drifting off somewhere else entirely as his fingers moved slowly from the golden coins decorating the waist band to her beautifully embroidered bra on which, several layers of crystal beads describing intricate patterns were sparkling like the starts. She was going to dazzle the crowd that was for sure- he sure looked dazzled….

Little did Xena know though that the images now unfolding in his head would have made want to rip his heart out…

Indeed, memories belonging to a distant past - quite distant for any mortal but still unusually recent for him– began seeping into his brain, bringing them tormentingly close to reality …

It was one of the first nights he had spent at Nabucco's palace after his new friends had generously decided that his death would be a terrible waste for human kind …They were immortals now- he had made sure of that- and they were celebrating their newly acquired status with a decadent oriental party- one to remember, as the King himself had enthusiastically put it- and everything was pitch perfect…The large reception room was packed with half naked or already naked slaves, dancing on the distinct, erotic rhythms of a very addictive Babylonian music….Tits and cunts could be seen everywhere, just like the War God liked it….Indubitably, in his vision, the place must have been the Elysian fields on earth, and an hour later, after the fifth bottle of wine or so, despite the fact that his mind felt fogged and his vision blurry, all his other senses were so alert that he could no longer keep his hands off one of the girls that was invitingly sitting on his lap- now enjoying his undivided attention…..

Nothing could have prepared him for what followed shortly afterwards though…. Moments later, probably bored with watching her husband fucking relentlessly a rather common Turkish slave, the Queen decided that it was about time for her to have some real fun –and in her terms that pretty much meant getting all the attention and admiration of everyone present…..

It wasn't long until- at her discreet signal- the center of the room cleared for her to start dancing, and when that event finally happened, the handsome Olympian's breath caught in his throat- like instantly-.. Up to her, he had never been so entranced with a woman before…she was absolutely mind blowing. Truth be told, he had never seen anyone in his life who could even come close to comparing to her, and yes, maybe the wine had something to do with his opinion on the matter and maybe his mind was indeed playing tricks on him, but he could swear she was perfection incanted and moreover, she was dancing for him, and him alone…..

With a rough push- disturbed by the fact that she was obstructing his view- the dumb girl that had been straddling him earlier, soon discovered that falling face down on the floor was not a pleasant experience, and though she did mutter some very nasty words at the rudeness of the God's gesture, he didn't hear her….not anymore, not when he only had eyes for the magnificent redhead who was effortlessly undulating her flawless body in the sexiest ways imaginable…..He was hooked….irremediably, and he knew it…. From the very beginning he knew that he would fuck her brains out that very night even if he had to rape her right there, in front of her husband- though judging by that consuming fire burning in her eyes as her hips and breasts started describing a series of eights and circles, using brute force with her was out of the question….She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, and, with every new spin and every new wave her barely covered body described, his cock tensed and twitched with excitement….She looked absolutely amazing and those obscenely exposed curves through the tantalizing transparent veils, those perfectly displayed round breasts as she got down on her fours, heading his way like a hungry predator- keeping herself out of reach though for a few excruciatingly long minutes, now that drove him crazy like nothing else could…..

Oh yeah, he wanted her, he carved to have her….he could already picture her riding him wildly, with that sheer, endless energy that seemed to be springing from between her legs, and sweet mother of Chronos, he couldn't stop staring at her..…..

Before he knew, it, his fantasies unexpectedly started to turn real – incredibly fast may I add- when, as if the room were completely empty and there was no one else present, Amytis danced her way closer and closer to him until she claimed her rightful spot in his lap, and with languid , erotic moves, she began to grind herself against his incredibly hard shaft…..He was definitely not thinking straight, not anymore, and the only thing he was still sure about was that she was wearing a naughty, red costume and that he wanted so very badly to rip it off her that he could hardly control himself….

" Fuck me…..as hard and as wild as you possibly can…." she whispered against his ear- a sweet, familiar darkness reverberating from her deliriously sensual voice- stopping even the blood flow to his brain when, brutally pulling her forward- so that she was now perfectly positioned on his rigid length- right where he wanted her- she moaned…..It was the most amazing music to his ears…..

