Watching from her kitchen window Anya could see Iolaus still working on fixing the stubborn fence that had come down in the recent bad weather. He had stripped off his tunic as the day warmed up and she could imagine the diamond beads of sweat sparkling in the sunshine as they trickled down his tanned skin….

The day seemed to be getting warmer….

Licking her lips, she deliberately turned away from the view to put the flowers he had picked for her in a vase on the sill. She couldn't help smiling as she arranged them to her satisfaction and sneaked another peak from the window before turning resolutely away. She had been raised in true Athens style to be a prim and proper young lady and proper young ladies did not stand staring at young men working in the sunshine, displaying their muscles and tan…

On the other hand, Iolaus didn't expect her to be prim and proper all the time. And he would do anything for her. It hadn't really been necessary to build her the big round, stone walled tub in its own private bathroom as a wedding gift, but he had still done it to please her: knowing how much she would miss the one at her family home.

Drawn back to the view, Anya let out a shaky breath as she eyed his firm, trim buttocks in the light linen blue pants he had put on that morning. Iolaus glanced over his shoulder as if sensing her gaze and waved to her. He was grinning wickedly as he turned back to the fence, no doubt knowing what she was thinking.

Absently tugging at the neck of her chiton, Anya blushed and smiled ruefully to herself. Despite her best intentions she had stopped being a chaste, shy young thing the day she met Iolaus. She had gone to market by herself for once and run into a group of ruffians who would have robbed her or worse if Iolaus hadn't come along and beaten them off. He had helped her to her feet and brushed her off politely enough, but the second she had met his eyes she had been lost. She had never seen such a wonderful smile, or such blond hair and such sexy blue eyes that invited her to wickedness….

Anya giggled to herself. She had loved him from the first time she met his eyes and seen the smitten expression cross his face that told her he wanted her too. At first she had thought only that they might become lovers. He was a warrior after all and, when she gathered enough courage to ask around, she learned that he had actually sailed with Jason and the Argonauts and was Hercules' best friend. She didn't dream that he could be as helplessly in love as she was.

It had only been a matter of time before Iolaus worked up enough courage to ask her to marry him and by then it was a forgone conclusion that she would say yes whatever her family thought. It didn't seem to matter to him that she was useless at everything and used to servants to do everything for her. It hadn't mattered to Anya either that there would be no more servants in her life. All she wanted was Iolaus to be her husband….

Mine, mine, mine…. Hugging the thought to her, Anya whirled around the kitchen in a silent dance of delight. Never had she thought she could be so happy again after leaving Athens. A hiss from the stove made her catch herself and hastily grab a cloth to remove her stew from the flames.

"Cooking is never going to be your strong point," she scolded herself as she eyed the contents of the pot wistfully, then giggled as she reflected that Iolaus would never lose his figure if he had to live on her cooking. At least her biscuits weren't too bad. Odd shaped perhaps, but usually edible. And she couldn't burn salad….

Maybe bacon sandwiches? Fortunately Iolaus loved his bacon crisp.

Ruefully, she trotted into the pantry to carve ham for the bacon. At home she would have received a scolding for burning food while she daydreamed, but Iolaus would only grin and kiss her and chase her to bed.

Sighing in pleasure, Anya hugged his love to her as she made her way back to the stove to get the skillet. She had always assumed - like any proper Athens maiden - that sex would be a chore she was required to endure, but with Iolaus she had soon learned differently. Iolaus was wonderful in bed and happy to teach her all she wanted to know to please them both. He was sweet and gentle and passionate and teased her about her insistence on keeping such things in the bedroom after dark.

Only once had they made love in the open air and sunshine and that had been up at the trysting spot as soon as they were betrothed in honour of Aphrodite and Demeter. Once Iolaus had got her in the mood – not that difficult – she had thoroughly enjoyed herself but she was still too shy to do it again.

