“I wouldn’t fret too much. Just keep near him and he’ll hold you out of trouble, I’m sure.” Calliope blinked as the woman laid a hand on her shoulder. “Now, go back to him with one last request that he join us. Yes?”
Calliope gave a half bow and bid the Lady a pleasant evening. She wasn’t sure she was quite ready to be thrust back out there with all those overwhelming people, and much preferred the idea of spending the evening quietly with Thelios, but she had to admit some curiosity as to what these dinners entailed.
Then again, it didn’t follow that just because he went, she would be going as well. In which case, she might stay in the rooms and have her quiet evening regardless. She was forced to admit that she’d definitely prefer to have him with her though. Especially after a day like today. As pathetic as it was, she felt she required some consolation.
She’d seen a glimpse of his usual humor before Lady Nagi had left, and she was now almost positive that none of his frustration was with her… but it would put her mind at ease to see some definite confirmation of it.
He had been so cool toward her when he first arrived… but then perhaps that wasn’t for her benefit at all. He’d been very direct in ordering the men, and very no nonsense. Which was a good thing really… appropriate for his rank here, and if he was truly trying to cultivate his dominance over these brothers of his so that he could keep them from pestering him overmuch, then it was what he needed to do. She nodded mentally, her mind rearranging the situation in her head in a much more logical and cohesive fashion until she almost felt her usual self.
Her mind finally managed to conjure him in her memories without the taint of her own insecurity… and the image wasn’t unappealing. What he lacked in his usually easy, confident manner, he made up for with sheer commanding presence. While not comforting, she had to admit… it was a little bit exciting. It was pleasing to see others defer to him, to see her master respected… feared even. But she needn’t fear him, did she? It wasn’t as if he was unreasonable, and so long as she was reasonable, what offense could a reasonable person take? It seemed logical enough to her.
On that last thought she found herself back at the door to his private rooms. She hesitated at the door for a moment, noticing a shifting movement out of the corner of her eye. She glanced toward it, half expecting to see Demitri, but instead she caught a glimpse of blonde hair disappearing into one of the rooms at the end of the greeting hall. She watched to see if the figure would emerge, but there was nothing, no sound or movement to disturb the simple, clean, whiteness of the space. Even the flowers in the strange courtyard were as still in the dimming twilight.
Another glance told her many more lamps had been lit, and she decided that must have been what the girl was busy doing. Satisfied she turned her attention back to her master and his current mood.
When the door was fully closed behind her, Calliope turned and leaned against it as she watched Thelios. He was watching her back, and brooding again from the look of it.
“Why Are you glowering, really?”
“I don’t want to be here.” If she hadn’t been sure he was incapable of it, she might have suggested she saw a pout somewhere in his expression.
The corner of her lip twitched. “So you’re just being petulant?” She teased softly.
He glared at her, but her small smile didn’t dim. There was something more familiar in that glare… she could see that now with her new perspective, and she couldn’t be upset by it any longer.
“No. I am not petulant. Irritated… Annoyed… Frustrated. Never petulant.” He cocked a brow at her waiting for a response, but she had nothing to say to that. So he sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing his brow with one hand.
“Tired perhaps?”
“That I’ll readily admit to.” He muttered, still massaging his forehead. “I’ve been to Hades and back trying to get information I already knew just to shut these people up… so I’ve no desire to spend any more time in their company than I absolutely must.” He must have read something in her expression because he smirked and added, “Figuratively speaking of course. I haven’t actually been to Hades… it just felt that way.”
She finally moved from the door and approached to slip in behind him, dragging her fingers across his broad shoulder, feeling the skin respond to her touch, until they found his neck. He grunted softly as they began to knead the tight muscle and tendons which ran from his skull back down to his shoulders.
It wasn’t easy work, it never was, but he was clearly tenser than normal… not surprising, and with the added size, there was just that much more to deal with. She quickly became focused on one particular knot, just behind his right shoulder, and was frowning hard at the spot as she dug in with the heal of her palm to push it out. She could hear his breath hitching when she pushed especially hard, but other than that, he made no sound and didn’t even shift as she pushed against him. He was like one of those statues out in the hall, just as silent and just as hard.
It was because of her focus that she was startled when her laboring hand was suddenly captured and pulled forward over his shoulder. Her own breath hitched and her lips parted in silent surprise as she watched him turn his head to press his lips to the now aching palm of her hand.
He turned away again, but didn’t release her. She couldn’t say how long she stood there, staring at her hand caught in his before she felt herself slowly melt into the back of him, wrapping her free arm around his shoulder, and pressing her own lips to the back of his neck.
He tasted of the sea. More than he usually did, anyway.
She told him so. He chuckled softly and told her she did as well and that they should both probably take a bath.
“Now?” she asked.
“Not quite yet.”
After another long moment she moved around the side of the chair, letting her arms drop from around him. She noticed that the glass she’d poured him had remained untouched. “Do you want that wine yet?”
“No. Not the wine.”
He reached out and caught her by the arm, pulling her back toward him until he could grab her by the waist. She chuckled as his hands literally encased and lifted her, depositing her in his lap like a sack of flour. She perched easily on one of his massive thighs, her own legs falling to either side, and let herself lean back against his chest.
For a time they merely sat like that, unmoving. His chest rose and fell slowly behind her, lulling her into relaxation until everything began to feel normal again… at least normal for them. She sighed and closed her eyes with a small, crooked smile.
One of his thumbs began making slow circles against her stomach. Her smile faded and she literally felt her heart begin to beat faster and harder in her chest, fluttering against her ribs like a caged bird. She’d allowed herself to be distracted by everything else, but now that they were alone, in the quite, still room, the issue she’d been avoiding for the last week or so had once again reared its unavoidable head.