Aphrodite's Touch, page 16
It was done.
She belonged to him now.
And he belonged to Dionysus.
* * * * *
How many times had he taken her? Six, seven? It was hard to remember, he thought in satisfaction. He could still remember the sleepy little smile on her face as he left her early that morning. Even as he kissed her, he breathed a spell of sleep over her. She wouldn't awake before he returned.
Now, dressed in one of his best tunics, he strode confidently through the halls of his father's temple on Mount Olympus. It was time to inform Dionysus of his triumph, and claim his woman permanently. She would be his consort on Naxos, reigning by his side over the people…
Thinking of people, he made a mental note to check on the villagers. None had been killed during the storm, but their homes and boats would need much repair. That would please Kalliara, he thought in satisfaction. He could afford to give the humans a boon.
The priest scuttling before him paused at a door, nodding toward it.
"The god is within, Lord Sabiniano," he said in a tremulous voice. "But he is busy, and has left orders not to be disturbed. I dare not open the door and announce your presence."
"I'll let myself in," Sabiniano said, waving his hand in dismissal. "You may go."
Nodding his head fearfully, the priest disappeared down a hallway. Such a fearful little creature, Sabiniano thought.
Knocking lightly, he pushed the door open and strode into his father's bedchamber. Dionysus didn't seem to notice his presence, his attention focused solely on the women beneath him. She was bent forward over the foot of the bed, her face buried between the legs of a naked blonde who moaned and thrashed her head. Dionysus stood behind both of them, thrusting into one woman's ass roughly as he leaned over and sucked the breasts of the woman lying on the bed. His naked buttocks flexed with each thrust, and Sabiniano was struck, not for the first time, by the god's physical perfection. Every muscle, ever inch of skin, was perfect.
The woman on the bed started thrashing and moaning as her pleasure increased. Dionysus, nearing his own pleasure, raised his body and grasped the hips of the woman beneath him. He tore her away from the other woman, standing her before him, supporting her frame with his powerful arms. Her upper body dropped limply before him, yet he held her hips tight as he pummeled her ass.
The woman left on the bed moaned, then rolled to one side and started working her cunt furiously with one hand.
Sabiniano watched, mesmerized. How many times had he joined Dionysus in displays just such as this one? And how empty they seemed, compared to his time with Kalliara.
Dionysus caught his eye, then nodded quickly toward the woman on the bed in invitation. Sabiniano shook his head, and Dionysus shrugged, turning his attention back to the woman he held, reaming her ass with powerful strokes. She whimpered and moaned under his battering cock, her cries growing more and more shrill. The god’s magic was heavy in the room. Against his will, Sabiniano felt his own erection grow. Dionysus laughed, his voice a mixture of pleasure and dark triumph. Both women screamed aloud in response, orgasms of incredible intensity ripping through their bodies.
Then Dionysus himself came, clutching the woman to his pumping hips and groaning deeply. He held her there for several seconds, then let her slide slowly to the floor. Sabiniano watched as his father turned to look at him.
"To what do I owe this honor?" he asked mockingly, making no effort to cover his still jutting cock. Sabiniano politely ignored Dionysus’ nudity, just as he had on so many other occasions.
"I've come to discuss Kalliara," he said lightly.
"Oh, yes," Dionysus replied, leaning down to help the woman to her feet. Her face held a stunned expression, and he kissed her cheek gently. "Allow me to dismiss my toys," he added.
He turned to the bed and reached out to the other woman. She jumped up, kissing his hand, and he patted her cheek gently. Then he wrapped an arm around each of them, kissing first one then the other deeply on the mouth.
"Go," he said firmly, patting their asses in dismissal. "I have business to take care of. Wait for me in the bathing chamber."
They nodded, then scurried out of the chamber. Dionysus gestured politely toward a beautifully carved chair, inviting Sabiniano to take a seat.
Waiting for his father to join him before sitting, Sabiniano spoke.
"I took her last night," he said.
