Hi guys and welcome to chapter 6. Sorry for the delay but I have been studying like mad for my exams in June and this is the only time I've found to squeeze in a chapter. As soon as the exams are done I promise to write more all three are in one week so it won't be too long a wait. Right, first act of business: shout outs.

Jlover97 (of course ;))

redlox2

Die Hard Fan

DWJ Fan (a new reader – welcome)

Some of the locations described to do with nymphs are mentioned in my other Percy Jackson fanfic 'Alana Silvertongue' because the fanfics are related, but this one obviously takes place centuries before that one. Okay so that's it. Other than that you know the drill: review to get on the shout outs list and PM me with any ideas or requests. Love you all.

Gee xx

Together Poseidon and Athena were once again entangled in the white satin sheets of her elegant four poster bed. Poseidon held her delicate frame in his strong arms and kissed her lips while she moaned in contented pleasure. Athena felt how he was growing with every touch she gave him. Her small hands drifted softly up and down his abdomen towards his pulsating manhood. She pressed her hips against him and she was sure he could feel it through his thin tunic. His breastplate had already been removed and that was all he was wearing. Due to Poseidon's haste, Athena was already completely naked. Exposed in his loving arms.

Poseidon's lips kissed down Athena's long neck, nipping at her olive skin. They soon found her rosy swollen nipples, and his teeth scraped against them, causing her to moan and groan even more, weaving her fingers into his thick hair to hold him still.

"Oh my -" she moaned, panting in ecstasy. "Poseidon... Oh..."

Poseidon's fingers found their way down to her hips and he caressed the skin their roughly. They bucked in response and Athena got impatient. Much to Poseidon's surprise, she pushed him off of her and flipped them over so she was on top, straddling his abdomen and looking down at him with a playful smirk.

"If I'm to mark my territory, you must do as I say." She demanded. Poseidon was not used to women dominating him like this, but he had to say he loved it. No one took charge quite like Athena. She pinned him down by his shoulders so he couldn't move his arms above her waist and showered kisses on his neck. He grunted in response and she grinned into his nape.

Athena then sat back up and stopped moving. She ran her eyes over Poseidon's toned chest and bit her lip. She slowly moved her hands from his shoulders to stroke down Poseidon's torso, feeling his heart pounding and the hair between his pecks rise in his state of arousal. Slowly she moved her hands down to his hips and she pulled at his tunic. When he finally was free from his tunic and undergarments, his manhood was standing out hard and proud. Athena smirked at the sight of him, and began to grind her hips against his throbbing member. He groaned.

"What do you want?" she asked him as his eyes squeezed shut, still refusing to let him penetrate her to tease him. He couldn't move for a moment, the feelings she was giving him almost paralysing him.

"What do you want, Poseidon?" she cooed teasingly again, loving the feeling of dominance.

She leaned down and obliged him a short steamy kiss before pulling away, aggravating him even more with her incessant teasing. He looked up at her, meeting her gaze, and groaning as she rubbed herself against him again to coax and answer from him, growing impatient herself.

"I want you, Athena…" Poseidon panted, "I want you."

Athena grinned broadly and reached down a hand between his legs to give him a gentle squeeze. He groaned, finally getting something from her and not moving, knowing she would probably stop if he got impatient. Athena then took him in her hands, massaging and kneading. He squeezed his eyes shut in pleasure, and at that she stopped.

"Athena please." he moaned. "I need you." Athena smirked.

"I like to hear you beg." she kissed his forehead. "Who could imagine? Poseidon, King of the Ocean lying helpless before a woman and begging her to pleasure him. I'm quite enjoying the fact the only I can make you putty in my hands." She whispered seductively in his ear, deciding to make him wait a little bit longer.

But Poseidon had clearly other intentions than waiting; he tried to flip them over again. Athena was not going to give up this new exhilarating power that. Raising herself above him so she wasn't sitting on him, rather hovering, she pinned his arms down with her hands and leaned down into his face. She was now poised over his manhood, teasingly close. Poseidon was panting with an aching need, his member throbbing.

