Love and Fortune Ch. 15

Author's Note:

This is Chapter 3 of Book 2 of the Love and Fortune series! If you're new, feel free to start at the beginning of Book 1, but know that Book 1 is mostly laidback sexytimes, without much of a gripping plot. If you'd rather start with the action, feel free to jump in at Chapter 13 (the start of Book 2, which is more about adventure and conflict).

This Chapter Contains: an old flame returning as a new friend and benefactor, a cruise across the Aegean that turns sexy fast, Jianjun's arrival and check-in at a fancy hotel -- plus naughty room service free of charge (thanks, Chaos Magic) -- How to Capture a Goddess With One Easy Trick, and a telepathic blowjob from a continent away. As always, you've been warned.

Chapter 15: Strangers in Paradise

Ben's party flew first-class. Even for a mission as urgent as this one seemed, Eleni had insisted on comfort as they traveled. Ben had no objections. Their outset from the Haven, their ride to the airport in Nairobi, and the takeoff had all gone off without a hitch. Now, in the air flying north toward Athens, Ben's mind spun with thoughts of the coming adventure.

He didn't know a lot of what lay ahead. He didn't know who else might be seeking out the distressed Living Goddess of Victory -- or what their motivations, advantages, or powers might be. He didn't know who or what had captured Nike in the first place, or what might stand in the way of her rescue. He had only the vaguest idea of where they'd be starting -- and it was a name Eleni had mentioned to him.

"Nikoleta Vasilakis," he spoke now, turning to the French heiress in the seat beside him. "That's the friend of yours we're meeting when we land in Athens?"

"She'll receive us at the airport, yes," Eleni repeated, nodding. "And she's very dear to me. We go back a great deal. Her father and mine were close -- and she and I grew closer still through our childhood and teens. We had a bond. We still do."

Ben caught a hint of longing in her eyes; of memories. It didn't take magic for him to read between the lines, but a faint thrum of his bracelet confirmed it. Eleni and Nikoleta had clearly been more than friends once.

"You've never mentioned her," he pointed out. It wasn't a judgment, but it was a fact all the same. Since he'd met Eleni, they'd bonded deeply and shared much. He knew of her past as a socialite; of the parties and glamour she'd been all too eager to leave behind. He'd heard her mention summers in Greece. But this woman, Nikoleta, had never come up.

"Ah, well. We haven't spoken in some time. Not for any bad blood. Just years and distance doing what they do. I suppose we drifted. But it's never too late to reconnect." She smiled to herself, a hopeful look. "I'm sure we'll pick up right where we left off."

Ben cocked his head, a certain mild concern in his gaze. "You told her, right? What we're here in Greece to do? I'm sure she's lovely, and I'd love to meet her, but if we're about to drag someone into something they don't understand or want to be involved in..."

"She knows," Eleni reassured, though her tone was terse. "I told her what she needed to know. Nothing earth-shattering yet -- no goddesses or magic -- but enough. She knows we're here to help someone. She knows there might be danger. She's more than willing to assist. She has resources. More than that, she has a summer villa on Karpathos that we can use as a home base while we're there. This isn't any of us dragging her into anything. She's offering."

"Alright." Ben smiled in understanding. "Sorry. Didn't mean to accuse or pry. Just a little anxious."

His lover squeezed his hand. "It's fine. I know all this is a big ask, even for the most loyal of friends. And I suppose I can't promise anything yet. I hope Nikoleta will be willing to stick around and even help us once she understands the whole truth. We're going to have to break it to her together, I think. But outside the circles the two of us have already formed... I don't think there's anyone I'd trust more to be in our corner than her."

The young Zawadist nodded. He felt reassured. He'd trust Eleni's judgment. They shared a moment of quiet, their hands clasped, their smiles meeting. Then Eleni chuckled. "And besides. She's a hell of a fuck."

Ben almost choked. "Really? That's what you're thinking of right now?" His eyes darted down the aisle; Priyanka and Lenore were seated a row ahead, but not so far they couldn't hear. Sure enough, Priyanka glanced over her shoulder, smirking, before returning her attention to the book in her lap.

Eleni shrugged. "It's a big part of why I remember her so fondly," she answered with a grin. "Mmm, if you think my love life was never interesting before you and your magic and the Haven, well... I could tell you stories." She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "But maybe it's better if I just let you experience those things for yourself."

Ben felt his cock stir.

"Fuck. Eleni. We're not going to Greece just to fuck your ex-girlfriend."

"Right, right; there's a missing goddess, too." The heiress winked. "But we could be there for a while. And there's no reason we can't find our fun while we're there. And maybe, just maybe... part of my reason for volunteering was knowing I could finally pay Niko a visit. And introduce you to her. And share with her all she's been missing. Mm, maybe that's all a little selfish." She smiled. Ben could hardly begrudge her.

"If you're not worried," he finally said, "I won't be, either."

Eleni gave his hand one last squeeze, then turned back toward the window. The sea below sparkled in the morning sunlight. Not so far ahead lay the coast of the Greek mainland. And there, apparently, awaited their first ally in this mission.

Ben's bracelet buzzed excitedly.

They touched down in Athens not long after. Once they'd disembarked, Eleni led the group with confidence and certainty, her stride powerful and her gaze steady. Ben kept pace with her, his bracelet seeming to pull him along. Priyanka and Lenore followed behind, the latter's eyes wide as she took in all the new sights and sounds. And it didn't take them long to spot the person they were looking for.

Nikoleta stood out, even among a crowd. Tall, tanned, and slim, with a head of flowing black hair, she wore a stunning sundress and high-heeled sandals that clicked on the floor. She caught sight of the four and made right for them, a smile spreading over her face.

"Eleni!" Her voice carried a Greek accent, bright and musical. Ben's heart swelled as he watched the two women meet in an embrace, kissing each other on the cheek as old friends. "It's been too long."

"It has," Eleni agreed, beaming. "Much too long. And thank you. For everything. Your help in all this means the world to me."

"I heard you say someone was in trouble," the Greek woman replied. "That you were going to Karpathos to help, and needed a place to stay. That was all I needed to know." Her dark eyes, deep as the ocean, slid over to Ben and the others, curious. "And you brought friends."

"I brought lovers." Eleni grinned as she admitted it.

Nikoleta, for her part, didn't miss a beat. Her lips quirked in a smile and her eyes roved approvingly over Ben, Priyanka, and Lenore in turn. "Lucky you," she said. And Ben could hear the flirtation in her voice.

Even on a mission, even with much at stake and much on his shoulders, Ben didn't forget the magic boons that came with being Zawadi's devotee. He didn't forget the powers of seduction and attraction that his bracelet granted him wherever he went. Nor could he ignore how his bracelet seemed to respond to Nikoleta. The pull was undeniable. Even now, with work to do and danger ahead of him, Ben's charms weren't on pause -- and he couldn't help wondering, prompted by gleeful thrums of his wooden beads, what Eleni's old flame might be like in bed.

Eleni made introductions. "Niko, meet Ben, Priyanka, and Lenore."

"A pleasure," Nikoleta said, extending her hand to each in turn. Her skin was smooth, her handshake firm. Ben didn't see or feel any jealousy or contempt in her. If anything, there was intrigue and attraction. "I hope I can be of assistance. Really. Eleni was a little light on the details, but I'm sure she had a good reason. So whatever this is..." Her eyes flicked over the quartet of travelers, lingering on Ben's bracelet. "... it's something I can't wait to learn more about."

"We'll explain as much as we can," Ben promised. "But right now, we're just grateful for your help."

"Of course," Nikoleta replied, then turned her attention back to the French heiress. "Our ride is outside. We'll go to the docks. Then it's just a boat ride over to Karpathos."

"A ferry?" Ben guessed.

"A yacht," the Greek woman replied in amusement. "It will be a little more comfortable than a common ferry."

Lenore perked up. "Oh, wow. Never been on a yacht before. Yours?"

Nikoleta nodded, then shrugged. "Old money has its perks. If you've known Eleni for a while, I'm sure you already know that." She chuckled. "Let's be off. The sooner we get there, the better, right?"

The yacht was moored at a private dock, just a short drive away. Ben got his first look at it from the window of the spacious rental SUV that Nikoleta drove. The sleek white boat shone in the midday sun, a beautiful vessel whose decks and cabin gleamed with the clear signs of care and money. He took a breath. Wealth and luxury were still things he felt far from used to, even after a while spent with Eleni and more time after that amid the Haven's own lavish comforts. He imagined he'd never quite get used to it if he didn't feel used to it by now. But as Zawadi's good-luck magic had spirited him away from his original suburban paycheck-to-paycheck existence to a life like this, he'd never once complained. Now was no exception.

He stepped out with his companions, pausing to gawk. "Yep. Still crazy," he muttered. "Spent most of my life resenting the hell out of rich people and their yachts. But now..."

"You're right to resent most of them," Nikoleta assured as she brushed past, taking his arm. "It's like I mentioned. Old money. I'm not exactly proud of it. My father, you wouldn't have liked. He made his millions in the shipping industry. As for his free time, he spent that on anything frivolous and self-serving he could think of -- anything besides caring for his family."

"Ugh," Lenore lamented. "Dads. Am I right? Mine didn't have the money, but he was an asshole, too."