" I gotta say, this here might just be the most tempting offer I have received tonight." he answered with a smile, closing his eyes for a split second, focusing solely on the delicious friction that had set everything inside him on fire.

"I couldn't agree more…"

"What about Nabucco?" he asked, in one last moment of sanity, his strong, muscular arms already wrapping possessively around her waist, pressing against her back, making sure she didn't limit herself to that arousing teasing stage, preventing her to leave in case she changed her mind- which wasn't really likely to happen-…..He didn't even need to touch her to know that slick moisture was already rushing out her bare pussy….

" What about him?" she lowly inquired, instinctively rubbing herself a bit more anxiously against his impressively thick and long cock- her clit swollen with the constantly building pleasure- longing for the voluptuous abandon that she was certain he could offer her- her breathing changing as if he were already deep inside her- her desire drenched mind urging her to eliminate whatever obstacle was still standing between her and that intoxicating need, almost jerking in his arms as the exhilarating anticipating crept inside her …

His lips parted, but definitely not to speak. By the time he did answer- definitely unaware of when exactly it had happened- his hands had already moved down to those naughty buttocks of hers, his fingers kneading impatiently the tender flesh, and he was already enthralled with the arousing scenario that his brain was obsessively projecting, when, bending her head down, she gently traced the contour of his lips with the tip of her soft tongue….

"He doesn't mind….." she clarified with a needy groan of unrestrained passion , seeing that he had almost forgotten the question…." I mean…look at him…" she murmured- and they both stared in the King's direction who was now pumping ferociously his cock into one of the slaves…..Obviously, he couldn't care less about what his wife was doing….

" Let me take you out of here then…" the God eagerly suggested- his eyes sparkling with lust - ready to transport them to a place where he could enjoy her in a far more intimate decor …..He was just dying to fuck her…

" No…..I want it here…It's far more exciting with the crowd and the music and all. Or…uh….are you shy….?" she joked, allowing the straps of her bra to slide down her shoulders revealing her spectacular, full breasts that were just begging for attention…..

"Me? Not at all…."he replied, with a thought making the bra vanish completely from sight, much to the Queen's delight…..

"I love your party tricks…." she chuckled, her soft hands pushing slowly his leather vest aside…..

" You haven't seen anything yet…wait till I start using my magic stick on you….." he answered, sounding particularly ecstatic about it and a loud groan escaped the Queen's throat - covered only by the deafening sound of the beating drums- as his mouth closed over her breast, drawing the nipple deeply between his lips and keeping it imprisoned there as his tongue liked arousingly over its tip, teasing her beyond words…

"Are you sure about this? You're the Queen after all….Aren't you worried about what you loyal subjects might think ….?"

" Who cares about what they think? Plus, they won't even notice….Take a look around….everyone's fucking everyone….." she murmured unhurriedly, the sighs and shudders that she was getting from the overwhelming sensation of his playful bites, flicks and pinches intoxicating her with desire, barely allowing her to string a sentence together….…..

"We haven't even got to the interesting part of our relationship and I like you already….." the Olympian replied with a laugh. …Gods knew he wasn't the one to give a damn about public opinion after all, so, adamantly refusing to classify her as a missed opportunity, he made that chiffon skirt vanish, and with one swift move, he thrust his rock hard, iron hot cock into her wet pussy, deep and hard- just like she wanted him to.

A shriek came from her lips at the roughness of the contact, but soon, she was in a frenzy, stabbing herself up and down his rigid length , and to his thrill, he could feel the head hammering all the way to her cervix while, for minutes, each new pump worked at building an electrifying wave of sensations, her soft walls gripping his burning organ like a vice.