"You ready?" she asked.

Poseidon didn't have the ability to talk anymore. He was far too turned on to make any noise other than groans and grunts. Good Gods he wanted her so badly! He moaned in anticipation when he felt her hot and hard against his tip. Carefully, she lowered herself onto his member until he was fully sheathed inside of her. They both groaned as they became one. She could feel him deep inside of her, she whimpered with satisfaction as he bucked his hips up to meet hers. She kept him pinned down so he couldn't move any more than that.

When they were completely stationary, Poseidon looked up at Athena, her face still close to his. He leaned up and kissed her roughly. She responded to him and kissed back, unable to hide her own desire for him forever. After tearing her lips from his, she sat upright again and began moving up and down on him. She began slow; up and down, leaning a little forward, just to tease. He was enjoying watching her move, but that seemed not to be enough. He attempted to sit up again, but Athena had decided that she wanted to control him longer so she instead collapsed down on him so she was lying flat on top of him. She then took his hand in hers and directed in to her hip, allowing him to move her against him at a pace of his choosing.

He grasped the flesh there and wasted no time, pushing her down on him and bucking up at the same time to get as far inside her as possible. She cried out in pleasure and began to move up and down on her own again, his hand guiding her. The pace got faster and faster and they were soon both on the edge, panting and grunting with one another as they felt their climaxes building. Athena leaned down and kissed Poseidon hard, swallowing his grunt as her walls clenched around him and he went over the edge. She moved hard and fast on his member as his eyes squeezed shut and she went over too, crying out his name.

He came down first and watched her explode, her back arched up against him, twisting and tangling in her sheets, her body was sparkling with small droplets of sweat. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his entire existence. No woman was a match, no woman compared in any way.

When she was done, she sighed and collapsed atop him. They both let their breath hammer out of their lungs, absolutely exhausted with their effort. It was the best time they'd ever had together. And the first time Athena had done all of the work. Once he had the strength and ability to think straight, Poseidon wrapped Athena in his arms and squeezed her closer into his chest. When she was able to, she turned in his embrace and looked down to face him, kissing him with a new and gentle tenderness.

"So I really offended you today?" he asked her as she idly draw circles of his chest with the tip of her finger.

"You might say that." She sighed half-heartedly, only half listening and continuing to run her finger in circles.

"Would you be offended if I told you that, in my eyes, you are the living personification of absolute perfection?" he whispered, causing her to cease her actions immediately and look up at him in surprise. One tear rolled down from her left eye, and he wiped it away. She smiled.

"No." she replied, "I wouldn't be offended at all." She kissed him softly again.

"I love you." She muttered against his lips.

"I love you too." he said. The two then allowed sleep to take them and they rested peacefully together side by side.

The next morning Athena woke first. She looked over at Poseidon's slumbering form sleeping next to her and smiled, kissing his cheek and slithering out from under the covers in an effort not to wake him. She walked to her wardrobe and pulled out a dress, then walked over to her dressing table. Stepping into the dress and sliding it up her legs and over her shoulders, she then sat down at the table and opened her jewellery box. Poseidon had woken up moments before and he watched her get dressed. He didn't want to say anything at the risk of ruining the moment, but he didn't have to when Athena caught his eye in her mirror and smiled. She then knew exactly which piece to pick out of the box.

She strung on a set of flawless pearls she retrieved from the box. He found the gesture rather touching; the fact that she wore pearls for the God of the Seas. He couldn't recall seeing her wear them before.

"You like?" she asked, turning around. She could feel him watching her. Poseidon smiled.

"Yes, I really like it." he replied, getting out of the bed and getting dressed himself. Athena watched him and when he was done, sidled up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He held her close.

"You should go." she sighed, although she didn't let go.

"I know." He murmured into her hair, holding her just as tight.