"I'm sure we've all got stories." Nikoleta's eyes looked sympathetic. "I was the daughter he never wanted. Not that I cared. I didn't want to be his daughter, either."

Lenore laughed at that. "Oh, boy. Nikoleta, I think the two of us are going to get along great."

They boarded together, Nikoleta leading the way with confidence and ease. "I did end up with most of his assets when he passed, though," she confessed as they reached the deck. "Some of the money went to a few floozies in Rio and Monte Carlo. I was still the heir, though. Took way too many lawyers to sort that out. But that's that." She sighed, but shrugged it off with the ease of a woman who didn't dwell on unpleasant memories. "Eleni and I have had all kinds of discussions. What to do with our fortunes and privileges. She's put hers to noble causes for a long time. I'm sure she's told you."

"She has." Ben smiled as the French blonde moved up to join Nikoleta. "Charity galas. Foundations. All that, for years."

"And these days," Eleni finished, "I'm mostly helping a community in Kenya. A very special place." She shared a glance with Ben, knowing and conspiratorial. "How about you, Niko? What have you been up to lately?"

Nikoleta took a long look out over the sparkling Aegean, her expression thoughtful. "You know me. I love the oceans. I've been trying to protect them. I help fund environmental initiatives. I work with startups that clean up pollution. It's an uphill battle. But an important one." She gestured to the control room of the yacht. "My vessel here? She's solar-powered. And I've been using my name and clout to try and push out more environmentally conscious practices in the shipping business." She shrugged. "That's my professional life, more or less. It's... not enough. But I hope I'm making a difference."

Ben gave the Greek beauty an encouraging nod. "That's amazing. You've got a lot to be proud of. And I know lots of people who'd love to hear about what you're up to. My cousin, Belle -- she'd probably love you."

"Maybe you'll have to introduce us sometime." Nikoleta winked. Then she turned toward the controls. "I'll get her started up and take her out. Make yourselves comfortable! Karpathos is a ways out. We'll need to make a stop in Santorini before we reach the Dodecanese. But it will be a smooth ride."

"Does this vessel have a name?" Priyanka curiously asked.

That made the Greek woman pause. A roll of her shoulders; a look back that said 'fuck it.' "Eleni," she replied, and gave her friend another smile. The yacht's namesake returned it.

Lenore nudged Eleni with an elbow as Nikoleta slipped into the control room. "Okay, El. This friend of yours is totally still into you. And hot as hell." The pale goth girl smirked. "I know it's not my place to say. But if it were me? I'd get rekindling. All the way. If you need a wingwoman..."

Eleni blushed. "I'll keep that in mind," she muttered. Then she cleared her throat. "Come on. Let's see if we can't get ourselves comfortable while Niko gets us moving."

Ben settled in alongside his lovers, finding a comfortable seat on the deck as the solar yacht's engines purred quietly to life. With Priyanka's warmth to his left and the softness of Lenore's body to his right, he reckoned the journey was bound to be comfortable -- even if the work that awaited on the other side might not be. He could think of no one else he'd rather take with him into this kind of uncertainty.

The ride was smooth, and fast, too -- enough that the land soon receded in their wake and left them surrounded on all sides by ocean and sky. The group shared their time between conversation and comfort, exploring and enjoying the decks and cabins of the sleek boat. And Ben couldn't help noticing how close Nikoleta and Eleni stuck, both to each other and to the quartet's own little circle. He felt his bracelet thrum, the warm wood a constant presence at his wrist. It seemed to foretell good fortune to come.

Ben followed Eleni at one point into the control room while Priyanka and Lenore hung back on the deck to enjoy the sea breeze. For a while, he stood privy while Nikoleta peppered Eleni with all the catch-up questions she'd been holding. How had she been? What had she been up to? Was she still on the board of her father's company? And what was the story of her new partners? Nikoleta asked a lot, but Eleni didn't mind the conversation. Neither did Ben.

"So, to get all this straight," an incredulous yet amused Nikoleta finally said, her eyes roving over Ben. "You met this guy, fell head over heels in love, decided to leave everything you'd been working toward for the last ten years behind... and then went with Ben and the others in your, erm, polycule, to his cousin's commune in Kenya? Mmm. I think what's happened to you since we last talked beats what's happened to me by a mile."

Ben offered a grin. "If it matters, Nikoleta, I can hardly believe it, either. Eleni's been amazing the whole way through. She's given more than I'd ever know how to ask for." He paused. "You're not... mad, are you?"

"At Eleni's good fortune and happiness? Never." The Greek beauty chuckled, giving her friend's hand a squeeze. "And you, Ben? If Eleni's heart belongs to you now, that means something. I want to get to know you, too. What's your story?"

He shrugged. "There's not much to tell, honestly. Grew up in suburbia. Mostly stayed there. Used to design websites." He felt a subtle hum from his bracelet. A sense that he didn't have to worry about the truth. "Then everything changed. Belle sent me this."

Nikoleta looked long and hard at the bracelet as he raised one arm to show it. She studied its beads and carved runes. Then her lips quirked into a small smile. "It looks African, but not from any culture I'm familiar with. Newly crafted, yet it feels ancient." She glanced at Eleni, then back to him. "I think I'm forming an idea here. Of how all of this connects. Part of me wants to say I'm crazy, but the other part..." Her dark eyes gleamed with wonder. "Go ahead. Tell me the rest. And don't feel you have to spare the details."

"There's magic. And a goddess. And she wants me to help another." Ben's gaze didn't falter from Nikoleta's curious face. "That's why we're here."

It took Nikoleta only a moment to process what she'd heard. "Hm," she said. And her lips curled into a grin. "Sounds like quite a quest."

"You're not surprised?"

"I'm Greek," the beautiful woman replied, shrugging. "We love our myths and our stories, our gods and legends. If a man comes to me bearing a magical relic from a faraway land, saying he needs my help to go to an island and rescue a goddess? Count me in. Hah, I feel as though I've just stepped into the middle of an Odyssey."

Eyes aglow, she reached for Ben's hands. The Zawadist took hers in turn. He felt an instant connection -- and not just through physical touch. Magic reminded him, not at all subtly, that if he wanted, this beautiful woman could be his. Goddess-magic laid out the consent, and genuine chemistry would carry over from there. He could bend Nikoleta over the console right here in this room and make her his slut, while Eleni watched with all her love and approval. Why drag it out? Why hold back?

Only his lingering focus on the mission ahead made him object to those internal questions. Like he'd told Eleni, they weren't here in Greece just to fuck her ex-girlfriend. Getting too distracted here would hardly be prudent. Would it?

He tried not to dwell too hard on the thought of it -- Nikoleta Vasilakis speared on his cock, crying out in bliss and begging for more -- but it wasn't an easy one to forget.

"Thank you," he finally said, breaking the silence. "For understanding. I'm glad you don't think this sounds crazy."

"I've dealt with a lot crazier," Nikoleta simply said, squeezing his hands and then releasing. "Now, get ready. Santorini's coming up soon. The view at sunset is to die for."

***

Jianjun was buzzing all over. It had been a pretty indulgent flight.

Even now, as the small plane made its final approach toward the airport in Athens, the Chinese devotee of Eris still rode high on the vibes. Sprawled back against the seat, still half-undressed, still not caring, Jianjun thought back to all the ways she'd passed the long twelve hours in the sky.

A little bit of chaos, aptly applied, could do a lot to keep things interesting.

Yilin was just the prettiest piece of that. Her tight little body had made far better in-flight entertainment than any airport novel or streaming movie ever could have. The professional assistant had given up everything to the tattooed punk for hour after hour, hot chaos magic just amping up the sex, turning Yilin from her shy and professional self into a sex-hungry slut.

She'd gone several rounds riding Jianjun's fingers like a woman possessed, cumming her brains out over and over again while the stowaway kissed and nipped at her bared breasts and neck. Yilin's body was a canvas Jianjun knew she was born to mark, and her pussy was an instrument Jianjun could play like a virtuoso. But there'd been more to their fun than that, and even wilder ways for chaos to make a good time better. And as the long day in the little plane had stretched on, Jianjun and her play-partner had gotten pretty bold -- and pretty creative.

They'd made the entire cabin a mess. Jianjun had to hand it to whoever the hell cleaned these things; they'd have an extra-special task this time. And poor Yilin. Jianjun's magic had turned her mind inside out in the best way. She'd just gotten her clothes back on, smoothing them out as best she could... but her legs still shook as she walked in her heels. The look on her face toward Jianjun, though, said nothing but "thank you."

There was no resentment for the wild fuck, the mind-break, or the mess. Jianjun knew things would get back to normal once Yilin went on her way and the residual chaos slipped from the little plaything's head. She just hoped Yilin would think twice about whether she really needed this job with Chen.

Ah, Chen. He'd be a different story.

It really had been a long flight. With extra time on her hands, and Eris's full support, Jianjun had wired a ticking chaos bomb to the greedy AI exec's brain, carefully tying in every little connection he had. A bit like programming a computer virus; a bit like writing a screenplay. Either way, the result was going to be, in Eris's words, a full-blown Greek tragedy. Now, set and ready, the bomb of magic and bad luck was just waiting to go off.

