Chapter XIII
After Xena and Gabrielle had welcomed Eve, they enjoyed a light meal of cheese and apples while they filled the Elijan in on the details of how they had come to convert the temple into an orphanage.
"I think it is wonderful, what you are doing. Ares certainly doesn't need anymore temples" Eve started, "have you been able to spread Eli's message to the people here?"
Xena examined the contents of her mug more closely to avoid looking her daughter directly in the eye. She knew she was going to have to have a conversation with her daughter about Ares, eventually. She was also well aware of how badly the conversation was likely to go.
"Actually, many of the people of Amphipolis still follow the Olympians," Gabrielle told Eve without mentioning that Xena was doing a little more than "following" Ares. "In fact, Karina is still a devotee of Artemis."
"Neither of you told her that Artemis is dead?" Eve was confused. She thought that her mother and Gabrielle knew that the time of the Olympians had come and gone. Why weren't they being more diligent in spreading Eli's word?
"Eve, it's complicated. I have always supported people's right to believe however they choose, so long as they are not being coerced," Xena answered and placed her mug on the table.
"I do too, but these people must be told that the Olympians are false gods who have no interest in serving anything or anyone but their own selfish needs and desires," the Elijan challenged.
"Eve," Xena took a warning tone.
"No, Mother! I mean look at this place now and compare it to before, all those years you spent worshipping Ares, building and maintaining his temples, and for what? Nothing more than his selfish glory. He didn't give a fig for helping the poor or orphans. He would have never let you use your army for good."
Xena guessed she was going to have to have the conversation right now!
"Eve, let me stop you right there. Ares has been helping restore this place. He has supported me turning this into a home for the kids."
"Well, he would, wouldn't he, at least now he has you right where he wants you. Where you owe him something."
"She doesn't owe me anything," Ares entered the scene in a flash of light.
Xena bit her lip in frustration. The last thing she needed was him throwing his two cents in. Eve was going to be hard enough to convince without him here taunting her. Xena glared at the god.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt but I can defend myself, Xena. I don't need you to fight my battles."
"Oh, please," Eve spat, "since when? That's what you've been trying to get her to do for years."
"Eve, your mother can have anything of mine she likes, no strings, no questions. She will never owe me anything. In fact, it is quite the opposite, I owe her everything."
Xena was used to Ares saying things like that to her in private. She wasn't, however, used to him saying them in front of her friends and family. She blushed slightly.
Xena walked up beside him and gently rubbed his bicep in a silent thank you.
"Eve, I know how you feel about Ares, and I know you have every reason to mistrust him but I have decided to embrace Eli's message of love and forgive him," Xena said.
"He killed Eli," Eve charged.
"I did . . .I did kill Eli, Eve it wasn't one of my finer moments. Do you think it's something I'm proud of?"
"Yes, I do!"
Ares was getting frustrated, he wasn't used to explaining his motives and feelings to mortals. Xena was the only exception. Even when he had toyed around with Livia/Eve, he never respected her the way he had Xena. She had never been privy to his real emotions. Xena was the only mortal he ever dared show his vulnerable side to. Hades, until recently, he thought she was the only mortal worth showing that side to.
He clenched his fists and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he looked Eve dead in the eye. "Well, I'm not proud of it. He was a decent guy. I killed him out of fear! Look, I'm not making excuses but the truth is, you are a mortal and you can't even begin to imagine what it's like to lose the promise of immortality, the power that flows within me."
"Always about the power with you, isn't it?" Eve raised her voice and moved angrily toward him.
Xena stepped in between them.
"Watch it, Eve, who's forgetting Eli's message now?" Xena asked then added, "And have you forgotten so soon that if he hadn't sacrificed those powers when we faced Athena that you would be dead now?"
"No, I haven't forgotten, but have you forgotten that he only did that for himself? He watched his sister die at your hands only so he wouldn't lose his favorite warrior."
The way she emphasized the word favorite made Xena wonder if jealousy was coloring Eve's emotions toward Ares.
Gabrielle interjected, "So, clearly we don't all see eye to eye on this issue."
