By JinXavier
Warning: This story contains scenes of graphic consensual sex between a man and a woman. If you are under 18, or this is illegal where you live, please read no further.
The characters of Hercules and Ares, God of War, belong to Universal Studios and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended.
Cassandra straightened and brushed the dirt from her hands. Her back was beginning to ache abominably, which meant it was past time to stop for the day. She glanced around her small garden feeling more than a bit of pride. No, she'd never be a master gardener, but the flowers she'd planted definitely added some much needed color to her humble home.
She picked up her gardening tools to store them away, marveling at just how much her life had changed over the past months. How far removed she was now from the spoiled princess of her youth. And even further from the priestess of the temple of Ares, God of War. It was truly amazing to think that this time last year she'd been a captive on a slave ship heading for Rome. Since her rescue by Hercules and Ares and her subsequent departure from the temple, she'd made her way by taking in sewing, the one thing she'd learned as a princess that could make her an honest living. She'd hidden her sword away. She tried so hard to forget her earlier life. Sometimes, though, during the dark and lonely midnight hours when she couldn't sleep, she'd pull out the weapon and gaze at it longingly, remembering her time in the temple with bitter regret.
Oh, well. She'd made her choice; she'd have to live with it. The past year had been a busy one, and at last she had settled down and was at peace. She might not have the happiness of her days in Ares' service, but she was content with her new lot in life.
She finished putting away her things, then headed back toward her humble dwelling to clean up for supper. Her mind was very far away, so it took her a few moments to realize that a stranger was standing at her door. Her first thought was that it was a customer, but then the figure turned. Shock coursed through her body when she realized exactly who her visitor was.
Ares, God of War, stood at the doorway of her home. He looked even more beautiful than the last time she'd seen him. He seemed larger somehow, as if her memories had tried to shrink him. His dark curls were longer so that they brushed his shoulders. His face seemed leaner, and his eyes burned with a fire she'd never seen before.
They gazed at each other in complete silence for a moment, but at last he spoke. "Hello, Cassandra. You're looking well."
Cassandra glanced down at her earth-stained skirt. She'd kept her dark hair cut short, and she was sure it was sticking out in all directions. Her clothing and hands were filthy. She had lost weight recently and been unable to gain it back, so she was painfully thin. How could he possibly say she looked well?
"What are you doing here?" she asked, panic rising inside her. She had no wish to see him. Especially not here. Not now.
"I've missed you," he explained. "I was worried about you."
Cassandra cocked her head. "Really?" she retorted skeptically. "So worried that it's taken you a year to come see me?"
The god shrugged and some undefinable emotion flitted across his beautiful face. "I've been . . . busy."
"Have you?" she replied scathingly. "Well, that's too bad. I don't want you here."
"Cassandra," the god admonished softly, taking a step toward her. "Give me a chance."
"No, Ares," she snapped. "I told you it was over between us, and I meant it. Now LEAVE!" Her voice rose, as did her panic. She had to get rid of him. And soon.
He took another step closer to her, then froze as a faint sound began to emanate from the hut behind him. He glanced around, confusion creasing his forehead.
Cassandra's heart sank. Well, that did it. Now he'd know.
Ares' dark gaze came back to her, and a light seemed to dawn on his face. Cassandra quickly moved around him and inside her house, cursing the Fates under her breath. She hurried to a small cot in the corner of her one-room hut and picked up the crying child. She could feel the god behind her, feel his eyes upon her as she moved around the cottage, trying to quiet her son's tears.
At last she turned to face him, but any anger she might have felt fell away at the vaguely yearning expression on the god's face.
"What's his name?" he asked.
"Lucius," she answered shortly. She started to say more, then decided the less she said the better. She turned away from the god and put her child back in his bed to change him.
Ares came closer to watch, and one perfect eyebrow arched as she removed the cloth covering from her son's lower body. He shook his head, and his nose wrinkled as the smell drifted his way. "That's, um, really nasty," he observed.
Cassandra shrugged. "He's half mortal. It comes with the territory."
She cleaned her son, then wrapped him up once again. His cries had tapered off to whimpers, and she knew he was hungry, but she felt self conscious about feeding him in front of the god. When the baby began to cry again in earnest, however, she gave up and sat down in her rocking chair to feed her son. She refused to look at Ares although she could feel his gaze intent upon her as her child began to partake of his meal.
Ares sat down across from her, his eyes never leaving his son. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked at last.
Cassandra shrugged. "I saw no need."
"He's my son," the god insisted.
"So?" she retorted. "You have many sons."
"But none by my favorite priestess," he said with a small smile.
Cassandra glared at the god. "I'm not your priestess anymore, Ares. Remember?"
"We can always remedy that," the god said, raising his hand.
"No!" Cass cried, startling her son so that he released his hold on her nipple and gaped up at her in blank astonishment. She couldn't help but smile at the surprise on his tiny round face. He quickly forgot the interruption, however, and went back to his supper.
I want you to come back," Ares said fiercely. "I need you."