His arrival in Greece would be timed perfectly with a big hit piece in the financial press, every word of it backed up by a former colleague's whistle-blowing. A host of his investors and clients would find out how unethically his business operated; how much he'd been hiding about its harsh environmental impact, abysmal treatment of workers, and predatory data collection. It'd be quite the reckoning.

Served the prick right. He'd been nothing but dismissive and rude to Yilin from the start. Jianjun couldn't imagine how many other Yilins there were in the life of a stuck-up boss like him. The assistants and secretaries, the cleaners and the maids, the maintenance staff and drivers and private cooks who served him like an emperor without ever getting an ounce of thanks, let alone what was due to them. In his corporate world, with the bigwigs on top and the little people on the bottom, it was always the latter who paid the price and took the falls, while the former never had to worry about a thing.

Not this time, Jianjun thought with a smirk. Fuckers like Chen deserved to fall hard. The Chinese punk was happy to deliver.

Chen's jet landed in Athens with the exec totally oblivious to his coming humiliation. He left first, Yilin on his heels -- though the beautiful assistant paused before she stepped off the plane, offering one last grateful smile to the extra passenger only she had been aware of. The moment the plane was clear, Jianjun rose, fixed her messy hair, and stepped off, too. The airport would be long behind her in no time.

"Well, here we are," Jianjun spoke aloud, now strolling with a swagger down an Athens street. She took in the sights, the sounds, the smells, the taste of the air, all with an eye for what chaos she could make here. She imagined she'd have plenty to work with.

In fact, she'd already worked a little. She'd stopped at a food cart along the way, scoring a free gyro from the proprietor -- with no small amount of thanks to the passing dog that her chaos magic had tapped in. One thought, and the mutt came charging up, barking and snapping, sending the startled man and his current customer scrambling from the cart. It had been free pickings from there. Always nice to get a five-finger discount, the punk girl thought as she hungrily dug in.

"Damn, Eris. Your corner of the world isn't too bad." She bit, chewed, savored, swallowed. "Food's tasty."

Eris's manifestation, visible only to her devotee, was soon at Jianjun's side. "Don't get the wrong idea. This is Athena's burg. Once we're out of Athens, things will get more interesting. And more fun."

"Can't wait." Jianjun smirked.

"Far as I can tell, you're making great time. Ought to get to Karpathos ahead of any other parties on the move, too, if we can find a fast way there." Her Goddess's voice never failed to raise her spirits. Jianjun loved their familiarity; how much the goddess had come to match her tone and cadence and personality. In their earliest days, she'd come off a bit loftier, but now the deity sounded more like she could've been one of her old biker-gang buddies from back in the day. "I think how we dealt with Chen was perfect, by the way."

"Call it a bonus, courtesy of your best girl." Jianjun winked at the goddess and tossed back her hair. "Couldn't just hitch a ride in his jet without giving him some parting gifts. What's the point otherwise? World needs less fucks like him in it, anyway. Gotta do my part."

"He'll have a long day ahead of him, certainly," Eris agreed, her voice tinged with a note of sadistic satisfaction. "Now, to get us a fast-track ride to the Dodecanese..."

Jianjun paused, looking around. A harbor was visible from here. Boats and ships would be moored by the dozens at a place this big and central. There'd have to be a good choice among them. But boats were slow.

Her eye caught a seaplane making a landing near the harbor, its sleek form glittering on the blue sea as it alighted down. Now, that looked interesting. She nudged her invisible goddess with an elbow. "See that?"

Eris smirked. "Oh, you're good. Karpathos would just be a hop and a skip away in a plane like that. We'd be there by evening, no trouble."

The Discordian grinned and set off for the harbor at a brisk stride. "And I'm betting some pilot's gonna be all too eager to give us a ride."

"Get this, too." Eris's sudden interjection carried the smug air of having just discovered a juicy bit of news. "I just scoped out the first bit of our competition out there. Easy to spy when those in-flight antics of yours charged me up like a damn fusion generator. Maybe there's more, but I've got a bead on one group of players out there. Oh, they're a hoot. Four women and a guy. Zawadi's little entourage. Those goody-goodies are taking the scenic route -- a nice, slow boat ride. So we'll have the island to ourselves a while to investigate. Free rein to set things up just how we want to."

"So we'll be into the investigation before they even begin, huh? Love it."

"Maybe even with time enough to lay a few traps, decoys, or deceptions," the goddess suggested. "Talk about fertile ground for some real discord." Her smile turned wicked, gleaming like the sun in the cloudless sky above.

"Eris?" Jianjun grinned. "I think this is gonna be the most fun we've ever had."

The goddess's laughter echoed. "Oh, trust me, babe. I'm thinking it's gonna be the most fun anyone has ever had."

***

As the yacht docked for a brief stop at Santorini, Ben didn't feel let down by that view Nikoleta had promised. Its famous white buildings gleamed in the late-afternoon sun, nestled into cliffsides and sitting on hilltops. But he didn't spend too long drinking in that view from the deck. Priyanka, tugging his sleeve suggestively, soon had him down in one of the yacht's private quarters and on its available bed.

It felt good to release some tension. Pri was familiar as a lover, and just as amazing as ever. Ben fucked her in a haze of passion, his bracelet thrumming, his partner's dusky body warm against his, their hips moving together and their gasps and moans rising and falling. It had been a little while. A flight from Nairobi. Landing and leaving Athens. The cruise across the Aegean. And they'd had a lot on their minds. This took some of the worry about Nike away; some of the anticipation of the task at hand.

"Goddess, I needed this," Priyanka moaned, the young Indian woman's hands dragging down Ben's bare back as he sawed into her. "Did I mention I hate airplanes? Hah. Yachts are nice, though."

"This one is." He leaned down to kiss her throat, making Pri gasp. "And we'll have a little while here. Eleni and Nikoleta are in town picking up supplies. Lenore sounded eager to tag along. Mm, hope she's not third-wheeling the hell out of them."

"We're Zawadists," Priyanka reminded him. "There's no such thing. We all fit in. Although..." Her lips pursed into a smirk. "... it definitely seems to me that our gracious Greek hostess is still carrying a torch for Eleni... ooh, harder. Fuck."

"Those two. Am I right?" He picked up the pace a little. Priyanka responded by wrapping her legs around him, holding him close, pulling him deeper into her with every stroke. "Goddess, I'm hoping some of our magic rubs off on them. They need a big reconnection."

"They need a session like this," the Indian girl giggled. "Aa-aa-ah, you're getting me close..."

"I'm close, too." He angled his hips and drove deep, making his lover cry out. "You know I love watching you cum. Ready to show me, Pri?"

"Always ready... to cum on your fucking cock... aahhhh," Priyanka growled -- and seconds later, she was.

They stayed together long after their bliss had run its course, bodies pressed together on the soft bed. Ben ran a hand up Priyanka's side, feeling her shiver. His cock, still hard, pulsed within her, and the young woman mewled softly. Her pussy clenched. They could certainly go again, when magic meant no refractory periods. It was just that they liked this, too. A quiet moment. The sound of their breathing. The boat rocking ever-so-gently at its moorings.

"Thank you, Ben," his lover finally said, sealing those words with a kiss. "For this. And for so much more. For taking me on an adventure with you."

"Thanks for wanting to come along," he said. "How's it feel, representing the Haven out here on a goddess-mission?"

"So far? Great," Pri admitted, a small smile on her lips. "Excited. Ready to learn. I love our home. It's safe and sexy, and it's got most everything I need. But complacency can make me feel... well, complacent." Her smile grew a little larger. "Not like you've contributed to that. You brought such a shock to our system back in Kenya when you showed up with Eleni and Lenore and the others. A man, at Belle's Haven? If it'd been anybody but you, there'd have been a riot. But you... wow. Makes sense this would happen so soon after. One thing after the other, right? It's good." She kissed him again. "Speaking of which. When are you and Nikoleta going to go a round?"

That caught Ben off guard. "I... wow, you're really just putting it out there. Goddess."

"I saw you and Eleni with her in the control room. Chemistry would be putting it lightly." She nuzzled up to him, grinning. "Come on. Don't try and tell me you didn't feel it, too. You wanna bring her and Eleni back together? Do the heavy lifting for them with that amazing dick. You can thank me later."

Ben had felt that. Now he also felt his cock pulse inside Priyanka. It might have been an effect of the moment, but his hips slowly got back to moving, sliding his length in and out of his lover's welcoming warmth. "Maybe I'll just thank you right now."

Pri's breath hitched in her throat. "Oh. Oh, goddess, that'd work, too. We've... hah. Got the time."

"Always," he said. They were already picking up right where they'd left off.

***

Lenore Larkin hurried after the two older women ahead of her, both their arms laden with paper bags from the market. She knew this was supposed to be a simple resupply mission for the yacht's kitchen, in preparation for a later dinner on the deck -- but of course, with Eleni and Nikoleta reunited, and the Greek heiress showing her old flame around the picturesque white town of Oia, the energy of the visit had become something a little different. Lenore didn't mind. In fact, as she followed the duo through the narrow streets, past small shops, boutiques, and cafés, she found herself having a pretty great time.

