By Arete
This story contains scenes of graphic sex between a man and a woman. If you are under 18 or if this is illegal where you live, please read something else.
The character of Iolaus belongs to Universal Studios and Pacific Renaissance and no copyright infringement is intended. The author is just having fun.
The rain continued to fall, doing little to lift her spirits. Allista sighed; peering out at the downpour from the relative safety offered her by the bough of a large tree. It wasn't as though she were actually staying dry. On the contrary, she was already as wet as she was likely to get. It was more to escape the insistent pelting of the hard drops against her skin that caused her to seek refuge from the storm.
She gazed up at the leaden sky, which in return offered only a gloom resembling the dying moments of dusk rather than the light usually accompanying mid-day. Drawing a thin, worn blanket from her bag, she wrapped it around her trembling shoulders with fingers already numb from the cold.
She would have to wait it out. The closest village was still a day away and she doubted her ability to cover even half that distance given the present circumstances. As she huddled at the base of the large tree, a tiny voice whispered to her in earnest. She ignored it to the best of her ability. It wasn't too late; it couldn't be. Surely the delay of a few hours wouldn't cost her the very thing for which she'd traveled so far.
She closed her eyes, listening to the steady drone of raindrops in the surrounding trees. Soon her journey would be over. Soon everything would be as it should. A tiny smile kissed her lips as she drifted off to sleep, with images of golden curls and sparkling blue eyes providing her only respite from the gloom.
Allista awoke with a strange certainty that things were not as they had been. It took only a moment for her to realize that the rain had stopped, the steady rhythm of falling drops having been replaced by the unmistakable sounds of the forest's nocturnal inhabitants emerging to begin their shift in the never-ending circle of life. It was as close to true peace as she had ever come. For one brief, shining moment, time seemed to suspend itself just for her. There was no past to long for - no future to face. Even as the concept began to warm her heart, it was stolen from her, slipping through the fingers of her mind like grains of sand through a sieve as she tried desperately to recapture all she seemed to be losing. Urgency pressed her onward, insisting she rise and resume her journey despite the darkness of the hour. She tightened the blanket around her as she walked, grateful for any measure of defense against the chill, night air. She knew the forest, had traveled it many times in her 25 years. Even with only the light of the moon to guide her, she made her way. She would get there in time. She would see him and everything would be all right. Everything would finally be just as it should. Her thoughts urged her on, quickening her pace as much as possible while still ensuring her safety.
As the sun sent its first rays to announce the imminent arrival of a new day, Allista picked berries, eating as she walked so as not to impede her progress. This was the day she would complete her journey. This day she would realize the dream she carried in her heart. She prayed it wasn't too late as she neared her destination.
Upon entering the village, she was rewarded with the sound of laughter from a nearby tavern. Her heart skipped a beat. She was right. He was here. Only briefly did she question how she knew this. The only important thing was that she'd known and she'd been right. She lingered outside the tavern, too unsure of herself to enter, but praying her wait would not be a long one. As though in response, she saw him, sunlight reflecting off his golden tresses as he stepped into the street from the dimness of the tavern. Taking a deep breath, she walked toward him. As though by chance, she intercepted his path, stopping before him with a look of feigned surprise.
"Iolaus?" she exclaimed, delight evident in her voice.
"Hi," he responded, his smile fading slightly as he looked at her. "Don't I know you?"
She laughed lightly. "You did," she answered, a twinkle in her eye. "It's me, Allista."
"Allista?" he repeated in sincere amazement. He embraced her, hugging her close to him and squeezing her tight. "I can't believe it." He held her at arm's length to afford a view of her face. "It must be 10 years."
"Eleven," she corrected.
"Eleven years," he breathed, shaking his head as though in disbelief. "Look at you. You're all grown up."
She blushed slightly. There was no way she wanted him to know how much his comment had pleased her. "It happens," she shrugged, smiling. "What brings you to Podaculus?"
"I'm meeting Hercules here," he answered, returning the smile. "And you?"
"Just passing through," she replied evasively. "I'm on a mission of sorts."
"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling. "Sounds intriguing. Maybe you'd like to tell me about it over dinner. There is a place right here in Podaculus that serves the best stew in all of Greece."
"Well, I can't promise any explanations," she teased, "but dinner sounds wonderful. I'm starved."
"All right then," he beamed, offering his arm in a show of chivalry. "If I may accompany you, m'lady."
She giggled as she took his arm and they began to walk. "I see you're remembering our misspent youth."
"How could I forget," he laughed. "How I loved playing the hero to your damsel in distress."
His words tugged at her heart and she had to force a smile. "You've slain many an imaginary dragon on my behalf."
"I guess we're long past the days of make-believe," he chuckled softly.
