Athenian Slave (Book 2)

Chapter 59

AN - Only one more chapter to go, but the new book in this series is already running around in my head! I don't know when the next chapter will be up as I am currently on a weeks holiday in the Lakes and don't know how frequently I will get wifi! Enjoy the chapter! Az x

Chapter 59

Looking out over the vista once more, Charmion took a deep breath of the sultry warm air. This was her home. The house in Athens had been the placed she had grown in, the place she had worked in, but never the place she could call her home. This place, in the middle of nowhere, over an hours travel before any other villa could be found. This was where she had found her true self, this was where she had found out what real love was and this was where she had become the woman she was right now.

She could not believe the road that fate had taken her on, she had even managed to find family once more. While she had been forced to find family by choice with her own ripped so untimely from her, the gods seem to have deemed her worthy to receive at least part of them back once more in her life. Theod and Elpis had stayed for a month terrorising Bion before moving on to terrorise Alexios' house instead. Leaving both houses in complete disarray and the rooms ringing with laughter and shouting for weeks afterward. Now at the end of summer, Alexios had managed to conduct all of his business and get them back to this haven. Letting her soul sing once more.

As the sun cast oranges and reds across the vista, easing the deep ache within her, this was what she had wanted all day. Just the peace that came with the end of the day, when everything went still for a few minutes and the entire day froze on the precipice of night. A haunting picture that promised more while giving way to darkness. Yet it also gave hope, hope and a promise for a new dawn. For all the dark would dissipate when the new dawn broke, starting the cycle all over again.

While she may now be the lady of the house, she still got involved in any work necessary, she knew how it worked, so what would be the point in sitting back and watching others struggle when she could just as easily do it herself.

Closing her eyes and tiling her head back, letting the dying rays of the suns light to soak into her skin, warming her from the inside out, she thought on what she had only recently learned. Not knowing whether it would bring joy or not, leaving an emptiness of emotion with the lack of decision over the actual sensation she should feel. For she felt a little of everything but never having one over the other was enough to cancel each of them out.

With a slow release of her breath, she smiled as the very familiar feel of strongly muscled arms came around her as Alexios sat down behind her. Bracketing her between his bent knees. Pulling her gently against his solid chest. Kissing her with feather light precision on the temple, breathing deeply of the floral scent she managed to keep in her hair. Reaching behind her, she threaded her fingers through his thick hair and tugged him a little closer. Turning her face into the side of his. Needing this closeness as much as he did at times. Both still surviving the horrors of their past. No matter how different their experiences, they both needed each other to get up and move on some days, and just needed human contact on others.

With humour in his voice which made her smile all the more, he whispered in her ear. "How did I know I would find you out here?" He paused for effect. "Again." She could feel his lips move against her as he kissed the shell of her ear. Pulling her tighter against him. "It brings me peace. I just need to be away for a while."

Nuzzling at her soft skin with his nose, she couldn't help the playful kiss she set to the very tip. "Do you want me to leave you in peace?" Without provocation she playfully slapped him on the shoulder, both gently chuckling. Alexios dug his fingers into her sides, causing ripples of laughter to peal from her throat. Taking her down to the floor, not letting her escape, not until she shouted out her surrender. Gasping out her breaths, she grinned widely, knowing her warrior would never have played like that even a few months ago. As he rolled off of her, she leant up and lay her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart under her ear. Keeping her calm and rooted on this earth.