"Don't tell me you are okay with this?" Eve turned her fury on the bard.
"Eve, I am the first to be wary of Ares' motives, you should know that. And, I loved Eli dearly but I have to admit, at least as far as the past few weeks have been concerned, Ares has been very supportive."
Eve threw her hands up in the air. "You're both asking for disappointment if you are expecting anything resembling compassion from him."
She turned to Xena, "And, if you are foolish enough to think that he could ever really understand love then you don't know him like you think you do."
"Maybe you don't know love like you think you do," Xena answered, turned on her heels, and stormed out of the room.
To his credit Ares didn't follow. He knew she needed time and space to process. Neither did he taunt Eve or gloat to Gabrielle.
He simply asked the bard, "Did you still need that wood chopped?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind, Mikal is helping Estor today and won't have a chance to finish it. And if you could bring a few logs into the kitchen, I'd appreciate it. I need to start the rabbit stew if It's gonna be ready by sundown."
"You got it," Ares answered and headed out the back door.
Gabrielle quietly began cleaning up from their meal. She stayed silent to give Eve a chance to mull things over.
"Unbelievable!" Eve barked in frustration and stomped off in the opposite direction of Ares.
x:wp-x:wp
Xena debated on going for a run but somehow she found herself in her bedroom. It had served as her and Ares' private sanctuary since she had been recovering from her wounds. She closed the door, walked over to the reading nook, and poured herself a glass of mead. Ares had been keeping a bottle of nectar on the table next to her mead for the past couple of nights. She picked up the clear glass bottle and examined the honeyed contents. She knew that one solid gulp would be all it would take to make her his for eternity. One dram, one drink and she could join the remaining Olympians. She sat the bottle back on the table and took a drink of her mead. Somehow it didn't offer the same comfort that it normally did. Xena ambled over to the bed and sat down on the side, placing the mead on the bedside table. She pulled off her boots and scooted back on the bed with her back supported against the headboard.
Eve's warnings rang through her head. Nobody needed to lecture her on Ares, that was for sure. Eve didn't even know half the things that he done to her. Sure, she knew what Gabrielle had put in the scrolls for the most part. But even Gabrielle didn't know everything. Xena knew he could be a bastard but she also knew that he loved her. And, she definitely knew beyond any doubt that she was hopelessly in love with him. If she could forgive him, it didn't matter if anyone else did. Oh, it might make things difficult and put a strain on Solstices and other family get togethers, but so be it.
He was making an effort, she could see it. For Zeus' sake even Gabrielle was willing to admit that he had been more helpful than mischievous of late.
A niggling in the back of brain, however, piped up, 'This is Ares you're talking about Xena. This is probably all part of some master plan that you can't see because you've been letting your emotions get in the way.'
She rubbed her temples. She couldn't deny that her emotions were all askew where he was concerned. What if Eve was right? What if he had her right where he wanted her? What if being here in the temple was causing her to get sucked back into his dark vortex? Tartarus, hadn't she just been contemplating drinking the fucking nectar.
Tears of frustration welled up into her eyes. Images from the past few weeks played through her mind: Ares standing with her on the battlefield; Ares being cut down by Sarkon; the two of them giving in to their passion only to have him backing off because he was concerned about her wounds; Ares sitting the first night in the klismos chair to watch over her; the god holding her gently night after night, kissing her softly, but never letting the petting get out of control.
She had marvelled at his ability to control himself. She had felt the evidence of his arousal on many of those nights but still, he had refused to do anything he thought might hurt her. And, he wouldn't even let her pleasure him to relieve the tension. He had been a perfect gentlemen.
Further, he had been helpful around the "house." He had done any chore asked of him and he was wonderful with the children, which had absolutely amazed Xena. They adored him and he seemed to be crazy about them. Xena had seriously begin to consider having a child with him a real possibility.
She wondered where he went. She knew she shouldn't have stormed out like that but she was afraid if she stayed she was going to say or even hear something that she would regret. She felt for his presence. She could tell he was still nearby.
A light rapping on her door grabbed Xena's attention. "Come in," she figured that Eve had come to continue berating her.