"I know," Dionysus replied, amusement twisting his handsome face. He pulled a length of silk around his waist and sat down, sprawling his legs comfortably. Sabiniano joined him. "All of Olympus knows, my son. That was quite a storm you threw last night."
"I was angry," Sabiniano said.
"So I gathered," Dionysus replied dryly.
"But the result was clear," Sabiniano replied. "She gave herself to me freely. Well, mostly freely. You've proven your superiority to Athena."
"I wonder," Dionysus said thoughtfully. He stared into the distance, thinking. "Athena is still playing games with me. There is no way this woman would have given in so easily if she hadn't allowed it. Kalliara was utterly devoted to her; she changed her mind far too easily. Athena released her hold on the human’s loyalty because she feels guilty. She wants the human to live, and she thinks to trick me into allowing that to happen. I want you to give her to the Maenads tonight, then bring me the head. That will teach Athena a lesson about interfering in my business."
Sabiniano stared, shocked, as Dionysus stood and started walking across the room.
“I’m going to the bathing chamber now,” he said casually. “Would you like to join me?”
"No," Sabiniano replied, standing quickly. "And I won’t allow the Maenads to kill Kalliara. She is mine now, and I intend to keep her."
"What?" Dionysus asked coldly, turning to stare at his son. "Sabiniano, are you defying me?"
"I ask this as a personal favor," Sabiniano said, thinking quickly. "I’ve served you my entire life. I have never asked you for anything, but now I am. I want this woman. She is mine, and I will not give her up. You've won. Isn't that enough?"
"I cannot believe I'm hearing this from you," Dionysus replied, enunciating each word crisply and clearly. A sign of anger Sabiniano had heard too many times… "You are my son, my priest. I have given you everything. How dare you defy me?"
"I will not give her up, father," Sabiniano said sadly, resolve hardening his expression. "I will not allow her to die again because of me."
"Because I love you, I will pretend I didn’t hear that," Dionysus said. His face was beautiful in its coldness, completely without expression. "Bring her head to me tonight and I will forgive you."
"I will not," Sabiniano said quietly.
"Then you will pay my price. I’ll make you suffer in ways humans can’t even imagine," Dionysus replied, his voice a dark hiss of anger. "Think upon it. I expect to see you tonight."
Chapter Ten
Mount Olympus
It was done, then, Athena thought quietly. How it hurt her to give up Kalliara to Dionysus. Of all her fellow gods and goddesses, she despised none as she despised him. And now he had taken one of her most precious children as his own. It pained her to even think of it.
But it was for the best. Kalliara would live, guarded by Sabiniano and blessed by Aphrodite. Of course, she would eventually wither and die naturally. But that was Sabiniano's problem, not Kalliara's, Athena thought with satisfaction. Ultimately, he, too, would pay a price for hurting her child. He would be alone.
"Hello, Athena," a cool, dark voice spoke behind her.
She turned, startled out of her musings, to find Dionysus there, watching her.
"I expect you've come to gloat over your triumph," she said, keeping her tone neutral. "I didn't expect Kalliara to give in, you know. She has proven to be a less than faithful servant," she added dismissively. Dionysus laughed, but it wasn't the laugh of triumph she had expected. It was bitter and harsh.
"Don't play games with me, pretty virgin," he said tightly. He leaned in her doorway indolently, but every muscle in his body seemed tense and ready for action. Something wasn't right, she realized.
"I know what you've done," he said, pushing himself away from the doorway. He stalked toward her, his gaze filled with an intense emotion she couldn't read. This wasn't her plan at all…
"How stupid do you think I am, Athena?" he asked coldly. "I see right through your little ploy. You gave her to Sabiniano, probably even roped Aphrodite into making him fall in love with her. And you expect me to believe that I've won? I don't think so."
Athena kept her face carefully blank.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said coldly. "I've lost my priestess' daughter. Isn't that enough for you? Why are you still troubling me?"