And why not? A teasing voice asked at the back of her mind. You're married now. You can do as you please. You both work this farm in Demeter's view, what's wrong with honouring Aphrodite's blessing by making love in hers?

It was an intriguing idea and one that might cool her restless ardour for a while. Simply watching Iolaus work made her melt in hunger for him and she had fond memories of her husband nude and gloriously golden in the sunshine as he passionately made love to her.

And if she didn't dare the open air, there was always the bathtub…

Anya blushed furiously to herself, remembering her fantasies about that particular little dream….

Toying with the thought, she glanced out of the window again and pouted in disappointment as she realised Iolaus had gone into the barn to work out of the heat for a while.

* * *

It was cool in the barn and Iolaus paused to sigh in relief and splash his face with cold water from the barrel inside the door. In the afternoon heat the horses were quiet and sleepy, ignoring him as he headed up the ladder to the loft to bring down more straw.

Iolaus was a happy man. What more could he want? He had a beautiful wife who he adored and who loved him ardently, a good farm and gorgeous weather to ripen the crops he had planted.

"Hello, my precious," Hermes' voice purred into his ear. "My, you’re looking golden delicious today, oh apple of my eye."

Shocked out of his wits by seeing the Herald hovering beside him, Iolaus instinctively reared upright and took a step backwards off the ladder. In the same instant that he realised he was falling and let out a yell of dismay, Hermes caught him in powerful arms and cuddled him against his chest as he drifted to the floor. "I always knew you'd fall for me some day," he purred as he attempted to nibble the hunter's ear.

"You get away from me, you feathered pervert!" Iolaus screamed indignantly, clawing his way out of his arms and sprinting for the doors.

Hermes could quite easily have blocked his escape and locked the doors with a flick of his hand. Instead he touched down and bounded after him in long graceful leaps that carried him swiftly after the hunter. "Ah, he wants me…Le rrrrr…. Oh Iolaus, my dove! Wait for me, my sweet…"

Panting, Iolaus skidded to a halt, flashing a panic stricken look around him for an escape route. He was about to make a dash for the house when Hermes materialised next to him and caught him up in his arms.

"Ah, mon chere, I have waited so long for zees moment…" he growled as he smoothed back Iolaus' mop of curls. "Together we shall make zee beautiful music…."

"Get off!" Iolaus yelped, squirming desperately and managing to slide downward out of the Herald's arms.

"So chaste, so shy…. I like zat in a boy…" Hermes deftly retrieved him, scooping him closer for another attempt at a kiss.

Planting both hands on Hermes' chest, Iolaus shoved at him determinedly and wriggled free again. His fingers sliding down the hunter's arm, Hermes caught his hand and raised it to his lips.

"Why are you talking funny?" Iolaus demanded, wrenching his hand free before Hermes' lips could connect.

"Tis the language of love, my cherished one…" His emerald eyes glowing with lust, Hermes whipped sideways and once more blocked Iolaus' escape. Grabbing his hands he held them firmly as he drew him remorselessly closer again. "You know you want me really."

"I do not!" Iolaus yelled indignantly.

"Me thinks, my peach, protesteth too much," Hermes purred huskily.

"I protesteth not nearly enough!" Iolaus yelled, holding him off with both hands on his chest again. "What part of no don't you understand?"

Hermes' eyes sparkled in enjoyment. "Your lips say no but your eyes say yes. Your eyes have cast a magic spell of enchantment on me…."

"Not working then is it?"

"What?" Hermes was distracted for a second and Iolaus managed to squirm free again.

"The spell. You haven't turned into a parrot yet!"

Hermes frowned and with a deft grab caught him by the drawstring ties of his pants. He drew him casually closer and Iolaus reluctantly surrendered to the pull – it was either that or lose his pants to the Herald's determination. "You know, I could be quite hurt by that comment," Hermes murmured forlornly.

For a flicker of a second, Iolaus almost fell for it. "Okay, okay, I didn't really mean it…" he muttered in embarrassment.