The door crept open and Daria popped her head around the corner, 'Everything okay? I heard yelling."
"Sorry 'bout that, sweetie, everything's okay, I promise."
"Is Ares going to be leaving for a while?"
"Oh, no, honey why do you ask that?"
"Well, when my mom and dad yelled, usually daddy left for a while."
"I see, Sometimes that happens, but Ares isn't going anywhere, okay."
"Okay," the little brown-haired girl beamed as she climbed up in bed with Xena. "Will you tell me a story?"
"That's Gabrielle's schtick?"
"What's a shick?" Daria settled in at Xena's side.
"Schtick, it doesn't matter, what I meant is that Gabrielle is the bard, I am the warrior. She tells the stories."
"I know, but she told me she doesn't know this one, that I'd have to ask you."
"So you want to hear a specific story?" Xena asked as she pulled the covers over the two of them. She knew it was getting close to the child's nap time.
"Um - - yeah, I want you to tell me the story of how you and Ares met."
Xena smiled and shook her head as she thought back to a time very long ago.
"Well, I had just lost two people very important to me, I was lost and adrift in the world. I had an army, a small band but we were a pretty rough bunch."
"Were you like that bad man that killed my mommy?"
Xena was thunderstruck. She didn't know if she should go for the truth or a white lie. The innocent eyes of the child begged the truth.
"Oh-Um-Uh, yes, Daria, I am afraid that I was," a tear rolled down Xena's cheek. Daria's small hand swatted it away.
"It's okay, Xena, you learned about love and you are okay now. I love you."
Xena kissed the crown of the child's head, "I love you too, Daria, I love you too."
Love really was the most powerful force on earth.
"So Ares found you?" Daria wanted Xena to go back to the story.
"Not exactly, my men came in conflict with his army over a village that both of us were looting. By all accounts, his men should have wiped us out. They had superior numbers and better weaponry. But I outsmarted their leader who was calling their shots. I divided my men, which went against all common sense, and sent them on flanking maneuvers. . ."
"I think she's asleep," Gabrielle whispered from the doorway.
Xena looked down at the sleeping child and smiled. She smoothly climbed out of bed, picked up her mead and walked over to her friend.
"You'll have to finish telling me that story sometime," Gabrielle smiled.
"Hmphf," Xena chuckled.
"So who was leading his troops at the time? The general that you outsmarted?" Gabrielle asked and quietly poured her own cup of mead.
"Ares," Xena answered.
It was Gabrielle's turn to laugh.
"So where'd he go?" Xena questioned as she slipped into a pair of sandals.
"He's chopping wood, not sure where Eve went but she's not very happy."
"And, I am sorry about that but I've made up my mind."
"I can see that," Gabrielle shrugged, "you coming?" That bard asked as she headed out the door.
"In a sec, I need to grab something."
Xena walked back to the bed, tucked the covers around Daria more snuggly then reached into the bedside table and retrieved the chakram pendant from inside. She placed it securely in the pouch on her hip, blew out all the candles but two wall sconces and closed the door quietly as she left the sleeping child.
x:wp-x:wp
Xena found him splitting logs. He had thrown off his vest and gauntlets and was nude from the waist up.
She took a moment to admire his form. His long sinewy arms, his strong back, and solid hips. "By the gods you are a beauty," she echoed words he had said to her before.
He put the axe down and turned to her. The heat in her eyes left him feeling flushed.
"You okay?" He asked, concerned about how the argument with Eve might be affecting her.
"I will be," she promised, "today doesn't change things between us, unless you feel otherwise.
"Oh, Xena, I'm not about to let the Bitc- -er, Eve, stand between us."
Xena's eyebrow shot up when he started to refer to her daughter by her previous moniker but then she relaxed when he corrected himself.
"You thirsty?"
"Only for you," he answered.
Xena sauntered over to him. She could feel the pendant weighing heavily on her hip.
She reached up and kissed him, putting her hand behind his neck and pulling him in.
He returned her kiss with equal fervor.
They were both so wrapped up in the smooch that they didn't hear the crunch of Eve's boots as she walked up to them.
