Artemis PoV

I awoke in what I considered to be a very compromising position, wrapped around Perseus with much of myself exposed if he were to look. But he didn't.

My husband was awake, observing the painting of Olympus that hung on the wall behind me. "You're much more beautiful in person."

I felt my cheeks burning. "Thank you."

"Last night, the clothing you picked wasn't for my benefit, was it?" He asked.

"No," I admitted. "I was testing you."

"Did I pass?" The man inquired.

"Yes," I replied, meeting his gaze and seeing his discomfort. "Does your chest hurt? From last night when I, um..."

"Only a little," my husband answered. "I should be fine."

He was lying, and I didn't need my powers to see that.

When he sat up, he winced in pain and tried to hold in a grunt.

"Perseus," I said calmly, sliding into his lap. "I'm going to heal you."

He closed his eyes, leaning back against the headboard when I began to chant.

I was able to sense the pain from the injured and dead cells. After I had located them, I was able to do whatever needed to be done in the various places where he had been bruised.

Once all the damage had been reversed, I looked up at my husband.

He was looking back at me with a face I couldn't read.

The man drew me closer, so I could almost taste his lips.

"Perseus..." I trailed off, leaning in that last tiny bit to kiss him.

It was brief, but I enjoyed it.

"I think we need to establish a few rules for kissing," he stated.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because if we don't, I'll never be doing anything but kissing you," my husband explained, drawing me in for another.

This time, it was longer. My lips parted slightly, and he tasted me, his tongue running over every surface of my mouth.

When he pulled away, I was left breathless. "I don't think I'll need to establish any rules."

Catching a glimpse of the time, I sighed. "Perseus, I have a meeting in twenty minutes. I need to start getting ready."

"Okay," he replied, letting me go. "What would you like for lunch?"

"Um, pasta," I answered, kissing his cheek before slipping out of his arms and into the bathroom.

I stepped into the shower, smiling like an idiot.

Three days, and I was already falling for this man.

I showered, dried off, and slipped on a clean set of clothes before stepping out.

Perseus had somehow cooked breakfast in the time it took me to prepare.

He handed me a plate with an omelette, which had everything in it.

Surprisingly, it tasted good.

Before I left, my husband hugged me, leaving me in a good mood for the meeting.

Time skip

"What does this have to do with Olympian matters?" I asked, deflecting another of Aphrodite's personal questions.

"Well, I'm an Olympian, and it matters to me," she reasoned.

Zeus cleared his throat. "Daughter, this information could be helpful in understanding if my plan worked."

I sighed. "I've hugged and kissed him. We haven't had sex."

"Do you think you'll become pregnant any time soon?" Aphrodite asked.

"No," I replied. "That requires sex, which I don't think I'll be having for a while."

She pouted. "You're no fun!"

"My apologies for being concerned that you may be using your powers against me again," I snapped.

"Again?" Apollo questioned.

"Orion," the love goddess explained.

"Orion," my brother repeated. "Orion was your fault?"

Aphrodite realized she had made a mistake by telling him. "Well, um, Zeus said that if I messed with anyone who'd just gotten married, he'd ban me from the mortal world, so I wouldn't."

While she and my brother got into a heated argument over my love life, I dismissed myself from the meeting.

Percy PoV

Lunch was going to be great.

The garlic bread was toasting, the fettuccini was boiling, and the alfredo sauce was simmering.

Artemis appeared in the kitchen with a satisfied look on her face and hugged me.

"What's got you so happy?" I asked,

embracing her.

She smiled. "Apollo is yelling at Aphrodite because he found out about Orion."

I kissed her forehead. "And what is that, exactly?"

"Aphrodite used her magic to manipulate my feelings so I would sleep with Orion," she explained. "Apollo intervened before I did. He's an asshole sometimes, but he means well."

I nodded. "Well, lunch is about ready. Fettuccini Alfredo and garlic bread. Oh, also marinara sauce for the garlic bread."

"Thank you," she replied, kissing my cheek.

Time skip

Artemis was laughing so hard, she almost snorted nectar out through her nose.

She accepted the napkin I offered, still laughing. "That was...you really did that? How did you even get explosives at a private school for misfits?"

"A lot of teachers are graduates from the school," I explained, taking another bite of my pasta. "Not all that great of an idea, in my opinion."

My wife leaned over, kissing my cheek. "Probably not."

I grabbed her waist, pulling her closer. A stupid, aggressive move, but it worked.

She grabbed my shirt, kissing me harder.

I held her close, and her fingers ran up through my hair.

Her hands slipped down so her arms rested around my neck as I slid my tongue into her mouth.

"Perseus," she whispered softly as our lips parted. "l...this is all just so..."

"Artemis," I addressed. "It's alright if you aren't ready for this sort of intimacy. I'll wait as long as you want."

"l..." she tried to find the right words. "I want it, but I'm nervous."

"Don't push yourself, Moon," I chided. "Just do what you're comfortable with."

"Moon?" She repeated. "Is that supposed to be a nickname?"

"If you like it," I replied.

"Okay," my wife accepted, resting her hands on my chest.

"Do you want to cuddle?" I asked, taking her hand and kissing it.

"It is getting a bit cold," she reasoned, allowing me to carry her to the bedroom.

I blinked, and we were both in pyjamas.

Fortunately, hers weren't revealing, so I didn't have to worry about an erection quite as much.

Artemis snuggled into my chest. "Next week, there's this formal thing that I have to attend, and I was hoping you'd be my date."

I kissed her forehead, showing the affection that she seemed to be enjoying. "I would love to. Besides, I have to make sure those suitors of yours don't keep harassing you."

My wife smiled. "Thank you. Just, um, watch out for mistletoe. Aphrodite likes to hang them this time of year."

"I guess I'll just have to stick with you, then," I replied, cupping her chin.

She laughed lightly. "Aphrodite's going to hate you."

The bell rang, and my wife sighed, pulling away. "I'll be back in a moment."

She got out of bed and appeared in day clothes, walking out of the bedroom.

I heard the muffled conversation before the door closed and Artemis returned, flopping down on the bed.

"What's the matter?" I asked, taking her hand.

"Nothing," she replied. "I just felt like flopping down. Athena popped by to ask if we wanted to join her and her husband for lunch tomorrow. I said yes."

Artemis scooted up next to me and kissed my cheek. "You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"Of course not," I answered, wrapping my arms around her. "As long as I get to be with you."

She sighed happily. "You're so sweet."

"Would kissing you ruin the moment?" I asked, touching her cheek.

"I don't think so," she replied softly, eyes fluttering closed.

I leaned in, kissing her lightly.