"In the wrong hands it could be dangerous." His tone sounded final and she knew that was all she was going to get. For now, she thought. She'd squeeze him later when he was in a better mood. It usually helped if she was naked. Then again, under the covers she was.
"You smile at the strangest things."
She blinked again. She'd have to learn to control her facial expressions better when her mind wandered. His face hovered over hers.
"I was thinking of something else." His expression didn't change, but one hand slid around and beneath her giving her rear a firm squeeze. She lifted her chin defiantly."Not necessarily!"
He gave her another longer squeeze, pulling her up against him. He had her at the first squeeze, but she kept her chin up.
"Presumptuous, aren't we?"He was sliding his way down her body as she spoke. She tried to contain her excitement, but her body wasn't interested in playing coy and was wriggling away in anticipation. He rolled her onto her back and ran his tongue down her body from neck to navel then teased her by pausing to kiss the round of her stomach, inching ever so slowly over her waist and hips. She sighed and caressed his head in a familiar manner, smiling softly at him.
"Will you miss me?" He paused to wait for an answer.
"Not at all, I'm sure."
He bit her hip making her chirp a squeal in protest. "That's rubbish" he growled softly against the top of her thigh, his breath making a trail of heat which held her attention with frightening intensity.
Her smile shifted into a silent gasp as she twisted her hips under his hands. His tongue felt like cold water as it ran over her heat, soothing her and eliciting tiny pulsing, electric throbs at the same time.
"Tell me again who it was that said you were a cold fish?"
She groaned. "Stop talking."
"I asked a question..."
She slid her fingers over on of his horns and glared down at him with hazy eyes. "Less words, more tongue..."
He chuckled and crawled over her, his elbow at her head, and she sighed in disappointment. She'd already learned that he had an impressive capacity for patience. Indeed it seemed his favorite game to pause in the middle of proceedings just to make her crazy. She sighed again, this time in defeat.
"A few people... mostly my sisters.... but no one had tried that yet so..." she raised her hips as a hint. He ignored her and brushed his lips against her cheek.
"Well you're a hell of a lot warmer than the others' women."
Women? Which women?
"Whose?"
"'Family business' others. They tend to keep little harems... mind you some tarry only with nymphs... and they're notorious."
"Notorious for what?"
"Being cold fish." He was petting her stomach, and his teeth were nipping at her neck, but her mind was intently focused elsewhere.
"How would you know what their women are like?"
He cocked a brow at her. "How else."
"You slept with them?" She fought hard to keep the surprise out of her voice.
"A few. They tend to keep quite a number at their disposal, most of them. Especially at these little get togethers. They like to show off." He chuckled as he caressed her sides absently. "They even have these ridiculous competitions to see who has the better slaves. They're like little boys arguing over toys. Though I'll admit, some of them are quite... talented."
That did it. She sat up and paused his hand."And you sleep with them at these meetings?"
"Sometimes." He tilted his head at her curiously. She felt an irrepressible heat flare up in her stomach.
"And this time?"
He shrugged "who knows." He slowly smirked. "Why? Jealous?"
"No." It sounded defensive to her own ears. "No." She said again this time less intensely, "Just asking." She lay down again and turned over, her interest having rapidly waned. He peeked over her shoulder.
"Do you want me to promise I won't screw any of them?" It sounded like mockery to her.
"No. It would be pointless. Besides, why should I care what you do... I just serve here. It's none of my business." She sounded short, but she didn't care even if it was unreasonable, she felt irritated.
"You're right." He agreed. His hand returned to her side, but only for a minute before he sighed and rolled onto his back. She peeked over her shoulder when he didn't return his hand. His eyes were closed. Even if she was right he didn't have to agree with her.
"Well, maybe a little" she muttered turning away into her pillow.
"A little what?"
"Jealous." She was nearly inaudible.
"You'll have to talk to me, not the pillow." She could hear the amusement in his voice and let out an exasperated sigh and flipped over shooting him a nasty glare. He was already facing her, his head propped on his fist, smiling gently. She lost her steam and harrumphed, sitting up and crossing her arms over her breasts.
"Stop smiling at me like that."
He chuckled and leaned up, capturing her neck in his hand and pulling her too him, melting the rest of her ire with a long deep kiss."I would be too." She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out."You're lovely... now go to sleep."
She couldn't think of anything to say, so she turned over and tried to do just that.
The next morning Caliope woke up alone. Thelios was nowhere to be found, and Demitri, she knew, had been planning to leave early to pick up supplies in town. She'd wanted to ask him to get her vine leaves and a few other things and had forgotten. She cursed mildly and shook off the sleepiness. The sheep were awake and grazing in front of the cavern entrance. She'd slept in too long and many had begun to wander. It took her a good hour to collect them from the shore line and the little creek, the natural boarders of Thelios's land.
She'd learned, bit by bit, that to the north was a long ridge which defined the third boarder of the grazing land. The western tip of the ridge, the one that met the sea, was close by, so she started by heading the lazy fluff balls in that general direction. She knew she wouldn't be there until well after noon, so she let her mind wander as she half halfheartedly shooed errant lambs back into the herd. Her thoughts drifted first to her family.