Seductive Subtlety

The Aphrodite Cabin was a terrifying place, and that was coming from a guy who walked out of Tartarus.

The exterior was gray and simple, but that was just to lull guys into complacency. Percy had seen the inside on too many cleaning inspections (which the cabin always passed with flying colors) and knew exactly what it was hiding inside. Even as he stepped up to the door his nose was already drowning in perfume.

He hesitated for a second, then stepped inside.

There were five different flashy chandeliers hanging from different parts of the ceiling. Just like Percy remembered, every wall was painted in-your-face pink with bits of white only there to accentuate the girliness. He felt for the boys in the cabin, always outvoted on decor choices. Then again, maybe they liked it this way. He wasn't judging.

There were fifteen double beds total, and no bunk beds anywhere. The curtain that separated the boys' side of the cabin was pulled back, but their beds were empty. In fact, only three girls were present total, all grouped together on a bed near the middle.

"Percy!" Silena greeted. "You made it on time!"

"If you hadn't, we would have had to hunt you down," said the girl next to her.

Percy didn't know her well, but he at least knew her name: Valentina Diaz. She'd been at Camp a few years and was about the same age as him. Her skin had a natural tan, with black hair that ran all the way down her back. Like all her siblings she was gorgeous, with high cheekbones and full, inviting lips. She wore designer yoga pants and a Camp-Half Blood t-shirt that she'd somehow modified into a blouse.

The third girl scoffed.

"Of course he showed up," Drew Tanaka said. "We're here. He'd be an idiot not to."

Drew Percy knew a bit better. She was Silena's second in command and one of the few campers that had been around as long as he had. She had the personality of a rosebush— prickly, but pretty to look at. She had the tendencies of a bully and liked to throw her weight around, but Silena kept her on a tight leash, and she'd gotten better with time. Or at least, she'd gotten better at hiding her disdain for anybody not on her good side.

"Come on, Percy," Silena said, patting the bed between them. "Come here and sit! We were just talking about you!"

Pretending that wasn't the most terrifying thing three Aphrodite girl's could tell you, Percy approached and cautiously took the seat.

From the bed, the scent of perfume didn't bother him as much. It was still overwhelming, but there was a nicer flavor to it now. He wondered if these three were keeping the top-end stuff to themselves, letting the younger siblings bathe themselves in obnoxious cheaper brands.

"Silena explained everything to us," Valentina said. "You poor, poor boy. I understand your worries completely."

"You know we're like the same age, right?"

Valentina smiled. "I didn't mean boy like that. I'm very aware of what a man you are, Percy."

"These two offered to help," Silena said proudly. "I told you I had some volunteers in mind. In fact, the three of us were just chatting about a… curriculum, if you will. We've made very good progress."

"One week," Valentina said, "and I promise we'll have turned you into a whole new man."

The emphasis she put on the word made Percy gulp.

"You two are sure you're alright with this?"

Drew looked him up and down in a way he wasn't sure he liked. "Of course!" she said. "This is a great chance for us, too."

"Don't even thank us," Silena said. "For a favor this fun, not gratitude necessary."

"So… How do we start?" Percy asked.

Drew and Silena exchanged a look. They stood up, leaving Percy with Valentina on the bed.

"Valentina will handle the first lesson," Silena explained. "Each of us are better at some things than others. We drew up what you absolutely have to learn, and it just so happens one of her specialties is up first. We're leaving you in good hands, I promise."

Percy blinked. "Just the two of us?"

Silena laughed. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

He blushed as he realized how that question sounded. He had to admit, though, that he was a little nervous. Out of the three, Valentina was the closest to a stranger. At least with Silena he felt like he was around a friend. He didn't expect things to get awkward so fast.

Valentina must've picked up on his nerves. She giggled and patted his knee. "Don't worry, I won't bite. Yet."

"We'll see you two later," Silena announced cheerfully.

She and Drew crossed the room and disappeared without a look back. Percy and Valentina were left fully, completely alone.

"So, uh, how're you?" Percy asked in the silence that followed.

Valentina laughed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Oh, you are cute," she said. "I'm doing great, Percy Jackson. How are you?"

"Better before Silena ditched us," he admitted. "She somehow manages to make this whole crazy plan feel, well, sane."

"That's how she is," Valentina agreed. "You're around her five minutes and she already feels like an old friend."

"I don't suppose that's a built-in Aphrodite skill you have too?" Percy asked hopefully.

"Hm. Not by talking," Valentina said. She crawled further onto the bed and lay across it on her side, propped up by her elbow. "Don't sit so stiff! You're going to give me back pain just looking at you. Relax."

