Iolaus continued the massage, working his way down the opalescent back of
his dark Amazon love. When he reached the curving folds of the blanket that
provocatively hugged Aquillea's hips, he again found the fabric a
frustrating barrier. However, the stirring he felt deep within told the
Golden Hunter that, this time, the reason for his unrest was far from
unselfish desire.
It was a struggle for the handsome hero to remind himself of the reason
that he was ministering to his beloved. Hypnos' balm was influencing him
and he had to fight its unexpected side-affect. Aquillea was terribly
vulnerable after the Tartarus she had been through, and he wasn't about to
do anything that would unsettle or pressure her. They would have their
entire lives to explore physical pleasures. That wasn't mere possibility to
Iolaus or even a beautiful dream, but an indisputable fact, born out of a
shared destiny.
"Are we done?" the slowly relaxing brunette queried with a trace of
disappointment in her voice.
"You're kidding right? So far I've really only been. . . um. . . "
"Breaking the surface tension?"
The Golden Hunter smiled as he skipped over the blanket to work on
Aquillea's legs. He was about to comment as he reached for a foot but the
Amazon practically kicked him in the jaw. She was ticklish.
Giggling, Quilla advised, "I think my feet should just stay tense."
Iolaus laughingly agreed. He was relieved to have the intoxicating spell
that was taking hold of him retreat in the face of this new merriment. That
relief was short lived, however, as Iolaus worked past the calves and as
far along the firm thighs as he dared go. So, with a fresh supply of balm,
the enamored man returned to Aquillea's shoulders, and again began to be
swept up by every detail of the moment.
Was it possible for a warrior heart to weep with joy at the sound of a
woman's deeply relaxed and rhythmic breathing? His own breath was stolen by
the golden-red halo that flickered around his sweet Quilla's lustrous,
chestnut hair. The supple feel of her pale satin skin beneath his fingers
made his heart race and he could only imagine what tasting her would do to
him. Then suddenly, he didn't have to imagine.
At the gossamer brush of Iolaus' lips against her shoulder, the entranced
Amazon paused in her inspiration and her heart skipped a beat. And when the
lips parted so that the mouth might impart its sweet, tender caresses,
Aquillea's quivering sigh was beautiful music to the handsome hunter, but
somehow a reminder as well. One more step along this path and Iolaus knew
he would lose all self-control, and for a moment, he was certain all hope
was lost. But his noble strength denied him the last, 'parting' kiss that
would have been his downfall, and he began to pull away.
Unexpectedly, Aquillea turned onto her side and rose to follow her one true
heart. She reached out a trembling hand to brush Iolaus' cheek then his
hair, and the love, desire and need in her eyes was a perfect mirror to his
own. If there were anything in this world he could deny her, and he doubted
that there was, he couldn't deny her this.
Without ever moving a muscle, the lips of the couple magically found one
another, softly tentative and eagerly yearning. Iolaus' right hand cradled
the back of Quilla's head, her silken hair squeezing between his fingers,
then his left hand slid down her back leaving a tingling trail in its wake.
It stopped, then backed up to a spot where he could support her as he half
lowered his love, half forced her down with the virile strength of his
upper body pressing powerfully against her willing flesh.
At first the pair were keenly aware of their separateness and they gloried
in it. Like living sculptures, they were sensually alive works of art, the
beauty to be explored by lips and fingertips, palms and mouths. But as
bodies and souls intertwined in breathtaking communion, the separateness
became an aching reminder of how incomplete each was without the other. The
closer they held one another in their arms and in their hearts, the more
painful the apartness became. It fueled the dizzying passion that consumed
their beings even as the logs were consumed by the fire. The flames
providing warmth and light to the room paled in comparison. It was the
burning within that generated the salty beads of moisture on their heated
flesh and that illuminated every corner of their spirit.
The fine veil of sweet perspiration that clung to the Amazon's body made
her like the warm earth itself after a misty summer rain. The handsome
nomad explored every hill and valley and his touch held the power of the
hand of a greater god. Every spot he gifted with a lingering caress came
alive with blossoming wildflowers. He roamed the rolling landscape with the
gentle intensity of an artist, breathless at the infinite beauty that
surrounded and engulfed him.
The wandering hero found the home he sought in the once empty woman who now
opened herself up to him completely and without reservation, welcoming him
inside. He was a warm radiance that filled her in a way no other ever had
or ever could. As the spiritually resurrected couple lost themselves in
rapturous ecstasy, they discovered themselves in the divinely perfect union
of love. They found their salvation in one another, having been delivered
to the promised land after all.
And they fell asleep in the arms of a miracle.
Posted on Feb 15 2000 , 01:12 AM
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