Delos Descending Read online

  She turned away from the stallion and shook her hair back over her shoulder when the wind caught it. “You've changed too."

  Del saw a decidedly feral gleam within her eyes as she looked over his body. Suddenly, his old playmate was no longer the child he'd waved goodbye to when she left on that sunny day so many years ago. This Meg was someone new and exciting. He'd have never found himself experiencing a hard-on because of little Meg. This woman, however, was turning him on with just a look. A simple fixated stare was telling him more than words ever could. She wanted him, and his body was responding with gusto.

  Meg lifted one hand and pressed her palm to his bare chest. “I hear you're looking for a woman who would promise fidelity. I also hear that you've had a difficult time finding such a mate."

  He glanced down at her hand and felt his skin tingle from the warm contact. “That's true. I've almost given up looking."

  "Try harder,” she suggested.

  "How do you mean?"

  She shot him what she hoped was her most winning smile. “What if I were that woman?"

  All his dreams suddenly fell into place. It was the perfect solution. Better still because he actually knew Meg and had a history with her. The other women sent by his father, and who he'd so rigidly interviewed, were strangers. Why had he never thought of Megaira?

  The answer to that question was simple. He'd always perceived her as a little girl. The idea of bedding her had never entered his mind. Now, however, that thought was not only becoming firmly lodged in his brain, it was feeding his libido like wood feeds a fire.

  He moved very close to her and gazed down into her eyes. “I'll only ask once if you're serious."

  "Quite,” she whispered.

  Del placed the palms of his hands against her tiny waist, felt the warmth of her body even through her leather clothing and slowly nodded. “So be it."

  Meg walked into his embrace and tilted her head back for his hot kiss. She put to use all the skills the witches had taught her and gently sucked on his lower lip just before their tongues entwined. But the old women under whom she'd studied could never have described what to do with the fire that entered her vagina, creeping its way through her abdomen and causing her clit to almost drip in anticipation. As Del kept kissing her deeper and harder, instinct was her only guide. She must have pleased him on some level because she heard his low moan of approval as it erupted from deep within his throat. Her guttural reply quickly followed.

  She waited for what would come next. Almost too late, Meg remembered the warning.

  Chapter Two

  She gently broke the kiss, pushed Delos away and kept her head bowed. “We ... we have to tell my father and Kato."

  "Of course,” he whispered. “We'll do this any way you'd like, Meg. You've only just got home and would like to plan a wedding..."

  "No. It's not that.” She lifted her head and gazed up at him. “I was thinking about Zeus and Hera. Your father will want you wed within the temple on the mountain. Hera will do anything to interfere with the wedding. From what I hear, she still harbours a great deal of anger to any sons born to Zeus and any other woman."

  "You're right, she certainly does. But I don't know of any other solution. My father has always wanted me to marry in the temple."

  "I have an idea,” she readily offered. “My father has rights as a minor god. He can wed us. Kato can be the witness. By the time Zeus and Hera find out, the deed will be done. Even Hera wouldn't find it sporting to interfere by then. She'd likely look to one of your half-brothers or half-sisters to torment."

  Her logic was perfect. In that logic, he remembered all the times that Meg had known the exact right thing to say or do, even as a child. She was the one who'd always kept him from doing something that would cause Hera's immediate wrath. When he would have put a serpent in Hera's bed, Meg stopped him. When he would have put an old chamber pot filled with horse dung over Hera's chamber door, Meg talked him out of that infantile act. Her calm thinking and her way of cooling his temper had always impressed him. Memories of their childhood days flooded his thoughts. He couldn't believe he hadn't considered her for a mate sooner.

  "Your plan will undoubtedly work."

  She touched his face and ran her thumb over his full lips. “Would it matter to you that you weren't wed in the temple?"

  If she kept touching him the way she was, he'd wade into the ocean and marry her in the waves if she asked. “Whatever gets us married soon. The official ceremony was my father's idea, not mine."