"Care to make it up to me?"

"What?"

"Making up after a lover's quarrel is so much fun…." Winding his fingers in the cord ties, Hermes leant towards his mouth again and slid an arm around his waist. Unable to break out of his grip, Iolaus bent backwards further and further while Hermes pressed closer and closer. Then the Herald let out a startled yelp and straightened up, clutching at his rear end as he dropped the hunter.

A second later and Anya was between them, standing protectively over her husband and clutching a skillet in both hands. "You leave my husband alone, you, you….!" she floundered, at a loss for words to describe her fury without swearing.

"Feathered pervert," Iolaus offered helpfully as he scrambled to his feet.

"Yes! Feathered pervert!" Anya yelled and lifted the skillet again.

Iolaus hastily caught her around the waist and held her back, partly to restrain her temper before she attacked the Herald, partly because it annoyed Hermes from his expression, partly because he figured she would protect him and mostly because he simply loved the feel of her in his arms.

"Husband?" Hermes squeaked uncertainly.

"Yeah. We're married…" Iolaus said smugly, hugging Anya happily and kissing her neck. Anya melted back against him; her eyes going dreamy as she temporarily forget her outrage.

Hermes smiled thoughtfully, taking in her dark beauty and comparing it to Iolaus' sunbright colours. They made a delicious couple, he reflected.

"Ah well, share and share alike. That's what I always say," he said cheerfully.

"What?" Iolaus gave him a wary look, reflecting that he seemed to be saying a lot recently.

"Can't have her keeping you all to herself, now can I? She'd get spoiled."

Anya straightened up, her eyes widening in returning outrage as Hermes reached for their linked hands.

"Ooh, three in a bed will be so much fun…" Hermes went on, blithely oblivious to the chaos that was about to hit him full force….

* * *

Eros never lolled. He was incapable of anything so inelegant. To do anything as mundane as merely lying down was beyond him. Instead he lay as poised as a rose on its stem, his wings folded in exquisite perfection to display his tanned muscular body to its best advantage against the black and red silk cushions beneath him. Relaxing was an art form as far as he was concerned. He sipped nectar from a sapphire goblet and contemplated the sparkling sunlight as it reflected gilded shadows from the necklace of huge amber cabochons he wore, feeling far too comfortable to move. The room was pleasantly warm with a rose scented breeze from his private gardens keeping the air moving. Extending his wings a bare fraction he flexed enough to waft the scent over his body and tickle his bare skin….

Perhaps a little company to make the afternoon perfect? A sweet eyed young nymph or…

With a whumpf of sound Hermes exploded into the room, the noisy imprecations he was hurling ruining the peace of Eros' contemplative mood.

"Excuse me, but…" Eros began indignantly, his hematite eyes flashing darkly as he sat up. He paused, taking in Hermes' battered, dishevelled, even grubby appearance. "What happened to you?" he finished in astonishment.

Hermes gave him a filthy look, "True love…" he snapped.

"True love?" Eros echoed in bewilderment. "It doesn't usually hurt, at least not physically…" He hesitated doubtfully, watching Hermes strut across to the sapphire pitcher and help himself to a goblet of nectar to soothe his ruffled nerves. "Besides, I thought you went to visit little Blondie whatsisname?"

"I did," Hermes retorted "Where do you think I got the bruises from?"

Eros frowned and folded his arms, his wings flexing powerfully. "He doesn't normally get violent when you show up – at least not this badly."

"Oh, he didn't. This was his wife. They ganged up on me!" Hermes said sardonically and went on plaintively. "You didn't tell me he got married."

"His wife?" Eros did a frantic mental riffle to locate the information. "Ah, that would be sweet Anya…"

"Sweet? She's a Were Harpy! A dangerous harridan that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near my precious! She'll probably eat him alive!"

"I doubt it," Eros mused.

