The road less taken

Jos sat in the back silently stroking the soft fur of Shelly's large head that was laid across her lap. The tension in the car was thicker than humidity before a hurricane. Her eyes kept going to the bruised up reflection of the passenger. {Russ...} Her heart ached every time she caught sight of his broken nose and a left eye that was nearly swollen shut. A whimper from her lap brought her attention back down to Shelly. The wolf nudged her gently with it's nose as if to say 'It's not your fault. He's a wolf. He could have shifted.' It was the same words Orion and Raven had both said to her when she'd first caught sight of him as they were leaving the hotel. She narrowed her eyes as she caught Arei glancing back in the rearview mirror for the hundredth time to check on her. {Which of the two had picked the fight?} She wondered as she glanced back and forth between the two.

Russ had refused to speak to her or hardly even look at her, but when it was time to leave he'd refused to ride separate from her. Knowing that Arei would be driving at superhuman speeds, it was a given that she would ride with him. {Was it jealousy, then? He made it obvious by walking out during sex that my feelings mean little to him.} She let out a long sigh as she leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes. Arei's words replayed in her head forcing memories to bubble up that she'd locked away and forced down into their own dark, broken portion of her heart.

'Have you been able to separate your memories of Orion from those with me?' He'd asked.

She let out a huffed breath. {Of course I have! Every single night for the past two weeks, my brain as done nothing but replay those memories dream after dream.} It had gotten so bad that the last few mornings she'd awoke in Arei's apartment she had to remind herself of the 500 years separating those dreams from the here and now. She squeezed her eyes tightly against the memories fighting to replay yet again, but it was no use.

Zakynthos, Greece 1565

"It's important for a girl to be able to properly defend herself." Jos couldn't see his face, but she could tell he was smiling as he stood behind her, his body pressed tightly against hers. Her eyes kept moving to the large hand that nestled her own hand fully inside of it as he gripped the bow. Her eyes bugged and she let out a squeak when his other strong hand gripped her stomach. "Suck it in tightly and hold. Good job, now aim." He tapped her elbow up higher as she drew back the bow string. "Now release the string and your breath at the same time." She did as he said, but her focus was no longer on the target. Instead her only thoughts was of his warm body against hers and his large, hot hand still gripping hers, the other now resting lightly on her hip. "Great job, you got bulls eye." Her heart leaped into her throat as he smiled down at her. "On your own now." She nodded without hearing his words. When he stepped away, she couldn't help but frown. Her body that had been so warm was now chilled with the cool breeze of fall air, withering in grievance of the loss of warmth his body so easily provided. "Well go ahead." He called to her, but she didn't budge only stood there staring at the hand he'd been holding.

{Why do I feel so... off today?} Jos's frown drooped further as the cold air cut through the fabrics of her clothes all the way down to the bone.

"Come on, Kitten, you can do it." He stepped back behind her but not as close this time. One hand lightly guided the hand holding the bow upwards at the elbow and the other glided across her flat stomach and pulled in once again. His chuckle by her ear sent shivers down her spine. "I know you see no point in this, but there are times it is easier doing things the human way, don't you think."

She gulped down the lump forming in her throat and raised the bow then drew back the string and arrow. "That a girl." He whispered against her ear as he slid his hand up the center of her abdomen until the top of his hand was brushing the bottom of her breasts.

She let out a startled, strangled breath and accidently released the arrow. It impaled a nearby tree and her eyes locked on the butt of the arrow frozen in place.

He chuckled as he took the bow from her hand and set it down. He turned her around in his arms. His bright smile lit his face. "Enough of that for one day. What do you say we grab a bite to eat and you catch me up on what you've been into lately."

She nodded. It was strange how he'd always ask for her to catch him up on things when he'd only been gone a day or so. She tilted her head and stared deeply into his bright hazel eyes {They are paler than usual, more pale specks of blue today... and something else... happier maybe?} She shook her head. {It couldn't be, that was just a stupid notion from a stupid girl.}

His smile shifted into something else. Something she'd not seen in his eyes before. "You look beautiful in this form." He said the tone of his voice dropping, becoming more gravely. "I probably haven't told you that yet, have I? I really need to work on giving you the complements you deserve." He pushed a stray strand of hair back from her face with his pinky and licked his lips. He tightened his grip around her waist for a brief second before releasing her all together and stepping back. "I- bet you're starving. Would you like to practice a bit more and have dinner in town tonight?"

