Page 86 of Axios

He had said Sparta had been fighting Thebes in the war, and they were our allies. I did not understand.

Nikias heavily exhaled. “So many bodies. Spartans and allies alike. Upon the ground, I saw—”

“Axios!”

I jumped and turned to Eryx. He stood several strides away and scowled.

“Come here,” he demanded.

Nikias stepped back and lowered his gaze.

I vibrated with the anxiety of wishing to know more of the story, but alas, it was not the time for it, and I forced myself to put it from my mind as I approached Eryx.

He studied me once I was before him and concern flickered across his face. When our gazes locked, I nodded to reassure him I was fine. Then, he grabbed my arm and flipped me to the dirt quicker than I could react.

I hit hardand stared up at his satisfied smile.

“See how easy it is for a distracted mind to give the enemy the advantage?” Eryx asked, looking at the boys. “An army is only as strong as its weakest man for we all fight as one. If—”

I swept my leg behind his and tripped him, sending him to land beside me in the dirt. Swiftly, I got to my feet and grinned down at his stunned expression.

“What was it you were saying about distractions?”

Taunting him would only cause him to go harder on me in front of the youths, but I did not care. It had been too long since I challenged him and it always made for a more intense lovemaking session later in the evening.

“Allow me to remind you,” he said with a smirk.

“You will have to catch me first,” I taunted further. I knew I was in trouble and excitement stirred within me.

His eyes sparked with the challenge.

I then spent the remainder of training learning new ways as to how a person could be thrown to the ground.

***

That night, Eryx was a wild beast as we surrendered to sexual wants. He thrust into my body hard and quick, pulling from me long, pleasured moans that soon had me panting and desperate for air.

I loved feeling the power of him, how he filled me so completely. How he took me hard, and then other times as gentle as that of a caring lover.

I ran my hand down his damp, muscled chest, and then down lower to touch where we connected.

He exposed his throat and groaned as he pushed into me again And again. His movements slowed, becoming longer strokes that hit me deeper.

“Ery,” I moaned his name, laying my head back in the hay and staring up at him. The hums of his pleasure added to my own, as they always did. “More.”

He thrust into me to the hilt before pulling back slowly. Agonizingly slow. His green eyes flickered to view me, and a smile curved his lips.

My heart raced and I moved beneath him, trying to slide his length back inside.

He took hold of my hips and held me in place, denying me. Then, he slammed forward—hard—and I gasped. As he started a new rhythm of his hips, I watched him through half-lidded eyes and tried to keep from yelling too loud.

We had come to the stables because it was too cold outside, and we’d wanted complete privacy. But even still, if I was too vocalized in my pleasure, I was sure people would hear.

Eryx crashed into me again and gave me precisely what I craved, nonstop pushing and withdrawing. His fingers dug into the tops of my thighs as he anchored himself in position.

“Gods, Ax. You feel incredible,” he spoke in a lust-driven tone. “The way your body clings to mine.”

When he halted his movements again, I growled.