She'd been trying for a while to convince herself this was a mission, not a vacation. Something for the greater good, not just sightseeing and indulgence. And maybe they hadn't hit their real trial yet. But that didn't mean they weren't having fun in the moment. Greece was gorgeous. Never in her life had she thought she'd come to a place like this. Of course, the same had been true of Nairobi, and the Haven. For a girl who'd started out as a runaway with nothing, Lenore had sure made her way to a few amazing places. It was hard not to be grateful.

And with her Lesser Bracelet of Zawadi fluttering gently against her wrist with its power, it was easy to remember who she could thank.

"And this is the best sunset spot in Santorini. Right here," Nikoleta was saying as she came to a halt at the railing, overlooking the cliff. Lenore picked up her pace, trotting up to stand at her companions' side. The sun was already starting to set, casting the Aegean into golds, reds, and purples. There was a sight you could get lost in. The Haven was amazing, yes, but had she stayed, she'd have missed out on this.

"Beautiful," the white-haired girl breathed. "Thanks for showing us around, Niko."

"My pleasure. You know what else?" The tanned Greek heiress's grin widened. "Just about every day, it's crowded as hell here in Oia. Especially in places with a view like this. But here today? Since we stepped off the deck, we haven't had one bumbling tourist get in our way. Yesterday, I'd have just called that really good luck. And maybe that's what it is today. But I do know you guys are magical."

Lenore's heart thumped. "You know?"

"Ben told me." Nikoleta winked. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe." For the first time, she eyed Lenore's own bracelet, perhaps comparing it mentally to the larger set of beads Ben wore. "You've got your own little piece of the divine, don't you?"

The pale goth blushed. "Not as strong as Ben's, but I do get some of the perks. I get lucky. A lot." She wondered if the double-meaning, unintentional as it had been, would be obvious. Nikoleta's grin suggested it was.

"It suits you. As does your hair. You match Oia pretty well in white."

Lenore loved hearing the compliment. "Heh. I'll tell another secret. Turns out, one perk of magic I'd never have suspected is the dye job never fades." She ran fingers through her long, pure white hair. "Maybe it's not life-or-death. But aesthetic bonuses are still bonuses. My roots haven't shown since I put on my bracelet."

"How did that never occur to me?" Eleni gave a wry smile. "All this time, and I've never even known what your natural color is, ma petite."

"That," Lenore said, crossing her arms, "is one secret you're not getting out of me. Yet."

"Fair's fair," Nikoleta conceded. "Really, though. You're lovely. As is Priyanka. And Ben?" She chuckled. "Oh, I shouldn't say what I'm thinking. My point is..." She smirked at Eleni. "Maybe a different kind of person would feel strange seeing her ex surrounded by a group of young lovers like you. But I'm just impressed. Maybe even inspired."

Less flustered now, and more confident, Lenore turned to Nikoleta and gave her a long, appreciative look. She was a stunner -- her tan, her black hair, the dark eyes, her stylish and summery clothes. Lenore had been thinking that since the airport. If this was someone Eleni had dated once, she wasn't surprised. Eleni had taste. But then, of course Eleni did. Ben was proof of that. They all were, together, proof of it.

And maybe, now that they were all together...

"So, the three of us, in a market town at sunset. We should be toasting to our trip." Eleni leaned on the railing, eyeing her old flame and new lover in turn. "But I suppose that's better done back on board, with the other two present."

"Probably. Especially since I've still got to get us out of here and onward to the Dodecanese," Nikoleta said. She turned. "Shall we?"

***

The seaplane was on a cargo run to Karpathos, set to carry goods to the island's major towns. This evening, unbeknownst to the pilot, it was carrying one Discordian along with the haul. Jianjun had slipped aboard without notice in the chaos of a busy Athens dock, a few tricks of her magic smoothing over any hitches in the process. No one noticed her stepping aboard, and the pilot stayed unaware as his plane lifted off the waters and began its journey eastward.

Jianjun rode out the flight in the back of the plane, reclining with her head against a sack of grain. Not bad for a last-minute plan, all things considered. The plane hummed around her, a noisy and constant buzz, but the devotee of Eris could hardly have cared. Her goddess's voice was clear as ever in her head.

"Wonder if those Zawadists are feeling half as wild and free as I'm feeling right now." Jianjun opted for telepathy over spoken words. "Didn't think of this, did they? Ha. Hope they're enjoying their little cruise."

"We're certainly making better time," the goddess's amused reply echoed. "Though I'm sure their yacht is a more pleasant ride than the hold of a seaplane."

"Eh. Let 'em have their fancy shit. I had it that way once already today. I like this side of things, too. Feels punk as hell. Like hopping a freight train. Just, y'know. In the sky."

"Have to say, I admire your spirit." Eris laughed. "You and Abbie would have gotten along great. Ah, sorry. Old acolyte of mine. Long story. He wrote the book on stowing away. Literally."

Jianjun's mind shifted back to the five rivals Eris had reported to her about. "A guy and four gals, you said -- right? Kind of a slanted dynamic there. Didn't you mention once that Zawadists are the harem-building type? Wonder what they're up to right now. Probably getting all hot and heavy."

"Pretty safe bet," the goddess of discord agreed, sounding amused. "Zawadi's people are nothing if not sex-obsessed. I suppose that's a bit of common ground. Not that their goddess has our vision. Sex can be wild. Chaotic. Freeing. But they're far too safe and boring to lean into that. I wouldn't fraternize if I were you."

"Pff. Fraternize?" Jianjun snickered. "Not my plan, Eris. You know me better than that." She paused. "Now. Fuck, on the other hand... alright. One thing I'm missing here for sure is that cutie Yilin. She gave good finger."

Eris laughed. "If you're curious? Just a couple minutes ago, Yilin walked away from Chen for good. When his shit hit the fan, he started yelling her head off about handling this or that. She told him where he could shove it. I really think you rubbed off on her, Jianjun. She just helped take Chen's day from bad to worse."

"Good for her," Jianjun grinned, feeling her spirits rise. "Hope she lands right on something a lot better. As for us... what do we get to look forward to, exactly, on the island? Do we just start snooping around and looking for clues?"

"There'll be time to do that. The more I think about it, though, the best use of your head start might be a good, long rest. All this magic's been keeping your energy high, but the jetlag still can't be much fun."

Jianjun couldn't help but agree. Boons from a Living Goddess could minimize a lot, but her body wasn't in the same time zone it had been last night. She felt that. Neither had she slept since Shanghai. She'd considered a nap aboard Chen's jet, but had ultimately tossed that out in favor of more of the same with her plaything. Not an unworthy choice, in the moment. Now, though? Rest was an enticing prospect.

"I see the wisdom," she admitted, fluttering her eyes. "Shit does catch up, yeah. Say I find a hotel. Check in early and sleep the whole evening off. Then wake up hale and hearty and ready to kick some ass. Not bad, not bad."

"And when those rivals of ours show up," Eris purred, her mental voice carrying all her smugness, "you can make sure they don't sleep easy for the rest of their stay."

"Right on. Like you said -- traps and trickery. My specialty."

"Plus, they'll be as out of their element in Greece as a bunch of penguins in the Sahara." Eris was smiling in Jianjun's mind, like a cat with a canary in its teeth. "Their goddess is Kenyan. She's far from home here -- and far from her strongest. Me, though? I'm an Olympian, excommunicated or not. This land? These islands? My turf. You and I, babe? We're gonna paint it red."

Jianjun felt her jade necklace pulsing with sultry chaos magic, warming her skin, raising goosebumps on her arms and neck. She hadn't even considered that. But it was true, wasn't it? She was stronger here than in Shanghai, here in Eris's stomping grounds. That gave her an inherent advantage. Here, she could make things go haywire like never before. The thought was intoxicating.

"Okay," the tattooed girl murmured. "You convinced me. The moment we land? I'm gonna find a nice bed and knock the hell out. Maybe not alone, either. Gotta be one or two cute locals who'll be willing to warm me up. After that?" A grin spread wide on her face. "We go on the hunt."

The goddess's voice matched her own anticipation. "I'm looking forward to it. Sleep tight, babe."

***

With a low hum and the quiet churn of water at its aft, the sleek white yacht sailed away from the sunset. As Ben watched Oia recede into the distance, a small sense of wonder washed over him. There was no denying it -- the Greek Islands were stunning. So was his current company.

Priyanka, well-fucked and well-fed after dinner on the deck, was taking an early rest. She'd gone back to the guest quarters below to doze. Lenore looked as though she'd follow before long, stretching her pale arms and blinking the sleep out of her eyes. She'd been curled up against Ben on the deck, but now she rose. He caught her hand, and the two exchanged a squeeze before Lenore went off below-decks to join their other lover in slumber.

That left Ben alone with Nikoleta by the railing of the yacht, feeling an ease that he didn't question. The night was gorgeous, the stars beginning to appear above them. Wearing only a loose white tee and shorts, as he'd been since his fun with Priyanka, he felt underdressed next to Niko in her dress, but the warm Mediterranean night didn't ask him to be anything but casual. His company didn't mind, either. For a few minutes, they shared in a happy silence together.

