Chapter Three...First Kiss (continued)
The water, however, was warm in the post storm, the caps of the waves frothy from the wind but otherwise clear
and not a crab in sight. As both were tall, he had ventured out a bit far.
He came up from the water and tossed his hair back. "Now that'll wake you up!"
He'd twisted when they'd fallen so Andromache had had plenty of time to catch her breath before the water closed
over her. Which was just as well considering how hard she'd been laughing at his comparison between crabs and
princes of Troy. As absolutely impractical and lacking in anything even vaguely regarding proper etiquette it all
was, she was thrilled and the warm wash of water, still wild, seemed to playfully jostle her in conspiracy. She shook
her head as she surface and pushed the hair back from her face, grinning.
"You're a beast." she chided, smile too wide and bright for the words. Sandals long gone, the way they always
seemed to disappear when she came to the beach, she flicked water at him with slim fingers and then turned and
went back under, long legs giving smooth, graceful kicks so she could circle contentedly.
Hector laughed as he looked across the dark surface of the water as she dove under. But at least he had seen
her come up, belatedly remembering that though she should have been prepared for it, there was a chance she
wasn't prepared to go under the water.
He spotted one of her legs kicking and just leaned back in almost a float in the water, propelling himself slowly with
his powerful arms...absolutely nowhere. Absolutely no responsibility, no one to lead, no one asking him questions
expecting an answer, no example to put forth...
This was definitely nice.
She came up close to him, tipping her face upward as she surfaced to keep the hair off her face. Watching him
and the steady, easy move of his arms. Thinking...he looked so - right. So relaxed and - just right. She wasn't the
only one with expectations to live under. But here, adrift in the water, that had so recently been a storm itself, he
looked - peaceful. Something inside her seemed to melt for him and she wished...she wished she could give him
this peace for always.
"And what does Poseidon think of crazy mortals swimming in his ocean so soon after he made them run inside with
his storm?" she asked with a smile, rolling onto her side so she could keep an easy pace with him, long legs
moving smoothly in lazy rhythm.
"well, the storms drive the fish away from the shore, so without us crazy mortals, the crabs would get lonely." He
said with a chuckle. "since they're the only other ones either crazy enough or stubborn enough to remain out here.
And if Poseidon didn't want us to enjoy his waters after a storm, he wouldn't make them so calm."
Apollo might be the patron god of troy, lending his name to their elite fight force, but Hector perhaps preferred
Poseidon just a bit more, if he was pressed to prefer any god, or admit preference, since he admittedly took the
whole thing with a grain of salt.
"What do you think he thinks?" He asked, wanting to know her opinions.
Andromache ducked under the water again. Just long enough to find a shell with her fingertips and resurface,
rinsing it off while she thought.
"I think - its best when the gods don't notice you." she stated after a moment. "Even when they're trying to be
helpful it usually ends badly." And, as a woman, there were even more reasons to not want the gods in particular
to notice you. She set the shell on his chest where the wet fabric clung to the lines of him. "But - I think - if he was
paying attention - " her lips started to curve. "I think he'd think it was a good use for the water after a storm. Might
even wonder why it took the silly mortals so long to figure that out." She shot him a look from the corners of her
eyes. "Doesn't mean I forgive you." she stated with a smile before pushing off with a silent kick that moved her
through the water.
He chuckled and playfully went in pursuit of her until the sun started to come up, managing to steal a kiss or two in
addition to the one in the shack. But as the sun started to come up, they had to head back. Any later and
someone would notice they were missing.
They snuck through the back entrance of Troy, trying not to laugh. "Well, looks like sleep is out for the moment."
He said, squinting in the rising sun.
"There might be more trade meetings." she suggested helpfully. Exhausted herself and yet glowing inside. He drew
her. Always managed to draw her back to him when she should run instead. Now, tired and bone happy, she
couldn't protest. Or regret it.
"You could get some sleep that way." she added as they stopped in the alcove next to the gardens that led to her
family's rooms. Reaching up to brush damp curling hair gently back from his forehead.
"You’re a bad influence." He said, his dark eyes laughing. "Suggesting I sleep while our fathers talk deeply
important matters! Course, they’re just drawing it out to hear themselves talk, everything’s already been
decided..." He chuckled and caught her hand, kissing the palm. "Get some sleep, Princess." He said to her. "Never
know what wild adventure I’ll take you on next."
They were soaking wet, dripping all over the tile. She'd lost her sandals somewhere and perversely hoped to
never see them again. He'd already kissed her, held her, poured a strange longing warmth into her. Several times.
