Artemis PoV
I pecked his lips. "Hush. Don't ruin it.""I can't believe it's already been six months," he murmured. "I'm shocked you've stayed that long."
I pecked his lips. "Not quite yet."
"I was rounding up," Percy defended. "Five months and twenty-nine days doesn't sound as nice as six months."
"What are we doing for the rest of the day?" I asked.
"It's a surprise," he murmured against my ear. "Do you wanna go see it now?"
I nodded, and we got ready to go.
I snatched one of his hoodies and we left to the mortal world.
Mason (Percy) PoV
Once we were about a block away, I
covered her eyes.
"No peeking," I ordered.
Artemis grabbed my sleeves in reassurance. She started sniffing obnoxiously. It was kind of cute in a silly, messed up way. "It smells
like animals."
Dammit.
She pulled my hands down and squealed like a little girl, running through the pet store before seeing the puppy and coming to a dead stop.
I wrapped my arms around her from behind. "I was going to start at the hamsters and rabbits before working my way up to the puppy, but I guess I don't need to convince you."
"Convince me of what?" Artemis asked as she pets the dog.
"Adopting him. His name is Arnold, and he's a beagle puppy," I supplied.
Artemis picked Arnold up and carried him to the register.
"Where do I do the scribble thingie to make him mine?" Artemis asked seriously.
I chuckled. "We'd like to adopt Arnold. Now, if possible."
The store clerk, an old man, smiled. He handed me the packet of paperwork and I spent a few minutes filling it out.
Being a god was great. I could read English properly.
I signed it and handed the paperwork back to the man.
He typed something or other into the register, and I was handed a box of things for the pet.
I pulled out a body leash and slipped it on the pup, handing the end to Artemis.
She pecked my cheek, walking back outside so the dog could explore.
I thanked the clerk and caught up to my girlfriend, taking her hand with my free one.
When we got back to the palace, we set everything up.
Yes, the dog had his own room. Why not?
Artemis buried her face in my chest, her arms wrapping around my torso.
I kissed the top of her head. "How are you feeling, beautiful?"
She looked up, a slight blush on her cheeks, and pecked my lips. "Thank you."
"I take it you like Arnold," I commented. She nodded, pulling me toward the couch.
I found myself sitting with Artemis in my lap, kissing me senseless.
I emitted a quiet groan as she kissed my neck, sucking and biting.
My lips found their way to my girlfriend's neck, and I'm pretty sure she was whimpering, not the dog.
I pulled her close, laying down on the couch.
Artemis closed her eyes, head rested on my chest.
A few minutes later, Arnold decided he wanted to come say hi.
Artemis giggled when he sat down on top of me.
"I didn't know I was a cushion," I muttered.
Artemis pecked my lips. "I'll make it up to you later."
There was a knock on the door, so I was sent to answer it while Artemis played with Arnold.
Just my luck.
Zeus was standing at the door.
"Arty!" I called. "It's your father!"
Artemis sighed and got up, holding the puppy as she greeted her father.
We moved to the couch, and Artemis went to make snacks. Dammit.
"So, uhh, Lord Zeus, What brings you here?" I asked nervously.
"You're sleeping with my daughter," he grunted.
I gulped. "You could say that."
"Who are you, Mason?" Zeus asked.
"I'm a god from Europe," I lied. "It's, ah, confusing. And the damned leprechauns keep trying to take over."
Artemis came back with a plate of small sandwiches.
I pecked her cheek, earning a light blush as she snuggled into my side.
My girlfriend looked up. "So, dad, what's up?"
"You have a boyfriend," he stated. "How come I wasn't told?"
Artemis pouted. "I really like him, dad. He's not mean or rude or anything like that. He's a bit of a smart ass, but that's it. Please don't kill him."
"What do you see your relationship turning into?" The king asked.
"A marriage," I replied, looking him straight in the eyes.
The god nodded, lightly petting Arnold. "You got my daughter a pet dog?"
"Of sorts. A couple of months ago, Artemis showed up with all sorts of bruises and injuries. I'm trying to spend more time with her, but I want someone here to protect her when I can't. I know Artemis can protect herself, but strength in numbers can be powerful."
"But how would a puppy protect my daughter?" Zeus asked.
"Arnold, protect," I commanded.
The beagle turned into a massive wolf, growling and snarling.
He trotted over to Artemis and nuzzled her thigh, shrinking back into a puppy and curling up in her lap.
Zeus nodded. "Artemis, you never reported the assault."
Artemis bit her lip. I squeezed her hand.
"Father," she said softly. "They wore Olympian uniforms. Someone on Olympus is trying to kill me. That's part of the reason why I've been staying with Mason."
Zeus stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Protect her, Mason. You might just live to see her at the altar."
With that, he was gone.
Artemis pecked my lips. "Did you mean it?"
"Mean what? That I want to marry you? That Arnold is protecting you?" I asked.
"The answer to both is yes."
That earned me another one of her kisses. The ones that leave me dazed and senseless, only aware that my beautiful girlfriend is sitting in my lap.
Later, I lay on the couch, underneath a pile of blankets, pillows, and dog.
Artemis was in my arms, so she wasn't on that list.
Arnold, on the other hand, was somewhere in the pile of pillows and blankets.
After what felt like forever, Artemis led me to her bedroom.
She locked the door and turned to me.
"I need your help," she murmured quietly.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
Artemis blushed. "Well, I was thinking about what you said, and what it would be like to marry you. Then I thought about children, and what we would have to do for me to become pregnant..."
"So?" I asked, confused.
Artemis bit her lip. "Something happened, and now my private areas feel all tingly."
"Artemis," I began calmly. "That's lust."
"I thought so," she murmured, ashamed.
I cupped her cheek. "It's completely natural for that to happen when you're with someone you like romantically, Artemis. Nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Can you fix it?" She asked timidly.
"Are you asking me to do something sexual?" I asked.
Artemis bit her lip and nodded. "It's not the first time you've made me feel that way, but you're the only one that makes me feel the way I do. I was scared at first, and I was too embarrassed to tell you."
I kissed the top of her head. "You can always talk to me, Artemis. About everything. Even about how I'm an idiot. Especially when I'm an idiot."
Artemis kissed my cheek. "So, can we...?"
I pecked her lips. "Do you want me to take your virginity?"
She blushed and shook her head.
I kissed my girlfriend's nose. "Good girl. We'll go slowly, yeah?"
Artemis nodded, a light blush on her cheeks.
"Tell me if you become uncomfortable, okay?" I asked.
Artemis nodded kissing me softly on the lips.
I fell back on the bed, and we went from there.