"I'm not sure I've said thank you," Ben finally told Nikoleta. "For picking us up from the airport. For giving us this ride to the island. For letting us stay with you when we get there, too. You didn't know us at all. Nothing except we were with Eleni."

Nikoleta's smile glowed in the dusk. "When you put it that way, it's a fair point," she conceded. "But Eleni's good word was all I needed. Besides, who would I be to deny hospitality? In ancient Greece, hospitality was the greatest of the sacred laws. Xenia. That's what we call it here. In the stories, violating that brought punishment from the gods." She paused. "And I'm guessing you know your share about that. Divine wrath. Curses."

He laughed. "From Zawadi? Hardly. She's not the cursing type. But I know a bit about the Greek way. Just from stories. My cousin and I always loved them."

"Even a stranger deserves respect." Nikoleta gave him an appraising look. "Though we aren't strangers now, anyway, are we?"

He shrugged. "Guess not. Is Eleni steering the yacht tonight?"

"She wanted a turn, yes." The Greek woman grinned. "Told me I should take a load off after all I've done for her today. I suppose that's fair. I navigated us all the way to Santorini. And went out on the supply run. And cooked dinner."

"Which was fantastic," he told her, the taste of bread, feta, olives, and Greek spices still fresh in his mind. "I've had Greek food before. Not like that, though. Real local ingredients must make a difference, huh?"

"It makes a world of difference. Glad you liked it."

"I did. Thanks again." He felt the hum of magic, a little pulse, telling him his flattery was appreciated. "Eleni never told me she could drive a boat, either, by the way. Feels like I've been discovering a lot about her lately."

Nikoleta tittered. "Oh, you must not know the half of it. On holidays here in the islands, as teenagers, Eleni and I would sail together till the sun went down. Sailboats, motorboats -- we did it all. You should have seen us race on the open water. Most times, she beat me. She was kind of a firebrand." Her face was aglow with nostalgia. "Then there'd come the times when we'd go exploring. Find little coves and beaches where nobody could see us. Pull up on shore. Strip down and skinny-dip, or sunbathe, or just let ourselves get carried away and..." She stopped. Blushed. "Ah. Sorry. Maybe not my place to share those stories. I'm sure you have your own share of memories with Eleni by now."

Ben's smile broadened. "No judgment here." He inched closer. Lowered his voice. "You still really like her. Right?"

Nikoleta didn't falter. "I do." She leaned in toward him, her voice dropping to match his. "I hated letting things between us go. We worked. She just had business in the States. An estate to inherit and maintain; galas to host and foundations to run. I just couldn't leave the ocean. We tried things long-distance, but that wasn't the same. We didn't want to let tension and resentment grow. Better to split up amicably. Keep our memories. And keep the door open... just in case." Her gaze darted away for a second before she looked back to Ben. "Do you mind that I've still got feelings?"

"Not at all." He didn't even hesitate. "Eleni and I both left exclusivity at the door when we got involved with the magic. Turns out, with magical guidance smoothing things out, polyamory's kind of awesome. It's not just sex, either. Feelings. Bonds. Romance. It's all part of it." Zawadi's magic thrummed within his bracelet, and Ben saw the concurrent flash in Niko's eyes. If the tanned woman had expected him to lay out boundaries, or to demand her hands off his lover, she hadn't gotten anything close to that. But then, something told him her expectations had never been there.

"You're open-minded," she eventually replied, sounding amused. "I like that."

He smiled. "Follow your heart, Niko. Eleni's worth loving, and I'm sure you already know that ten times as much as I do. I won't stop you two if you want each other. Not now. Not ever."

"And here I was thinking I'd just be happy enough to see her with such an incredible man in her life."

Nikoleta looked touched. She leaned against the rail with him, letting her shoulder brush his. Ben didn't pull away. The Greek heiress turned. Touched his cheek. Then leaned in all the way.

Her lips brushed his, softly, gently. Ben returned her kiss, feeling a slow burn in his chest and the magic's hum on his wrist as he tasted Mediterranean salt and lingering Greek spice and Nikoleta's own intoxicating flavor. Her fingers brushed his chin like a painter's strokes. His own hand slid around her side, pulling her gently against him. Soft. Sensual. Long-awaited -- and perhaps meant to be.

Nikoleta broke off the kiss first, but she stayed right where she was. Ben's arm moved from her waist to drape around her shoulders, keeping her close. They looked out to the horizon again, the yacht churning along, sharing the moment and the feeling below the starry sky.

"Thanks," Nikoleta said, her breath warm on his neck. "That meant something. Really."

"That I didn't get jealous and pushy? Or that we finally kissed?"

"Both." She grinned. Ben's laugh rumbled back. "I'm glad we got a moment to talk."

She looked him over, her gaze appraising, admiring, and maybe just a bit turned on. Then she was striding away from the railing, off toward the cabin. But she paused before slipping inside, throwing him a glance.

"It's late. I'm heading down below. Eleni told me she'd be waiting in the other bedroom."

Ben felt a momentary confusion, then concern. "I thought she was steering the ship."

"She said something about your goddess having it covered," Nikoleta explained, a sly smile on her face. She didn't take the final step through the doorway. Not yet. "Are you just going to stand there, or can you take a hint? You're invited."

A grin lit up his face. Ben chased after the tanned beauty as she disappeared into the cabin, slipping one arm around her as they descended the stairs.

The two bedrooms on board were at opposite ends of the yacht. Earlier today, he'd seen the aft room. Eleni waited at the fore: a wider, grander cabin, complete with a wide bed and a full en-suite. The lamp was already on, lighting the room in soft amber -- and lighting up the angelic form of the blonde Frenchwoman who lounged on the mattress. As Eleni saw them coming, she sat up straighter and rose.

"Took you long enough, Niko," she softly chided. "I was about to come looking."

"I brought company," Nikoleta replied. "Does that make up for keeping you waiting?"

Eleni didn't reply. Just met them halfway in an embrace, one arm to each of them. The three lovers tangled in an instant. Hands wandered, bodies pressed. Their mouths came together, kissing, sharing, exploring. Any trepidation Ben had felt earlier about mixing up priorities, forgetting why they'd come here, was banished. They had time. There was nothing but the moment and the desire in his heart -- and Zawadi's blessing on their union.

"So this is what your magic does," was Nikoleta's amused response, gasping, when her mouth finally came off of Eleni's. Ben's was already trailing the tanned Greek beauty's throat.

"This, and more. Niko?" The French woman looked to the Greek. "I'll admit. I may have left a few details out when I told you all I'd been up to. Confession time -- it's mostly been this."

Nikoleta's soft laugh was almost lost in a groan. "Oh, El, you lucky bitch." She squeezed Eleni's rear. "I think you and Ben had better fill me in for real now."

Eleni grinned. She didn't have to say anything more. Not that she could have, before the rising tide of passion swept her up, and they were falling to the bed together.

The trio's clothes ended up in a messy pile on the cabin floor. Ben helped the long-time lovers strip while he undid his own coverings. He didn't mind that they didn't put him first and foremost. He wouldn't have wanted that, anyway. They had lost time to make up for. He was happy to help, happy to watch, and happy to participate when he could as the two stunning women came back together.

Eleni pushed Nikoleta's dress up her long, tan legs and over her head, exposing the stunning woman's body. She was bare beneath. Ben's cock throbbed at the sight. Eleni seemed no less affected.

"There's my girl," she breathed. "You're even more lovely than when we said goodbye. Ah, I'm so sorry we were ever apart. I should have visited sooner. Shouldn't have stayed so busy. I was being so stubborn..."

"Shh." Nikoleta dragged a finger over the Frenchwoman's lips. "I missed you, El. But this is going to be better, isn't it?"

A nod. "And you'll see just how."

Eleni turned her Greek flame toward Ben. Body language carried over from there. At the sight of Niko's nude, tanned body and the clear invitation on her face, Ben lunged forward like a wolf. Both his hands claimed her breasts as he pushed her down. A low, delighted groan sounded from the tan-skinned woman -- then a breath caught in her throat as his manhood, free and proud and hard as steel, slid up against her inner thigh.

She was ready. She wanted him. She wanted Eleni, too. But Ben could tell his French lover didn't resent him making the first move. Eleni just watched, rapt and hungry. There'd be no getting this wrong. Just letting things happen. Magic, the Goddess, and all three lovers approved.

Nikoleta gasped as Ben entered her, the tanned heiress spreading her thighs wide for the man who'd made Eleni's life so magical lately. He pressed in slowly, feeling the beautiful Greek woman's body tense, tighten, and then relax. Beside her, Eleni mirrored every reaction. Nikoleta would soon learn about the magic perk of shared pleasure, psychically transmitted. For now, she didn't question it. Just let Ben fuck her, and fuck Eleni through magic in the same act. The two women clung tightly to each other as Ben's hips began to rock.

"Fuck. That's one way... hah. To reconnect." Nikoleta's words came out between gasps, between Ben's steady rhythm. One hand gripped the bedding tight. The other found Eleni's and squeezed. Eleni's own free hand stroked Nikoleta's hair and shoulder all the while, supporting her in their tryst, all while phantom echoes of Ben's dick made her feel it too.