  She grinned. “Then, we can do this tomorrow morning?"

  Del gasped, but couldn't keep the wild, uninhibited grin off his face. “This is almost too good to be true."

  Meg shifted her gaze away. Her conscience was already starting to nag. “Meet me here at dawn. I'll speak with Kato and he'll deliver the message to your father after the marriage is over. We can even leave for a while to let your father's disappointment settle."

  Again, she was plotting with all the skill of any general. Del felt his anticipation rising by the moment. By tomorrow, he'd have the best woman by his side that Fate could have offered. And they could begin their life together, away from the scheming and intrigue of the gods and goddesses of Olympus for a short time. “I'll be back at sunrise."

  Meg was suddenly pulled against his hard body and kissed with all the passion that any virgin could stand. When he strode purposely away, she sat on a nearby tree stump and considered how easy the entire scheme had worked. Her father, Kato and she had all used his need for a wife and a home against him. Would he ever forgive her once he found out about her lie?

  * * * *

  Del glanced down at the slender silver cord that loosely bound his hands with Meg's. It served as a symbol of their hand-fasting. The deed was done. By the time his father found out, he and his new bride would be miles away from Olympus, bedding down together.

  "I've saddled Fleetwind. Ride to the south and don't look back,” Hephenon advised. Then, he hugged Meg and his new son.

  Kato chimed up. “I'll placate Zeus by telling him you'll both make an appearance later. When I explain your concerns about Hera, he'll understand.” He then patted them both on the shoulders. “Good life, good love and happiness in abundance to you both."

  As they prepared to leave, checking their provisions and making their last goodbyes to the two older men, Meg's conscience was at the lowest it had ever been. When Del found out about her ruse, he'd hate her. That beautiful smile on his face would be replaced with a scowl of rage. But she'd taken her chances as her father and Kato had suggested. Now, the future was in her hands.

  Del turned to her, held out his hand and helped her mount Fleetwind. He took his seat behind her and put his heels lightly to the big stallion's flanks. Today, his life and Meg's began. The sun shone down on them brightly, and reflected his high mood. Everything was just perfect. And, as she leaned slightly back against him, the gait of the horse had him thinking of how he'd hold Meg while in the height of passion. That slender, luscious body would be his, and he knew for certain that Meg would honour her vows and never lie with another man. He'd not only found the woman of his dreams, but she'd first been a friend. Life simply didn't get any better.

  After a solid hour of riding, he'd noted her silence but accepted it as a new wife's introspection. Her gloved hands closed over his in a possessive way he found most beguiling. Those hands would soon be on his body. She turned her head, gazed up at him and smiled longingly. Del was lost. Happiness invaded his every thought and breath.

  He pulled gently on the reigns when they reached a fork in the road. It didn't matter to him where they went. They just had to get far enough away to let his father simmer down for a while. Zeus wouldn't take his son's refusal to be married in the Olympian temple, as tradition dictated, quietly.

  "Right or left?” he softly asked. To his surprise, Meg pointed up a hill to their left.

  "Up there. If I remember correctly, Father said there was an old ru
in where we can rest for the night. Fleetwind will have plenty of grass and there'll probably be fresh water for him in a trough. All these ancient sites have one near the building entrances."

  "That's true enough. But I'd have thought you'd want to spend your wedding night in someplace a bit more resplendent,” he joked. “I was going to take you to the temple of Venus for the night."

  "As long as we're together, where we love doesn't matter to me, Del."

  Again, a wave of euphoria washed over him. He immediately reined the stallion up the hillside, revelling in her warmth against his chest.

  When they reached the top, Del could see the entire valley spread out before them. The tall trees rustled in the wind and the grass grew green.

  Fleetwind snorted his approval.

  Del patted his neck and helped Meg to the ground before sliding down and standing beside her.

  Meg grinned and pointed to some plants. “Look, there are wild herbs growing near the foot of the ruin. I'll be able to gather them for our wedding bower."