"Ahem," she cleared her throat to get their attention.
Xena reluctantly broke the kiss and turned to her daughter.
"Eve. . ."
Eve held up a hand to stop her.
"It's okay, I owe you both an apology," she stated.
"You don't owe me an apology, Eve, you love your mother, I completely understand your misgivings. If I were in your boots, I'd feel the same way. But why the change of heart?" Ares asked genuinely interested in the answer.
"I talked with Eli."
Ares looked at the ground, ashamed.
"You can hear him?" Xena asked.
"Sometimes, but today, I heard and saw him in the Strymon."
"Oh," Xena wished she could have seen her old friend once more.
"Yeah, he reminded me that love is all that matters and that everyone deserves love, even Ares. And he also reminded me that it would be hypocritical of me to forgive you and myself and turn a blind eye to Ares' efforts at change."
Ares swallowed hard. He never imagined that the man who he had slain would ever serve as his advocate. Maybe there really was something to all of that peace, love, and forgiveness talk.
"Eli's a wise man. It took me many years to embrace love and find peace. I still have difficulty forgiving myself. I tend to be more forgiving of others," Xena answered.
"Guess that makes me a lucky man," Ares replied.
"It makes us both lucky," Eve affirmed and took Ares' hand, "I don't fully trust you, to say otherwise would be a falsehood, but I will promise for the sake of my mother, my god, and my soul that I will support your effort to live a loving and peaceful life. If you hurt my mother, however . . ."
"If he hurts your mother, your mother can take care of herself," Xena reminded with a wicked smile.
Eve smiled back in kind.
"I'm going to see if Gabrielle needs any help with dinner," Eve hugged her mother and headed into the kitchen.
"You wanna go for a walk?" Xena asked turning to Ares.
"Sure, let me get these logs to Blondie and we can go."
"Here, I'll help," Xena eagerly offered her assistance. The sooner they finished, the sooner she could get him alone. And she estimated that they had a good three hours til sundown yet. She could do a lot with a half-naked god, a magical pendant, and three hours of free time.
x:wp-x:wp
They walked along the riverbank, hand in hand, just listening to the sounds of the birds and the water for a while. When they came to a place where the river narrowed and turned, Xena tugged his hand and pulled him off the beaten path. Ares was thoroughly enjoying himself. He didn't travel this way much, if needed to be somewhere, he tended to just travel through the aether, it was more efficient. But, he found that he liked meandering along with Xena. She led him over a hill and then down the other side until they came along a copse of silver birch trees. Ares had to admit that the scene was breathtaking. The graceful arboreal giants stood like sentinels in an almost perfect circle.
"I used to come here, when I was a kid, and daydream about what my life would be like when I got older."
"Did you ever imagine me?"
"Certainly not in this context," she smiled wistfully.
"I bet not," Ares chuckled.
Xena pulled him into the center of the grove. It was summer and the trees were fully leafed, provided a welcoming shade against the hot afternoon sun.
"I carved my initials there, you can see Lyceus' and Toris' too." She pointed to the marred white bark of one of the thicker trunked trees.
"How did you picture me? In your daydreams?"
"Well, mostly I thought about you in relation to my father. I wondered if he were one of your favorites. I feared that maybe he would do something to anger you. I guess mostly I thought of you as wrathful, something to be feared. But then again, Mother never spoke highly of you, so maybe that's why I thought you were to be avoided at all costs."
"Hmm?"
"Of course, that made the thought of you alluring too," she admitted. She had always had a little imp in her, it was why it had been so easy for him to bring it out.
"Alluring? Huh?" He smiled devilishly.
She nodded and reached up to kiss him.
She felt movement in the aether and broke the kiss. He turned her gently by the shoulders, revealing a black bear rug, two pillows, and a silver tray bearing grapes, wine, and nectar.
Xena was glad she had gone without her armor and boots, undressing would be much easier. Ares, however, had put his vest back on before they left for their walk and now she was aching to slide it off of him.