But it wasn't just the physical pleasure that made the French beauty shiver in joy. It was that Eleni loved watching her lover with her ex. The more she saw them together, the more the feelings built up. Arousal, yes -- but not just that. A deeper satisfaction. Something more emotional. Two halves of her life, both full of meaning and memories and love, were fitting together just as seamlessly as Ben and Nikoleta were joining in bed.

"Fuck her." Eleni meant it. "Fuck us. Oh, Goddess."

Ben leaned over and gave the blonde a quick, deep kiss. Nikoleta moaned at the sight of it. His thrusts never let up. Magic made it all so easy. Magic. Nikoleta believed. And she wanted this to be the start of so, so much more.

***

Jianjun flopped onto the bed in her hotel room in the town of Pigadia. Chaos magic had made it easy to score this room past nightfall. A couple of suggestions planted into a night clerk's head, keeping her from realizing she'd slipped Jianjun the key card, and voila -- luxury digs, free of charge.

The hotel had been a bit of a walk from the harbor where she'd disembarked from her seaplane ride, but the comfort here had been worth it over the closer options. She'd already enjoyed a hot shower. She'd changed into fresh clothes; freshly stolen, that was. She'd snuck in and out of a shop on the way to the hotel, magical misdirection making that easy as breathing. Never too late at night for Jianjun to make trouble. She'd scored a few options for herself that'd suit the climate and culture better than anything she'd brought. Halter tops, shorts, even a killer bikini she just knew she'd find one or two good chances to show off in.

But now, in bed wearing only a tank top and panties, the Discordian was glad for a moment of peace. It had been a long trip to Karpathos. Not without its fun, but devoid almost entirely of rest. Jianjun, for her part, was an active girl. Always moving. Always seeking something to do or see or get into. Eris's power in her jade amulet amplified that restless spirit, but most of it was just her. Why sleep in when there was life to be lived?

But even Jianjun had limits. And right now, the devotee of Eris found herself drifting into a warm, comfortable, and very much needed slumber.

Morning came with a renewed vigor in the Chinese punk's body... and an itch in her loins. She'd dreamed about the girls back home at the brothel in Shanghai. And about Yilin. A little bit, even, about the five rivals Eris had scouted out for her. But that had been hazy, and didn't have anything to do with her morning horniness... did it?

"Okay. Whatever," Jianjun grunted, shaking the thoughts away as she sat up in bed. The dream didn't really matter; not in the long term. It had left her worked up, and in the moment, that was all that was worth caring about. She had a lot to do today. But first, if possible...

She felt the familiar swirl of energy nearby. A moment later, perched on the edge of her king-sized bed, was her goddess, wearing that familiar smirk.

"Morning, sunshine," Eris said. The deity looked as ready as her devotee felt. "Ready for some fun?"

Jianjun's smile spread. "Goddess, am I ever. You were right. Sleep was worth it. Especially here in this fancy-ass bed." She stretched, enjoying the feel of her new tank top rising up on her stomach. Eris's gaze followed, lingering over her belly button and the small gold piercing there. Jianjun couldn't deny it -- just Eris's presence made her feel hotter. Made her feel like performing. With her Goddess watching, it was always more fun just to be herself: sexy, free, and shameless. "Right now, though? Feeling like it's been too damn long without getting laid. Had a lot of good sex before I left. Could use more now... y'know, to celebrate."

Eris's eyes flashed with mischief. She loved watching her disciple's attitude, her self-confidence, and the joy in her expression. "I'd provide if I could," she teased. "But we're past that magic late-summer time now, doll."

The hand that would have dragged along Jianjun's skin just days ago now slipped through her physical form with nothing but a light, cool, not-unpleasant sensation. It did, however, lack the warmth and the texture Jianjun craved. A damn shame.

"Never mind that, though. I can play matchmaker. Just takes a little well-applied chaos. Distract somebody off their usual course. Send 'em where they didn't think they were going. And by the time they catch themselves, they're already in your arms -- and damn happy to be there."

Jianjun felt a flash of excitement. "Hook me up, Goddess," she giggled. "I'm not feeling picky, either."

"Good. Because it's already done."

Just as Eris winked away with a final sultry look, a knock on the door pulled the young punk's attention forward. Jianjun didn't bother to get up to answer. She wouldn't need to. When it swung open, revealing the young maid standing outside with towels draped over her arm, Jianjun's eyes flicked over the stranger, appraising. For a moment, just a moment, that deer-in-headlights look took over the poor thing's face. Then Jianjun's magic got to work, her amulet's powers twisting that confusion into curiosity, then the beginnings of desire.

"I, um, came to change the linens," the girl quickly explained, her Greek accent strong, her words carrying an awkward, uncertain lilt. "I wasn't aware the room was occupied. I'm --"

"Shhh." Jianjun hushed her. "I won't tell if you won't tell. Come in? I don't bite."

The housekeeping girl looked about Jianjun's own age. Short, with a slim frame, brown hair and dark eyes. Jianjun approved of Eris's choice. If Karpathos was full of cuties like this, this trip was bound to be fun.

Magic in Jianjun's voice and the maid's own rising want compelled her. She closed the door behind her. Set down the towels on the dresser nearby. Moved forward into the room. "You... look like you're waiting on someone." Her gaze went up and down the tattooed beauty. Then it hit her, along with a second wave of chaos that finished melting away any lingering doubt. She came up to the bed just as Jianjun crawled to its edge, sitting up on her haunches, reaching out.

"That'd be you." Jianjun's hand slid behind the young maid's neck, drawing their faces together. "Jianjun. Pleased to make your acquaintance. You are...?"

"Aliki." She blinked rapidly, then shrugged, seeming to give into her situation. Eager lips met the punk girl's, kissing her softly at first, then letting the intensity rise. Aliki's tongue felt hot, slick, and wet against Jianjun's, the Chinese rebel's mouth inviting the young woman to explore and enjoy. Jianjun's hands played across the maid's uniform, feeling her curves, touching and squeezing and teasing at the shapes she found underneath the fabric. Shapes she very much enjoyed. Oh, yes. This was top-shelf room service.

"C'mon. Up on the mattress, Aliki. I can make it worth your time." The hotel employee didn't argue. She was already stripping. Her uniform came off easily, helped along by Jianjun's eager hands. And soon after that, Aliki's naked body was settling atop the sheets and blankets, looking all too fuckable and all too willing before the Shanghai punk.

"Goddess, yes." Jianjun's tank top joined Aliki's clothes on the floor, and the young maid's mouth was soon all over Jianjun's exposed, perky tits, kissing and suckling at her pierced nipples, drawing gasps and soft cries of joy. Her tongue flicked the little steel barbells as her lips wrapped tight, making Jianjun's toes curl on the mattress. This was a great start. Jianjun stroked Aliki's face as encouragement and guidance. But Jianjun had deeper wants in more deeply intimate places.

So, once her panties had followed the rest, she dragged the hotel maid's face down between her thighs. Aliki got licking like her job and reputation depended on it.

"There you go. That's... mmm! Ohh, Goddess. Right fucking there."

Today would bring a lot for Eris's devotee. There would be a search to begin. Maybe even Zawadist rivals to find and face down. There would be all kinds of shenanigans to get into and fun to be had. But this, Jianjun reflected as she arched her back in bliss, was the best possible way to kick it all off. A tongue in her cunt in a luxury bed, with her goddess watching... this was what living well was all about.

And for her part, Eris was happy to let Jianjun play before she worked. It wasn't just mindless indulgence, anyway. Eris knew the power boost that her lover and disciple would get out of a morning like this one. Nothing fed chaos energy like a chaotic, passionate lay.

If rivals were here on the island, after all, Eris didn't want Jianjun at anything less than full power if and when she faced them.

***

Ben's night on Nikoleta's yacht taught him a lot. About the woman herself, certainly; about Eleni, too. And about their relationship. It was a beautiful way for Ben to learn how their history intertwined. Even more beautiful a way, perhaps, for the two women themselves to get back into each other's lives.

Ben understood and accepted that he wasn't meant to be the center of attention. Even as both women's bodies reacted to him, to the motions and feelings of his cock, mouth, and hands, it was clear their focus remained mostly on each other. That was just the way it needed to be -- at least on this evening. All the same, he played an important role. Instigator. Catalyst. A new medium through which the old love could be rekindled.

Of course, Ben had a ball, too.

He'd taken his time with Nikoleta, holding on to the gorgeous, tanned Greek woman by her trim hips or her perky tits as his cock drove into her in a gentle but persistent rhythm. Eleni was a willing participant, kissing, stroking, and encouraging them in turn. Then they'd shifted and swapped, the French blonde receiving her own well-deserved taste of the young man who'd already given her so much, while Nikoleta eagerly took a more supporting role. And they'd continued from there. Through positions, through orgasms. Through confessions, reminiscing, and laughter.

Magic bared both women's minds to him all the while. As it did every time, Zawadi's power let him speed-run the process of bonding with Nikoleta, understanding her. It worked through her mind, keeping all hesitation at bay, finding perfect common ground, making sure their mutual desires aligned. Ben felt it at work as they coupled. Nikoleta wanted a return to her former lover. She wanted to be involved in the magic, too. Eleni's new life, found through Ben and his bracelet and Zawadi's blessings, appealed to her. Polyamory appealed to her. Even the mission and duties she'd already committed to helping them with appealed to her all the more as she felt just how good her rewards would be for it. Her intentions, and her heart, were already set. Each orgasm just sealed it further.