"Sabiniano defied me earlier," he said, moving closer. She swallowed nervously. He towered above her, every inch of him hard and male. Their powers might be equally matched, but physically he was much stronger than she. Would he actually dare attack her?
He laughed, as if reading her mind.
"Foolish, Athena," he whispered, leaning in to speak directly in her ear. She felt his hot breath against her neck and shivered. "I'll have her head yet. But I'm very angry with you right now, and it's no longer about your stupid priestess. It's about my son."
"Sabiniano?" she asked, startled. "I've done nothing to him."
"Oh really?" he asked, leaning back. He strolled back toward the door, every inch of him filled with suppressed energy. He was a giant black cat, poised to pounce at the smallest movement. Ah, but she despised Dionysus!
"My son defied me earlier," he said, quietly, turning back to face her. "I may have to destroy him tonight. If that happens, I will hold you personally responsible. And you will pay. I promise you that."
He turned and strode out of the room without another word.
"Dammit!" she cried, slamming her hand down on a table. It crashed to the floor, shattered by the force of her blow. She held her hand up and watched as a tiny trickle of blood ran down her arm.
Things had spiraled out of control.
* * * * *
Sabiniano stared down at Kalliara, sleeping so peacefully in his bed. His heart filled with sorrow. This one day was all he would have with her, and then an eternity of torment.
But it would be worth it.
He would rather suffer for all time at his father's hands than give her over willingly to the Maenads. He would love her today, and then, before the sun set and his father came for them, he would kill her. Quickly and painlessly. He would carry her spirit to the gates of the underworld, and then he would go face his father.
There was no other way.
But in the meantime he would bring her pleasure unlike anything she'd ever experienced. It would be his final gift of love.
* * * * *
"Oh, this is horrible," Aphrodite said, dropping her face into her hands. "Are you sure, Athena? Maybe he wasn't serious."
"No, I'm sure," Athena said, unable to meet her fellow goddess' gaze. She stared at her hands, willing the problem to go away. It wouldn't.
"What are we going to do?" Aphrodite said in a quiet voice. "You have to think of some way to appease him, Athena. And how did he guess that I was part of it?"
"I don't know!" Athena said, throwing her hands up in the air. She stood abruptly and paced across the room. "We have to think of a way to save Kalliara."
"What about Sabiniano?" Aphrodite asked quietly. "We have to save him, too."
"I don't care about him at all," Athena said, her voice disgusted. "It's his fault this happened in the first place. He's the one who tried to take her."
"Well, to be fair, it's Dionysus' fault," Aphrodite said tartly. "Sabiniano was under his influence, wasn't he? Those rituals may seem like a perversion to us, but they are his duty as a priest. Not only that, Dionysus possesses his people with a special madness. I don't think we can hold him accountable for that."
"I'll hold him accountable for whatever I choose," Athena snapped. She turned and sighed. "I'm sorry, you're right. But I refuse to feel sorry for him. Kalliara is my only concern."
"Well, both of them are my concern," Aphrodite said, her voice filled with pain. "He loves her. He's defying his father to protect her. As soon as he did that, he became my child, too. I won't abandon him to Dionysus."
"What do you plan to do?" Athena asked quietly.
"I'm going to go see Dionysus and talk to him," Aphrodite said. "I won't abandon my children without a struggle. And they both became my children when they fell in love. She's not your problem any more, Athena."
With that Aphrodite stood and clapped her hands sharply. Several beautiful young priestesses appear out of the shadows to attend her, bowing before the two goddesses.
"Bring me my silver spider-web gown," Aphrodite said. "And prepare my bath. I have an errand to run, and I want to look my best."
"What about me?" Athena asked. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yes," Aphrodite said. "I want you to go to Zeus and ask a favor. I want him to grant Kalliara immortality. That way, no matter what happens, the two of them will be together. He's willing to give up everything for her. Let's give her the chance to pay him back for that gift."
"I'd rather she stay mortal," Athena said tightly. "Then she can go to the underworld and exist in peace, no matter what happens.”