They walked over to the bear rug, She unhooked the pouch at her side and laid it gently on the tray. Xena kicked off her sandals and stepped onto the soft rug. It felt more like silk than it did coarse bear hair. She wondered who tanned the gods' hides and made a note to ask him later, she had never felt a fur more luxurious. She began to slide her shoulder straps down.
"Uh-huh, let me," he asked.
She nodded her head and let him finish undressing her. He tenderly removed her black leather and then the cream colored shift that she wore underneath. She stood before him in her black lace panties. He drank in the sight of her for a few seconds and then kissed along her jaw, down her neck and laved at her collarbone.
She moaned at the delightful shivers he sent coursing through her. She pushed his vest off and it fell with a thud to the ground. A hawk cried over head, causing Xena to look around to make certain they were alone.
"It's okay, he's probably just chasing a rodent," Ares slipped out of his boots and tossed them across the way. He then shimmied out of his pants and cast them aside. Predictably, he was wearing no underwear. His hard manhood popped free and stood at full attention.
"Somebody's happy to see me," Xena teased.
"Oh, somebody is always happy to see you Xena."
"Could of fooled me, the way he has been denying himself the last couple of weeks," Xena taunted.
"Well, we were worrried about your well being," Ares pulled back and examined her again, The bruising was mostly gone. The blackish purple splotch that had taken up most of her side had faded to a nearly unnoticable yellow. "You sure you're okay, I really don't want to hurt you?"
"I'm fine, will you quit acting like a mother hen already?"
"Maybe we should clear it with Marta,"
"Ares," Xena was getting frustrated with him, "I am nearly as good a healer as she, maybe better where battle wounds are concerned. I can use my own damn judgement, now get over here and ravish me already."
"Ravish you?" He leered.
"That's right!" She took his hand and held if for support as she lowered herself onto the bear rug.
He stood naked above her. His cock jumped involuntarily at the sight of her sprawled out on the fur wearing nothing but her panties. He dropped down to his knees and ran his hands along her long, toned thighs. He bent over and lovingly kissed the insides of her knees. His scruffed tickled her deliciously. As he kissed her inner thighs, his right hand worked its way toward her center. Her ran a long, thick finger up under her panties and along her soft cleft and parted her folds.
"So wet already, my dear?" He teased.
"Well, you've kept me waiting for days! Now fuck me already."
"How about I finger fuck you, Xena? Would you like that? Would you like the god of war to pleasure you with his deadly hands?" He slid her panites down her long legs.
"Gods yes," Xena cried and bucked her hips toward his hand.
Ares slowly, torturously slowly, slid one finger inside her wetness. She gushed sending a new wave of lubrication rushing out of her pussy onto his hand.
"My, my Xena," It was taking everything he had not to grab his cock and ram it straight up her.
Xena grabbed a handful of the bear rug with her left hand, her pleasure was already mounting. It had been too long since they had coupled fully and the anticipation was driving her insane. With her her right hand she began to manipulate her clit. Ares stilled her hand with his free one.
"No, no, no, not so fast," he said.
"Areeessss, pleassssee, I need to come."
"In good time, my love, in good time," He held her right hand at her side and continued pumping her hot center, adding a second finger as she stretched to accommodate the first. With his thumb, he began to apply firm pressure to the nub she had earlier sought.
He could tell she was close. His cock felt like it was going to explode. He thanked Gaia for his godly powers and his ability to control the need to empty himself.
Xena was breathing faster now and bucking wildly. A few more flicks of his thumb and she stiffened before she cried out his name for all of creation to hear. "Ares, my god, my god, Ares," she panted breathlessly as she rode the wave of her climax.
He fucked her with his two digits until he was sure she had reached maximum pleasure and then he slowly slid his fingers out and stretched his body out alongside hers.
A single tear escaped the corner of her eye. Her lips were puffed up, trying to control a torrent that threatened to overflow.
"You okay, I didn't hurt you, did I?" He had tried to be gentle, he was certain that he had only been bringing her pleasure, now he wondered.
"No, you big dummy, that was nothing short of heavenly. It was blissful, I'm just emotional, that's all."
