Here's the next chapter! Had more inspiration for this story more so than Nerd's Guide lately. But I'm sure I'll get some inspiration soon.

Disclaimer: Don't own PJO

Chapter 6- Tempation

"I shall admit-" Zeus's eyes darted between the Gods of the Hunt. "I am thoroughly surprised you were able to complete this assignment with so few hassles."

Perseus clutched the hilt of his sword tightly the circulation cut off from his fingers. In his opinion, there were hassles, many of them. For one, the cyclops cornering the youngest and weakest, nearly killing them in the process. Zeus didn't care. He wouldn't know what the feeling of having a real family is like, he'd never understand how stressful it was waking up everyday knowing any one of their followers could die on a mission he carelessly assigns. But what made Zeus's statement even worse, is that those putrid creatures had dared lay a hand on any part of Artemis's body, they failed to do what they intended but still. 'So few hassles? Pugh!' Perseus growled beneath his breath. 'But why would you care if the wanted to hurt her?' His reason answered immediately, 'Because it is my duty to protect the Olympians. Nothing else.' The devil on his shoulder cackled, 'Sure. That's the only reason.'

Artemis sighs quietly, "We merely did as we were told to do. Luckily there were no fatal wounds."

Zeus nods, "Send your companions my thanks. You shall be informed of your next mission shortly." He turns to the council, "Shall we continue with more important matters?"

Perseus grinds his teeth, Aphrodite touches his arm for comfort, fully aware of his anger.

"Self-involved ass." Perseus looked over at Artemis to see if she was as affected by this as he was.

Her face was expressionless, she only let people see what she wanted them to see. If Perseus had not known her so well he'd have waved it off as being alright with it all, but he knew her. Those eyes of hers were his window to her soul. He studied her face, she wasn't aware of his gaze, allowing him time to distinguish the emotions in her darkened silver irises.

"Fury." He mutters.

"What was that brother?" Aphrodite whispers to him.

Perseus clears his throat and shakes his head, hoping she hadn't seen him watching the Moon Goddess. If she did, she said nothing.

Perseus returns his attention the woman he once adored and stares once again in wonder. How could she sit so calmly yet feel so resentful without letting a drop of emotion show on her face? Most of these gods were an open book to him, maybe not to others but to him of course.

Her head turns slightly, she meets his gaze in the corner of her eye and raises an immaculate brow.

The blood rushes to his cheeks at the realization of being caught. He narrows his eyes to hide the fact that he was admiring her. She gives him a questioning look.

Perseus has to shy away from staring at her lips, 'Don't make a fool of yourself.' He scolds internally.

Without gracing her look with an answer he faces Zeus, who had been droning on about an unknown subject.

Artemis flashes to where the hunters had made camp to rest for the night. The Warriors obviously having gone in the opposite direction, thank the gods for her. She couldn't be in Perseus's presence a minute longer, the meeting alone was excruciating, especially with his smouldering eyes studying her the entire time. It messed with her concentration, reminding her of the past and she hated it.

"Milady, how was it?" Zoe asks, emerging from her tent.

It must have been at least 12 pm, Artemis wondered why Zoe was awake, it was not her turn to do night patrol, 'She didn't have to wait up for me.'

Artemis nods her head in acknowledgment, "As good as it could have gotten. How are the injured?"

"Nearly up to speed, we shall be ready to move in a day or two's time."

"Good work, I'll go see them." Artemis smiles and turns on her heel toward the medical tent, "Go to bed Zoe." A tiny tug at her guts alerts her attention, but she passes it off as paranoia. After the previous ambush on her companion's, she had been on high alert. Almost skittish, but that's stretching it a bit.

"They are asleep milady. I don't mean to sound as if I'm barking orders but our medics said-"

"I understand-" Artemis smiles at her reassuringly, "It's best not to disturb them."

Zoe doesn't seem to react, but Artemis had known her for years. The undertone of relief graced the crease between her brow, Artemis fought the urge to bring her into a motherly hug. As old as her lieutenant was, that childlike innocence still lurked underneath that tough and so sure of herself demeanour.

