Her Touch

3

Percy PoV

I woke the next morning to the sound of running water. I got up and stretched, figuring Artemis was in the shower. I walked over to the kitchen and started making breakfast.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Artemis stepped out wrapped in only a towel. I felt my boner creeping back up. "Oh! Percy! I didn't think you'd be up yet," Artemis exclaimed.

"So, uh, if you wanna get dressed, I made breakfast," I stumbled with my words.

Artemis walked over to me, still clad in only a towel, and kissed me on the chin. "Would you mind if I just wore this for breakfast? Or less?"

My boner was standing at full attention now. I gripped the counter. "Moonstar, if you did that, I don't think we'd be able to get through breakfast."

Artemis took my hand and blushed deeply. "I don't know what I'm doing, Percy."

I pulled her closer, one hand at her waist. "I can help with that, love. But we should probably get breakfast first."

Artemis pulled me over to the bed and pushed me on my stomach, my face in the pillow. "I'm changing. You can't move until I say so." I nodded.

I felt her fingers tracing along the back of my neck. "You can look up now, Percy." I rolled over and stood up.

I kissed Artemis and took her hand.

"Breakfast is starting to get cold, love." I led her to the dining table and we finally ate breakfast.

I wrapped my arms around Artemis's legs and lifted her up in the air as I stumbled back to the bed. Artemis yelped as she fell onto the bed. I started to kiss her neck, and Artemis closed her eyes, gripping my shirt. "Oh, Percy...Oh, that feels so good...Oh...."

Artemis placed her hand on my chest, her fingernails digging into my skin. "...Need to stop."

I nodded and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Okay, would you like to help me with my work?"

Artemis sat up and leaned into my shoulder. "What're we doing?"

"Well," I said, "I was hoping you could help me with writing my apology speech."

Artemis smiled and kissed me on the cheek. "Apology speech. Good for you. So what've you got written down so far?"

I scratched the back of my head. "Um, I've got down that I understand what I did was wrong, and that I hope, given enough time, everyone can grow to forgive all the things I've done."

Artemis smiled. "So when do you plan to make the announcement. "

I kissed her temple. "I was thinking the sooner the better, but I'm not sure other than that."

Artemis scooted into my lap. "Hmm, how about next week?"

I nodded and kissed her again. "That sounds great, Moon."

"So, Percy," Artemis started, "Why do you even have a foosball table if you never use it?"

"Because," l answered, "I never had anyone to play with. Do you wanna play with me?"

Artemis cocked her head. "Sure, but can you teach me how to play?"

I jumped out of bed and pulled Artemis over to the foosball table. "It's simple, spin and move the poles with the grips on them to move the people and try to get the ball into my goal. And, um, try not to get poked by the poles. They hurt."

Artemis nodded and took her place at the other end of the table. I dropped the ball into the table and spun the ball.

Somewhere along the line, I shoved the stick, and it slammed into Artemis's gut. "OWWWWWW!"

I jumped over the table and summoned some painkillers. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I am so sorry. Here, eat this." I handed her the painkillers and a glass of water. Artemis gulped it down and laid down.

I sat down next to her. "I'm so, so, so, sorry. I am the worst boyfriend ever. Is there anything I can do to help?" Artemis shook her head, holding her stomach. "I-I'm really sorry Artemis, I never meant to do that."

I walked over to the wall and punched it, hard. " Percy," I heard Artemis call, "I need a hug."

I plopped down next to my girlfriend and wrapped my arms around her. "Oh, I'm sorry, Artemis."

Artemis snuggled into me. "You're forgiven, Percy. I don't blame you. You did warn me after all." I nodded. "Okay, well, I still feel really bad."

Artemis kissed me and smiled. "Can I teach you how to dance?" I nodded and Artemis pulled me out of bed. She put my hands at her waist and hers around my neck. "So you put your hands like this, and my hands go like this, and then we do this." We began to sway. Artemis leaned into me, resting her head on my chest. I rested my chin atop her head and closed my eyes as I led her back to the bed. Artemis sat on my legs and kissed me gently on the lips. I laid back on the bed and held Artemis in my arms, kissing her. "We all better now?"

"Yeah, better," I mumbled as I fell asleep.

I awoke to find Artemis resting peacefully atop me. Artemis yawned and stretched, then kissed me. "Y'know, you're adorable when you yawn," I told her. "Hey, um, I got something for you." I reached over for the box on the nightstand and handed it to her. Inside was a blue and silver bracelet. She thought it was the most amazing thing.

Third PoV

Artemis blushed and looked away. Percy took her hand and kissed it. "Someday, I'm going to marry you, and it'll last forever and ever."

Artemis sat up on his chest, and the door suddenly busted open. "Your reign is over, Jackson!"

Guards stormed into the room, casting Artemis aside while they beat upon Percy, whom they had shot with a power neutralizer. As they dragged him away, Percy croaked, "Please, whatever you do, just don't hurt her."

Athena had a surprised look on her face, filing it away to question her sister about it.

As the guards filed out, Athena guided her stunned sister to another room. "Artemis, why did he ask for you not to be harmed?"

"Because," her lips trembled, "he was my boyfriend."

Athena gasped, "But he forced you, right?"

"No," Artemis looked down at her bracelet. "We've never even done more than kiss, actually."

"Why, Artemis? He's a bastardous, villainous, cruel dictator!" Athena
screamed.

"What are you talking about?" Artemis questioned.

"Well, he didn't treat us gods like royalty, so he must've treated everyone else like absolute shit," Athena explained.

Artemis sighed. "Athena, you don't know Percy. He's not like that when you get to know him. He's kind, sweet, and caring. Everything that he's been through has just made it hard for him to open up."

"Oh my gods," Athena covered her mouth. "You're in love with him. You're in love with the evil dictator that took over the world. You've got Stockholm syndrome."

Artemis shook her head. "No, I don't have Stockholm syndrome. And, I don't know how I feel about him, okay?"

"You like him? You, Artemis, man-hater, are romantically attracted to the man who took over the Olympian council. Really?" Athena specified.

Artemis nodded, fiddling with the bracelet. "Yeah."