Chapter 189 - Thing you need (1/2)
Several months later
Perseus slapped Peg hard on the back. ”Come on not even that one?” He asked as he pointed to yet another maiden that had been brought in for the night's entertainment.
Peg shook his head. ”No sorry. I'm just not interested in any of these women.” Peg forced down the burning amber liquid in the glass that had been place before him more than an hour ago. Perseus and several of his friends had been pushing woman after woman at him for more than a month now, insistent on him progressing to the next stage of manhood by taking one of the loose Trollip's that frequented gathering such as these. What he hadn't bothered telling his dear friend was that the only woman that had ever drawn and held his attention was the man's own wife. Peg let out a long sigh. ”I'm heading back, you guys have fun. Tell Ry I'm sorry I missed him.” One of the first people Perseus had introduced Peg to was his half-brother Orion. They had gotten along well enough, but the man was a complete rake. Ry, Perseus, and the god Zeus... apparently his uncle... seemed in competition with one another to see who could bed the most people. Perseus seemed to stick primarily to women of loose morals while Zeus and Ry seemed to hold open fascination with either s.e.x. They had both taken multiple people to their rooms on more than one occasion.
Peg shook his head as he scaled the back stairway of the castle. He paused at his new bedroom door, his eyes studying the door across the hall. Andromeda... The faint light of a candle flickered from beneath the door. He walked over and knocked lightly. ”Andy? Are you still awake?” He pushed the door open, not surprised to see she had fallen asleep with a book open across her chest. He smiled as he studied the beauty that was her sleeping form. Her dark soft lashes laid across her rosy cheeks. Her dark, curly hair contrasted with her creamy, porcelain skin. The pale peach dressing gown she wore did little to hide her womanly figure underneath. He ran a light caress across the back of the hand resting on top the book. He carefully lifted her hand and removed the book with his other. He folded the edge of the page and set it on the table beside her chaise. He couldn't help the widening of his smile as he brushed the loose curls away from her face. ”You are so beautiful.” He whispered. When she didn't respond, he bent and scooped her into his arms. Turning toward her bed, he carried her over and set her gently into the beds center. He pulled the covers up over her and bent to place a light kiss to her forehead.
” Peg?” Her groggy words brought a smile to his lips.
”Yes, it is I.” He responded in a low whisper.
”Um...” She sighed sleepily as she smiled. Her hand came up to find his arm and pull him closer. ”Would you lay with me for a while? Until I fall asleep?”
He chuckled, ”I believe you are already asleep.” Despite his words, he kicked off his boots and climbed into the bed beside her. ”Roll onto your side.” He whispered. When she did as he asked, he curled his large body around hers and slid one arm under her neck and the other around her waist, pulling her tighter against him.
”I had the worst dream.” She mumbled. ”You'd fell in love with one of the women Percy introduced you to, and I never got to see you again.” She tightened her grip on his arm that was around her. ”Promise you'll not leave me, even if you do find someone you care for.”
He kissed the top of her head as he tucked it under his chin. ”Not to worry, you will be the only woman to ever share a bed with me.” He placed another kiss to the top of her head. ”Sleep well, Love.”
When her breathing was even once more, he carefully removed both hands from her and got out of the bed. He walked over to the candle and blew it out, before leaving quietly out the door.
”Does Percy know you frequent his wife's bed late at night?” A husky voice asked from the shadows of the darkened hall.
”Ry? Is that you?” He pushed open his own door. ”Come in don't lurk in the hallways this late at night.”
Ry nodded and pushed himself away from the wall. ”They said you'd already left when I got there tonight. I had assumed it was because you didn't want to see me. Seems I was wrong.”
Peg frowned as he lit the candle on his nightstand. ”It's not as you think. I was simply caring for her, where Percy seems not to bother any longer.”
Ry arched a brow. ”Well, I suggest if you're going to make it a habit of coming in and out of her room, you make your intentions clearer.”
”What do you mean?” Peg asked as his frown deepened. He placed his boots by the table and walked over to the dressing mirror and began undoing the many fastenings of the clothing he wore.
”I mean if you are going to be seen coming in and out of a married woman's bedroom at all hours, you better set a clear picture as to... your tastes... that are not of her like.”
”I'm still not following you, brother.” Peg said as he fumbled with the buttons.
”I'm saying you should play the part of a man who only likes the company of other men. If anyone, especially Percy, was to find you in her room otherwise it could be trouble for the both of you.” Ry replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. ”You like her do you not?”
He met his brother's eyes in the mirror. ”She is my closet and dearest friend... The only one I need.”
Ry sighed, ”I know you want nothing to do with father, and I can't say I blame you half the time, but I do wish you would give the rest of us a chance. Arei is still eager to meet you. You don't have to isolate yourself from us as you do. Get out of this palace, it may do you both some good. This thing you have with another man's wife is unhealthy for the both of you.”
Peg turned angerly on his brother. ”And what do you know of it?”
Ry sighed again. ”Enough to know what results can come from another man's jealousy even involving his own sister.” He walked over and clamped his hand on his brother's shoulder. ”I know you do not see me as family yet, but hopefully in time you will, and you will realize I only offer this advice now as a way of helping you. Be careful little brother...” He released Peg and turned back toward the door. ”And give the rest of us a chance.” He nodded to his brother and closed the door behind him leaving Peg to stare blankly at the door.
Current day, Athens Embassy bar
”What do you think they are talking about right now?” Arei asked as he nervously scrolled through his phone.
Peg eyed his brother. He hadn't seen the gigantic man so worked up since the last time he'd seen Jos. ”Knowing Andy, she's probably got both girls entangled in the embarrassing story of our time together before getting married.” He arched a brow as Arei kept flipping through different apps, growing more irritated with everyone. ”What are you looking for?”
”Have you heard anything from Ry?” Arei asked as he scrolled through his contacts list. ”He hasn't sent me a message or anything which makes me suspect he's done something stupid, even more.”
Peg forged surprise. ”Ry, do something stupid, surely not!” When Arei didn't joke back with him, he frowned. ”What is it you think he's done?”
Arei held Peg's gaze as he pressed a button and moved the phone to his ear. ”I think he's dragged the kid onto Calypso's island in an attempt to lure out the goddess and somehow seduce her into lifting the curse from Jos.”
Peg's eyes widened in real surprise this time. ”You're joking right? He can't actually be that dumb, can he?”