She nodded excitedly, all thoughts of his weird behavior forgotten. Typically they didn't go in to town unless they needed supplies and never to eat. "Yes, that would be exciting, S-Sir..."

Arei froze in his tracts ready to correct her, to tell her she didn't have to address him so formally; but he caught himself. Of course, she would address him that way. That had been the plan, so that she didn't have to use either of their actual names when he and Orion would switch places. He'd been shocked this time when he'd came back after eight long months to find she'd taken on the form of a matured woman instead of the small child she usually preferred. He'd found it hard to keep his eyes off her and even harder to keep his hands off. Half the reason he'd wanted to practice with the bow was to be close to her, to surround himself in the delicate sent of her smooth skin and long silver hair. He turned slightly and smile to her, holding out his hand. "Well then let's hurry, shall we?" He gave himself a mental kick. {Shit, there's that suspicious look again!} If there was doubt before, he was sure now. Orion didn't act this way with her. He didn't touch her hardly at all it would seem, not to help her, guide her, or to simply have the satisfaction of feeling her creamy skin. He could feel his cock jerk in his pants as thoughts of the glories of having every inch of that lovely skin bared before him rattled his male brain.

She tilted her head and studied him again, hesitating as she reached for his hand. "Are-are you sure?"

He let out a breath and lowered his hand, "Oh well, I'd just thought we could practice... social contact... that's all, but if you're uncomfortable with it..." he turned back toward the path but didn't take a step as he waited to see if she would take his hand. He didn't have to wait long. A wide grin curved his lips as he heard her footsteps near and felt her tiny hand slide into his.

"I'm not uncomfortable at all, Sir... but..." She tilted her head up at him. "What does 'social contact' mean?"

He cleared his throat. {Shit! I'd just been making excuses to hold her hand...} "Um... well it's contact that you'd often come across in social situations." He shrugged it off as if it was nothing to be holding her hand. "It's quite common. Mother's hold their children's hands most everywhere, friends hold hands and exchange hugs and light kisses, lovers also-"

"Lovers?" Her curiosity spiked once again, and he gave himself another mental slap when she asked. "What are lovers?"

Arei cleared his throat as he ran his free hand across his hair. {What I wish we were... I can't say that to her.} "It's two people who care deeply for one another, who touch-often..."

She shifted her curious gaze to their hands. "Are we lovers?" She asked innocently.

Arei choked and stumbled over a small root sticking up from the path. "Um... well... um... well ya see, there's a bit more than holding hands and touching that goes into being lovers, Kitten."

She scrunched her brows together, "Like what?"

Arei laughed nervously as he ran his hand across the back of his neck. "Well like kissing... among other things."

She came to a halt, "What is a kiss?" She asked.

{Oh, for Olympus sake! What have I said now!} He let out a grunted huff and turned to face her. He took both her hands and pulled her closer to him. She obliged without hesitation. "Close your eyes." He said in a near whisper. Once her eyes were closed, he took a second to study the details of her face and hair; it had also grown. "This," He lowered his lips to her forehead and gave her a light kiss, letting his lips linger longer than they should. "Is a kiss."

Her cheeks heated as she nodded with her eyes still closed. "I... I see..." When he didn't respond she peaked up at him. {There is definitely something different today.} She pulled one of her hands from his and brought it to his face and guided it down toward hers. Jos couldn't look away from his hypnotic stare as she pushed herself up on tiptoes and gave him a peck on his cheek. "I hope that is ok... I couldn't reach any higher."

Arei chuckled and patted her head. "That was perfect, Kitten."

She smiled brightly up at him, "We are lovers now?"

Arei sputtered and coughed, "No!" He adjusted his tone. "Not quite, dear. It doesn't... there is still a bit more..." He grunted and stood back straight. "I'll explain it more some other time, alright? For now, we need to make our way into town before all the good spots are taken." He gave her hand a slight tug and she began following along beside him again.