"Look? See that bruise?" Hermes thrust a tanned arm under his nose. "That's where she bit me! And I'm not going to tell you where she kicked me!"

"I think I can guess from h'how you're walking," Eros stammered.

"And then, and then she came after me with a skillet!"

Eros hiccuped to choke back a laugh and his wings fluffed automatically.

"Are you laughing at me?" Hermes growled suspiciously.

"Me? Nooo… of course not…"

"Your wings are fluffing…"

"Ahh…" Eros bit the inside of his cheek to keep his laughter in check. "What can I say? Love can be cruel…"

Hermes glared at him, folded his arms sulkily and flopped down into the cushions. A second later he levitated back upright with a wince and a yelp.

Eros managed to turn a giggle into a snort. "What was Blondie doing during all this?"

Hermes scowled and muttered an answer.

"What?" Eros leaned closer curiously.

"I said, he was laughing! In fact he was rolling on the ground…"

Eros gave up. His giggles exploded with a whoop of glee into out and out laughter.

"Eros!"

"I'm sorry…." Gasping for breath, Eros fanned his wings wide for balance and refocused on his bedraggled friend. He managed to keep a straight face for all of a second, then erupted into giggling again.

"And you call yourself my friend!"

* * *

Anya lowered the skillet, staring at the spot where the handsome young man had suddenly vanished in front of her disbelieving eyes. She turned a stunned look on her giggling husband as he leaned against the fence behind her.

"Iolaus?" she quavered. "W'who was that?"

"Hermes," Iolaus managed to hiccup his way back into control. "I told you about him, remember?"

"Yes, but…" Anya looked uncertainly at the now Herald empty spot. ""I hit him with a skillet, Iolaus!"

"Oh yes," Iolaus purred in delight. "And it was such a beautiful swing, caught him right on the…."

"Iolaus! It was Hermes! What's he going to do?"

"Do?" Iolaus gave her a blank look then realised she was genuinely worried and quickly took her in his arms. Giving her a loving kiss, he hugged her tight. "It's okay. Hermes would never hurt me or anyone I love."

"Are you sure?"

"He promised me…" Iolaus answered confidently, kissing her again more slowly and deeply.

Anya melted, dropping the skillet she was still clutching. She could feel her stomach fluttering with desire. Bedtime is hours and hours away…. Surfacing for air, she gave him a starry eyed smile and surrendered to her own instinct for passion. "Get in the barn, Iolaus," she ordered huskily.

"The barn? What for?" Iolaus raised an eyebrow at her.

"I want to, to…" Anya blushed prettily. "…frighten the horses."

"You want to…." Iolaus paused in surprise. "But it's the middle of the afternoon!"

"So?"

"But you never wanted to er….frighten the horses in the middle of the afternoon before!"

"Yes, I have but I've never dared to say so," Anya ran her fingers down his chest, smiling lazily as he shivered in response.

"Oh…" Iolaus said slowly, eyeing her with a certain amount of wariness. "In the barn?"

"Oh yes…."Anya purred, her desire rising as she traced patterns on his skin.

"Um, you are still Anya, are you? Not Hermes in disguise?"

"Shall we go see…?" Anya slinked forward into his arms, using her sashaying body to undulate forwards and urge Iolaus backwards. "Now get in the barn and get your clothes off." To her surprised delight, Iolaus blushed.

"But we’ve got a feather bed inside…"

"Straw will be fine as long as you’re with me."

"But you should have silks and satins, fur and velvet…."

"I have your skin for satin and your hair for silk," Anya whispered. "Your touch is my velvet and your love is all the fur I need to keep me warm…."

"Wow…." Iolaus breathed, closing his arms around her and swinging her off her feet. "Maybe Hermes should come calling again if it puts you in this sort of mood at this time of day!"

Anya giggled and snuggled happily closer as he carried her into the barn. "I'm in the mood for love simply because you’re near me, my love," she whispered and raised her lips to his for a kiss.

oooOooo