“I know it’s late or early, whichever way you want to look at it.” Calla started as she wiggled out of the pretty blue and white floral gown. “But it’s been such a long night I think I’ll take a quick shower to relax a bit, do you mind?”

“No.”

“I’ll be right back.” The gown hit the floor.

Daniel stood there watching as the bra went, the stockings went, the pretty panties dropped away, all landing in a line on the floor from the bed to the bathroom. After the door shut, he picked the delicates up from the floor and put them on the dresser. It had been a long and exciting night but it wasn’t over just yet. If Calla wanted to relax a little before she got into bed with him then that was usually a good sign, he’d help her do just that when she was done with her shower. Like everyone else, Daniel couldn’t wait to get out of the fancy duds he stripped off the jacket and then the shirt, shoes, socks and pants and felt lighter instantly. Big events like that were usually fun but thank god they never lasted too long it was good to be out of those stuffy clothes. In just his jockey shorts, he flopped down on the bed and flicked on the television. The late entertainment programs were showing him film of the opening, there was Calla introducing herself as Calla Jackson and proudly showing off her Husband to the news media. That was a sweet and unexpected moment. Suddenly there she was on the TV and in the room.

“Oh turn that off,” she grumbled. “I don’t want to watch it.”

“You look so pretty and you handled yourself very well.” Daniel complimented and pulled the covers back so she could climb in next to him. Calla curled up on his side with her head on his chest. “In case I’ve been very careless and forgotten to mention it, I’m very proud of you Mrs. Jackson.” On the TV, the reporter told them about the show, the people in attendance and that it was a rousing success. He predicted that at the auction her paintings would bring record-breaking prices for an artist who had been largely unknown up until a few months ago. This time next month, they could be rolling in dough. “You’ve got the whole world at your feet, they’re all in love with you, are you sure you want to give all of that up?”

“Very sure,” she sighed. “I can’t wait for it to be over, Daniel. They love my work. They love attention. They love money or whatever it is they think I can do for them. They don’t even know me, how can they love me? It’s very tiring.”

“Too tired?”

“Hum, let me see. I dunno it was a….”

“Shut up,” he said playfully, flicked off the television and leaned over to kiss her. “You know what we haven’t done in a long time?”

Calla thought about it for a moment. “Ah, no. I think we’ve covered everything in the last few weeks.” She said with a giggle.

“Nope, not everything.” Daniel said slowly and ran his hand over her bare breasts. “It’s been a while since I gave you a back rub. I think you could use one after tonight so what do you say?”

Her shoulders were tight and her calves were killing her from those high-heeled shoes. “I think I’ll let you do that.”

“You’ll let me? How kind of you, My Lady.” Daniel sat up and then got out of the bed, he went to the bathroom where there was a bottle of complimentary lotion and then came back to her. Calla was already on her stomach with her hair pulled out of the way. This was a good idea. Squirting some of the scented lotion into his hand Daniel rubbed his palms together to warm it before laying his hands on her slender shoulders. She was very tight, Kitty needed a good long petting session and he was going to see that she got it. As soon as his hands touched her, she let out a long slow breath. “That’s it, just relax. You did very well tonight, I was surprised.”

“Me too.” She said against the pillows. “Not too bad, huh?”

“Not bad at all.” His thumbs probed the area between her shoulder blades. Kitty cringed a little. Too hard. She was so damn delicate even though she didn’t appear so sometimes. He eased off on the pressure and she relaxed again. “Do you really want to come back for the auction?”

“Yes, I think we should.”

“Why?” His hands started on her mid-back.

“I don’t know it just seems to be the thing to do. Close it out and be done with it. A little lower please.”

Daniel did as she instructed and moved his hands a little lower, Calla’s spine let out a very audible crack. “Oops, ok?”

“That felt good, do it again.”

“Are you getting old on me?”

“I’m afraid so, I told you that you should trade me in on a newer model.”

“I told you, never.” Down to her low back and the space just above the crack of the smooth firm ass and Kitty’s back gave out another pop. “It’s those damn shoes they put too much pressure on your back. Get rid of them.”

“But they make my legs look good.”

“Your legs always look good,” Daniel complimented and made his way to just that area. Her legs were probably very sore and tired from the torture chambers she’d been wearing on her feet all night. His hands on her calves and Calla took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. The thick muscle there was extraordinarily tight.

“Oh, don’t stop,” she moaned. “That feels so good.”

“How do you do it, Kitty? I know I shouldn’t ask but…”

“Do what?”

“Put up with Ares,” Daniel mumbled. She let out a rush of air in exasperation. It was probably the last thing she wanted to talk about tonight. “I know he’s your Father and you love him but after everything….how do you forgive him?”

“You’re still angry with him.” Calla thought they’d closed this subject back in Scotland but obviously not. The little tête-à-tête tonight probably didn’t help ease Daniel’s mind any. Still the massage was too good to get hot and bothered over the conversation and she didn’t turn over or ask him to stop.

“I’d like to rip his head off.” Daniel grumbled. “Every time I think about it I just want to….”

“Then don’t think about it. As for ripping Father’s head off, well, I wouldn’t try it if I were you.” Calla warned lightly. “I never said that I forgave him.” Calla reminded Daniel while he listened to her and continued rubbing her legs. However, as she and Ares agreed earlier in the night, the experience hadn’t been all bad. Telling that to Daniel was far out of the question and she never would. The Good which came from the situation far outweighed the Bad and so for that she was able to find a way to pick up the pieces and go forward. “The best I can manage is to forget the details of it all. I made a bargain and I’ll live with that. He saved your life, Daniel, when I couldn’t. How could I regret that or be angry over it? When it comes to you, no price is too high. No demand too great.”