Startled at his vehemence, Cass glanced up. She'd heard a note in the god's tone that she'd never heard before. She gazed at him quizzically, but he turned so that she couldn't see his expression. "What is it?" she asked.
He wandered over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtain to look outside. "Have you talked to any of the others?" he asked.
"Who?" Cass asked, puzzled. "The other priestesses?"
Ares nodded.
"No," she said slowly. "I didn't want anyone to know where I was."
He turned, an ember sparking deep in his dark eyes. "You mean you didn't want ME to know where you were."
She inclined her head slightly, then looked back down at her son so that she wouldn't have to see the accusation on his face.
"They're gone," he said at last. "All of them."
Cass' head shot up in surprise. "The priestesses? Gone? Where?"
"Scattered all over Greece," he replied. "My temples were almost destroyed."
Cass gazed at him in shock. "How is that possible?" she whispered.
"Dahok," Ares snapped. "People started believing in him instead of me. They went into my temples and tore them apart."
A small, reluctant smile crossed Cassandra's lips. "Did they now?"
"It's not funny," the god flared. "If Dahok had come to power, this world, your world, would be in shambles now."
"Who stopped him?" Cass asked.
"My do-gooder half-brother," Ares spat. "As usual."
Cassandra smiled again. "Hercules. Again. For once, you think you'd be grateful to him."
"Hardly," the god snarled.
Cass studied Ares closely. "You weren't actually hoping Dahok would succeed, were you?" she asked incredulously. As a somewhat guilty expression crossed the god's face, she breathed. "Oh, Ares. When will you ever learn?"
The god said nothing. He took the seat across from her again, watching closely as she transferred her son to the other breast. Already Lucius' eyes were growing heavy. His long dark lashes, so reminiscent of his father's, brushed his full cheeks.
"So you have no temples now?" she asked quietly.
"We're rebuilding them," Ares replied shortly. "Now we just have to find the priestesses."
"How did you find me?" Cass quizzed. "I'm not a priestess anymore."
"We're still joined, Cassandra," the god explained. "Even if you AREN'T my priestess. There's too much history between us for there to ever be a total break."
"So you think that I'm just going to happily come back into your fold?" she asked, mildly amused. "Give me a break."
Lucius had drifted off to sleep, so Cass stood and placed the sleeping infant back in his bed. She lovingly touched the dark fuzz on the top of his head, then turned to the god. "I'm not going back, Ares. This is my home now."
The god glanced around the interior of the hut. "You can't tell me you actually ENJOY living in this pitiful hovel."
"This is my home," she repeated stiffly. "I'm perfectly happy here."
Ares snorted, then rose and began to pace around the room restlessly, picking up items and examining them, then putting them back down again. "Were you so unhappy in my temple?" he asked.
Cassandra sighed heavily. "Ares, you KNOW that's not why I left."
He turned around, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, yes. You left because of Hercules."
"No," Cassandra countered. "I left because you let me be captured and almost sold into slavery."
Ares waved her words away. "We've been through that before. It makes no difference. I forgive you. I want you to come back."
Cass' eyes narrowed. "I don't need or want your forgiveness. And I'm NOT coming back."
"Cassandra," he began, but she cut him off.
"Ares, I'm tired. I don't feel like discussing this with you right now."
Ares gazed at her solemnly for a moment, but at last he nodded. "Very well, then. I'll return in the morning."
"Ares!" Cass began, but the god had already disappeared from view. "That's not what I meant," she muttered. "By the Gods, I'd forgotten how stubborn you can be."
Cassandra's night was not an easy one. She tossed and turned for hours, unable to go to sleep. She got up once to feed her son, and when she lay back down, she was finally able to drift into slumber.
Her dreams, however, were not restful. She dreamed of Ares and the passion they'd shared. Erotic images flickered behind her closed eyelids, her god standing nude before her. His dark curls soft against the skin of her thighs. His strong arms holding her tightly. His slim hips tensing as he thrust into her. His proud manhood, beautiful beyond description.
Cassandra sunk deeper into sleep, enjoying the forbidden pleasures despite herself. Firm hands seemed to be exploring her body, focusing on all the places that brought her the most pleasure. Full lips pressed to hers, and a tongue darted forth to delve inside her mouth. She moaned as feelings she'd repressed for so long began building up inside her again. The lips traced a heated path to her breasts and began to suck, drawing her milk from her, and a hand parted her legs and brushed against the center of her womanhood. Probing fingers slipped inside her, and Cass' body arched as an orgasm crashed into her like a pounding wave, drowning her in long forgotten sensations.
Her eyes flew open to see a dark form leaning over her. Instinctively she tried to get away, but strong arms held her firm.
"Ares," she hissed. "Get out of my bed."
The god chuckled. "You weren't telling me to leave five minutes ago."
"I THOUGHT I was dreaming," she retorted.
"You didn't seem to mind it," he pointed out.
"Would you please just let me go?" she insisted.
