Chapter 190 - Anything to be by your side

Greece 1517

Peg watched as the two eager men shed their clothes, littering his room with the items. He let out a long sigh as they all but tore the covers from his bed. {Well, at least I won't have to bother cleaning them tomorrow.} He walked over to the dressing mirror and began removing the elaborate topcoat and vest he wore. Carefully hanging them and placing them in his armoire, he pulled a wad of bills from his pocket and walked toward the bed. The men were already in the center wrapped tightly in a steamy embrace as Peg neared. He kicked his boots off as he waited for the men to turn their attention to him.

One man reached out to him. "Come play with us."

"Yes, don't just stand there... unless you like to watch." The other man smiled brightly up at Peg as he lowered his hand to his partner's hard c.o.c.k and began stroking it as he held Peg's gaze.

Peg brushed the smiling man's long hair behind his ear as he studied him for a long time. "Can I trust you?"

The man's smile widened, and he turned his focus fully on Peg running his hands eagerly over the buttons as the other man wrapped his arms around the his neck and began kissing and nipping the tight muscles of his shoulder. "Yes, you can trust both of us. Though I doubt anything that shall happen in this room will be a secret or surprise to anyone. You have quite the reputation." He winked up at Peg as he moved his hand over the belt at Peg's narrow waist.

Peg place a hand over the man's to still its movement. Leaning down toward the man as if to kiss him, Peg whispered. "I beg to differ. I'm sure my request of the night will be quite shocking for you as it has been others." He pressed the wad of money against the man's bare chest. "Don't leave this room until morning. Make sure you are seen leaving... and have as much fun as you please until them... loudly..." Peg straightened and began to turn away from the bed.

Both men frowned as they exchanged confused looks. Finally, the bolder man asked. "But where shall you be? Are you not staying?"

Peg shook his head. "I'm not and don't worry about where I'll be." He didn't bother answering anymore of the men's questions as he made his way from the room.

Peg's bare feet moved quietly across the hall to the familiar room. He tapped lightly on the door and waited several seconds before pushing it open gently. His eyes searched the room until they landed on the open balcony doors. He smiled and walked toward them. "I got the strangest feeling earlier you were upset. Was I being paranoid or is there something the matter?" Peg asked as he walked out onto the balcony.

Andromeda forced her eyes away from the tiny crescent moon. "Peg? What are you doing here? I would have though you would be... busy..." Her cheeks reddened as the last word stumbled out.

Peg lowered to a squat in front of the lounge she sat on. He tugged lightly on a stray curl that had escaped her neat updo. "How could I have fun if my best friend is so down in the dumps?" He smiled and brought one of her hands to his lips to place a light kiss on it. "What do you say we get out of here for a few hours?"

She searched his eyes for a long while before slowly nodding. "Alright. Where to?" She asked with skeptical curiosity.

His smile widened. "As far away as my wings can take us." He stood and began slowly unbuttoning his clean pressed white shirt, pulling it loose from his tight trousers. He held her gaze as he undid the belt before moving to the fastenings. "Would you grab a bag for these?" He asked struggling to keep his voice level. It always caused his heart rate to elevate when she watched him so intensely. It caused other things as well, and he figured it would be best to have her searching her room for something to place his clothes in rather than unleashing his raging erection in front of her face. He'd just stepped out of the tight pants and was about to set them on the lounge with the rest of his affects when a slight inhale of breath caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder and caught her wide eyes burning into him. He quickly caused his body to shift into that of the winged horse, before he did something, they would both later regret.

Andromeda swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. {Stop eye f.u.c.k.i.n.g your gay best friend, you dumbie!} She scorned herself as she climbed atop the sleek white horse.

Massive wings spread out on either side and with the slightest of downward strokes, they were airborne. The warm summer breeze rustled her night dress and blew her hair wildly about her head. She held her arms out imitating the beautiful white wings.

