Part 4 (1/2)
Chapter Five.
They found Pol in a taverna already dancing to the sounds of a stringed laota, his arms over his head, his feet tracing complicated patterns on the floor. Cas procured himself and Fiona a table near the center of the taverna, and they sat down to watch Pol.
Pol danced well for a man so tall and muscular. He moved with a sinuous grace that was all masculine and every female in the place appreciated it. He snapped his fingers with the beat and the drinkers at the tables around him clapped or snapped fingers with him.
He moved his feet as languidly as had the belly-dancer, his hands making sharper gestures than hers. His black hair glistened in the candlelight, his swarthy face gleaming with perspiration.
aHe loves attention,a Cas said, sounding amused. Head pulled his seat close to Fionaas and draped his arm across the back of her chair.
Another man joined Pol on the floor, one with white hair and an obvious experience with dancing. He danced slowly around Pol, the two men moving in harmony. After a time, another man joined with his wife.
Fiona looked up at Cas to find his face close to hers, his eyes holding a fire that could have burned down the taverna. She wondered where her shyness had gone. Two days ago, she would have writhed with embarra.s.sment to be this close to a man, especially when it was obvious what he had in mind.
Now she gazed back at him, her heartbeat quick, then raised her face to his and met his lips in a kiss.
His warm mouth brushed hers and he kissed the corner of her lips, darting his tongue briefly over her skin. Her female places went moltena”she swore there was lava down there.
She kissed him again, following his lead to take it slowly. His eyes closed, thick black lashes resting on his bronzed cheeks. He nuzzled her, then kissed her upper lip. She caught his lower between hers and sucked.
Cas made a noise of satisfaction. He drew back, eyes half-closed, the gleam from beneath his lids wicked.
On the floor, Pol continued to dance. He had his gaze on the dancing woman, a fact which the woman noticed and her husband did not. Pol winked and she blushed.
aI see my brother might be keeping himself busy tonight,a Cas murmured. He slid his arm around Fionaas shoulders and eased her gently back against him.
aBut sheas married,a Fiona hissed.
Remembering stories of G.o.ds and demiG.o.ds of the Greek Pantheon, she realized that none of them paid much attention to the marital status of the person they wanted. The only reason Zeus had disguised himself as animals or rain or whatever was because he didnat want his wife Hera to know he was off philandering. He hadnat been particular about whether the woman of his affections was married or single.
aFew women can resist Pol,a Cas said.
Fiona flushed. aIncluding me, it seems. Iave never done that before. You know, with two.a aThereas a first time for everything.a He cuddled her close and pressed a warm kiss to her hair. aI hope the second time is with me.a aWill Pol mind?a What is wrong with me? Iam asking a man if his brother minds if he doesnat do a mnage a trois with us.
aHe knows how to keep himself busy.a Cas skimmed his thumb along Fionaas jaw and turned her face to his. This kiss was still slow, but fuller, his mouth slanting all the way across hers. Her blood ran hot, sweat p.r.i.c.kling on her forehead, and the cream between her thighs was definitely lavalike.
He dipped his tongue into her mouth gently but completely and delved expertly to taste every corner of her.
When she came up for air, she saw Pol staring at them. His look was not possessive like Casa, but almost feral. He seemed to like watching his brother kiss Fiona so thoroughly.
aLet us walk,a Cas said. He sc.r.a.ped his chair back and rose, his large body dwarfing hers as he waited, his hand on her chair.
aWhat about Pol?a Cas slid his gaze to his brother who was dancing again. The beat had increased and Polas steps became faster and more intricate. Someone whooped.
aHeall be fine. He likes to show off.a aBut he doesnat know how to get back to the dorm. Should we leave him?a aWe will not go far.a Hand on the small of her back, Cas steered Fiona through the maze of tables and chairs and out into the cool night. The street was still lively, the sidewalks filled with people lounging and drinking and smoking, music spilling out of doors.
Fiona liked Athens best at this time of night. The work day was over, the night air refres.h.i.+ng, and everyone relaxed and chatted under the streetlights and the stars.
aIt was like this in the Athens of old,a Cas said. aExcept the married women stayed inside. I like to see the women outside, walking freely.a Fiona grinned. aAn ancient Athenian feminist.a aI have not heard this word feminist. But why should women be locked away like prisoners? Men should be allowed to look even if they cannot touch.a Fiona tucked her arm through his. aWell, I donat think your motives are exactly pure, but I sure wouldnat want to be confined to my home. But then, when I said I wanted to be an archeologist, people wondered why I didnat want to get married instead. Not that it was a difficult choice, because no one asked me to marry them.a aI am glad they did not. I would have to fight them or trick them to get to you, because I am determined to have you.a Her heart did a little flutter. aYouare very sweet.a His look told her he didnat know what she was talking about. She decided to say nothing more and just enjoy walking next to a tall, delicious man with beautiful black eyes who wanted to be with her.
aWhen did you begin to believe me?a Cas asked. They reached the end of the street and turned into a narrower lane, replete with shadows.
aHmm?a aWhen we first appeared in your bed, you did not believe we were demiG.o.ds from your vessel. Why do you now?a She thought a moment, twining her fingers more firmly around his forearm.
aI donat know, really. I figured if you want to say youare demiG.o.ds from 500 B.C.E., why shouldnat I let you? Either youare telling the truth and believing you is the least I can do, or youare making it up as a joke, in which case, who am I to stand in the way of your fun?a He slanted a smile at her that was full of promise. aIt sounds very logical.a aYes, it does to me too. I think. Why are we here?a Cas had led her around another corner into a sheltered walkway between streets. It had been turned into a strip of hidden garden with a latticed roof laced with vines and roses, a gravel walkway, more vines on the walls, high where they could reach the sun, and wooden benches.
aWhy do you think?a he said, then he kissed her, a full-blown a.s.sault this time.