"Perhaps," she sighed dreamily, "But what is make-believe if not simply the extent of one's imagination. As long as we retain the ability to dream, a world of damsels and dragons will always be within our grasp."
Hi tilted his head to look at her, a crooked smile making his features even more attractive. "Still the eternal optimist, I see," he teased lightly.
She blushed. "Some things never change," she countered, not sure how he would take the remark.
In response, he squeezed her hand slightly as they entered the inn.
Once the food had been served, he gazed across the table at her. "I still can't believe my luck, running into you after all these years."
"Perhaps it wasn't just luck," she ventured carefully, avoiding his gaze.
"What do you mean?" he laughed lightly.
She raised her eyes to meet his and considered her words carefully before speaking. "I didn't just happen to be passing through Podaculus." She explained cautiously, "I came in search of you."
He frowned, trying to comprehend the meaning of her words. "Me?" he questioned, the smile remaining on his lips as though forgotten. "Why me?"
She took a deep breath, not sure what she could tell him. Finally, she opted for at least a semi-direct approach. "Remember when we were children?" she began, her voice attesting to the fact that the memories were pleasant ones. "Remember how we always said we'd never be apart? That someday we'd marry and have a house full of children?"
"I remember," he replied softly, a slight look of sadness in his clear blue eyes. "But, Allista, we were children. We had no idea then what the fates had in store for us."
"I know," she smiled. "I always hoped our paths would cross again one day. I think on some level, I loved you, even then." She sighed. "But, like you said, things have changed. Our lives have taken totally different routes and I can honestly say I have no regrets . . . save one." She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, suddenly unsure as to whether or not she was doing the right thing.
"Go on," he urged, his voice gentle.
"I've always wondered," she admitted, feeling increasingly foolish, "if you could ever have loved me."
He studied her expression, his own one of gently understanding. "You were my first crush," he shrugged, smiling kindly. "I don't think a man ever forgets his first love, no matter the age."
She smiled in response. There was no way he'd ever know how happy his words had made her. "That means a lot," she smiled.
He watched her as she ate, taking note of her familiar features and how well they had endured the transition from child to woman. She had a natural beauty, with luminous green eyes that seemed to light up her face and long honey-colored hair that cascaded over her shoulders in natural, shining waves. He smiled as she noticed him watching her.
"What?" she tilted her head to one side, smiling. "What are you thinking?"
"Just how much you've changed," he admitted, "and how much you've stayed exactly the way I remember you."
"Is that good, or bad?" she teased, enjoying the company of her childhood friend.
"Very good," he smiled appreciatively. "You're a beautiful woman, Allista."
She blushed again, acknowledging the compliment. "Thank you."
He sensed her discomfort with the comments and changed the subject. "Do you have a place to stay while you're here?" he asked.
"Not yet," she shook her head slightly, "I just got here before I ran into you."
"They rent rooms in the back," he nodded toward a curtain-draped opening behind her. "I'm sure there's a vacancy." He smiled playfully. "And if not, you can have mine. I'll sleep in the street, cold, alone, nothing but my own boring company."
She laughed at his humor. "I've heard about your exploits with Hercules," she teased, "I'm sure your company is anything but boring."
"Maybe you'd like to find out first-hand," he offered. Quickly, he added, "I mean, we could talk. Catch up on old times."
She gazed at him fondly. "I'd like that," she smiled. He paid for the meal and led her outside into the deepening murkiness of impending nightfall.
"Still enjoy the moonlight?" he queried casually, glancing up at the sky.
"As much as ever," she sighed, walking comfortably beside him.
"Hercules may not be here for a few days," Iolaus commented; "I'd like to spend as much time as possible renewing our friendship. That is, if you're not leaving right away."
"I can't stay too long," she answered, a sad smile touching her features; "but I'd like to spend my time here with you." She didn't resist as he took her hand in his and led her through the quiet village. "It seems like such a peaceful place," she commented.
"Yeah," he concurred; "Seemingly untouched by war and hardship."
"Seemingly," she repeated; "Though we both know there's no such thing as a place untouched by either."
Squeezing her hand gently, he smiled. "As long as we retain our ability to dream…" he mimicked her earlier words.
"Yes," she smiled, "Anything is possible."
They walked in silence for a while, soon leaving the boundaries of the village behind them. Only when he pulled gently on her hand to lead her off the road, did she hesitate. "Trust me," he smiled; "There's a terrific view right over that knoll."
She followed, inhaling sharply as the crested the small hill. "It's beautiful," she breathed, taking in the beauty of the valley below them. A large lake sparkled in the last light of day, surrounded almost entirely by lush green trees.