"You haven't been back to your palace in weeks. People will begin to notice." She explained to give logic and reason; however she was still unable to let him go.

"You're right, of course." He agreed.

"Only I don't want you to leave." She finished, looking up at him. He cupped her face in his hands.

"I'll never truly leave you, Athena. Never." He told her, kissing her nose.

"I know." She smiled.

"And I promise you one day we will stop running and hiding. One day you and I will be married in front of the entire council, and the whole of creation will know of my love for you. And we will be an example to those other couples on Olympus. We will show them that love is most infinite when it's singular, and that one man and one woman can live happily together forever. Without all the infidelity." He decreed. His words brought tears to Athena's sparkling grey eyes.

"You promise?" she asked, needing confirmation that she wasn't dreaming.

"I promise." He assured her.

"Oh, I love you." She sighed, kissing him.

"And I love you. More than anything. Above all things. More than any other object or being. Above the ocean itself. You are my whole world, Athena. You are my everything." He told her, stroking her cheek and wiping away the next tear that sprung to her eyes.

"Farewell," Athena whimpered, "King of my heart." She kissed his lips one final time.

"Farewell, my love." He replied, letting her go swiftly and exiting her chambers. Athena moaned at the loss of contact, and ran immediately to her window, waiting for him to leave her temple. When he emerged, he seemed to sense her presence, and turned to look up and see her at the window. She blew him a kiss, and he smiled at her before turning again and leaving her sight. Little did they know someone had witnessed it all.

On the way back to his palace, Poseidon often liked to visit the Paradise gardens. They were a small cluster of islands between his home in the Mediterranean and Olympus. They were the nymph inhabited islands off the coast of Greece that were invisible to mortals. He enjoyed visiting the gardens there, in fact, all the gods did. Plus nymphs were mostly friendly, and the ones with mischief on their minds wouldn't dare approach a god or goddess when they were visiting. Having made his mind up, he descended to the largest of the four islands, Sandora. 50 peaceful nymph clans resided here on this island alone, along with many troupes of satyrs, herds of centaurs and flocks of phoenixes. The gardens here were exquisite. The jungles were full of wild flowers and sweet smelling plants, the forests were decorated with shrubbery and the intricate houses of thriving nature imps, and the lakes and rivers glistened crystal clear blue. Poseidon descended near Mount Nyjara, the islands largest and most beautiful waterfall. It was his favourite feature of the island, and the current washed out straight to his palace.

As he made his way through the gardens in a casual stroll, he heard something behind him. He knew it was nothing he couldn't handle, but he was not too much in the mood for a fight all the same. Sometimes some of the residents who felt wronged by the gods didn't appreciate their coming here, but seeing as they were immortal, their attempts to even the score were in vein. Hearing the sound get sounder, Poseidon swung around, only to find a beautiful, leggy nymph with long golden hair standing there. Her posture was open to him. She was pouting seductively, wearing a white toga that had specifically designed cuts around the waist and neckline, so it looked like fabric just draped to cover her from total exposure. She wore sandals that strapped up her calves to her knees and a long row of pearls. He rolled his eyes and huffed out an impatient sigh.

"Well, this is a wondrous honour. Here you stand: Poseidon. The God of the Seas himself." She simpered, eying him up and down lustfully.

"Yes well, lucky you. Now if you'll excuse me." He went to walk past her, but she remained in his way.

"Maybe I can help you with what you're… looking for." She cooed, pushing her perfect body forward so that it was all he could see and pouting her pink lips. Poseidon looked at her and smirked, knowing exactly what to say next.

"Well, seeing as you're so eager to be helpful, maybe you can give me what I need." He began. The nymph smiled seductively and leaned in, thinking he was going to give her what she wanted. Poseidon tilted his head back so she couldn't reach him, "You can leave me be. I am contented as I am."

The nymph looked a little put out at his apparent un-interest. She eyes his manful satisfied smirk and returned her expression to the same flirtatious and wanting smile.