"Well, she's not your child any more, Athena," Aphrodite said coldly. "She wouldn't have gotten into this situation if you hadn't held her to your impossible standards, denying her a family and husband. She's mine now, and she's in love. I want her to be able to stay with her man no matter what happens."
"Why should I go to Zeus?" Athena asked, disgusted.
"Because I'm the only thing that stands between you and all-out war with Dionysus," Aphrodite replied coldly. "So right now, you'd better focus your attentions on keeping me happy. Understand?"
"Yes," Athena replied softly. "I understand perfectly.”
* * * * *
"Dionysus, may I speak with you?" Aphrodite said softly. She walked into his private room, careful to roll her hips as she walked, but no too much. She didn't want to appear too obvious…
He turned to her, his face expressionless.
"My attendants told me you were coming to see me," he said coolly. "Any particular reason you chose today? Usually you seem to avoid my company."
She pouted her lips, and he laughed.
"You never change, do you?"
"Would you really want me to?" she purred, lifting one arm sensuously. The silky fabric she wore was nearly transparent; she could feel it pulling tight against her nipples.
"No, not at all," he said softly. He glided across the room, and lifted one of her slender hands to his lips. "I would never want you to change a bit, Aphrodite."
Then he dropped her hand, and his expression grew mocking.
"I suppose it's entirely coincidental that you've come to see me so soon after my discussion with your bitch sister."
She laughed throatily.
"I've heard you accused of many things, Dionysus, but stupidity has never been one of them," she replied, allowing a soft smile to play across her lips. "I'm here about Sabiniano and Kalliara, of course."
"They're really none of your concern," he said, turning away from her. He walked across the room to a window overlooking the hills, and she followed. Calculatingly, she allowed herself to stand so close behind him that her nipples grazed his back; his muscles tightened in response.
"But they are my concern, Dionysus," she sad softly. "They're in love, and all lovers are under my protection. What will it take for you to let them go? There are other ways for you to fight with Athena."
"That's true," he said, turning to face her. He lifted one finger and gently ran it along her face. "But this is about more than Athena. It's about my son betraying me."
"He can't help his betrayal," Aphrodite whispered. "Love is more powerful than any of us. I couldn't give him back to you if I wanted to."
"Why did you have to take him in the first place?" he asked, and for one moment she glimpsed pain in his heart. It startled her; she'd never known Dionysus to care about anyone but himself.
"I didn't have to take him," she said, willing him to believe her. "I don't create love; I merely encourage what's already there. For some reason, Sabiniano and Kalliara were meant to be together. You need to let him go."
"But I don't want to let him go," Dionysus said mockingly. All traces of emotion were gone; once again, his cool, uncaring façade took over. "I want my son back, and I want Athena's bitch human dead."
She stepped back from him, allowing her seductive mask to slip off.
"Is there anything I can do to convince you to take your fight with Athena elsewhere? She's already lost, you know. Her priestess is mine now. Kalliara will never be able to go back to her service. Isn't that enough?"
"It would be enough if I hadn't lost my son, too," Dionysus said harshly, turning to face her. "He's chosen her over me. That I cannot accept."
"What if I offered to compensate you?" Aphrodite asked, taking a deep breath.
"What kind of compensation?" he asked, his face cold.
"Me," Aphrodite said quietly. "I'm offering you me. Or rather, use of my body for the day."
"What makes you think I want you that badly?" he replied, his voice expressionless.
"Oh, you want me," she replied, pressing closer to him. She ran one hand up his chest lightly, drifting across the hard nipples beneath his tunic. He was motionless beneath her touch. Laughing throatily, she rubbed her body against his. His erection jutted against her; she purred in response.
"All men want me, Dionysus," she said. Standing on her toes, she breathed light kisses against his neck. "I'm Love incarnate, and every creature secretly wishes to have me for their own. Whether they admit it or not. I've seen the way you watch me."
