"Ares….it doesn't work that way….I can't do this right now…I just can't….It's still too soon…."

Saying these words, Xena had the awkward feeling that her lips were moving on their own, as if they were acting against her will, saying all the right, logically correct phrases, yes, but definitely contradicting everything that her heart was longing so desperately to do….

When she tried to move away from him, and those iron arms refused once more to allow her that luxury, keeping her trapped there in the alluring prison of his embrace, despite her best judgment, she couldn't help thanking the Fates that sometimes he was just as stubborn as she was….He instinctively knew when and how to act …

For once, deep inside, she didn't mind the idea of him taking advantage of her weaknesses…

"You can…You just have to want it….And being a God and all, I happen to feel just how bad you do want...need…lust for me….."

His voice was as smooth as silk but at the same time strong, vibrant, in control- that dark, morphinic, kind of voice that could make any woman loose herself in the enchanting melody pouring from his temptingly parted lips…..

She wanted to let go, to somehow find the courage to ask him to erase for at least a couple of hours that soul racking tragedy from her mind….and she wished for that liberation to wash over her with such passion that it hurt….Sadly, that was not an option….No…Her daughter...she would never forget her again...

First she had to fully heal, to be able to live with the remembrance of what she had lost and later down the road to finally accept reality as it was…..and maybe, just maybe, once she was at peace with herself, she could decide giving him a chance….a real chance.

"There's nothing I can offer right now, Ares….I…I feel so empty, so …shallow that I can barely recognize myself…..I can't help marveling at the fact that Gabrielle actually finds the strength to put up with me each passing day, on a regular bases…." she concluded, cleverly trying to bring up the "irritating Blonde" into the picture, thus diverting his attention from the intense moment they were sharing…

"Nothing huh? " he murmured a moment later while the the fingers of his right hand formed the perfect lock into her richly cascading raven hair.

Possessively, his left added some extra pressure against the small of her back- thus forcing their crotches to touch- and for the love of all Gods, she could deny it as long as she wanted to, but the truth was right there, undeniable and hard to repress, explicitly mocking her through the presence of that impossible to ignore heat building fast between her legs….

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" he directly suggested, his eyes persistently fixing the full shape of her lips….After split second of pause, they moved unabashedly towards her deliciously inviting breasts where they lingered appreciatively for a while ….then back to her lips again…

Under the weight of his provocative gaze, a tingling flood of anticipation rushed through the Warrior Princess' blazing body, her brain suddenly more aware than ever of their nearness….

She carefully held back a smile, thus avoiding any signs of encouragement, but before she could also add a firm "NO" to that attitude, the God was unhurriedly running his hand down the side of her neck, along her collarbone, and she could just swear she knew exactly what the final destination he had in mind would be , when, taking her completely by surprise, instead of teasing her some more and increasing the tension for like forever, in less than a flash he dematerialized all clothes off her, leaving her completely naked and exposed in front of him.

"Do you really wanna wait?" he inquired with a lazy smile, the back of his hand brushing her nipple on it's way down towards her waist, and it's safe to say that was rather a rhetorical question considering that she didn't get a fair chance to articulate one sound- the God had already backed her against a tree trunk, and in but a matter of seconds, he was on his knees at her feet, parting her legs with visible impatience in order to get where he wanted.

She reflexively tried to push him away, her brain screaming for her to at least sketch an expression of disapproval, but every similar intention was lost the minute his fingers dug into her ass cheeks and his tongue started working it's way back and forth her clit.

She had often heard the Gods mentioning oblivion, fearing it as if the term itself meant some sort of an unchangeable, merciless death sentence…Nonetheless, as her mind fell under it's unshatterable domination, the world itself appeared once again balanced and normal….

When the first spasms took over her body, ecstasy pounding through her muscles with the ultimate furry of a hurricane, sending her heart flying to Olympus and back, her own fingers gripped his shoulders with an animalistic ferocity...

...She had her answer….

XXX

Hours later she was still locked in his arms, hours later he was still grinning widely….

"Would you wipe that smile off your lips already? It's getting on my nerves…"

"Sorry Sweetheart, can't help it. Plus, can you blame a man for feeling deliriously happy with you so incredibly close?"