The horse whinnied in pure happiness as the dark world faded below. These were the moments that meant the most, not some random hookup waiting in his room until the early hours of the morning or the badgering of any of his other so-called friends and family, this, being alone just he and Andy meant everything to him. Beautiful glowing waters came into view and he began his decent. The massive opulent palace of Poseidon sat before them in all its glory. Even at this hour there were movements of bodies within, silhouetted by the flicker of dozens of brightly lit candles. He lowered closer to the ground to allow Andy easier access. Once she was off, he quickly shifted back into a man.

Andy forced her gaze away from Peg's magnificent body as she held out his clothes. "Where are we?" She asked taking in the exotic palace grounds.

Peg studied her profile as he pulled on his trousers and fastened them. "My father's palace. He and my brothers have bothered me for some time to bring you here... So, here we are..." He didn't bother buttoning the last few buttons of his shirt as he took her hand and lead her toward the main entrance.

She watched as he pushed the doors open and led her inside. "Shouldn't we knock or something?" She asked.

Peg chuckled. "It's not necessary. Father is expecting us. He's prepared a room upstairs." He led her toward a wide double staircase.

She took in as much of the palace as she could while he skillfully navigated the upstairs hallways. "I can only assume this isn't your first visit here."

Peg frowned. "It is not. Though I fear I should have brought you with me those trips as well." He glanced down to her stomach as he pulled them to a stop in front of one of the large wooden doors. "We won't be bothered tonight." He pushed open the heavy door and led her inside.

She walked around the perimeter of the room, studying the many different pictures and figures lining the walls. One Painting of an enormous winged black stallion caught her attention. "Wow, is this one of your brothers?" She asked.

He nodded. "That is Arei."

Her eyes widened as she studied the picture closer. "Amazing... But does that mean Ry's form is also a horse?" She shook her head. "For some reason I can't imagine him as one."

Peg chuckled. "That's because he's not." He nodded to a painting of a gigantic grizzly bear. "That's Ry." He whispered into her ear as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he had a hundred times before. He lightly stroked his hand over her stomach. "Are we going to talk about this?"

Andy let out a ragged breath as she continued to stare blankly at the paintings. "It happened while you were away. Percy came into my room slobbering drunk one night and forced himself upon me." She sniffled back a sob as she turned in Peg's arms. She rested her head against his chest, shame coloring her words. "I supposed I can't say it was forced. I am his wife after all. It is my duty to bare his... efforts..."

Peg frowned. "Andy, look at me." He brushed the back of his fingers against her cheeks. "It makes no difference whether you're his wife or not. What he did was wrong." When her damp eyes met his, he forced a warm smile. "We could run away. I'll help you with the babe."

She shook her head. "And what would we do? You are contracted through Zeus... and you're... you could never be there the way I would need you."

He arched a brow. "And Percy is?" When overwhelming sadness filled her eyes, he let out a heavy sigh. "I will help you get through this in any way that you would like me to." He placed a light kiss on the top of her head, before releasing her. He walked over to the wide bay window and leaned against its frame.

"It's beautiful here." She said as she came up beside him and leaned against the frame as well.

He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her as she took a few steps closer to him. "We have been welcomed here anytime. If ever you feel overwhelmed, even in the slightest, just say the words. We can come here for as long as you need." He bent and placed another light kiss to the top of her head.

Andy squeezed her eyes tightly closed at the embrace. {Girl, pull yourself together. HE'S GAY!} She wrapped her arms around him leaning her bottom against the window frame. "Thank you for always being here for me." She whispered. She could feel the tears burn the backs of her eyes. {If only... If only...}

They stood like that for a long while in the oversized, dark room with only the faint light of the shimmering waters and glowing stars lighting the night. "If you'd like we can explore the palace tomorrow. I'm sure our presence at home will not be missed."

She nodded against his chest as she tried to stifle a yawn. "That would be great."

He smiled as he led her over to the massive bed and followed her down onto the soft surface. He held his arm out for her. Without saying anything, she curled up against him and began fumbling with the hem of his open shirt until she fell asleep. "I wish it had been me alone who rescued you that day." He whispered against her head.