"It is," he agreed, turning her to face him; "But it pales in comparison to you." He bent to kiss her, slowly so as to gauge her reaction. As his lips met hers, he tasted the very sweetness of her, the essence, he knew, of the woman inside. He was pleased when she returned the kiss, reaching up to gently caress his hair with her long delicate fingers.
When he pulled his lips reluctantly from hers, he gazed into her eyes, seeing his own emotions mirrored there. "It's like a page out of time," he whispered; "The two of us, here together."
"It feels so right," she replied, her voice soft and low; "Just as I always thought it would."
He kissed her again, lowering her gently to the soft grass at their feet without moving his lips from hers. When she pulled away, he gazed at her uncertainly. "I'm sorry," he offered; "I didn't mean to be so forward."
She gazed out at the lake, drawing her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them, a slight smile on her face. "Don't apologize," she assured him; "It wasn't anything you did."
"Then what?" he asked, not certain how to read her reactions.
"It's just … " she turned to face him. "I … " she cast her eyes downward, a slight color rising in her cheeks; "I've never … been with a man." She raised her eyes to meet his. "I want you to be the first, Iolaus."
Her admission made her seem vulnerable and served to make her more attractive to him. He was touched that she should want to be with him, that she would want him to be the first to love her. He took one of her hands in his and raised it to his lips, planting a tender kiss on the back of her palm. "Are you sure?" he whispered.
She smiled, nodding slightly, "Yes," she answered. "I've never been more sure of anything."
He pulled her close to him, gazing in appreciation at the beauty in his arms. "You're so lovely," he smiled, stroking her cheek with one finger. He brought his lips to hers once again, reassuring her and promising all the tenderness she sought in him. She responded, pulling him closer until she could feel the warmth of his body against hers. He kissed her tenderly, moving from her lips to cover her cheeks, her nose, her eyes. He didn't rush her, wanting more than anything for her to feel comfortable with him and everything he did. She moaned softly as he left a trail of hot kisses down the silky smooth skin of her throat. Only when he reached the hollow at its base, did he retrace his path, working his way once again to her waiting lips. She caressed his back, luxuriating in the feelings he was invoking in her. It was everything she had hoped for, longed for, hungered for. All doubt was erased as she realized she had made the right decision. Iolaus would be a gentle lover, she was certain of it.
She slipped her hands beneath his vest and stroked the hard muscles of his back. His warm flesh felt wonderful under her fingers and she couldn't help but anticipate the moment when clothing would no longer separate his skin from her own. As he pushed her gently to a prone position, she pulled him with her, reveling in the feel of his weight upon her. She could feel the hardness of his manhood straining against his codpiece and the sensation furthered the stimulation his kisses provided. He pulled his lips from hers and sat back to drink in her loveliness. She reached for the vest he wore and slowly slipped it from his arms as he aided her efforts. Running her fingers over the taut muscles of his arms, she gazed into his eyes, assuring him that she hadn't changed her mind. Slowly, gently, he untied the leather lace at her bodice and pulled back the material to expose the smooth flesh of her breasts.
He bent his head to her, kissing her lips softly before allowing his mouth to travel slowly downward, tasting the delicate beauty that was her flesh. He lightly kissed first one nipple and then the other, taking his time to allow every sensation to wash over her before moving on to the next. As he gently kneaded one large breast in his hand, he could hear a soft moan of pleasure escape her lips. He proceeded to bring his mouth to the bud, suckling her breast gently, as she began to move her hips beneath him. He reached down and stroked one long leg with his hand, caressing the skin as it moved upward, gently tantalizing the tender flesh of her inner thigh. He heard her gasp slightly as his hands moved closer to stroke the soft folds of her genitalia. Her response heightened his own desire as he dipped his fingers into the warmth of her womanhood, gently stroking the flesh inside as she moaned in delight. Removing his hand, he undid the fastening at her waistband and allowed her skirt to fall away, exposing the mound of soft curls at the apex of her thighs. Gods, she was beautiful. He pulled back briefly, undoing his own leather pants as he held her gaze. He saw her eyes wandering as his flesh was exposed and was glad for her reaction.
Tentatively, she reached for him, lightly stroking the shaft of his manhood with one finger before taking the whole of it into her hand. He moaned as she continued to stroke the erect rod, delighting in the pleasure she was able to give him. He discarded his leather pants and lowered himself beside her, gathering her into his arms as he kissed her forehead tenderly and proceeding to move downward until once again his lips claimed hers.