He pulled her into his solid embrace. She lay there, with her head on his firm chest and looked through the verdant canopy to the patches of blue sky beyond.
"I love you, Xena," he whispered.
"And I you," she responded and turned to kiss him along his bearded jaw line. She ran her thumb along his thick lower lip. Suddenly, the urge to nibble that lip was overwhelming. She sat up and straddled him. Her cunt was still swollen and her hot fluid dripped onto his engorged member. She kissed his lips and gently bit the bottom one. He arced up to kiss her back. He placed his hands firmly on her hips as his manhood prodded for entrance at her opening.
"Uh, not yet, my turn," she stated.
"But Xena," he argued as his head slipped between her folds and pressed forward. She raised her hips denying him entrance. He clamped down hard with his strong hand and surged forward with his cock again.
"I said, not yet," she warned.
"Dammit, Xena, this isn't funny, I've waited weeks," Again his head found her hole and pressed inward.
"Ares, I mean it, no," she said again.
He was not complying. He had finally gotten what he had wanted for years. He thrust a long, slow, deep, thrust inside her. Gods he was going to come.
Xena rolled off him and grabbed the pouch.
He was thankful that she had. He couldn't stop. He began cursing himself. Just moments ago he had been thanking Gaia for all his self-control but the second they were joined he couldn't pull out even though she had been saying no. For Zeus' sake he'd even held her hips in place and forced his way in.
"Xena, I am sorry," he stammered. He had come perilously close to raping her. "You said no, I should have."
"It's okay, It's not that I don't want to do that, I do, I want to do that very much but I want to enjoy you first. The way you enjoyed bringing me pleasure, I want to do the same."
"You want to beat me off?"
"Not exactly," she showed him the pouch.
He had noticed it earlier and had assumed it carried herbs to prevent pregnancy.
At his perplexed look, Xena slipped a finger in the pouch and brought out the pendant.
Recognition was instant.
He smiled, "you kept that, all these years, you kept that?" His heart leapt out of his chest. Here he had been spent years thinking that she was really and truly done with him but if she had carried that for all those years then she hadn't ever really given up on them.
"No," Xena shook her head, "I came across it a few weeks back in that cave that we used to. . ."
"Ahhh, the cave, is that gaudy emerald still there?"
Xena nodded, "Yeah, I left it there."
"But you took that, wonder why?"
"I told myself I took it to keep it out of the wrong hands but I think we know the real reason I took it."
"Just say the word, Xena!"
She held her hand out indicating that he should give her his.
"Ares, god of war, will you submit to me?"
"My goddess, I am your slave, I am ever at your service," He answered as he lifted his left hand to her.
She slid the ring-pendent on his finger. He felt his powers drain from him but the loss was not accompanied by the normal disappointment because being in Xena's presence held its own kind of power. The power of love. He knew that he could live a mortal life with her and that it would satisfy him in a way that an immortality without her never could.
Xena tenderly nudged him on to the bear rug. She straddled him again.
"Now behave yourself, this time," She ordered.
He nodded his head, admiring her ample breasts as he reached up and cupped one in his hand.
"Uh-uh, put your hands above your head, Ares," He complied.
Xena ran her fingers through his dark hair before she began to kiss his full mouth again. She worked her lips down his jaw and chest. She nipped at his nipples lightly.
He groaned at the pleasure.
Xena continued her trek southward, placing hot searing kisses along his torso and rippled abs.
By the time that she reached his aching cock, the head glistened with his arousal. She knew without his powers that things were going to go rather quickly.
She fondled his balls gently before grasping his shaft firmly in her right hand. She pumped it a couple of times feeling it swell even more. Bending over, she took the fat head into her mouth and ran her tongue languidly along the sensitive spot at the back of his glans. He involuntarily thrust deeper into her mouth. She smiled as much as she could with a mouthful of cock. Taking more of him into her mouth, she began a smooth rhythm, bobbing up and down on his manhood, laying her tongue as flat as she could so that it rubbed the length of his shaft as she worked his tool.
Another long pass up his cock and she let his member pop free. "I love your dick, Ares. I've always loved you dick. You like this?" She asked.