They didn't fret about the ship, drifting on without a human hand at its helm. Assurance from Zawadi made sure they didn't have to.

"I've got you," Ben's patroness seemed to promise in the back of his mind. "It would be awfully lucky if a vessel left adrift with no one at the helm just happened to make it to its destination, wouldn't it?" The divine intervention didn't seem unwelcome. Especially not when the three, sated and blissful and bonded all the stronger, didn't even have to untangle as they drifted off into deep, restful sleep.

When morning broke, they had made it to Karpathos.

Ben rose first, eyeing the sight through the bedroom's wide window. They'd drifted to a halt, it looked like, near the island's coastline. An empty dock stretched out nearby, with a walkway up into the island proper. No other boats were moored here; no passersby on the beach or streets in sight. By Zawadi's shepherding, they had made their entrance without any ado.

Nikoleta, stirring awake and slipping her arm around him from behind, seemed equally content with the state of affairs. "We made it," she murmured, pressing herself to his side and kissing just above his collarbone. "Thanks, I'm sure, to your goddess."

"She had us covered," Ben agreed. "Good thing. I'll admit, I wasn't thinking about much besides the three of us last night."

"Neither was I. Fuck, if all that's magic... magic rules." Another kiss on the nape of his neck. "The sex? Incredible, of course. Getting us where we needed to be with the boat, too? Wow. Icing on the cake."

Nearby, Eleni stirred, stretching and rolling to join her two lovers. "Did I hear that right? We're here? Oh, wow." She smiled and reached up, taking Ben and Nikoleta's hands. "We should probably head ashore," the blonde mused, even as the trio instinctively came in for a tight group hug.

Ben gave it a few seconds. The practical idea had its merits, sure. But temptations abounded, making it seem a lot more attractive to spend a little while right here instead -- with warm sunlight streaming in and lighting up the cabin like a painting, with his beautiful lovers' bodies close. With his hand happening to drift to Nikoleta's ass. And her lips meeting Eleni's.

The two reunited flames shared a brief, tender kiss. Then they looked over at Ben. The young American suddenly felt his knees grow weak at their hungry expressions. Goddess-damn. If he didn't tell them off quick, they might never make it onto Karpathos -- just hole up in here all day, while Nike's mystery remained unsolved.

"Okay," he firmly spoke, even as the bracelet on his wrist purred. "If we had all the time in the world? I would. I'd go rounds with both of you again. Right here. But..."

Both women looked at each other. Neither protested. "We're here for a job. Right." Nikoleta kissed him one last time. "Well. Let's not keep the job waiting, then. I'll show you all to my villa, as promised. We'll settle in, and plan from there. And then, perhaps, if there's time..." A squeeze on his ass told him where her head was. Ben didn't object. He just rose as she did, collected his clothes, and followed after the Greek beauty with a grin, Eleni trailing close behind.

***

"Impressive place," Priyanka admitted as she gazed up at the villa. The Havenites were all up and dressed. Nikoleta had moored the yacht. The short walk around the town of Arkassa to the villa had taken no time at all, Nikoleta leading them along the way, the breezy weather and cloudless skies promising a day to remember. Now, here they were -- on a grassy knoll, looking up at a gorgeous home that would be all theirs for as long as they needed it.

"Thank you," their Greek hostess replied with a smile, leading the group up to the front door and ushering them in with a wide, sweeping gesture. "It's been a while since I've had any guests, let alone this many. But the place should have plenty to keep you entertained."

Perhaps spending much of yesterday on a yacht had desensitized Ben's party. Maybe they'd expected that, as an heiress's property, the villa was bound to impress. But, all the same, he felt a moment of quiet, pleasant shock from his whole entourage at the sight of the spacious, Mediterranean-styled interior that awaited them. Nikoleta was a woman of taste. She knew her art, furnishings, antiques, and colors. Natural light poured in from the wide windows. A gorgeous, airy living area greeted the newcomers with an array of cushioned seats. An elegant staircase led the way upstairs to bedrooms and balconies.

As always, Ben sensed the goddess's approval alongside his own. "A base worthy of my champions," Zawadi seemed to tell him. "From which you shall launch a successful quest."

"There are multiple bedrooms. Enough for everyone." Nikoleta turned to face them, gesturing around the villa's first floor. "Make yourselves at home. Explore. There's plenty to find."

With that, she and Eleni exchanged a brief and well-timed glance, wordlessly confirming what their plans for the first part of the day would be. Ben didn't blame them. Freshly rekindled love, and a picturesque villa, and time for now to get up to all the fun and reminiscing they wanted? That was well worth indulging.

"The view's already won me over." Lenore rushed up to the living-room window, looking out at the vista beyond. The seas, the islands, the boats in the harbor below, all bathed in bright Mediterranean sunlight, were an incomparable sight. "Niko? I'm in love," the goth girl called out with a grin, turning her head just long enough to give the room her verdict before she went right back to drinking in the sight.

Nikoleta laughed. "Happy to impress. I bought this place for its atmosphere. The scenery around here is one-of-a-kind."

"Really is," Ben agreed, taking his turn at the window with the white-haired teen before turning back to their hostess. "We're just glad you could have us. This is a lot, Niko."

"It's my pleasure. You're the kind of company this villa was built for. Now, are you going to lighten that load?"

Ben still had his duffel bag over his shoulder, as did Priyanka beside him. The two shared a glance and a nod. "We should see the bedroom," Pri suggested.

Nikoleta showed them upstairs to the wide, open guest room that awaited them, complete with its own bathroom, closet, and balcony. It was more than enough room to spread out and be comfortable -- and it was just one of the available options. Nikoleta's own master suite across the way offered even more space, and additional guest rooms -- more modest, but still equally inviting -- lay further down the hall.

All this was more than enough as well, a stray thought seemed to add, for anyone else who might join them during the mission.

Not forgetting what he'd confessed to Alicia and Aya before he'd left the Haven, Ben wondered whether this stay on Karpathos might see him meeting and connecting with new lovers. Mission or no, danger or no, they were in paradise. Wasn't paradise a good place for love to happen? Zawadi, present and watching as always at the back of his psyche, wouldn't have had him do anything without the expectation of new connections and harem lovers springing from it.

Priyanka had her bags on the huge bed in a second. Lenore's duffel landed in a corner, the girl herself hopping right up on one of the beds. "Oh, fuck me," she said as she sprawled on the sheets. "Gonna be living like royalty for a few days, aren't we, Pri?"

Their Indian companion smiled back. "For a home base? This is hard to beat. Easy to forget why we came... hah, that makes all this comfort sound dangerous. But I won't be complaining. It's better than a hostel."

Ben laughed with both women, then walked past them toward the balcony doors. The outside called. "You won't see me complaining either." His voice grew more distant as he opened the sliding doors and stepped out, looking down the slope of the knoll and taking in the island's seaside vista.

What awaited him on Karpathos, he couldn't be sure. Perhaps it was a thousand things. Intrigue. Adventure. A mystery to solve. The whereabouts of a missing Living Goddess to uncover. Perhaps this trip to Greece would change him. Bring new challenges. New relationships. Perhaps it was only the first of many such trips. If the world really was changing, becoming more magical, with the Living Goddesses and their devotees leading the charge? Ben would surely have more adventures to come. That seemed almost guaranteed.

The faintest shiver ran through him as he considered that. So much for a life without worry or care. Yet... had such a life really been all he wanted? New, exciting things beckoned ahead of him. Adventures. Maybe even dangers. He couldn't forget Zawadi's warning that his safety might not always be guaranteed. Yet the thought of charging ahead toward destiny made his pulse rise all the same. The excitement of the unknown, and all its opportunities, drew him forward like a magnet. And with Zawadi's blessings guiding him all the way? He couldn't be afraid.

Hell -- for accepting this first mission, here he was in a gorgeous villa on a Greek island, with one stunning new lover already, surrounded by companions all ready to help him succeed. Not bad, for his first big venture.

Lenore and Priyanka were laughing together behind him, inside the bedroom. Nikoleta, no doubt, was off to reconnect more with Eleni in the spacious privacy of her master bedroom. Here he was, alone on the balcony with his thoughts. It occurred to him just what he should do -- and in a moment, with the speed of a thought, he'd made telepathic contact with Belle all the way back in the Haven.

"Ben!" His cousin sounded delighted. "You made it safe and sound! I was just about to check in with you. How was the flight? Are you on Karpathos yet? Is the Mediterranean as beautiful as they say?"

Her rapid-fire questions made him grin. "We're here," he told her. "Flight was pretty good. Greece is better, though. You'd love it here. In fact..." Calling on mental tricks that had turned second-nature to him over time as Zawadi's devotee, he shared his vision of the island's beauty with her. It felt a lot easier to let Belle experience the place through him than it was to put such majesty into words. Belle agreed.

"Holy shit, that's gorgeous," his cousin murmured in his head. "Where are you staying? Did Eleni come through with that friend of hers?"

"Nikoleta? Oh, absolutely. I think the two of them came in a few other ways, too."