"No," he said softly. "We've been apart far too long." He bent down and kissed her. "Let me love you," he whispered, and as his hands began to move over her once again, Cass' good intentions took flight, and she lost all semblance of control over her own body.
He rolled over on top of her and cupped her face in his hands. "I've missed you," he said softly, brushing her lips with his. "No one makes me feel as you do."
Cass smiled crookedly. "I bet you say that to all the girls."
Ares chuckled, then ran a finger down the line of her jaw. "You are so beautiful. I should never have let you go."
Cass opened her mouth to retort, but before she could utter a word, the god's lips had descending once again, stealing her breath from her as his tongue explored her mouth. His hands were busy too, tracing the lines of her body until she began to writhe in pleasure underneath him. She could feel the hardness of his shaft pressing against her thigh, and suddenly she wanted him inside her so badly it was almost painful. She moaned against his mouth, begging him without words, and the god was more than happy to comply.
He pushed himself up with his strong, muscular arms and moved his body so that his manhood was poised at her entrance. He paused for a moment that seemed to last an eternity, then in one swift stroke he thrust inside her completely. He seemed to be touching a part of her deep inside that had never been touched before, and Cass almost screamed at the intensity of the pleasure. He began to move inside her, slowly, so slowly, building up a delicious friction. Her body rose to meet each thrust, and soon his strokes began to come faster until they were both panting with pent-up desire. His mouth descended to hers once again as another orgasm shot through her, and this time, as her body began its wild contractions around his shaft, she felt the heat of his seed as he came inside her.
Still unsated from her long months of abstinence, Cassandra flipped the god over onto his back and climbed astride him, impaling herself on his thick shaft. She rode him, moving up and down in an irregular rhythm, her head thrown back as she concentrated on the feeling of his manhood deep inside her. Suddenly his hands found her breasts again, and she looked down at him with a face flushed with passion. She bent down, kissing him lightly, then allowed his lips to find her nipples once again. As he began the delicious suction, a fire seemed to ignite inside her, and she began to move faster on him. One of his hands dipped between her legs, and as he began to rub against that most sensitive of places, another orgasm tore through her, leaving her breathless. She ceased all motion as the pleasure overtook her, but Ares was too far gone to stop. He grabbed her hips and held them tightly as he thrust up into her, harder and harder until, finally, with a deep groan, he slammed into her one last time and filled her with his seed once again. She collapsed on top of him, and he held her close, cradling her in his arms, breathing her name.
After they'd caught their breath, Ares tilted her chin up so that she was forced to look into his beautiful face. "Cassandra," he entreated her. "Come back to me. I need you by my side."
Cass sighed. "Ares, we've been through this before . . ."
"But that's the past. Can't we just forget about all that? Start over?"
Cass sat up and pulled away from him, wrapping herself in the sheets as she gazed down at his beautiful body. Oh, she was tempted. Only now could she admit to herself how much she'd missed him. Already she wanted him inside her again, and she wanted more than anything to go back to his temple, but she simply had too many doubts.
"I don't know if I can," she admitted at last. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust you again. You promised to protect me, and you didn't."
Ares slipped from the bed and moved away from her. He glanced over at his sleeping son, then whirled around with a fierce expression on his face. "I was jealous," he growled in a low, heated tone. "Okay?"
Cass studied him closely. "You still can't apologize, can you?" she inquired softly.
Ares glared at her. "I am the God of War," he announced. "I do NOT apologize for ANYTHING."
Cass shook her head ruefully. He'd never change. She got out of bed to get dressed, but Ares stopped her. He caught her by the shoulders and glared down at her. "I will NOT apologize, but I WILL make you a promise."
Cass cocked her head quizzically. "What?" she asked.
"I will never let anything like that happen to you again," the god declared hotly. "Regardless of who or what may be involved, should you ever be in any kind of trouble, should you ever call me for ANYTHING, however small, I will be there for you." He brushed a dark tendril from her face. "I mean this, Cassandra," he assured her. "And gods do not lie."
Cassandra gazed at him for a long moment, trying to determine the truth behind his words. She was no fool. Regardless of what he might say to her, she knew that Ares had his own reasons for wanting her back. She had seen the speculation in his eyes as he gazed at their son. She also knew that he needed many loyal followers for his powers to be at their fullest. What he did now, he did for no one but Ares.
Her gaze wandered over the perfection of his godly form, from his beautiful face to his muscular chest and arms to his proud shaft. She'd told him long ago that she was his, body, heart and soul. She'd tried to convince herself that she was content without him, but now she realized that she'd been living a lie.
"Will you come home with me?" he asked once again, his dark eyes boring into hers.
She smiled softly, touching his long, dark locks lovingly, and came to a decision. "Yes, Ares," she whispered at last.
An expression of pure triumph crossed the god's beautiful face. He picked her up in his arms and kissed her soundly. Lucius chose that moment to wake, and as Cassandra went to tend to the needs of her child, she felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her heart. She felt alive again. She was going home!