"Very good milady, if I may take my leave-"

Artemis chuckles quietly and cups her shoulders affectionately, "Good night my little star."

"Umm yes, goodnight milady." Red spreads across Zoe's usually tanned cheeks as she walks over to her tent in a hurried fashion.

Artemis stands there for a few moments longer, smiling at the trail of repressed affection her 'Little Star' had left.

"The girl always did have trouble processing affection." A deeper voice tarnishes the previously peaceful clearing.

Artemis pivoted on her heel and unsheathed her daggers, taking a battle-like position. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she analysed the figure among the shadows, she waited. The figure's gaze travelled her body, taking in her defensive stance and stiff shoulders. She was waiting for him to strike first.

"Relax." His voice changed, becoming reassuring and almost comforting as the person stepped out from his camouflage. An easy half-grin that Artemis was all too familiar with appeared on his handsome face.

"Perseus-" Artemis posture remained rigid, but she disregarded her daggers to her sheathes.

He met her eyes as she spoke, causing the air to be sucked out her lungs. The intensity of his sea-green eyes were sometimes to much to bear, even after so many years.

"What are you doing at my camp? How did you even get in here without my-" She paused mid-sentence and groaned. The tug at her stomach, she ignored it like a fool. His presence was powerful and like always, consuming. How could she not realize it was him?

"I know my visit may be surprising-" His tone is laced with uncertainty, making questions form at the back of her tongue. "I just-well after our mission I wanted to see-that is to check up on...you?" His statement sounded more like a question than an answer, but she played along, curious as to why he was so nervous.

"Why would you do that?" There is slight hostility to her words, she couldn't help it. After that incident in the medical tent, she wanted to hate him even more for allowing her to feel so weak that she would be on the verge of breaking down.

He licks his lips as a sign of unease before answering, "I'm your Guardian, it's what I'm here for."

Artemis scoffs, "You're the Olympian's guardian, not mine."

Perseus clears his throat, "That's what I meant. You are an Olympian, are you not?" This time the biting tone is in his words. However, the look of remorse that follows his aggressive comment is apparent. "I know you don't want to hear it but I-" His mouth remains open, but no words escape. Leaving Artemis to revert back to her state of confusion that she was in when she realised he had appeared.

"What is it, Perseus? Don't hesitate, this nervous demeanour doesn't suit you."

She raises her brows, expecting an answer in the next couple of seconds.

'What on earth was the matter with him?' Artemis asked herself. Isn't he rejoicing at the fact that she was practically begging for his touch just a day ago, she had made it as obvious as a rose amongst the thorns. Yet he had so far refrained from mocking her about the incident.

He still says nothing and glares at the rocks by his feet, it seemed as if he was arguing whether to say something.

"Dammit, Perseus-"

"I wanted to see if you were okay, alright?" He shouts just a bit too loudly, his words echoing through the silent night. "Not as a guardian but as a fr-...partner."

Artemis's eyes widen to comical levels. 'Did he just almost refer to her as his...friend?'

When she says nothing to reply he continues, interpreting it as a reflection of disquietude.

"The thought of those putrid creatures trying to hold you in such a disgusting manner makes me furious. How dare they lay their sinful hands-paws whatever on your body?" He stares at his open palms with darkened pupils, "They have no idea what their punishment would have been if they had been spared. The only hands that I want touching you are-" His hands ball into fists and he takes a long, ragged breath. "-your hands."

Artemis blushes at whatever he was implying and resorts to wrapping her arms around herself in attempt to shield herself from embarrassment, it doesn't work.

Suddenly realising his horrid mistake he slaps his forehead, "No! I didn't mean that. What you do to your body with your hands is no longer any of my business. I meant-" He stops and groans loudly, "Crap I never meant to say that. I'm so sorry! I just wanted to say that monsters should not be touching you." He kicks the ground and faces his back toward her, "It was supposed to be endearing. I'm so-"

"Stupid?" Artemis chirps with evident amusement in her voice, she bites the inside of cheek to keep herself from bursting into guffaws.

He throws her a glare over his shoulder, "Yes, thank you for so kindly pointing it out."