His cousin's laugh reverberated in his head. "Did she, now? That's juicy. I figured that'd happen from the way Eleni talked about her. You're at her place, then? What's it like? Comfy?"

He showed her. Ben let his mind's eye wander through his memory, sharing every sight he could recall. Belle wasn't shy about letting him know how impressed she was. "Everyone's loving it so far," he said. "Pri and Lenore are having the time of their lives. And Eleni's getting reacquainted with Niko as we speak."

Belle laughed at the emphasis, but he could tell she approved. "That's what I wanted to hear." But her voice turned more solemn as she picked back up. "Ben, I keep thinking about Nike. A lot. What she must be feeling. What might have happened to her. Most of all, why. That's the question that's keeping me up at night." Belle's voice lowered, sounding serious. "Ben, the Living Goddesses are powerful patrons of powerful forces. Zawadi -- luck. Eris, chaos. Athena, wisdom. Parvati, harmony. Nike..." Belle sighed, her mental voice wavering with the stress she carried. "She's victory itself. Triumph. And of all the reasons I could think of that somebody might want to kidnap a victory goddess, none of them are good."

"I've been thinking about that, too." As Ben considered it, something came to mind. "You remember The Sandman? The comics?"

"Oh, shit, yeah. We both read 'em front-to-back in high school. Think the guy who wrote them turned out to be a creep. What about it?"

"Remember what happened when that wannabe wizard caught Dream?" Ben's mind wandered, dark thoughts surfacing. "He was stuck in a basement for a century. A whole century where he wasn't doing his job. The dream-world? All its inhabitants? Everything fell apart. It took him ages just to set it all back on track. Belle, what I'm wondering is... what happens when a goddess of victory isn't around? Without Nike's influence in the world, does victory just stop happening? If so, where does that lead?"

"You know, Ben? I'm not sure." Belle's shudder was tangible. "This is a first for all of us. I can't imagine the world's seen a goddess get kidnapped in a long time -- if ever like this. And I don't know what happens when it does. But I can't imagine anything positive is happening because of this."

"We're going to set it right," Ben promised her, feeling his determination surge. "We have to." His eyes roved over the town below, the boats in the harbor; so many people living their lives, hoping for things to turn out in their favor, all unaware their victory goddess was missing and might not help guide their lives towards success. Ben's chest tightened with worry. He took a breath, trying to clear his head. "There's still a lot to learn out here. A lot we'll have to know before we can even make a game plan. We don't know what kind of prison she might be in. We don't know who could be behind it. We don't know what it might take to fix this... if we even can."

"Hold up." Belle had a sudden, hopeful vigor in her voice as she cut back in. "We might have actually made a little progress on that front back at the Haven. Ruby, Nakessa, and I have been hitting the stacks in the library. Looking through all the old stories and accounts we can. Anything that could point us toward how someone, or something, could imprison a Goddess... or worse."

"And you found something?"

"One thing, yes." It was Nakessa's voice, all of a sudden, joining in on the link -- a pleasant surprise. "Buried deep in the pages of the Manuscripts of the Five. A very old, very weird tome... and one of our most recent finds. Thank Priyanka for me. She secured it for us just a month ago."

"She'll be thrilled," Ben said. "What did the book tell you, Kess?"

"Hardly enough," the Kenyan woman's mind-voice grumbled. "The Five were a reclusive spiritual order from ancient Persia. It was part of their tradition to be cryptic and self-obsessed. Still, we found an account of something called an angle-trap. A magical construct designed to ensnare spiritual beings. Pandora's Box may have been one."

"Pandora's Box? As in, the one full of all the evils of the world?" He could scarcely believe it. "That thing was actually real?"

"Something like it may have been. But that is not all." Nakessa continued on solemnly. "The book gives accounts of sorcerers making their own from that design -- sorcerers who wished to bind djinns, demons, and spirits to their will. An angle-trap snares all the energy of the entity it's been crafted for, holding it tight within. In some cases, it allows that energy to be used for the spellcaster's gain."

Ben listened, his mind reeling. "And that kind of thing could work on a Living Goddess?"

"The Five speculated it could. Their writings on that are merely theoretical. Ideas with which to rework their design of the angle-trap to capture higher entities. If others have read this account before us, then there's a chance such a cruel device has been modified and remodified throughout the centuries... perhaps even realized to the Five's vision. The authors weren't unclear on the potential benefits, either. To trap one of the Living, and the concept she represents, and harness her essence -- drain it, steal it -- would place one in control of great power."

Nakessa's words left a sinking feeling in Ben's stomach. "There are sorcerers out there like that today? People powerful enough to try this?"

"People are greedy," Nakessa told him bluntly. "And greed drives innovation. It is possible that there is one or more out there in the world who have taken the idea and worked at it... and now, here we sit, amid great evidence that their efforts have been realized."

"Fuck." He looked back into the room at Lenore and Priyanka, still chatting and laughing, unaware of what he and the Haven's leaders had just discussed. They'd been so excited to come here, and so far, most of their excursion to Greece had been fun and games. Now, though little had changed besides how much Ben knew, it felt as though it was turning into the real thing. Suddenly, this was serious. Suddenly, this was big. If they'd forgotten, this was the reminder: they had a great challenge ahead of them.

"Don't let it weigh on your mind, Ben," Belle said. "Remember, we've got advantages here. Zawadi's on our side. And us here, at the Haven? We're going to keep looking for anything more that we can find to help you out. If there's any info in the Manuscripts, or any other book, about how to break these angle-traps and set Nike free? You'll have it."

"Thanks, Belle." He paused, looking down at his feet on the balcony's stone tiles. "I miss you already. All of you. You'd love it here, but I know you'll take care of the home front. Wish this all could be under better circumstances. If it were, I'd have taken you and Nakessa right along to Greece. Everybody else, too."

"I wish so, too," Belle told him. A smile came through in her words, and Ben felt a surge of love, from all the way across the sea. "Love you, cuz. You're gonna do fine. And if you really miss us this much... Kess? Would you do the honors?"

The sudden, unmistakable sensation came over him in an instant. A tongue at the root of his cock, dragging upward, making it twitch and harden at once. Fuck. Nakessa. Ben's hand flew to his mouth to keep in the groan as he stiffened in his pants -- pants which didn't even seem to matter as the telepathic sensation of Nakessa's mouth enveloped him completely.

"Holy shit." Ben kept his voice as soft and controlled as he could, even as Nakessa's phantom lips slid further down his manhood and began to bob up and down. He gripped the railing of the balcony, keeping his eyes forward and away from the bedroom window. Maybe Lenore or Priyanka would notice soon enough. Maybe they'd catch on as he was pleasured from a thousand miles away. Ben wouldn't have minded. In fact, he couldn't have cared about much else right now. He just enjoyed the blissful, loving blowjob, thankful for his goddess-granted mental abilities and their never-ceasing wonders. "Nakessa. Goddess-damn, that's amazing."

"It's not the same without you here in person," came the Kenyan woman's response. Telepathy let her speak even as her phantom mouth continued to service him. "But this will do for now. I miss you too, lover. Let me show you just how much."

"Oh, Goddess," he managed. "Please." It didn't matter how far away he went -- the Haven would always have its ways to remind him it was home, and always close.

"I'll leave you to enjoy that, then," Belle teased him, sounding happy to provide him a distraction from the more worrisome aspects of their mission. "If I were you? I'd make the most of your villa vacation, at least for today. Who knows how things are gonna heat up out there? Stay safe. Indulge the girls. Have some fucking fun... or some fun fucking. If I were there, that's what I'd do. Love you, Ben."

Her mind-voice vanished, leaving Ben with the sensations of Nakessa and her phantom mouth as his sole focus. For a few more moments, he stood still, knees trembling, as the telepathic impression of his Kenyan lover's talented lips slid up and down his length. If he closed his eyes, she could have been right there. But he kept them open. He turned from the view of Karpathos, and instead looked through the glass, into the villa's bedroom.

Lenore and Priyanka had moved onto the bed, cuddling, the Indian woman's hand sliding up under the goth teen's shirt. When Ben pushed the door back open and came up to join them, neither was miffed or surprised. They saw the notable bulge in his pants and giggled.

"Something happen out there?" Priyanka asked him.

"Thought I'd phone home," he managed back. "Nakessa, erm, decided she'd help me de-stress." Both caught the meaning. Both were delighted.

"Easy for home to feel close when you can connect like that, huh?" Lenore quipped. She added to the sensation he already felt by running both hands up and over his torso. Her white hair fell across her eyes as she looked up at him. "She won't mind if we play along physically?"

"I'd never." It was Nakessa's voice in his head again -- and theirs too now, coming in crystal-clear. "You're here. I'm there. But we're not so far apart."

"Never will be," Ben promised. And he filled his hands with Lenore, pulling the young woman against him in a passionate, deep kiss, all while still feeling Nakessa's phantom service down below. When Lenore got to work on his waistband, tugging his pants down in a flash, he barely felt a change in sensation. Soon Priyanka's physical mouth was adding to it. And Lenore, her hands roaming everywhere they could on his body, gave him the perfect anchor to hold onto.

He'd told Belle he'd take the time to have some fun. He wouldn't let his cousin down on that promise.