It was the purest, most excruciating but delightful agony he had ever felt to delay his climax, to stop himself from exploding inside her after the first few pumps, but he wanted her to have her own share of fun as well, so he waited patiently, sliding a hand between her legs ,his fingers rubbing her already swollen clit , helping her to get to where she wanted, switching his mouth back and forth between her breasts while she kept working up and down his throbbing shaft…..She was insatiable….Minutes later, when it had become almost painful to deny his release, his hands instinctively started to lift her up just to push her hips down onto him, as hard as he could, and her slick, convulsing pussy seemed to really enjoy that forceful treatment ….They were both ecstatic …

Despite the loud music, he could hear his cock sliding rhythmically in and out of her, her wet snatch sucking him back in every time he pulled her up, rocking the pleasure higher and it excited him tremendously to know just how much she wanted him and how wet he had made her... It was animalistic fucking and sweat covered both of their bodies and the hot, dry air inside the room combined with the intoxicating smell of sex everywhere only aroused him even more, driving him insane with desire.

Several thrusts later, the orgasm burst from her quenchless cunt with gushes of juices which pushed past his cock.. She screamed in ecstasy as she felt the release tearing through her violently contracting pussy, pulsating throughout her entire body, making her shudder violently as he continued to thrust into her, prolonging that intense whirl of pleasure rocking her inside out.

His own orgasm exploded seconds later, as his hot load finally shot out of his member. He grunted and clenched his teeth hard as the long awaited release overwhelmed him, his shaft still pushing brutally into her with all the pressure that had built up even when her juices started mixing with his fiery cum…It was only the beginning he thought….the night was still young and he still had a million things in mind he wanted to do to her…..

For centuries he had been fascinated with her, sexually bound to her in ways he couldn't possibly understand no matter how hard he tried. She attracted him with a force to which he could hardly resist at times….And then, one unpardonable mistake followed by an even more powerful presence in his life- that literally rocked his entire universe, shaking him to the core - ended it all as quickly as it started….

"So uh….what do you think? " the Warrior Princess asked, her alert, azure moons carefully analyzing his every reaction.

"Hmmm?" he inquired, still in a haze of what it was that she was talking about.

" ….about the costume?" she made sure to clarify, arching a sharp eyebrow at him, the harshness of her voice pulling him immediately out of his musings.

" It looks great on you, sweetheart…..Did you not like the ones that I left for you in the armoire? " he casually inquired, secretly hoping to find an answer to the question that was still plaguing his mind….How on earth had she got her hands on that outfit?

"I liked this one better…..I'm sure you do too….." she mentioned, anxious to see what his answer would be.

" If you prefer it, than so do I." the God stated, kissing her hard on the lips. " You are absolutely gorgeous…."

" How about the hair? Should I leave it like this…or should I put it up?"

" It's perfect just as it is. This way, .I can caress it whenever I feel like it…" he pointed out brushing his fingers through her waist long, silky tresses.

" Before we go…" she hesitantly started, without actually finishing her idea.

" Yeah?"

" Just wanted to tell you that I've made up my mind about your offer….."

"So soon? That's great news!" the God exclaimed, hope suddenly gleaming in his amber eyes.

"I wasn't talking about the ambrosia…."

"You weren't?" he asked, looking slightly confused.

" No…..about you showing me something from the past…." she stated, chewing on her bottom lip, still not sure if it was a good idea or not.

" ….And you allowing me free access to your mind…" he continued, pleased to discover that not everything was lost…

" Once , Ares. That's it….."

She sure said it like she meant it…

"Ok….that's only fair…."

" With a minor change…." she casually mentioned as if it was not that big a deal.

" And just what change would that be, my beautiful Princess?" he asked, visibly intrigued with her request.

" I can choose the moment I want to see…."

" I thought we already had that covered….something related to your army….But sure, why not?…Whatever you want…." he agreed a few moments later, convinced that it couldn't be anything too shocking . "Do you want us to do it now, or should we wait until after the party?"

" After….."

" Fine…..let's get you drunk then!"

" I don't drink…" she sternly reminded him.

"I know darling, I was just teasing….Can I drink?!"

" Not when you're with me…"

He had to laugh at her seriousness….She was something else….