His tongue reached deep into her mouth, possessing it, telling her firmly, You are mine. He tasted incredibly sweet, the rich dark wine head drunk mellow and soft on her tongue. She twined her arms around his neck, liking having someone want her so much.
The kiss was hard and demanding, his mouth opening hers, lips bruising. Fiona had never really believed women sighed in surrendera”it was only what she read in romance novelsa”but her knees weakened and she let out a moan that was pure surrender. Shead wave a white flag if she had one.
aFiona,a he whispered as he moved his mouth to her cheek, her forehead, her chin. His shoulders bunched as he kissed her throat, his kisses including little licks that sent shock waves through her body.
aWhat if someone comes?a Her voice was weak, as though she couldnat think why she was protesting at all.
aWhat if they do?a He smiled, breath hot on her face. aWhat if they see you, beautiful Fiona, and me loving you?a He slid his hand into her blouse and began to undo b.u.t.tons.
aNo, really, itas a public walkway.a He led her a few feet down the path to the shadows next to a bench. aBetter?a aNo.a aLet them watch.a He kissed her parted lips, darted his tongue inside, then evaded her when she tried to kiss him back. aDo you like being watched?a aNo. I donat know. I never have been.a He pried open more b.u.t.tons, working his way down her s.h.i.+rt. Cool air touched her b.r.e.a.s.t.s which swelled over her sensible white bra. He touched the top seam, fingertip brus.h.i.+ng her skin. aI want this off. How does it work?a aIn the back.a She reached behind herself but Cas slid his hand inside her s.h.i.+rt and began to work at the clasps.
A demiG.o.d from ancient Greece shouldnat know how to undo bra hooks, she thought, and he didnat. He played with them for a long time before they finally burst free.
aDid your other lovers never display you?a Cas asked as he eased her s.h.i.+rt and bra from her shoulders. Both garments hung from her lower arms, and she froze, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s exposed to outside air for the first time in her life. aDid they never show others how beautiful you were?a Stunned surprise chased shock then amus.e.m.e.nt through her brain. aHardly. Charles, my boyfriend in grad school, didnat even want to display me to himself. He always kept the light off.a aPerhaps he had something to hide,a Cas suggested. aThere is no reason to conceal this beauty.a He traced his fingers over the sides of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s then to her areolas, which were already hard and tight for him.
aYou think Iam beautiful?a Could she sound any more wistful?
aWhat I think does not matter. Your beauty is a fact.a She s.h.i.+vered hard, so wanting to believe him. No one had ever called Fiona McCarty, Ph.D., dusty archaeology postdoc, beautiful.
aI think youare flattering me so you can get into my pants,a she said, then she blushed, remembering the taverna and Cas pressed behind her. aNo wait, you already got into my pants.a aEvery moment of this afternoon was unforgettable. I want more.a aYou make me want you too.a aGood.a He drew out the word, breathing into her hair.
aI donat trust myself,a she whispered as she slid her hands around his neck.
aThen trust me.a She closed her eyes, already knowing she wasnat going to fight. Donat lose your heart, Fiona, she chided herself. He showed up out of nowhere and heall take what he wants and disappear back to nowhere, leaving you in the dust. Itas what happens with gorgeous men like him.
Yes, but gorgeous men like him never happen to me.
She had no intentions of pus.h.i.+ng him away. She kissed him as he went back to swirling his fingers around her areolas. If he was going to leave her in the dust, why shouldnat she enjoy the heck out of him first? Shead go in with no expectations. Expectations were what got you hurt.
No way could she push him away anyway. Her entire body was on fire, cream ran rampant between her legs and he was so strong.
Cas sat on the bench and pulled her to stand between his thighs. This made it easier for him to tilt his head and close his lips over her nipple. Fiona groaned and let her head drop back, thrusting herself farther into his mouth.
He suckled her, a sensation of both pleasure and pain. Her old boyfriend had occasionally played with her nipples while they had s.e.x, but with Charles it had been pinch, pinch, thrust, thrust, done, and her lying there wondering what had happened.
Cas took his sweet time. He gave all his attention to her breast with lips and tongue and teeth and fingers, until her body heated to unbearable temperatures. As if sensing she was pus.h.i.+ng the limit, Cas released her. Just as she drew a breath of mixed disappointment and relief, he switched to her left breast.
She murmured something incomprehensible even to herself and swirled her fingers through his black hair. She loved the feel of it, thick and silky, rampant with curls.
He moved his tongue around her left nipple, playing until it stood up as much as the right. Then he switched back and forth, sucking one, nipping the other, flicking his tongue over the first one, rubbing fingers gently over the second.