Strange Love

As they approached Peg released Andromeda's hand and scooped Jos up off the ground, spinning her in a wide circle around him. "Wee!" Called out as he gave her one last spin. Still holding her up in the air, he looked her over. "You, my dear, are absolutely to die for!" He turned to Andromeda. "Look at her, isn't she the cutest? Not at all what I'd been imagining when big brother was describing her!"

Jos giggled. "Think you so much... but... um... do you think you could put me down now?" She asked shyly, her eyes twinkling in amusement.

He laughed and placed her on her feet. "I do apologize, dear; but after big brother's tale I was simply too excited to meet you." He turned his wide grin toward Arei. "She is all you described and more! I'm happy for you brother." He grabbed both their hands and drug them toward the floor.

Arei pulled his over-eager brother to a stop. "Wait! Hold up, Peg. I haven't even introduced you guys to her yet!" When Peg stopped and rubbed his smooth chin thoughtfully, Arei chuckled. "Damn man, how many have you had already tonight?"

Andromeda laughed as she shook her head, "He started way before this party!" Peg arched his brows at her as he pressed both fists into his hips and jutted them out dramatically. She rolled her eyes, "Alright, WE started early... way early." When she smacked his arm lightly, he took her hand and spun her into his arms, dramatically dipping her.

Arei laughed, "I can tell!" He turned to Jos whose cheeks was set in a deep blush. "This is my younger brother Peg and his best friend Andromeda."

Jos tilted her head. "Friend? You... you are not lovers?" She asked in confusion.

When Arei only shrugged in disbelief as he shot them a sideways glance, Peg busted out laughing and pulled Jos against him in a tight hug. "Oh no baby girl, we are most definitely not lovers!" He released her and smiled down at her in amusement. "This stallion prefers male riders." He said sending her a wink.

Peg pulled both girls against him, tucking one under each arm. "Yes, beautiful, and majestic... not to be confused with the black stallion of the family, however." He winked at Arei over Jos's head. "NOW come dance with us!" He said gleefully as he drug them toward the floor once again leaving Arei to follow.

As soon as they made to the spot Peg had wanted the songs changed, fading into a slow waltz. "Well great..." He huffed in irritation. "We spent too long babbling when we should have been dancing." He released Jos's hand and nodded toward his brother. "I'm sure you'll want to dance this one with him..." He held Andromeda out at arm's length, "Shall we?" He asked, and as soon as she nodded, he spun into his body. Their bodies quickly fell in sync with one another set in perfect rhythm to the music.

Jos watched in shocked surprise; their movements were similar to everyone else with the exception of their closeness to one another. Andromeda melted against Peg as they move fluidly around the room. His hands would caress every inch of her body they came in contact with throughout the many spins and dips of the dance. It was almost as if there were no one else in the room. She was so mesmerized watching them that she jerked in surprise when Arei took her hand. "Oh... sorry." She said taking his hand and letting him guide her into the proper position for the dance. "I had been so taken watching them, I nearly forgot we were also on the dancefloor to dance." She turned questioning eyes up at him. "Are you sure they are not lovers?"

Arei's eyes followed hers back to his younger brother, studying the way his body seemed to mold around Andromeda and hold her protectively against his own strong frame. "You know, I truly don't know..." His eyes trailed over the hand resting dangerously low on Andromeda's back then up to the one that was moving her hand to his shoulder, before playing with strands of her hair as he whispered something only the two of them could hear. "I believe him when he says he has not been tempted by other women, but I don't think it has anything to do with his attraction to men and more to the fact he only has eyes for the particular woman in front of him. In fact, I nor any of our other siblings, have ever seen him with anyone except her and on the rare occasion Perseus."

Jos tilted her head in wonder as she studied them. "If he wants her so badly and cares so much, then why can they not be together?"