"I live to serve the Gods, my sovereign lords." She sneered, clearly offended.

"Thank you." Poseidon said, turning to leave.

"My name's Medusa, by the way." The nymph called after him. He didn't stop to recognise her, however, and went to the trees by the west bank of the river. His run in with the nymph had put him off staying for the time being, and so he reached a hand into the stream, and his body disintegrated into a watery shadow. He dove into the water and allowed the current for the waterfall to take him straight to his palace.

Back on Olympus, Athena was sitting reading in her study. However, unlike usual, she was unable to focus. It wasn't the same now. Before she had been so used to concentrating alone, but now he should be here. Now she missed him watching her from across the room while she read and distracting her with funny gambits like sneaking his hands across the desk and covering the pages when she tried to engage in them. Then she'd slap his hand away and they'd laugh and he would bring her hand to his lips and kiss it gently. She bit her lip to try and cover the longing moan escaping her mouth, but it wiggled past. She then turned with a start at the sound of a voice at the door.

"I know your secret." Aphrodite said. She was leaning against the doorframe with raised eyebrows and a knowing smirk. Athena regained composure from the scare, and put on her most winning strict poker-face.

"Excuse me?" she asked Aphrodite, praying that she had heard her wrong.

"I said: I know your secret." She repeated. Aphrodite knew she had to be cunning, careful and confident. She was no fool to what excellence Athena was, particularly in her intelligence. Any attempt to force her to answer could end up in her cleverly turning the tables on her.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." Athena said nonchalantly, moving to stand closer to her. Aphrodite remained cool.

"I think you do." She stated calmly. Athena was not about to give up this easily. She was unsure of Aphrodite's motives, and she was still unsure what it was exactly she knew. Finding that out first would be the smart thing to do.

"I assure you, I have no idea. Must we continue on with this pointless nonsense?" she said, "If you don't mind, might you state the business for which you came here."

"Why I'd be delighted." Aphrodite smiled, playing her game, "I just thought it has been a while since you and I spent any amount of time together. We were great friends once."

"We still are, to my knowledge." Athena smiled back, trying to seem friendly to draw Aphrodite away from the topic she came in with. This was a game she was determined to win. Then again, most games were the same.

"So, what is it you're doing? I saw you reading when I came in." Aphrodite pointed to the book that rested on the desk where Athena had left it. The two women walked towards it.

"Oh, yes. It's an old favourite of mine. It's about the art of war. Ares gave it to me a while ago. I've grown rather fond of it." she explained, picking the leather-bound book up and handing it to Aphrodite to examine. She turned it over in her hands repeatedly, pretending to be interested.

"Yes well, seldom it is we find things we're fond of nowadays." She joked, making small talk to lull Athena into a false sense of security. Athena played along.

"Yes, yes it is. With the council bickering and dividing over everything we meet to discuss it's hard to indulge even the slightest frivolous fancy." She agreed.

"Hmm, I'm not so sure about that." Aphrodite said, trying to sound nonchalant, but knowing Athena would take the hint. She was relying on her intelligence now. A flicker of worry flashed across Athena's silver eyes. That gave her the clue she needed. Aphrodite knew what was going on with her and Poseidon. But perhaps she didn't know everything. Maybe she was just assuming based on his behaviour in the session of council. She was the Goddess of Love after all. That explanation would give her more wiggle room as to the extent of their relationship. She quickly pushed her train of thought to one side and kept smiling.

"It's particularly hard to find other gods to be fond of, wouldn't you agree?" Aphrodite continued. She was really poking the bear now. And the bear was beginning to feel the heat. However, remarkably, her face didn't show it at all.

"I'm fond of you." She countered. She was resorting to buttering her up now. Aphrodite was overjoyed at the prospect of winning over her.