One thing remained for certain it was a damn high price Ares demanded. There wasn’t anything to do about it. Like Hartley, it was in the past. Unlike Hartley, Daniel would have to find his own of reconciling with Ares because, like it or not, he was part of their future. “Is that what you’re doing with me? Forgetting about me with those women?” Both legs massaged and relaxed he moved down to those sore feet and applied a very light pressure as he rubbed them.

“What women?” She asked and wiped a line of drool away from her lower lip.

“Does that feel good?”

“Yes, the best,” she cooed. “I hate those shoes.”

Daniel let out a little snicker as his thumb ran over her sore arch. “Do you forgive me, Kitty?”

“Bacchus’ wine over took you, it wasn’t your fault, my love. You have no need to seek my forgiveness.”

That wasn’t the way he felt about it. “But I want it.”

Calla let out another deep sigh as his fingers rubbed her toes. “Then you have it, Daniel. I will always forgive you for anything. You never have to ask.”

“When we were in Scotland you told me you didn’t realize what that particular painting was of until you showed it to Hartley.”

“Yes.”

“What did you think it was? What was it supposed to be?”

“Nothing.”

That meant none of your business. Ok, for now, onto the next subject. “What was the big conversation about between you and Ares tonight?” As though he had to ask.

“Father didn’t like his painting.” Calla sighed both with relaxation and a bit of frustration. “I understand your anger, Daniel but you have to find a way to deal with it.” Calla said. “A long time I told you, Ares is Ares and he does what he likes. Father is very strong to go up against him is madness. You do not want Ares as your enemy, my Husband. Believe me, you want to keep my Father as an Ally.”

“So we should all just let Ares do whatever he wants?” Daniel huffed.

Now Calla did roll over to look up at her Husband but Daniel didn’t stop rubbing her feet. She talked more when she was relaxed “I didn’t say that, though I admit that there is little that can be done to stop him when he sets his sights on something. But you talk about him as though he has no heart. As though he felt no remorse or guilt, as though he has no conscience whatsoever, but he does, Daniel. He does. He is not an uncaring monster but to show that to you or to me or to anyone, in Ares’ eyes is weakness and Father would never tolerate such a thing.” She’d seen the look of displeasure on her Father’s face and heard it in his voice when he looked at the painting tonight. Ares’ stern insistence that she burn it right there on the spot told her how much he loathed it. The displeasure Ares felt was not for her or her work but for himself and what he’d done. “But I know he suffers, I know he regrets. Why should I dwell upon it, draw it out and make it uglier than it has to be?”

Daniel didn’t answer her question as he rubbed her little feet but he let it roll around in his head and settle in. If she could find a way to deal—though he doubted that simply trying to forget it all was a very healthy thing for her to do—he could also find some way to deal with it. Maybe a few sessions with Dr. Willie would help or with Duncan MacLeod. The Highlander didn’t seem to have any love loss for the God of War yet he managed to stay in the same room and be polite.

Looking back down at the foot in his hand, he saw the track lines disappeared and that made him smile. The two of them were well on their way back to where they belonged and he’d find a way to make the rest of it work. When he was with done both little feet Daniel looked up again and thought her asleep, he pulled the blanket over her, shut out the light and climbed in next to her.

Kitty was taking up too much of the bed so Daniel lay on his side with his back to her. Soon there were soft little kisses on his shoulder and her arm was wrapping around him as she pulled her body closer to him. “I thought you were sleeping.” He said without turning around.

“I’m awake.” She purred. “What about you?”

“Yep, I’m awake.” Daniel agreed. “Know something we could do?”

“Turn over,” Calla invited, “I’ll show you.”

Nope, no need to ask twice. Daniel rolled over on to his back, rubbing her left him with a hard on, one that was going to be content to go to sleep unsatisfied until she started touching and kissing him. Calla threw a slender leg over him, bent down to kiss him deeply and tried to take him inside. Daniel backed away. “Uh-uh what’s the magick word?”

“I love you, Beautiful.” Calla said softly.

“That’s better. I love you too.” This time when she tried to settle her hips down on him and take him the only resistance he offered was in his strong hands and arms, which she used for a little extra leverage while she ground down upon him. With no foreplay except the massage they were still both hot and ready for each other. Daniel was stiff and Kitty was wet and moist. Sitting up high in the saddle her hips rocked back and forth and round and round on him. “As long as we have this we have everything.” She whispered and let go of his hands. Calla turned around him without getting up or letting him out. Now her back was to him and her legs crossed Indian-style between his. Her hands planted on his inner thighs and her back arched at an impossible angle, she stretched both out and back at the same time.

From his vantage point, Daniel watched that fine firm ass of hers pump up and down. His cock grew stiffer inside her wet walls. Strong stomach muscles brought him to a sitting position. Daniel reached out, wrapped his arms around her and brought back down to the bed to lay on top of him, her back to his front. That was better, there was more of them touching now skin to skin. She was too far away before. Their legs intertwined, her hands reaching back for his head while Daniel’s lips explored the exposed nape of her neck his own hands roaming over her breasts and down to the bare patch between her legs to run along that slick sweet clit, he pumped in and out of her while she ground down on him.

As always, the night passed too quickly.

End of Chapter Five
Tarnished Heroes: Keep the Fire Burning
Continue to
Chapter Six