"Tartarus, yes, Xena, you're killing me."
"Oh, I'm not finished with you yet," she circled his throbbing head with her burning tongue.
"You used to love to fuck my face, remember. You'd grab me by the head of the hair and make me look at you while you pleasured yourself with my mouth."
"Yeah," he groaned.
"Well, sit up on your elbows, Ares"
He couldn't refuse, until she removed the ring, he was hers without question.
"It's my turn to make you watch. I am going to fuck you with my mouth. You are going to drain your manhood in me and there is nothing you can do about it."
She descended on his cock like a Bacchae and began sucking in a quick rhythym. As she took him into the back of her throat she began a gentle humming which created maddening vibartions on his cock head. When she had engorged herself on all it, she took her finger and began massaging his perineum. His cock grew even stiffer, she knew he was close to climaxing. With a gentle prod she entered his puckering anus and he exploded in her mouth.
"By the gods," he panted as he continued erupting.
Finally, she reached up and took the pendant from him. He pulled her up into his arms and kissed her, tasting his salty semen on her lips.
"I love you, woman. By Zeus and all that's holy, you are the most magnificent creature ever created."
"You're not too bad yourself," she answered as she nestled up against him before she fell asleep in his arms.
x:wp-x:wp
When Xena awoke the late afternoon sun cast long shadows. Ares was wide awake but appeared deep in thought.
"Hey,' she said in a sleepy voice and turned to kiss him on the cheek.
"Nice nap?" he ran his hand along her arm.
"Yeah, I'm sorry I knocked out on ya," she said embarrassed. She knew he was used to it. He didn't need sleep and only occasionally indulged in the mortal necessity.
"I love watching you sleep, you are so free, your features relax, you're beautiful."
She blushed. "Where's my little toy?" She asked.
"You mean this?" He gestured to her bracelet. "While your were sleeping, I put it back the way you used to wear it. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, this way I will have you both close, always."
"Always?" Ares raised an eyebrow. That word had such different meanings for the two of them.
"Ares, don't ruin this," she said and sat up.
"Okay, okay," he put his hands up in surrender. They'd have to have that conversation later.
Xena popped a couple of the grapes in her mouth. Their amorous activities had whetted her appetite.
She poured herself a glass of wine and offered him his nectar.
She watched as he drank it down. She could see how it replenished him. His features softened almost imperceptibly, his skin became a little more ethereal as the liquid coursed through him.
"Ahhhhh," he let out a sigh of pleasure as he drained the cup.
Xena took a sip of her red wine and grabbed a handful of grapes. She ate another one, then feed one to Ares. They were pleasantly sweeter than he expected so he ate another.
"Do you want some cheese to go with them?" He asked.
"No, I don't want to spoil my dinner, Gabrielle is making rabbit stew, remember. She'll be upset if I don't ask for seconds."
"Ah, I see. I don't have to eat that shit do I?" Ares stomach churned at the thought.
"I suppose not but you might hurt her feelings if you don't."
"So, do you think she's getting used to having me around?"
"I do. What's more, I think you are beginning to like her."
"Well, maybe she does have her uses."
"Yes, she does," Xena smiled.
Ares didn't like the look in Xena's eye. "You think she's better than me in that department?"
"I never said that, but she is very good at some things."
"You weren't complaining earlier," he challenged.
"Well, no one can touch me quite like you, you have amazing hands but . . ."
"But what?"
"Let's just say the bard's mouth is gifted at more than storytelling."
"Oh is that right?"
"She has many skills," Xena knew she was asking for it.
"I am going to show you many skills, Warrior Princess," Ares grabbed Xena and pushed her onto the rug face down.
He lifted her hair and kissed the back of her neck and along her shoulders. He ran his hand down the length of her back, down to her ass. She raised her rear, offering him access to her cunt. Instead of taking the bait, Ares smacked her ass. The sweet sting excited her.
"Is that all you got, war god?"
He trailed hot kisses down her spine. "Oh there's plenty more where that comes from," he said and swatted her other cheek, harder.