Jos watched him throughout their dinner and the long moonlight walk home. His eyes were more lively tonight. He laughed with an ease she hadn't seen in him since their first night together. Each touch in itself was a welcomed surprise because he typically didn't touch her or allow her to touch him. She glanced down at their intertwined hands as they neared the path that would lead to her lagoon home. He had built up the cave to be 'a more suitable home', he'd said. "Your trip must have went well." She said as she watched the moonlight play across his smiling face.

"Umm..." He nodded as he enjoyed the peace this part of the island provided and the chance to spend time with her. He'd been to war for the past year and many nights had been spent thinking about her and whether she was safe and happy in his absents. "It was alright, but I'm happy to be back." He said stealing a glimpse of her beautiful curious eyes as they studied him.

She nodded without responding, but his answer only stirred more questions. {He's only been gone two days... hasn't he?} She studied his profile as they neared her humble dwellings. "Are you staying the night?"

Arei tried to hide any signs of surprise from his expression. He'd forgotten Ry had moved into a nearby shack and was no longer staying with her. "I thought it would be nice if we-" He searched his brain for a good excuse to spend the night. "-got an early start on training in the morning. I'm teaching you to sail, doesn't that sound fun?" He smiled down at her.

She nodded but the questions continued building. {He'd said it was indecent for a man and woman to spend the night together.} She wasn't about to bring up such things, incase he was to change his mind, however. Her eyes shot back to his when he released her hand.

"I'm going to wash up out here. Go on inside, Kitten." He smiled down at her, fighting his own urge to kiss her until she agreed to join him in the sparkling waters of the lagoon. He bit his bottom lip forcefully as he turned away from her and walked to the water's edge.

Jos could feel heat rising throughout her entire body starting as a tingle at her toes and slowly working it's way up her body. {He's never looked at me that way before.} She couldn't stop the curious glances at his broad back as she walked toward the hidden door he'd built for her, but she couldn't bring herself to shut the heavy door with him on the other side. Using the door as a safe hiding spot she watched as he slowly removed one item of clothing then another under the lustrous glow of moonlight. His muscles rippled and flexed beneath the tattooed flesh as he made his way into the water. She couldn't peal her eyes away as he dove under in and burst through it's mirrored surface. Water cascaded around him, as he whipped his long auburn hair into the air. She tightened her grip on the door and bit hard into her lower lip as she watched the tiny droplets of water caress his body.

Arei glanced over toward the mouth of the cave when he heard a tiny squeaking noise. He laughed when he caught a glimpse of silver hair. {She hadn't gone inside after all.} He chuckled to himself, but when his body reacted to the thoughts of her watching him. He cursed and dove back under the cool water. {This is going to be a long night...}

***

Jos let out a heavy sigh, her head still pressed against the car window. {That was the first time, I began questioning whether they were two separate people... a part of me knew that day they were... while another part just wanted it to be the same person, wanted to be loved and cared for. I wanted the best of what both of them offered.} She squinted one eye open and moved her focus between both men in the front seats. {But what do I want now???} She furrowed her brows. {At the end of the day, Arei lied to me. He didn't admit it when the time came, and he walked out easily enough afterwards. On the other hand... Russ has always been straight forth and honest with his feelings and wants... but his anger issues are just too much for me to deal with mentally right now... hell at any point...} She stroked her fingers through the thick coat of the sleeping wolf in her lap. {Arei apologized and seemed to honestly mean it, but could I trust him in the future not to lie to me? And Russ... What if his anger sets off the beast inside me and I hurt him? I couldn't live with myself if something like that happened.} She glanced up at the rear mirror and met his gaze in it's reflection.

"How are you feeling?" Arei asked worry weighing heavy in his eyes.

"The pressure and fatigue is starting to ease up. I can tell we are nearing the ocean." She answered forcing her eyes away from his reflected gaze.

He nodded, "I took the route that would bring us to it fastest. I figured from there we could ride the coast to my brother's place. Should take another hour."