She just rolled her eyes at him…

"Hey…have I ever told you that if you ever get bored playing the whole Warrior Princess routine, you have an undeniable potential to become a very, very rich….tramp? You're an unbelievably good fuck...I've missed that….."

The instant her brain decoded the meaning of his phrase, her eyes suddenly turned into sharp daggers….Was he insulting her?!

She briefly wondered whether to rip his head off his shoulders right then and there or whether some barbaric type of torture was in order beforehand, when, taking a better look at his face, she clearly red the bemusement displayed on his features….He was only joking…

"Was that supposed to be a compliment….?" she casually inquired, stressing the last part of her line, still pretty much bothered by his inappropriate sense of humor.

"Indeed it was, Darling… As you are well aware, you do have unmatchable skills...Still, truth being told, you will always have a second option….You could simply accept the honorable title of Mrs God of War, and keep doing that phenomenally good job in a more intimate ambiance…." he added, taking advantage of her still confused and worked up mind and sliding a ring onto her finger.

In spite of the fact that she was still boiling mad, and that the urge to eat his heart while it was still beating was the only thing she could focus on at that particular moment, the words stopped in her throat, choking her. She was in shock, a shock that only increased even more when she glanced down at the exquisite silver rose she was now wearing, and noticed that it was the same one Ares had given her so many years ago…

"You still can't take it off….." he whispered, captivated by that look of surprise written all over her face.

"I did once…." she reminded him in a strangled voice, visibly touched by his gesture….

He arched an eyebrow at the unexpected response.

"No….I did….and that only happened because I wanted you to forget…..A mistake never to be repeated…."

She was hesitant…

"Ares…."

"You were meant to be mine, and you are….Now…I don't wanna pressure you or anything….Take your time, let your heart heal, breathe….and once you've done doing that, come back to me….I'll be waiting…."

"It might take awhile…"

"I have eternity….." he stated firmly, already confident in a positive outcome.

"In the meantime though…" he added on a considerably more seductive and lower tone "Let me enjoy your company….I'll be harmless, I promise…."

"Like you could ever be harmless…." she bit, caressing the gorgeous petals of the silver rose wrapped around her finger…

"At least I'll be on my best behavior….It's no fun without you around, you know…."

He was outrageously sweet…She hated him for it…..

"Are you saying that you wanna travel with us?!"

"Gods forbid! ….The Irritating Blondie would commit suicide in less than a week…I was actually thinking I could just drop by every now and then…."

"She won't like it anyway…She's not your biggest fan...And I could bet you'd be the one to try and take your life after the first two days with her chatting against your eardrums..."

"It's not like I care whether she likes it or not….." he stressed, ignoring the content of her last phrase.

"Well I do…..and her friendship means a lot to me, Ares!"

" And you mean a lot to me…"

Silence…

"Well…I'm sure you two can find a way to get along….You are both grown ups after all…."

"We most certainly are….." the God rushed to agree, doing his best not to laugh at his Princess' ridiculous idea….Like he and that Harpy could ever find common ground…..He could already hear her yelling desperately at Xena that she couldn't stand him anymore….He would get such kicks out of that whole situation….

A brain shattering blow in the head brought him roughly back to reality.

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

"For your kind compliment…." she retorted maliciously, already regretting that she didn't put some extra force in that hit. "I couldn't resist...I just had to thank you somehow..."

"I might have been a bit uninspired when choosing my words…." he admitted, rubbing his temple.

"You got that right!"

"But….that doesn't mean I don't stand by my other statement…..You could be a very rich woman!"

"Do you need me to punch you again?"

"It was just a thought….."

She frowned at him, ready to spit fire out her mouth, but soon his own lips were blocking every intention she had about speaking her mind….

"So ….I guess we should discuss China…." he casually began once they pulled apart. "What do you want? The North? The South? I'm easy! "

" Are you into sadomasochistic perversity lately ? "

"I'm not sure I haven't considered the idea a couple of times in the past, and generally I'm not really opposed to anything hot, dirty and potentially dangerous...Would you like to spank me? ...I've been a very very naughty boy this week..."

"Well, one thing I'm sure of...you do have a loose screw.."

In response, he just kissed her passionately again, every cell in his body vibrating with the thrill of feeling her breath mix with his, a rather addictive habit that he had missed terribly... .

"It's good to have you back, Princess..."

"It's good to be back..."

THE END