A tinge of guilt nags at her heartstrings, she'd embarrassed him. In most circumstances this would have been satisfying, but now he was acting so vulnerable and genuine, it would be wrong to mock him.

"Hey-" She steps toward him and glides her hand over his shoulder and down his arm, grasping his wrist lightly. It was for both his and her benefit. He needed the reassurance and she-well she needed to remind herself what his taut muscles felt like under her palm. Just to feed the monster of nostalgia that had been gnawing at her chest for the past few days with it's memory filled canines.

He brushes her hand off and takes a noticeable step away from her. Artemis ignores that heart clenching feeling of rejection and keeps her composure with a simple head tilt.

"What?" He frowns, eyeing her wearily.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. In fact-" Artemis doesn't know why she's saying this, perhaps the kicked puppy look he is currently holding still works wonders on her. "I know what you were trying to do. I appreciate it very much." She wipes her suddenly clammy hands on her toga.

He touches her stomach, "Did they hurt you badly?" Perseus questions with unnerving concern.

Artemis is taken back but does her best to not focus on how familiar his hand feels on her body and inhales deeply. Her heart is beating so fast just from a touch that it feels like it's trying to escape her chest.

"Uhm no they did not. I never allowed them-"

"But they still touched you! Vile creatures!" He growls and pulls her closer, it's just a few centimetres but gods did it ignite a fire between them she desperately needed to not be there.

He inspected her stomach closely, not conscious of her stiff posture and the wave of goosebumps that covered her skin. How he expected to see anything while she had clothes on was really beyond her but who knew what was going through his mind?

Artemis gulped as she used her little remaining will-power to help conceal her desire to let him do what those monsters wanted to. She felt like her skin was covered in a layer of deep heat, Perseus's scent beckoned her closer. But she couldn't go closer, if either one of them took a step closer. Artemis couldn't promise what she wouldn't do. 'Dear gods, just don't let him look up at me with those mesmerizing orbs. Just don't.' She pleaded to whoever was listening.

Perseus, unbeknownst to her, was having just as hard a time. His breathing had resorted to long and strained gasps as he tried his best to keep his attention at her cloth covered stomach. Staring at something he couldn't see was the only thing keeping this untamed need to dominate her at bay. 'Just don't let the wind guide the sweet smell of her hair to my nose. Don't let it. Don't intoxicate me. Just don't.'

One excruciating minute passed before either spoke, Perseus forced himself to snap his eyes shut and take slow, reluctant steps back. He almost stumbled when a gust of the soft breeze whistled in his ears. He buried his nose in his shirt and refused to look her in the eye.

"What on earth are you doing?" She asks, a giggly noise following straight after.

'Don't look, Perseus. She's doing it again. That look will tear your discipline apart.' His reason screamed. 'But her lips go pouty and her eyes twinkle so cutely it's-' 'Shut up! Stop thinking about it!' 'But she's giggling!' 'Fuck off.' He resorted to growling to himself.

"I must go. I am glad you are alright." He almost yells out of haste to get away from her.

"What? You can't do that-" Artemis grabs his arms and spins him around, alarming him which ultimately led to their dooms. Why? Because he stumbled like an idiot and found the body he had been avoiding pressed up on his.

Perseus froze, the rosey-pine scent of her hair invaded his senses and did just what he knew it would, it clouded his judgment and opened up a pathway to his demise. Allowing him to leer down at her, her silver pupils were staring up at him through the thick curtains of her eyelashes. With each gasp leaving her lips serving as one of the many reasons his hunting trousers were shrinking.

Perseus adjusted his hold on her arms and slithered it down to her lower back. Familiarising himself with every smooth curve of her body.

"Percy-" A faint whisper escaped her lips.

That did it. Just that single previously special word was enough to send whatever ounce of willpower that was keeping his libido at bay down the drain, along with his judgment.

"Fucksakes!" Perseus hisses and pulls her toward the forest.

"Wha-what are you doing?" Her tone is filled with both worry and a husky aspect that could only be a result of lust.

Instead of the pure lust that had consumed his being released, it's long lost cousin called pent-up fury decided to tag along. It burst through his limbs in one large explosion, surprising even him, but he knew its source. Since when did he act like some love-struck puppy, heeding to her every will? What happened to him? What happened to his strength? His self-respect? Enough was enough, she would no longer pull him wherever she pleased.