Percy didn't lay down, but he did scootch further onto the bed so that his feet weren't on the floor. He'd left his shoes by the door for good manners, so he tucked his socks up onto the bed.

"Do you ever feel overwhelmed at camp?" Valentina asked suddenly.

"Overwhelmed? Should I?"

"Well, it's you." She prodded him playfully in the chest. "Whenever you walk by, everybody looks. Us Aphrodite girls get looks too, mostly from the male half of Camp, and even that much can feel overwhelming! I can't imagine everyone paying attention to me all the time."

"Drew would love it."

Valentina sniffed. "Drew is Drew. I like my share of attention. But I like it to be the right kind, from the right people."

"Who are the right people?"

She laughed. "You, for one. You know, handsome, strapping, muscular boys who chew up monsters for breakfast."

"I don't eat monsters for breakfast," Percy said. "Usually, I'm barely keeping myself from becoming theirs."

Valentina sighed. She had nice eyes, deep brown like coffee beans to match her skin.

"Modesty is a wonderful trait," she said. "But it isn't hot."

"Oops. Did I kill the mood?"

"Hmmm. With that face of yours, I think you just about got away with it," she decided.

There was a moment of silence, but Percy was surprised by his lack of nerves. He figured this was as good a time as any to ask a question.

"What lesson are you supposed to be teaching me?" he asked.

Valentina rolled over onto her back, tucking her hand behind her head for a pillow. She didn't break eye-contact.

"I suppose you could call it, 'learning when someone wants something from you."

"That's it?"

"It should be especially useful for you," she said. "You're a hero. Everyone wants something from you."

It was surprisingly true, although phrased more cynically than Percy would have said it. He was always giving lessons to young campers. That part he didn't mind, but there was so much else. Bad monster infestation? Give him a call. Something dangerous moved into the woods? Percy can handle it. He helped out a lot. He never enjoyed turning someone down. Sometimes it did get tiring, though, getting dragged from one problem to the next.

Something occurred to him.

"Everyone?" Percy asked. "Even you?"

"Oh, yes, Valentina said. "In fact, I want something very specific."

She lay there, on her back. Her pretty eyes were still staring into Percy's. Something came over him. He leaned above her, bracing an arm against the bed beside her neck. He leaned in and their lips met.

It was a short kiss, but the soft sensation stuck on Percy's lips long after he'd pulled away. Valentina was smiling.

"That was what you wanted!" Percy said triumphantly.

"Not too bad," Valentina said. She prodded her lips with one fingernail. "You are a very good kisser. Not as dense as I feared, either. You got it on the third hint."

Percy blinked. "…Third?"

Valentina smiled patiently. "When I said I could help you relax using something more than talking, and invited you to get comfortable. You could have gotten much closer than you did. For the second: when a girl calls you attractive three times in twenty seconds as you share a bed, it's an invitation. You did well not to stop and ask when the time came, though. Permission is crucial, but not when the hints are so obvious."

"Is that the lesson?" Percy asked. "I figure out when you want me to kiss you, then do it?"

"That was only the first part," Valentina said. "I'll give you a hint. If I have time to talk like I have been, you're doing it wrong."

Percy didn't answer with words. That was obvious enough even for him.

He leaned over Valentina, positioning his arms and legs to either side of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, dragging him in for another kiss.

This time, they didn't break apart quickly. Her delicate tongue met his. They danced together, shifting and wrestling. Kissing was something Percy thought he was pretty good at. Even still, Valentina was better. She didn't say anything. She didn't need words. Instead, her tongue led by example, guiding his to move even better. When they finally pulled apart for air, Valentina was smiling.

"You know this," she praised.

"It's about all I know."

"That's good! Some don't even have this much."

Their lips met again, reigniting the dance. Valentina's hands mussed up Percy's wild hair. Time drifted by as Percy lost himself in following her lead, picking up the queues ever quicker. As the seconds passed, he felt his tongue catching up with hers. He was improving.

"You are a fast learner," Valentina said after they broke apart for the fifth time.

Percy smiled. His face was flushed, and at least a little bit of it was from pride.

"Very fast," Valentina continued. "You know, This is Drew's bed. As entertaining as it could be continuing here, let's move let's move things to mine."

She nodded her head toward a bed in the corner with fluffy yellow pillows. With a nod, Percy slid off and started toward it.

Valentina didn't follow.

"Aren't you coming?" he asked.

Valentina stared at him, cocking her head. She made no move to get up, continuing to lay on her back.

"What…" Percy started. "Oh."

He stepped back to the bed and easily scooped Valentina up bridal-style. She squeaked as she was lifted, but the giggle that followed said it was the right answer.

