Athenian Slave (Book 2)

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Her mind was not working in smooth currents. Alexios’ lips against hers scattered all thoughts, she could not think, and yet he had said something important, she was sure of it. But as his lips and tongue teased hers, she knew she was lost, and would have to give up thought for the moment, as her mouth opened beneath his and allowed him to dominate the kiss in a way she had never experienced before. Her back pressed tightly against the wall of the villa, Alexios pressed his hard body against her softer curves, one hand spearing in to her hair and holding tight to the back of her head, and the other stroking gently down her side.

The air had disappeared and while her chest started to ache, she could not bring herself to care, as the muscular specimen before her took over her mind, and played her body like an instrument. Her moans reached her eyes as if through a fog and all knowledge of where they were, and the guests within the villa at that very moment, were completely forgotten. As he pulled back, her head moved with him trying to keep the contact, as her hands gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into the tense muscles beneath her hold. “Nay…” Her utterance was pulled from her without her knowledge. But the fact she had uttered the whisper almost made Alexios preen. He was no longer and untried youth, yet at the same time, this woman was one such that made him think he was such a youth once more.

“Shh, Charmion. As much as I wish it were just the two of us, I have realised I have guests which will be wondering where their host has disappeared too.” A wry twist of lips as he jested at himself. Reaching up to trace the side of her face with a fingertip, he watched her try to catch her breath, and could not help the smug smile that overtook his face at the knowledge he put her in this condition. Unable to resist what he wanted, he glanced at her parted lips once more. Pressing her back into the wall once more, she willingly accepted his kiss once more. Coming away, leaning forward again pressing his lips to hers in a chaste kiss, once, twice, three times. Her eyes glazed and her breath sawing in and out as she tried to catch it and calm herself once more.

His smile spread slowly over his face, as he reached up to gently tug her hands from his shoulders. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against hers and held her hands tightly in his, their fingers interlocking. Inhaling, he caught the scent of the flowers she had been working with recently, the floral fragrance one he could not catch without thinking of her now. “I must go back to my guests, at least until I can take my leave as host.” He could feel his cheeks heat as he thought of his next request. For it was not an order, but he wished she would follow it anyway. “I hope to find you soon, in our chamber.” He raised a brow as he watched her try to process his words.

Slowly he saw her eyebrows furrow as she let the words sink in. A retort making its way visibly to her lips, and he could not face a negative, as he feared it would be. “Charmion, I need to stabilise my place with these people. I wish I did not have too, but I have the lives of everyone here to think about, and these people can help me to set up deals with the wine made here.” His eyes darted over her face as she still tried to find a gap in his speech to finally give an answer, and he just could not listen to it. “You understand this?” Her small, reluctant nod, proved she was listening, and understood fully what he was trying to say. “Will you wait for me?” Her eyes proved the point he most feared. The conflict she felt was the most prevalent and visible emotion. Just as she started to shake her head this time, both hands came to cup her face and pause her movements.