Perseus's eyelids narrow to slits as he presses her against a tree making up the thousand decorating this forest. Fear slowly mixes with the many emotions between her angular features.

"Since when am I such a pussy? Tell me! Since when did I turn into some love-struck fool following every request or move you make? I am the alpha, not your little beta that you can push around! Do you understand?" He growls and traps her arms above her head. Both wrists incarcerated in his left hand as he uses the other to support his body crushed onto hers.

"I am not trying to treat you like-"

Perseus shakes his head, "Shut it, I'm not done." Her mouth shuts tightly, she doesn't know why she listened. "Let me touch you, Artemis. Right here, right now. Kiss me."

The fear in her eyes dissipates and is replaced with bewilderment.

"Wh-what?"

Perseus presses his pelvis to hers, "This unbearable need to feel you, to be inside of you so intimately is consuming me. Turning me into some sort of pining idiot. I've lost myself over you, once again, only this time I can't have you."

Artemis stops struggling away from his grip as the next set of words leave his mouth.

"All those years ago, when you-" His voice cracks and looks away, refusing to let her see how much it still hurts, how his chest tightens so painfully. "When you-said what you said. When you did what you did, I lost myself. It's not recently. I've lost myself longing for the feeling of you to let me touch you again."

Artemis's chest heaves, meeting his own with every inhale, "You don't know what you're saying-"

"Shut up, Artemis. You took something from me, my heart, my ability to feel emotion to another woman, my self-respect and worst of all, my strength."

"How is one measly night of childish kissing going to help?" Artemis hisses, her own eyes flashing dangerously. "I can't very well fuck you now can I?"

'Whose fault is that?' He wants to ask, but refrains from doing so in fear of leading them away from this much needed discussion.

"It will, I know it will. It's the very reason what was taken from me is lost, but I want it back. All of it." He smashes his lips against hers in a desperate kiss. Within a millisecond of this happening, just like they used to, their bodies melted into the other's embrace. Artemis freeing from the grip of his hand and entangling her own in his hair, she moaned with increasing passion.

Perseus only allowed this to egg him on, he responds by wrapping her legs around his waist and grinding his hips against her, inadvertently lifting her higher up the tree's trunk.

She throws her head back and bites her lower lip.

Perseus can't take even a second of her lips being apart from his and uses a free hand to force her chin back down to his. Once again, their lips meet, but this time the kiss turns urgent and sensual. Their tongues slipping past their parted mouths and fighting each other for the same goal. Dominance.

Before he notices, he's lifting the hem of her toga to slip his hand between her thighs.

"Percy wait-" Artemis pushes his hand away and gives him a pleading look, "Don't. I cannot go any further than what we are, my vow won't allow it."

He growls and picks her up by her butt, their faces millimetres apart.

"I've always hated you're fucking vow." He gives the asset his hand currently has a hold on a squeeze.

"I know." She averts her eyes, the mood turning sombre.

"You owe me." He declares out of the blue.

Perseus is walking them in the direction she knows her tent is. On instinct she glances around wearily, hoping and praying none of her hunters are awake. Dear lords if they knew what she was doing right now and who she was doing it with, she could only imagine their reactions.

Before long, her back is pressed against the door of her tent, Perseus is looking at her expectantly. As tempted as she is, she needed to set boundaries before they continue.

"If I let you in, you cannot try anything funny-"

"Just kissing, I get it. Now get inside." He orders in a no-nonsense tone. Artemis gulps, her mouth going dry, not being used to anyone dominating her like that. Finding herself doing exactly as he says, she comes to the conclusion that she missed his assertiveness more than she realised. She liked that his old self was returning, part of it at least.

Artemis barely has time to register what's happening before she is pinned down on her bed by the significantly larger man that has put her in this position on more than one occasion.

"No funny business-" He slowly lets his hand adventure toward the shy of her breast, "Just pleasure."

Hopefully these were worth the wait! Reviews help with motivation/inspiration!

Lots of Love!

-Princess