Current day Embassy bar

Peg took another shot, studying the glass as he waited for the harsh burn of the liquid to ease. His eyes burned nearly as much as his throat. "She miscarried shortly after that." Peg shook his head in sorrow. "Perseus had virtually nothing to do with her after, designating her as spent. He let his affairs be more known leaving her in a complete state of devastation. Her own sons turned their backs on her eventually." He snarled his nose. "By then my alleged affairs were also well known and I felt helpless in doing anything other than comfort her as I always had." He shook his head again, his face even more twisted in hate and grief as he added. "I could no longer call Perseus a friend. I confronted him on the mistreatment of his wife, and he shunned my concerns labeling me a hypocrite." He poured himself another shot and threw it back. "The lies I'd spent so many years crafting to have the chance to be by her side and be that thing she needed most had become the one thing keeping us apart." He turned to Arei. "I'm sorry to say, but when you told me of the deceit you and father had played against Zeus... I saw it as my only way out, one last horrible deed..." A tear streamed down his cheek as he added. "I know you'll never entirely forgive me for that night or the following days, and I can't blame you. But know, I did it for love. I did it to be with the person I wanted most in this world... and sadly enough, I'd do it all again to be with her."

Arei pulled his brother into a tight hug. "I don't hold it against you. Who knows what lengths I'm willing to go to for the woman I love." He gave a sad laugh. "Hell, I'm all but still imprisoned by the agreements I made on her behalf."

Poseidon through an arm around the bartender that was still bound but was at least now standing. He wiped away a tear with his free hand. "So touching, wouldn't you agree, friend?" He asked the bartender who simply nodded with the gag still wedged between his lips. Poseidon pushed away the bartender as he leaned over the bar toward Arei. "You know I've been thinking, why not just tell her now? She's going to discover the truth one way or the other. If you told her now before she found out on her own, then it would give you a better chance of winning her back." He shrugged, "And besides what difference will it make to my dear brother, unless he plans to use this trial and the kid to pull her to his side once again."

Arei let out a long sigh. "Would you really put it past him?" He took his shot and turned his attention back to his brother. "How about we go back up and check on the girls?"

Poseidon faked hurt. "But we were having such a good time together." He fumbled under the bar. "And look you boys missed a few bottles... besides I wouldn't mind hearing more of yours and dear Andy's story. Though I know my personal part in parts of it, I do find it interesting to get the whole picture finally. To be perfectly honest, when you asked to use a room in my palace with the girl, I'd believed the two of you to be having an affair then. I'm surprised to learn you were not."

Peg huffed out a sarcastic laugh. "Sorry to disappoint you Father. Didn't know you cared so much."

Poseidon looked back and forth between his sons. "See, that is where the both of you are frequently wrong. I love you boys very much, and though I do not always agree with your methods I do honor your decisions." He shrugged. "Do I believe you boys are all too hardheaded to do the best thing for yourselves from time to time, yes. Do I sometimes meddle... forcefully if I must, to see that you have a proper push toward the things that I know will bring you happiness, yes? Has it backfired in the past... gods yes!" He poured three glasses full and slid two toward his sons. "But in all your stubborn, hardheaded glories... I do love you each still, and I'd like to see each of you settled and happy." He shook his head as he lifted his own glass. "I'm afraid that boat may have passed for your brother Ry and possibly even Triton, but Arei you still have a chance. I don't just encourage this because I want the Kraken in my grasps. I say it because I know she is the thing that will bring you the most joy... And to have you returned to my court with her in tow would be an absolute win, even if your brother manages breaking her curse, even if the Kraken as we know her ends... I believe Joslyn the woman would be all you would ever need to be happy."

Arei frowned as he stared into his glass. "But she loves someone else... I'm too late. All I can do now is try my best to see her happy."

Poseidon cupped his hand over his son's. "You are not too late. Tell her the truth allow the lotus seeds to do their work, and she will surely see this infatuation with the pup is nothing more than that, an infatuation.