"Yes, and I you." She grinned politely. "I never really saw you as the type to be fond of others. With good reason, mind you. Particularly my husband and his appalling vocabulary. I actually let him talk to me like that when we're in bed together. You may judge me as you wish but we all have little fetishes that help us climax, if I may be so bold as to say so. It makes lying with him almost bearable. But more to the point; I've noticed you've become fond of one particular person in times of late. Do you know to whom I am referring?" she asked. She was actually giving her a chance to come clean here, although she doubted she would take it. She was far too proud of her intellectual prowess to accept aid from anyone. Or to admit that she needed it.

"I am sure you're going to tell me." Athena snapped, growing impatient now and folding her arms across her chest.

"I have noticed, as has everyone else, that you've been growing increasingly fond of Poseidon." Aphrodite said, stressing her words. "Even and almost especially after your… altercation over Athens."

"He's a fine man." Athena said in a warning tone, trying to ward her off of the subject. "I feel for him as I feel for you, and all others I care for."

"Right, yes. You are fond of me and you are fond of him, as you are fond of others." Aphrodite recapped, pretending to piece everything together. "But you see, I've never seen you in a passionate embrace with anyone else you were fond of! And outside the Grand High Temple, no less!" she shouted. Athena gasped and brought her hands to her mouth.

"You saw us?!" she cried.

"You were outside the Grand High Temple!" Aphrodite repeated. "Anyone could have seen you!"

There was a pause where neither of them said anything. Athena couldn't believe what was happening; her head was reeling. What would she do now? Would Aphrodite tell everyone else? What would they have to say about it? They would surely all have some form of input. For a moment she could see that future Poseidon had told her about slipping away.

"So is this you coming here to warn me?" Athena asked warily. Aphrodite looked back at her, perplexed.

"Warn you? Warn you about what?" she exclaimed. Athena was confused now.

"So you're not going to tell the council?" she inquired.

"No!" Aphrodite protested, "I mean, I thought about that, but then I heard you tell him you loved him. And he said it back to you."

"What difference would that make?" Athena queried.

"You're in love! That makes all the difference in the world. Normally a sexual relationship amongst gods out of marriage is inappropriate – believe me, I know – but the fact that you are in love washes away all impropriety. And, as Goddess of Love, it is my solemn duty to defend and protect it at any cost. I'm surprised that you would think so little of me. Have I ever treated you unkind or done some wrong for which I did not atone?" she explained. Athena laughed a little, grinning broadly and surprised at this small stroke of luck, but thankful for it all the same.

"You're an angel!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, yes, agreed." Aphrodite joked. "But why will you not tell Zeus? I'm sure he would have the two of you married of you were to explain it."

"It's not that we don't want to, it's just we don't want to hear everyone's not-so-welcome opinions on the matter. Some will be extremely hurtful, there is no question." Athena explicated. "And with everything that's happening at present…" she trailed off. Enlightenment then washed over Aphrodite's face.

"Oh." Was all that fell out of her open mouth.

"What?" Athena asked.

"You're afraid of what he'll do if he finds out, aren't you?" Aphrodite inquired, now sounding sympathetic and worried. Athena held back her emotion.

"Well, wouldn't you be?" she retorted as if she had done something terrible and was trying to justify it. Aphrodite just nodded.

"Yes, I imagine I would be." She answered honestly. Athena nodded, and there was another pause.

"Well, I give you my word that I will not tell anyone of your relationship. Not until you or he instruct me otherwise." She promised, her voice laced with honest sincerity.

"Your word?" Athena asked to make sure.

"Of course." She assured her, "You have me on your side now. Who better to have in your ranks when in a battle of emotion?"

"Ah, the language of war. If the entirety of relationships were comprised of this sort of talk, I'd find it easier to get behind." Athena joked.

"Well now you have me." Aphrodite smiled, embracing Athena tightly. "Now, I have to go, but your secret is safe with me."

"Okay." Athena nodded. Aphrodite winked, and then turned to leave, stopping and turning back at the door.

"Oh, and give him my regards the next time you see him. I wager you shall see him next before I do." She laughed.

"I will." Athena said, watching her go.