Chapter 21: Embracing Eternity

Friday. Ares and Xena awoke together at Xena's cottage. They planned to ride to work together so Xena could leave Gabrielle her car. They had made an agreement to ride together as often as possible, since they were going to the same location. They both had a full schedule today. Most members filled up Friday's slots first before any other day of the week. Xena sat at her vanity and brushed her hair up into a bun. As she twisted her hair into the bun, Ares secured it with a scrunchie and a few pins. She was his princess and he loved her unconditionally.

Since today's training sessions were back-to-back all day, she needed to stay as cool as possible. Some of her clients had no idea on proper form, so she usually exhausted most of her energy demonstrating various workouts the whole day. Ares materialized Xena and Gabrielle a tasty breakfast, pleasantly filling their stomachs to prepare for the day ahead. Both women were grateful as they dived into the delectable meal, not wanting to eat too much but just enough to feel satisfied.

~XA~

Ares unlocked his office door and let Xena walk in first. With her things in the office space, it was starting to feel cramped. There was still only one desk in there, which left one of them sitting on the love seat with their laptop to type, typically Ares, since he'd gladly let Xena use his desk. Ares sighed as he found no reasonable location to sit his things. The office was turning from their office into Xena's office. Placing his items on the floor behind the door, he grimaced, and left to start his day.

~XA~

Wednesday. Construction workers arrived at the gym just as the couple pulled up. Ares waved them down in the parking lot and got out of the car first. Xena had no idea what was going on, so she just went inside. She knew Ares would fill her in later and now was not the time to question him. Emma saw Xena coming in, so she made herself look too busy to look up and speak.

"No reason to be ugly, Emma," she said, not stopping, walking to her office. Emma just huffed and kept about her day. Ares walked in next with the construction crew.

"Good morning, Mr. Ares," she smiled sweetly since she knew for sure Xena was not around.

"Emma, we're having work done to my office. For your safety, I want you to stay out of the way. The workers here will be using the back door, since it's away from the members and the closest to my office."

"Yes sir, your wish is my command." Ares rolled his eyes and walked away. He didn't have time for Emma's antics when he had a crew of men standing behind him ready to work. Once they arrived at their office, Xena noticed Ares was pointing at various walls and spaces. She decided to step outside to see what was up.

"What's going on?" she asked walking to stand next to her man.

"I'm having them tear down this wall here and all of that space will be your new office." Xena's eyes lit up. She secretly wanted her own office, but she didn't see any other empty rooms that could be converted into one.

"Thank you," she smiled gratefully at him.

"Until the office is ready, you will need to work at the front desk. I don't want you getting hurt."

"What! The front desk?! How long is this going to take!?" Xena couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't want to share a space with Emma out of all people.

"Two weeks." She threw her hands up in the air and walked out the back door. She didn't have any clients at the moment, so she just casually stood against the wall, watching the construction crew work.

It was a beautiful day outside, and the breeze was soft and cool. As one of the men carried the lumber inside the gym, he made eye contact with Xena and winked at her. She raised her eyebrow at him. Didn't he know he was hired by her very short-tempered lover? Of course he didn't. She quietly told him,

"If you value your life, you won't do that again." He laughed in her face, as if she were a fool, as the lumber rested on his shoulder.

"And who's gonna stop me?"

"Me," came Ares powerful voice as he stood toe to toe with the worker. Xena blushed at his protectiveness. The worker didn't want any problems, since he knew this was the owner who hired them to work on this fairly large project, so he kindly stepped around Ares and kept working.

~XA~

Xena loudly sat her items down at the front desk. Emma frowned with confusion, trying to figure out what was going on. The front was her personal workspace, and she'd never had to share it with anyone.

"Xena, what's happening?" she asked with fear in her voice. She was praying that Xena didn't say the last thing she wanted to hear.

"Welllll, Mr. Ares is building me a new office. So, until it is ready, we're roommates, girlie," Xena said very sarcastically and smiled a sinister smile. Emma stormed off, looking for Ares. Ares was busy clarifying information with the construction crew when Emma found him.

