By Anonymous

Disclaimer: The auther does not own the characters from Hercules: the Legendary Journeys. Those characters belong to MCA/Universal and were used without permission. No copyright infringement intended and no money was made.

"Perfect" thought Iolaus as he came to a tree leaning across the small murky creek. This was just what he needed. After almost a month without female companionship. Iolaus was more than a little tense. This dry spell had made his age-old attraction to Hercules that much harder to control. He needed a diversion. Chuckling, he reached down to grasp a nearby tree limb, and quickly stripped off the leaves and twigs. When he was done, he threw it to his companion and reached for another.

Startled, Hercules caught the makeshift staff. "What are you up to?"

Iolaus just grinned and nodded toward the log.

Hercules shook his head laughing, "You don't know when to quit, do you? You know you don't stand a chance. I can easily knock you off that log".

Iolaus laughed. "You'll have to hit me first".

"Even if you hit me, the staff will break before I budge."

Iolaus pointed at Hercules' feet. "With those big guys, I won't even have to touch you. I'll just dodge and let them do the rest".

"Okay. Now you've asked for it". Hercules gingerly stepped onto the log and carefully crossed to the other side. Iolaus hopped easily onto the log and approached steadily. Hercules swung his staff quickly, and Iolaus easily jumped over it. Prepared for this, Hercules shifted and brought the staff back abruptly. Iolaus ducked down, then danced back bringing his staff across Hercules' back adding his strength to the momentum that was already threatening to topple the demi-god. Hercules struggled but remained on the log. As Iolaus attacked again, Hercules blocked the staff then pushed left and back. Iolaus was forced to back up to keep his footing. As Hercules teetered still more, Iolaus laughed merrily. As he prepared to swing again, a stunning young woman appeared behind Hercules' head.

Crack... Splash! Before he realized what happened, Iolaus was submerged in the icy cold water.

"Is it cold?" Hercules asked.

Iolaus stomped out of the creek furious that he'd allowed himself to be distracted so easily. When he reached the edge, he slipped and fell headlong into the muddy riverbank. He looked up and saw Herc and the woman both laughing. "What's so funny?" he grumbled. As they looked at brown face with two little eyeballs peeking out, they doubled over again.

"Great! Just great!" Iolaus muttered as he crawled out. Then began laughing himself.

When the laughing subsided, the young woman stepped over to Iolaus. "Hi. My name is Diteros. I am so sorry I distracted you." She pointed toward a grassy knoll. "I live a few minutes away from here. Please stop by my home to clean up."

"Hello, I'm Iolaus and this is Hercules. I'd sure like to clean up. Thanks." She began leading them to her house. Iolaus winked at Hercules, then followed her. Hercules also followed, but he was no longer grinning.

When they reached her home, she led them to a washroom with a nice large bathtub in it. "You stay here so you don't get mud all over my house," she told Iolaus. Cold water flowed into the tub via a pump, but Hercules had to carry the hot water in from the kitchen. As Hercules filled the tub, he watched Iolaus flirt outrageously with Diteros. When the bath was full. Diteros remained in the room. "I'll rinse out those clothes" was all she said as she waited for Iolaus to disrobe. Never shy, Iolaus shucked his clothes and slipped into the tub. Diteros left with his clothes, but returned quickly with a sponge and soap. She lathered Iolaus' hair, then wrapped her fingers gently in it. She scrubbed slowly and methodically till all traces of dirt were gone. She whispered softly "such beautiful glorious golden hair". Then slid her hands to his back and shoulders. As she washed him, She planted light kisses on each freshly cleaned patch of golden sinewy skin. Iolaus head lolled back and he breathed heavily as the cleansing motions stimulated him. He glanced over and saw Hercules. Surprised that he was still in the room, Iolaus winked and nodded toward the door before throwing his head back again as she nibbled on his ear.

Hercules was infuriated, but captivated by the scene in front of him. One minute he was having a great time with his lifelong buddy, the next minute Iolaus drops him for a woman he's just met. Worse, knowing he should leave Iolaus and Diteros alone, he remained transfixed, helplessly watching the erotic interlude. When Iolaus winked at him, he was startled. Embarassed, he jumped up and turned toward the door. Then he stopped. He walked over to Diteros, took the sponge, nodded toward the door, and said "I'll take it from here". Sighing heavily, Diteros left. Hercules could not believe what he'd just done.

Stunned and furious, Iolaus looked at Hercules with disbelief. "ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR? YOU KNOW..." As he noticed the perspiration on Hercules' face and the labored breathing, Iolaus' heart stopped. *He* had to be the crazy one. Surely, Herc wasn't looking at *him* this way. After all these years, he didn't dare hope. He had to stop this before he did something to jeopardize the friendship of a lifetime. But looking into those beautiful simmering eyes, he felt his stomach tighten, his cock harden, and his tongue licking his lips betraying his need.

"Do you want to join me?" Iolaus realized that was his voice and held his breath waiting for Hercules' reaction.

His eyes never leaving Iolaus, Hercules removed his gauntlets one at a time. Then he took of his shirt. He sat down to slip off his boots. Then finally, stripped off his leggings. As Hercules entered the water, Iolaus trembled. Hercules put his fingers in Iolaus' silken hair, then he gently pulled Iolaus to him. Their lips locked gently, then melded together deepening until Iolaus drew back. Both men were shocked at the intensity and pleasure of a simple kiss.

"Hercules. Are you... You know... sure?", Iolaus asked hesitantly.

"Are you?", Hercules smiled hopefully.

"You're all I ever wanted. I'm happy just to be a companion to you, but this... this is an answer to an long-time prayer", Iolaus stated truthfully. "I want this, but I value your friendship more. If you/we..."

Hercules stilled his voice with another kiss. "And you're all I ever wanted. *You're* the one who has tormented me all these years. Going from one woman to another, flaunting your encounters in front of me while I had to sit by and watch. I just couldn't take it anymore."

"I went from woman to woman because I didn't think you would ever want *me*. Do you know what its like wanting someone that you can never have? I needed those woman to work off the tension I felt from being with you, yet not being *with* you?'. Both men stared at each other increduously. Amazed that each felt the same for the other, yet frustrated that so many precious years had been wasted. Hercules rubbed Iolaus' hair between his fingers "From now on this 'beautiful... glorious... golden hair' is *mine*, only mine". Iolaus nodded willingly. Hercules drew him closer to tease his lips softly. "These lips are mine". Iolaus moaned his assent and leaned in for more. Hercules held Iolaus away from him then lifted him up to the edge of the tub. Iolaus gasped as Hercules' hands walked slowly achingly down his chest toward his pulsating swollen member. Hercules leaned over teasing the tip of Iolaus' cock lightly with his tongue. "And this is mine", he whispered as he engulfed the member possessively. Iolaus groaned under the exquisite torture. As Hercules continued to mark his territory, neither man noticed the door quietly snap shut behind them.

"Hey! What'd you do that for?" Aphrodite whined as she faced her offspring.

"Shhh... They'll hear you."

"They can't hear me unless I let them hear ... Oh, I forgot. Well, it doesn't matter. A herd of camels couldn't get Herc's attention away from Sweet Cheeks right now. Come on Cupey, I set this up. They'd have gone on a few more years if we hadn't got fed up with watching them hide their attraction to each other. We deserve to watch."

"Come on mom. Let's get out of here. They've waited for this long enough. They deserve privacy."

"Bummer. I do all the work bringing them together, then I have to split before the reward. And this was gonna be good". She winks out.

"I know mother", Cupid sighed. Then he quietly opened the door a crack...

THE END