"Always keep the momentum going," she coached. "If the girl wants to move somewhere, take her there. Initiative is very hot."

She was about five-four. Percy walked with her easily, barely noticing the weight on his arms. What he did notice was the way her thick thighs melted around him. The hand holding her legs sunk half-an-inch into her yoga pants as he gripped her.

Percy dropped her on her bed where she landed with a giggle. He crawled on after her, and she quickly backed him up so that he was sitting against the largest cushion.

"Comfortable?" she asked.

"Very," Percy said.

"Perfect. You'll need it."

Before he could ask what that meant, she'd swung one leg over him and plopped down in his lap.

Percy knew Valentina was pretty, but up this close he saw it in a different way. Her dark skin was a few shades lighter than Piper's. She had a cute nose that looked nearly too small for her face, with long lashes and full lips decorated by a thin coat of lipstick. She wore less makeup than any Aphrodite girl Percy had ever met, but it wasn't like she needed it. She had the head of a model superglued onto a thick body blessed by curves.

She kissed him, reigniting the dance of their tongues. Percy could keep pace with her now— until the grinding began.

Her hips moved ferociously. He could feel her through their clothes as his developing erection hardened rapidly. Her crotch scraped against his, undulating without an ounce of wasted movement. The whole time her tongue never stopped.

Hips still moving, she pulled away.

"Don't get distracted," she commanded. "Keep kissing me like you mean it."

Percy captured her lips.

She giggled, and Percy felt the vibrations in his mouth. He was focused now. He shut out the distractions. His tongue quickly returned to hitting the right notes, shutting out the heavenly feeling washing over his lower body. His hands mussed up the back of her blouse. One slid down instinctively, before catching itself at her lower back and staying there.

Valentina broke the kiss, sliding her lips along his cheek until she reached his ear.

"I'm playing the role of your girlfriend here," she whispered, breath hot against his ear. "Is Annabeth going to get mad if you touch her? Of course not. So if you want to touch me, touch me."

Percy jammed his hand down her pants.

His fingers slid smoothly under her yoga pants and panties to squeeze her backside. Percy had seen lots of supernaturally beautiful immortals, but on sheer size and shape he was certain Valentina's butt had theirs beat. His hand dug in without holding back. It was like gripping the luxury cushion he was leaning against, except Valentina was warm and almost impossibly smooth.

"Oh!" she gasped in his ear. "You are strong."

His other hand slid under her blouse, running up and down her smooth back. They kissed and kissed, breaking only when they had to for air. Their bodies pressed ever more tightly together, until there was no space left to fill.

Percy pulled his hand out of her pants and slapped her ass.

"Uhn!" Valentina moaned

Ripples radiated out from here he hit her, all the way down into those delightful thighs. "I seem to have awoken a beast," Valentina joked.

Percy's hands shifted. The one planted on her back slid around to her chest, and his other hand quickly joined it. They pushed up under her bra to find her breasts, one in each palm.

"Squeeze," Valentina said. "Pinch. Twist, even, but not too hard. Girls are sensitive there… So push them to the edge."

Her breasts were half the size of buxom Silena. Compared to her body they were on the smaller side, but they had wonderful shape. Percy groped them, feeling the firmness. Then his fingers slid down and found her nipples.

He squeezed them, turned them, ran over them with his thumb. Valentina forgot all about kissing now. Her breathing was flushed, but her face was focused. She placed her own hands under her shirt, weaving her fingers between Percy's to guide them in the best ways. In minutes her breath had become even more ragged as Percy's strong fingers attacked her weakest points.

Percy leaned forward and she fell onto her back. Her dark hair was splayed out behind her. He bent down, on top again for the first time in her bed—

Her hands left her shirt, pushing him back.

It was the softest of pushes, but Percy immediately backed off. His hands snaked back to his sides. He sat up on his knees, Valentina laying before him.

"That's all for today," Valentina said. "If we go any further, I'm afraid I'm going to have to eat you up. And Silena will absolutely kill me if I let you study ahead.

Percy could feel his boxers straining. He was aroused, and wanted nothing worse than to pounce on the beauty in front of him. But he held back and stood up off the bed.

"Thanks for the— uh, lesson," he said with an awkward cough.

Valentina giggled. "You have a lot of potential. You should be proud. Tonight, I'll use the thought of a week from now for my inspiration."

"See you tomorrow, Valentina," Percy said, trying to figure out what that meant.

She smirked. "Bye, Percy."

He was still stumped until he got to the door. In the reflection of the window, he caught Valentina's hand darting down the front of her pants.

The moans started when he was still stepping outside.

Six more nights left, and somehow it was only supposed to get more intense from here.