199 Finally looking for Astynome
"What happened?" I asked aloud, my voice cutting through the silence, though I wasn't expecting an answer from anyone in particular.
The room was quiet now, the intensity of the moment already fading. The brief encounter had come to an abrupt end, leaving me to reflect on the haze that had just passed. After what felt like such a short span of intimacy, it was already over. I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts.
I think perhaps I had been caught off guard by Khillea's unique allure, her body exuding a kind of primal seduction that was hard to resist. There had been something raw and almost desperate in the way she had looked at me, the way her hands had grasped at me, trembling. She had yearned for this, whispered it into my ear with fevered breaths. Her desire to get pregnant, her need for fulfillment, was palpable. She had nearly begged for it, her voice thick with longing.
As a man, maybe it was only natural to feel an urge to answer that call, to fulfill her dream, however fleeting that moment might be. I had allowed myself to give in, to lose myself in that primal exchange.
But just as things were getting interesting, as I was reaching the moment where our connection seemed to peak, she had lost consciousness. A soft, almost fragile sigh had escaped her lips before she collapsed, her body unable to bear the pleasure any longer.
"Maybe she's just a very sensitive woman," I mused aloud, comparing her briefly to Courtney, who had a similar reaction. It wasn't a question of technique or timing—it seemed to be something deep within them, something about their nature. But I didn't dwell on it for too long.
Whatever.
I had enjoyed myself, but now I was painfully aware of how late I was for my next engagement with Astynome. It felt like every time I was on the verge of reaching her, something or someone else got in my way, pulling me into a different direction. My mind buzzed with the weight of all the distractions piling up, but I couldn't afford to be distracted any longer.
With a deep breath, I stood up from the disheveled bedding and stripped off the remnants of my clothing, tossing my top aside and letting the cool air hit my skin. My body was slick with sweat, a mix of the travel-worn grime and the sheen of passion from the moments with Aisha and then Khillea. The tent smelled faintly of sex and the earthy scent of the camp, and I couldn't help but smirk at the mess we had made of Achilles' space.
Approaching the basin of water, I dipped a bowl into the cool liquid and began to wash myself, letting the water cascade over my skin, rinsing away the sweat and the fatigue that had clung to me since I arrived. The sensation was refreshing, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to relish in the simplicity of the act. As the water splashed onto the ground, soaking into the dirt, I realized I had pretty much soaked Achilles' tent floor as well. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
14:51
Ah, whatever. He wouldn't mind, I thought with a shrug.
"Ahan~ yess... make... me pregnant... hmn❤️..." Khillea mumbled softly, still lost in the lingering haze of her climax. Her voice was weak, barely coherent, yet her words betrayed the depth of her desire even in sleep.
I glanced back at Patroclus and noticed something flicker in his eyes—a mixture of exasperation and resignation. He didn't seem surprised by the scene, though it clearly affected him in some way. He looked back at me, his expression hardening once more.
"Thank you. You can leave," Patroclus said flatly, his voice calm but firm. "I'll take care of the rest."
I stared at him for a moment, confusion swirling in my mind. Thank you? For what, exactly? For fucking Achilles' woman? The thought made me smirk inwardly, though I kept my face composed. Whatever was going on in Patroclus' head, I wasn't about to question it.
"Yeah..." I muttered, nodding slightly, still taken aback by his strange reaction. I cast him a final glance, trying to read his expression, but his face remained a mask of calm. He was a strange one, that much was clear. Without another word, I stepped past him and left the tent behind.
As I descended the hill, I ignored the sound of muffled laughter from the Myrmidons stationed nearby. Their knowing grins and snickers were irritating, but I didn't let them bother me. Instead, I focused on loosening the tension in my muscles. My arms felt heavy, so I stretched them out as I walked, followed by a few waist exercises to ease the stiffness that had settled into my body.
Physically, I was drained. It wasn't just the travel to the camp that had worn me out—it was the back-to-back sessions with Aisha and then Khillea that had taken a toll. My body, strong as it was, still had its limits, and it seemed like sex had a way of exhausting me in ways battle never did or maybe it was because my body was reaching its end? Every muscle ached, and though I could feel the fatigue deep in my bones, there was also a strange sense of satisfaction coursing through me.
I felt... refreshed.
What I had thought would be a mundane day—just another task to infiltrate and capture Astynome—had turned into something far more enjoyable. It was hard not to smile at the turn of events.
But now, I could finally focus on the task at hand: Astynome.
She should still be in Agamemnon's tent, waiting. The thought of her stirred something within me, though I quickly pushed it aside. There was work to be done, and this time, I wouldn't allow myself to be distracted. Adjusting the scarf around my face, I began my trek toward the Mycenaeans' camp, where Agamemnon's massive tent loomed in the distance.