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“I mean…if you wouldn’t mind, that is,” Melinoë blushed, now a tad embarrassed about her request. The hand that held the bath salts out to her brother dropped a bit as she turned her face away.
You blasted idiot, you only just got your brother back and this is the first thing you think to do? Just because you think he may be a tiiiiiiiny bit attractive? Olympus forgive me, this was a waste of precious time. I should just–
“Of course, I wouldn’t mind. In fact,” Zagreus snatched the glass bottle from her hand before she was able to take it away again, “I would love a bit of quality time with my long lost sister, the one who just so happens to be our family’s saviour at that.” He walked past her towards the path to the hot springs, shedding his armor as he went.
Melinoë felt herself freeze, temporarily spellbound by her brother’s bravado. It was the sweep of his arm beckoning her forth, pausing in his motion to remove his belt as he saw his sister gawking before him, that broke her from her stupor.
She hurried up the path, wasting no time in stripping herself of each silver adornment on her body until just her dress remained. She turned away as she saw her brother descend into the pool, cursing at herself for wasting the chance to see him in his full glory because of her uncharacteristic shame.
What is going on with me? All this embarrassment over my own body, over wanting to get to know my own brother? I am starting to feel like a mortal!
“Are you okay, Melinoë? You seem upset about this…I can just get dressed and–”
“No, no!” Melinoë’s face shot to her brother’s concerned one, a sudden panic taking over that she wasn’t quite sure the origin of. “No…really Zagreus, it’s fine. I just…” She busied herself with actually taking her dress off, letting it fall off her curves all at once to challenge her racing heart. I will not let this shame get the better of me .
Zagreus made no effort to hide his reaction to his sister’s body, raking his eyes down and back up, grinning a little bit, and finally letting out a wolf whistle. “You’re gorgeous, Mel, if I can call you that…”
She nodded her okay to his nickname, taking a few steps down to the bottom of the pool, sitting as far away as she could while casting her gaze over to somewhere nondescript. “You too.”
You too?!?! What a lame answer! Ugh! You don’t act like this around the Headmistress or Odysseus or Nem or even Moros! What makes him different?
Melinoë didn’t get a chance to ponder that as she felt the water ripple and suddenly Zagreus was right next to her, their thighs pressed together and his much taller stature looming over her. His shadow was cast over her in a way that made her feel oddly comforted and afraid all at once. She looked up at him with a gasp.
“Hey, what are you sitting all the way over there for? I thought we were doing this to get to know each other? All those years we missed and you don’t want to spend some time… catching up ? I’m a little offended, Mel.” Zagreus gave her no time to answer his obvious euphemism before he was ducking his head underwater, swimming out towards the middle of the pool and turning around again, shaking water from his hair in way that wasn’t too unlike the giant three-headed dog, Cerberus, who was supposedly the family pet prior to the Chronos incident.
“Well, I didn’t think my brother would be so…”
“Handsome?” That infallible smirk again.
“Crude,” Melinoë rolled her eyes as Zagreus returned. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, both mesmerized by each other’s presence.
He looked stunning like this, even if her own embarrassment loathed to admit it. Water dripped over his hair and his muscles, highlighting just how toned he was, like a statue chiseled from a block of marble. She herself remained slight despite a lifetime spent training to defeat her family’s captor and while Melinoë could generally ignore the negative comments on her appearance, with her sudden shift in mood, noticing the difference between them had her heart suddenly ache at her perceived ineptitude. To her detriment, he noticed her plight right away. Her brother was oddly good at sensing others’ feelings, a trait she was beginning to recognize about him.
“Oh, did I do something? I didn’t really mean anything, Melinoë. I just like to joke around sometimes–”
She cut him off, “No, I’m sorry. I just–I asked you to come to the hot springs with me and now I’m the one who is upset. If I had known that my perception of myself would influence our–”
“Wait, slow down what ‘perception of yourself?’ ”
“Well…I don’t know. It’s just,” Melinoë sighed as she gathered herself. Perhaps this was a bit much for one of their first meetings but he had asked. She was suddenly regretting asking him to accompany her at all. “All my life I have been a ‘ small, foolish girl ’ and I try to ignore it but well…seeing others who are so much bigger than me, better than me. It’s a bit hard sometimes. I didn’t know both my father and my brother would be–”
Zagreus sputtered. “ Better ?!? Than you ?!?” And then he laughed and it vibrated all throughout her torso. “Mel, you can’t be serious. I thought I just thanked you for saving me, for saving all of us. The only thing you should be worried about is being too good. I should be the one worried.” His smile was warm and true. “You…you’re perfect. I mean it.” His hand landed suddenly on her thigh.