"MMmmmm, Ares," she moaned and again arched her ass toward him. He kissed each handprint he had left on her ass.
He could smell her heady aroma as he spread her cheeks and she thrust her opening toward him again.
"If you don't hold still, I am going to spank you with more than my hands," he warned.
"Oooooh, what did you have in mind?," she asked
I'm gonna give that cunt a cock spanking if you don't behave, Xena."
"Oh, you naughty boy, you. Well, if you think you are man enough," she taunted.
"Oh no, no, no. I am going to show you things Blondie could never dream of doing to your pussy, my sweet."
Ares flipped her over and went to work peppering feather-light kisses on her burning cunt.
The light touches were maddening and she craved more pressure.
"Areeees," she begged.
He flicked his tongue hard across her bud then dipped his tongue down into her folds for a taste of the sweetest nectar he'd ever had. Her juices were saturating his beard she was so wet. He licked back up to her clit and focused all his attention there. He slid a finger into her cunt and curled the top of it inward searching for the pleasure spot on the back of clitoris. He found it and she writhed like a Fury. Spitting on her clit to lubricate it well, he applied pressure on the nub with his strong chin and began to move his head back and forth in a gentle rhythm. Xena caught on to the technique and began to ride his face. Soon they picked up the pace, him fingering her the whole time. Then at once, he felt her walls clamp down on his fingers and she cried out to the heavens.
"Areeeeeeeeeeeeessss!"
He wasted no time, he quickly moved between her legs and grabbed his cock in hand. He looked deeply into her blue depths begging permission with his eyes.
"Yes," she whispered and he pushed into her, stretching her inner muscles until he was buried to the hilt. Xena wrapped her legs around him and they began the age old dance, meeting each other thrust for thrust until the god emptied himself inside his chosen.
This time when Xena collapsed into slumber, Ares joined her.
x:wp-x:wp
At dinner that evening, after Ares had stoically suffered through the rabbit stew, Xena stood and addressed the group. All the children were there, including Mikal, who couldn't get enough of Gabrielle's cooking. Eve had also stayed. Lysa, Marta, and the wet nurse rounded out the group. Xena looked at them all, "I have an announcement to make."
Xena had already talked to Gabrielle about it and the bard supported her as always. Eve had a feeling that she knew what the announcement would be, she didn't have to like it but she did have to love her mother unconditionally. so she promised herself that she would keep her mouth shut and pray for guidance.
Xena walked around the table and stood behind Ares' chair and cleared her throat. She didn't usually explain herself to anyone. "Ares will be spending a lot more time here. We're . . .well. . .we're. . ."
"Duh, he's your boyfriend," Kallias butted in.
"Yeah, I guess he is," Xena answered.
Mikal gave the god of war a thumbs up.
Daria ran to Ares and climbed into his lap. She grabbed Xena's hand in her own small one. "Are you gonna marry him?"
"Yay, a wedding," Lysa perked up.
"Whoa, Whoa, everyone just calm down! One step at a time, okay," Xena answered.
"Are you going to give us another baby brother or sister?" Iason asked.
Xena was saved from answering the question by Amytas' crying from the other room.
"Excuse me, I'll go check on the baby!"
Xena thankfully left the room.
He only needed a fresh diaper. As Xena cleaned him and swaddled him, she thought again about having a child with Ares. Well, she wasn't getting any younger. If it happens, it happens she decided. She wouldn't do anything to prevent it.
She felt him come in the room behind her, to his credit, he did it mortal style, through the door.
"Need any help?" He asked.
"No, he's all clean now, I'm just going to put him back down."
"Okay," Ares answered and moved in closer, wrapping his arms around her and looking over her shoulder at the big-eyed infant.
"Can you go turn the bed down? I'll be there in a bit," she kissed him softly on the cheek.
"You got it. Should I pour you a glass of mead?"
With a twinkle in her eye, she answered, "Maybe something with a little more kick."
Was she saying what he thought she was saying? He swallowed hard, afraid to ask, knowing the disappointment would show if he had misread her.
"Xena?"
"Always, Ares, Always," she answered.
The End