  Del watched as she walked forward to inspect the plants. Her every move was as graceful as a butterfly. He took a deep breath and finally took in the columned ruin further up the hill. There was no longer a roof, and shredded lengths of white gauzy fabric were wafting from the marble supports that were still left. Someone had probably made an offering there during the last year and the fluttering material was what was left of their efforts to please the gods in some ancient ritual. Somehow, the ruin was perfect. The stars would look down on them as they made love for the first time. He turned to find Meg watching him closely.

  "If you'll take the provisions to the ruin, I'll finish gathering my bridal herbs and meet you in the ruin,” she suggested.

  Feeling his body already responding to the promise in her gaze, he grinned at her and turned to remove their large bundle of provisions lying across Fleetwind's rump. Then, he unbridled the stallion and let him roam at will, seemingly happy to do just that.

  When he entered the ruin, there was a centre stone, oval in shape. It was more than large enough to serve as a bed, and the wafting fabric would make an ethereal canopy over them. He found wood, built a small fire in an offering urn, then began to place their provisions within easy reach of the oval dais that would serve as their bed. To his delight, there was a small bathing pool just outside the columns which was fed by a tiny waterfall. Years of neglect had caused ferns to grow in profusion around the little pond.

  He glanced over his shoulder, but couldn't see Meg. She'd love bathing in the tiny pool. It was just big enough for a man and woman to stand within and hold one another close. And as he thought of bathing with Meg, his cock swelled within his leather pants causing him to gently rub the area with the palm of one hand, readying himself even further.

  As Meg was nowhere to be seen, now would be the time for him to make his offering as a new husband. Quickly discarding his clothing, he waded into the pool and found the clear water still warm from the sun. He ducked beneath it and revelled in the way the warm water swirled around his body, caressing his erection fully. After a few minutes, he walked out of the pond, went back inside the ruin and knelt before the burning urn. There, he raised his hands in silent thanks for the bride given to him and the life they'd share. Spreading his knees wider, he lowered his right hand to his cock and began to slowly stroke. His left hand went to his nipples, alternately pulling at them in a way that would help him achieve a satisfying orgasm.

  Meg stood behind the column watching. She'd heard the splashing about outside the ruin and had been able to gaze at his magnificent body as he entered and exited the pool. The herbs she'd gathered lay at her feet, ready to place on the dais he'd obviously chosen as their wedding bed.

  By now, her pussy was positively dripping. Delos’ muscular, golden-tanned body gleamed in the sunlight as the fabric waving from the open beams overhead caressed his body and floated around the columns. This place was perfect. The man was all she'd ever dreamed of and had never thought to have. As he slowly stroked himself toward a satisfying orgasm, intent on ejaculating directly at the urn so his seed would traditionally make the final offering, she lowered her hands to her inner thighs. Her clothing had long since been removed, as soon as Del was out of sight. The only garment, if you could call it that, lay at her feet with the herbs. It was a long, black scarf she must convince him to wear later. For now, she could be herself and enjoy the man pleasuring himself before her. And, as he stroked himself into ecstasy, so would she. It would take a few moments for her to recover sufficiently to make an appearance, but Del would also need the time to recover from his ejaculation.

  Del moaned in delight. He dropped the hand playing with his nipples to his cock and spread his thighs farther apart. While one hand jerked, the other gently massaged his balls. He was in heaven. And there would be the whole night to come with Meg.

  "Gods above, here my plea,” he whispered. “Unite us this night in love and unity. I ... I give you my ... Ohhhh, my offering...."

  Meg watched as he began to undulate his body in time to his jerking motion. She matched that motion with her fingers against her clit. Every time he stroked up, so did she.

  Del dropped his head back and moaned loudly as his seed spilled forward. He aimed his cock in the general direction of the urn. Later, Meg would kneel here the same as he had, but after their first coupling. By engaging in such a traditional offering, they would ensure their fertility and the chance of a large, happy family. He took deep, cleansing breaths as the last of his seed dripped from the end of his penis.