All of the air rushed out of her lungs in one big mass. Her center filled with warmth. Melinoë was very aware of how close they were. No, no, no, not right now, not right now…
But she couldn’t possibly stop the tiny moan that forced its way from between her lips.
…
“Did you just–”
“I–”
They stared at each other. Neither of them moved.
“Hey, Mel…” Zagreus’ voice was suddenly lower, his eyes moving down to her bosom like he couldn’t bear to restrain himself from looking for any longer. “You know, I’ve yet to properly thank you for what you did for me. I can–” His hand crept up her thigh but paused, looking at her for permission. They shared the same warm breath for a long moment as Melinoë fought to regain control of her mouth.
“Y-yes…yes I think that would be nice.”
No sooner had she said that was her brother’s hand cupping her groin, lightly massaging her folds open with large fingers. Suddenly the difference in their size wasn’t bothering her as much.
Maybe I wasn’t the only one with less than pure intentions, Melinoë thought as she moved to grab her brother’s forearm, gasping as his palm met her clitoris. He slipped one finger inside as his lips met the crux of her neck and shoulder, his other hand reaching around to grasp the breast he had been eyeing so salaciously.
Someone had taught him well to use those big fingers; Melinoë needn’t give him pointers like some other men she had had the misfortune of sleeping with. Even Odysseus and Moros, with the former’s extensive experience and the latter’s grace and elegance, could not touch her in quite the same way. Part of her wished to meet the woman who had gifted her brother this knowledge.
“Oh, please, Zagreus, right there.” Another finger bullied its way into her opening and she swore she could see stars. Her breath was shuddery and hot against the black of her brother’s hair.
“Of course, sister,” he whispered into her ear.
The strength in his hand was immaculate, the ripple of his muscle beneath her fingers. Her mouth fell open with abandon as she practically melted into him. This was the stress relief that she had so desperately needed, even if she wasn’t quite aware of her own wants at the time she had offered her brother the invitation to the hot springs.
He hammered into her with selfless power, his thumb rubbing tight circles against her. She turned her head so their mouths should meet and was hit suddenly with the stormy gale of her orgasm.
“Oh Gods!” Nails dug into her brother’s arm in a way that was surely painful but that he seemed to enjoy. She shut her eyes tight as pleasure washed over her. Zagreus seemed to hum at the rhythmic contractions of her entrance.
It was an eternity before she returned to herself to feel the crushing absence of her brother’s hand within her.
“I–” She found herself lost for words again. “I don’t know what to say…”
“ You’re welcome , Melinoë.” Wow, he’s so handsome like this…how dare he . I’m sure I look a mess after that. “I am available whenever you need further displays of… gratitude for your heroism. And I would love to get to know you more.” He winked as he grabbed her hand, kissing the back like a proper gentleman.
“Oh…of course…next time then…” She let herself be coaxed into his embrace.
Zagreus started when his sister gasped violently, something forgotten coming back to her suddenly.
“I’m so sorry! I can’t believe I forgot! Do you want me to…” Melinoë’s hand wandered below the surface of the water, placing itself upon her brother’s member when–
WHY IS HE SO BIG!?!? WHAT WERE THEY FEEDING HIM DOWN THERE?!?!
“Perhaps later, sister,” Zagreus stilled her hand, allowing her to retreat at her leisure. “Today is not about me. I simply wished to help you relax.” Despite what he said, Melinoë felt a bit saddened by the loss of the promise of more of his touch, especially when she could feel just how hard he was.
She let go with a small sigh, “Alright. Later then.”
Melinoë departed from their small nesting spot in the pool, swimming out towards the center of the hot springs to duck her own head under the water. She emerged after a second with a gasp and turned to look at her brother with more confidence than before.
“I hope you know I will pay you back in kind.”
“I expect nothing less from the hero of the Underworld.”