Laughed with her and soothed her worries and fears without saying a word that that was what he was doing. She
curved the fingers of the hand he had kissed so that they could slid across his cheek. Smile soft. He was her 'wild
adventure'. And it would all have to end and soon. But - not today. Not just yet. She couldn't - couldn’t bear the
thought of it ending just yet.
"Tonight?" she asked, stepping into his arms so that he could hold her. If he wanted to. Asking for the first time
instead of simply silently hoping as she raised her face to look at him. "Will you come back for me tonight?"
He smiled at her. If she had to ask, then obviously she had no clue that he was following her every move around
his country. And that wasn’t a bad thing, he didn’t want to scare her off, but he just couldn’t help himself.
"I’ll come for you earlier than that." He said, still holding the hand that was against his cheek as his other arm went
around her back. "Once you’re rested," and him too in all honesty. Even he needed sleep every now and again!
"I'll show you the land in the daylight."
The smile came, hopeful and pleased and she stepped closer, looking up at him. Her free hand seemed to know
its place, moving to rest against his chest where she could feel the solid steady beat of his heart through the wet
fabric of his tunic.
"By daylight?" she asked. Thinking of the duties he would have to shirk. The mind numbingly boring gossip she'd
have to miss sitting in the weaving room with the rest of the women. How difficult it would be to get away without an
entire entourage. Thinking of the sun shining on Mount Ida or across the water and over Apollo's golden temple.
"You would find a way for me to escape listening to yet another droning, weepy ballad about star crossed lovers
while your mother and sisters entertain me and Eleni? Truly?"
There was laughter and hope and something more, a quiet unvoiced desire, in her question as she looked up at
him with life shining in her dark eyes.
Hector's mind wasn't on what he might have to get out of in a few hours, certainly there were things. Between
being prince and general seemed someone was always trying to tie up his time and attention. But right now he
wanted to give that time and attention to her, which she for once seemed happy to accept, and in fact may have
wanted.
"Absolutely by daylight. You should see the people of Troy." He said with a smile. It was rare indeed that he met
someone who would let him take her on his own tour of Troy, as opposed to the calm quiet guided tour that
showed nothing.
Her eyes lit with the suggestion. Thinking... she'd met soldiers and royalty and a few priests here. But no - no one
that worked the soil or raised the animals or sold the dye or any of the thousand other mundane things that gave a
city life. Her home, so much smaller than this, was much closer to those people. Servants didn't do the shopping,
she did. And she was the one that the wives came to with their newborns to show them off and she was the one
that the market stall owners knew by name and saved tiny trinkets for in hopes of luring her to buy them. She has
thought that closeness might not exist here with the palace so high above the city and the city so huge and full of
lives. But Hector... Hector loved this city. And a man that knew every back street and alley and shortcut must
surely know its people as well.
She wanted to see them. See their faces when they saw him.
"I would like that." she smiled up at him, curling her hand in the fabric of his tunic against his chest. Not knowing
how he could possibly find all the time for her that he already did. Hesitant and a bit unsure, she lifted her face.
Drew his down towards hers. The first time she'd asked for his touch. Wanting it - one last time - before he left her
and she had to think outside of the spell of peace and belonging he wove around her with his presence.
"Thank you," she whispered it, lips almost against his. "Thank you for all of this."
He kissed her softly, afraid if he did anything more, he would probably not let her go, and the palace was starting
to awaken around them. "You're welcome." He said and took that step away before he got caught up again and
held both her small (to him) hands in his rougher ones. "But you'll need the rest before hand, a whole lot of
walking I've got planned."
"And I won't have to shorten my steps." she smiled wide, eyes dancing. She could be herself with him. It was all he
seemed to ask for and the one thing she'd never given anyone before. And - he'd kissed her. Because she'd
asked. She'd never asked for anything like that before. Never. And it was a silly and powerful feeling all at once to
know he'd had to control himself. For her. It drove something sweet and sighing through her heart. Stepping away,
hands lingering in his strong ones, she added softly:
"Sleep well, Hector of Troy." And then her hands slipped from his and she quickly slipped into the gardens, silently
finding her way into the family's rooms beyond.
He watched her go, then watched the now vacant space where she was for a moment, before turning and going to
his own rooms to get that much needed sleep (and dry clothes), forcing himself to not linger on the image of her
standing there, smiling, her dress clinging to every slender curve, lifting those lips up to his...
Oh yeah, Hector had it bad. He was the last one ever expected to get like this, but 'like this' he completely was.