She pressed against him, feeling the crushing of her breasts against his hard chest and the moisture forming between her thighs. She was aware of every sensation; the tingling of his lips on hers, the sweet taste of his tongue as it explored her mouth with increased hunger, the warmth of his hands as they caressed her back, her legs, her buttocks. She couldn't imagine a greater pleasure. Even as she seemed to reach the ultimate level of passion, he managed to bring her higher, invoking even greater ecstasy within her body. She felt as though she was on fire, a tingling sensation radiating from her head to her toes, and she longed for him to fill her. As though in response to her unspoken pleas, he gently parted her legs, hesitating only briefly while her senses assessed what was about to happen. Slowly, gently, he entered her, whispering sweet encouragement in her ear as she gasped lightly. Kissing her deeply, he began to move slowly within her.
She matched his rhythm easily, swaying her hips in response to his deep, pulsing thrusts. Her senses seemed to overlap, the feel of him, his scent, his even steady breathing. Her desire increased each time he entered her, causing her own breathing to increase. She clung to him, digging the pads of her fingers into the flesh on his back while she wrapped her legs around his waist. It was as though their bodies were inseparable, moving together in perfect harmony.
He sensed the changes in her movements as she approached the ultimate peak of desire. Increasing the pace, he continued to thrust his manhood in and out, deeper, faster, all the while careful to make sure she received every possible sensation. He felt her velvet channel contracting around his hard shaft and he responded by again increasing the speed and power of his thrusts. Only when her moaning reached a crescendo did he cover her lips once again with his, holding her close to him while he filled her with the seed of his masculinity. He held her closer, kissing her and stroking her long hair until the shuddering of her body subsided. Only then did he pull back to look down at her, a sweet smile on his face. She returned the smile, still caught in the rapture they had created.
"It was so…" she struggled to find the right words, only to realize that nothing could describe the feelings she'd experienced, " … wonderful."
He kissed her gently. "You," he whispered, "Are wonderful."
He rolled to her side and gathered her into his arms, allowing her to rest her head on his chest. "This is one time," he mused, stroking her arm lightly with one finger, "that I hope Hercules is late. I want to spend as much time together as possible."
"Iolaus," she whispered, pushing herself up on one elbow to meet his gaze. "There isn't any time."
"Huh?" he frowned, "What are you saying, Allista?"
"Let's not think about tomorrows," she smiled sadly, "Let's just hold on to this night, the most memorable I've ever had." She lay her head on his chest once again, sighing in the comfort of his arms.
"If you have to leave … " he pondered her words, "I'm sure we can arrange to see each other from time to time…"
He felt her chest rise as she took a deep breath. "I do have to leave, Iolaus." She paused a long moment before continuing, "But we won't be seeing one another after tonight."
"Allista," he frowned, pushing himself up in order to see her face. Gazing down at her, her could see the pain in her eyes where there had been only pleasure moments before. "If you're in some sort of trouble…"
She smiled at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Still wanting to play the hero to my damsel in distress?" she teased.
"If you give me a chance," he replied, unnerved by her expression of despair. "I know I can help you, whatever the trouble."
She closed her eyes briefly, before opening them to search his face. She saw only sincerity in the clear blue eyes and knew without a doubt that he would do anything to help her. "There are no such things as dragons," she whispered, smiling. "This is bigger than childhood dreams and fantasies."
"It doesn't matter…" he protested, only to have the words die in his throat at her next words.
"I've seen Celesta," she explained, her voice barely audible, "She came for me, Iolaus."
"Celesta?" he repeated, his blood running cold at the implications of her remark. "But how…?"
"It's said," she swallowed hard before continuing, "that a mortal can only see her in the last seconds before death. Her beauty and good nature are supposed to make the transition easier as we cross over."
"I know who Celesta is," he assured her.
"Of course you do," she smiled, a slight catch in her voice. "Your best friend is half god."
"Which is why I know that no one lives to say they've seen her," he gently pointed out; "Perhaps you were mistaken. Perhaps it was…"
"I'm not mistaken," she assured him. "There's no doubt when Celesta comes to you."
"Then how…" he persisted, trying to understand all he was hearing.
"It was you, Iolaus," she explained. "You were the one unfinished thing in my life. I'm not afraid to die. I've lived a good life. But you, you were the one regret I'd carry with me to the other side, never knowing what could have been. Celesta sensed my sorrow and granted me a short reprieve. A reward if you will for my faithful service to the gods."
"This can't be happening," he shook his head in disbelief. "We've only just found each other. It isn't fair." He tried to swallow the lump beginning to form in his throat.
"Shhhhhh," she placed a finger gently on his lips; "No complaints, no regrets. I want nothing to spoil our time together."
He simply looked down at her lovely face, no longer able to trust his voice. He closed his eyes as she reached to brush a single tear from his cheek. "No regrets," she repeated softly.
"No regrets," he whispered hoarsely as he gathered her to him once again.
She lay in his arms as he stroked her hair. Only when he heard her take her last breath did he allow the tears to flow. Kissing her forehead, he brushed a wayward strand of hair from her eyes. "No regrets."