Arei frowned. "Because he feels a sense of loyalty to her husband, I guess... that he owes him something that can never be repaid..." Arei brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek. "So instead of being with the person he loves as a lover, he dedicates his life to being her protector and constant companion." His voice grew huskier. "Sometimes we lie to ourselves to make the pain of not having what we want most, easier to bare..." His words trailed off and he pulled her closer against his body as he began to move with the music.

Jos didn't say anything else as her focus moved to their steps and her failed attempts not to step on his feet. Every so often she would risk a glance around the room or up at him. His stormy eyes never seemed to leave her, though. When the music changed but they continued dancing, she couldn't help the questioning tilt of her head.

He guided her hand around his waist and released it there freeing his own hand to stroke the length of her bare arms and shoulders. Swaying their bodies to the music, he stroked the back of her neck, careful not to mess up her beautifully arranged hair. "I'm a hypocrite." He whispered. "I am always explaining the concept of love and truth to you without giving you the curtesy of those two things in return." He felt her grip tighten in the material of his tux. When that song too came to an end, neither of them released the other. Instead, he only held her tighter against him. He lowered his head and whispered against her ear. "I overheard the conversation you, my aunt, and sister were having... I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I can't forget what I heard either." He hooked his index finger under her chin and lifted her face up to meet his. Her troubled eyes held his, reflecting the gleaming waters around them. "Is it true? What Chary said in there?"

Jos hesitated before nodding. Her eyes met his as he turned her in his arms. Her cheeks reddened at his closeness as her eyes quickly darted to the many people around them.

"And you truly believe it is what you are... what you've done that causes me to hold back with you?" He asked as softly as his emotions would allow as he fought the eager to kiss her deeply right there for everyone to see.

She nodded, trying her best to hold back her nervousness and tears. Her eyes darted back and forth between his stormy hazel eyes and were her hands fumbled with the fabric of the front of his suit jacket.

He lifted his gaze from hers, searching the room. There were many gawking eyes trained on them. He quickly scanned the room for somewhere more private to ease her stress. When he saw the spiral staircase leading to the overhead catwalk, he led her toward it. They climbed the clear stairs hand in hand, in silence. Once on top he pulled her in front of him and wrapped her tightly in his arms. Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he asked. "And you honestly believe I hold back because I don't want you? That I don't want to make you mine in 'every way' that matters?" He repeated her words from earlier.

She nodded against his hold on her and the pressure of his mouth still pressed to her forehead. "I'm sorry... I can't help but think it..." She whispered with a soft whimper. Her light sob was muffled against the heavy fabric of the jacket he wore.

He cupped her face bending down to level their gazes. "Look at me, I don't give two shits about any of that. I've probably killed more people in one battle than you have in all your years of being a- being cursed." He corrected himself. His brows drew together. "I know you don't understand my reasons now, but I do what I do because I care... Because I realize I've made a grave mistake and that putting off the rectification of that mistake is most likely only going to make it worse."

Tears flooded her eyes, "Please, just tell me already! What mistake?"

His eyes searched hers as his inner demons fought with each other. He let out a heavy sigh. "I've been lying to you, Jos... about quite a few things... mainly my name and who I am." He released her and moved over to the railing, unable to force himself to watch as understanding settled over her.

He pointed to a winged man below who was completely enthroned with a woman more beautiful than Aphrodite. "Dishonesty and mistrust almost tore those two apart once... He couldn't forgive her lack of trust in him but couldn't admit his own part in feeding her doubt." He didn't take his eyes off Eros and Psyche as he continued to speak. "Love is nothing without trust, he'd said to her and everyone who had tried talking to him at the time... but what is trust without honesty?" Arei sighed heavily. "You see Eros was afraid to tell Psyche he was a god in fear that, that truth would somehow prevent them from being together; but the length he went to hide it from her, only made her more suspicious of him." He let out another heavy sigh before turning his back to the crowds below and facing her. "I have done nearly the same thing with you. I have hidden my truth in the fear that the truth would push you away, only to cause you so much unnecessary pain and stress." He took her hands in his. "You see, I don't hide it because I don't love you enough... I hide it because I'm afraid you will reject me... but it's time..."