"Mr. Ares, I cannot work sharing my space with Xena. There simply isn't enough room."

"Is that so?" Ares inquired as he rubbed his facial hair.

"Yes, sir." Emma answered confidently.

"Fine, you're off for the next two weeks, until her office is ready, with half salary, starting now." Emma was appalled. How dare he send her home just like that! Did he not realize how valuable she was? She tried to fix her mistake.

"Mr. Ares," she said timidly, "I'm the only one who can work the front desk." Ares chuckled at her words. She was so adamant that she couldn't share a space with Xena, and now she was begging to stay.

"No, you're wrong. Nancy can perfectly handle the front desk in your absence. Enjoy your vacation." He walked away from her, not allowing her to say another word. She stormed back into the gym and slammed the back door loudly. She went to the front desk, snatched her items into her hands, and slammed through the front door, ensuring to bump Xena violently as she turned to leave. Ares texted Xena's phone: I sent Emma home until your office is done. She came back here complaining about sharing the space with you. Xena replied with a laughing emoji.

~XA~

Xena sat at the table finishing her dinner as Ares practiced his sword fighting skills. She was going to spend the night with him, as she enjoyed just their time alone.

"Xena, we need to talk," he casually said while striking his invisible opponent. She finished her meal and went to the couch to have a seat. It was unlike Ares to initiate a conversation of such importance. He sat down next to her.

"Sweet, I want you in my life forever," she knew where this conversation was headed. The dreaded immortality request. But this time, it felt different. She wanted to be with him forever. But before she let her mind race too far, she needed to hear the words first.

"Go on," she softly said.

"I want you to become immortal with me." There it was. Xena sat back on the couch and stared out the large window in front of them. She couldn't imagine living her life with Ares, being so happy, and then she'd have to die and leave him all alone. Yes, she was sure he would find another woman, but would he love her? He previously told her that he never found another that he was willing to share his life with. Then, the thought of him being with another woman angered her. He was hers, forever.

But she also valued her humanity. She knew the gods couldn't share all the humans' emotions. She didn't want to be an empty shell that lived forever. And this love. The love that she feels for Ares. Would she still love like this if she did become immortal? Sure, he loved her, no doubt. But the love that her mortal mind and heart had her feeling, the butterflies she got whenever he was around, would that still happen? Ares spoke, seeing her lost in thought.

"Just think about it, Xe. You know I suck baaaad at being a mortal but if that.."

"No," she cut him off, "You've done that before already. You won't be giving up your immortality for me again. But I'm scared Ares. Scared of how I would feel if I became immortal. Watch every single person that I know die time and time again. I love being mortal. There are so many traits that we possess that you gods would never understand." She crawled into his lap and laid her head on him.

"At the same time, I want to be yours forever. Even 100 years from now, I want to be by your side. It breaks my heart thinking you would have to walk this world alone and it also pisses me off thinking that you could love another woman like you love me. Make love to her like you do me."

"No, Xena, I have never in my entire existence loved like I love you, and I know I never will again." He nuzzled her hair needlingly.

"I can't give you immortality right now, one day maybe. But I can give you this," she leaned in to kiss him. Ares knew she wouldn't accept his immortality offer right now, but his heart raced since she didn't give him a definite no.

Even if she had, he was just going to ask her again later anyway. Her words left hope within his heart. But before he could think about it any further, she took his shirt off and then lifted hers off. He snapped both of their pants off as soon as her top hit the floor. He passionately kissed her and guided her back to lie on the couch. She stopped him.

"No, not like that, like this." She straddled him comfortably, and slowly slid herself down his hard shaft, firmly gripping his shoulders, laying her head in the crook of his neck. His scent intoxicated her. He moaned deeply in her ear as he gripped her ass cheeks. His power increased every time they connected intimately.

He knew he wanted to spend eternity in her embrace. She was moving slow at first, grinding her hips back and forth. Ares lifted her hips up and forcefully pushed her back down his cock and he thrusted his hips toward her. He longed for more, and she planned to give him just that. She rode him into oblivion until he filled her with his seed, his love, his promises.