  Meg felt the rolling orgasm hit her hard, just as Del was finishing. Her body jerked spasmodically and she felt the change come over her. As long as Del remained where he was, he wouldn't see her. And he would spend a few more moments offering the last of his prayers before rising to wait for her.

  Spent and gasping for air at the intensity of her orgasm, she quickly gathered her black scarf and herbs, then headed for the nearby forest for a few minutes. She had to get the picture of his perfectly honed body out of her mind. Otherwise, it would take longer than expected for her to revert back to human form. After stumbling to the woods, however, she knelt and fought off tears. Del would hate what she was. All Olympians did, that was why Zeus and Hera had ordered her kind destroyed centuries before. That mutual hatred was about the only thing the monarchs had in common these days. Still, one of the doomed creatures so reviled by all gods and goddesses had apparently escaped discovery. And that one being had contributed in some way to her bloodline. She hung her head in shame, hoping Del would understand her deception. If not, he'd be forced to reveal her legacy. Under the laws Zeus placed into existence many centuries before, that was the procedure. And, under those laws, she'd surely be put to death. Her father and Kato had assured her that Del would be different, that he'd protect her and keep her secret. She prayed that would be the case, and that the gentle loving boy she'd known was as equitable now as a man.

  Minutes after his final prayer, Del finally rose and went to their makeshift bed. Meg would make an appearance in her own time. For now, he'd rest and store energy for that encounter. He had it in mind to take her in every way possible, and make sure each position was sexually as gratifying for her as it was for him. She would be his mate, eventually the mother of his children. For that and the fidelity he could expect from her, he'd do anything she asked.

  Meg made an effort to calm herself, and felt her body change back into human form. Her torso and limbs, during the change, weren't all that different from her human body. Her face, however, was radically altered. That was the reason for the scarf. Somehow, she knew Del would comply with her request to wear it, but for how long?

  She'd literally made her bed, now was the time to lie in it. Meg picked up the items she'd need for her first coupling experience, took a very deep breath and walked toward the ruin. For what pleasurable time she had with Delos before he discovered her secret, she'd put all the training the witches had
given her to good use.

  When she entered the ruin, Del was lying on the soft pallet he'd made for them. He sat up and she saw pure fire in his gaze. He wanted her. She felt her heart beating harder and slowly walked forward.

  Del felt his cock respond even as she stepped lightly toward him. Every inch of her was perfection. Her hair drifted in soft curls around her slender body, down to a waist that was small and inwardly sculpted. Her bare legs were just tinted with a golden kiss from the sun's glare and they, too, were as beautifully shaped as the rest of her. She wasn't thin or emaciated in the fashion so many of the Olympian women prized, but healthy and elegant. He stood and held out his hands, unable to keep his gaze from wandering over her lovely, nude form.

  "You're even more beautiful that I could have imagined. I'm wondering, for the thousandth time, why I didn't ask you to be my bride first, Meg."

  She smiled. “You were still thinking of me as your best friend and as a little girl."

  He took the bundle of fresh herbs and wild flowers from her left hand. “Let me put these on the bed for you."

  She nodded and watched as he went about placing the plants just under the first layer of soft blankets. She couldn't help notice how his cock jutted from his body and bounce when he moved. His testicles hung low, ready for their encounter. And she was just as ready as he. Moisture pooled between her legs, causing a tingling sensation she wanted addressed as soon as possible.

  When the herbs had been placed under the blanket and the bed straightened as tradition dictated, Del turned to her. He glanced at her right hand and saw the bundled piece of black fabric she held.

  Meg saw the questioning expression in his feral gaze. “I-it's for you to wear. Over your eyes,” she quickly explained.

  Delos arched one eyebrow and felt a slow smile spread over his face. “A blindfold? You don't want me to see you?"

  She took several breaths and willed herself to stay calm. “You won't be sorry, I promise. It's something the witches taught me. A special way to pleasure you."