A/N: Well, first off, let me so very humbly say that I lied in the Author's Note in the last chapter. It's not a Harry Potter story coming up next (or maybe it will be…I don't know yet), but no matter which fandom it is it's going to be a collaborative work with my friend and fellow writer, DarthMittens.

So exciting!

Enjoy!

Burning Hot Love

1 Year Later

Percy met Artemis's eye with a disappointed glance. She looked down in shame, the worst feeling possible settling in the pit of her stomach.

"And so this meeting is adjourned," said Zeus, concluding the weekly meeting and immediately taking his true form before disappearing.

Percy and Artemis left the courtyard separately as per the agreement the two had come to following their first coupling. Artemis walked slowly to their rendezvous point, dread making her steps miniscule. This upcoming conversation wasn't going to be fun.

She heard an annoyed noise behind her and an arm suddenly gripped her elbow, pulling her along roughly. She was going to yell at the person, vent her anger at them, but looked up to see Percy's face, the expression on it unreadable, some odd mixture of anger, disappointment, and sadness. Instead of snapping at him, she gently said, "Not here, Percy. Someone might see."

"Someone might see me angry with you and dragging you off for a heated conversation," he snapped back, a feral look in his eyes as he glanced down at her. "Because that's exactly what I'm doing."

Artemis felt her heart clench. "Percy, I—"

Percy growled under his breath and glanced around quickly before teleporting them to his temple, shoving Artemis into a chair as the scene settled around them. "I don't want to hear an apology again, Artemis," he said. "I don't want to hear your excuses, I don't want to hear your insecurities, and I don't want you to give me those GODDAMN EYES!" he shouted, throwing a miniature sculpture of her against the stone wall of the temple, shattering it.

"Percy…" Artemis said shakily, a lump rising in her throat.

"I said I don't want to hear it!" he cried. "This time you are going to listen to me!" Artemis nodded mutely, feeling sick. Percy calmed down a little, collecting himself so he didn't explode. "This past year…" he started wistfully before swallowing hard. "This past year has been the best of my life. That night in the forest and every night after that was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I love you, Artemis," he said shakily. She would've responded, but now wasn't the proper time. "I would do anything for you. I wish you could say the same," Percy said quietly, his lips wavering as hot tears began to prick his eyes. "A whole year you've had to inform the council that we're together. I've given you all the time you've needed and savored our secret trysts in the dead of night. Every week, I tell myself you're going to do it and we'll be able to act how we feel in public." Artemis looked down at her lap, too ashamed to meet his eyes. "I guess…I guess you don't love me how I love you," he finished, willing his tears to stay put.

"Of course I do, Percy," said Artemis sincerely, not doing quite as well at keeping her tears in check. "I love you so much it hurts."

"Then WHY?" Percy yelled in her face, unable to keep his emotions in check any longer.

"Because I'm scared," Artemis admitted meekly.

Percy shook his head in disgust. "You say that every time I talk to you about this. That isn't reason enough anymore."

"I'm trying, okay?" Artemis cried, her face crumpling. "I'm trying," she whispered.

"Enough with the trying," said Percy agitatedly. "Just do it already! I've respected your wishes and understand why you needed to build up courage, but this is ridiculous! It's like you're ashamed of me or something. Wouldn't they all be happy that you finally found love?"

"I don't know," said Artemis, taking shaky breaths. "I think they'd all make fun of me, probably." And possibly a little more.

"That's what happens between families and even friends!" said Percy, unable to believe that he was having this conversation with her yet again. "It's going to happen, better sooner rather than later!" He gave her a steely look. "Tell me you'll do it," he said gravely.

Artemis swallowed hard, looking everywhere but Percy's eyes. "I…I…" she stuttered.

She expected Percy to explode at her; to yell and scream and break something. This was the first time he had really been angry with her, so she didn't know exactly what to expect.

What met her eyes was somehow even worse.

He was facing away from her standing perfectly still, his stance unreadable. His head turned just a little, just enough that she could see the corner of his mouth, as he said, "I think…I think this isn't going to work."

"I'll do it!" Artemis blurted pleadingly, her stomach sinking, knowing it was too late, knowing her words were unbelievable in this circumstance.

Percy slowly turned around to face her, his eyes downcast. "It hurts, Artemis. It hurts knowing you don't love me enough to even admit it to anyone other than Thalia. It hurts seeing you at every council, your lips sealed as you avoid my eyes. It hurts seeing you so unhappy," he said quietly, his voice pained. "Constantly worried that someone will find out that we have feelings for each other. The time I get to spend with you grows shorter and more tense and frantic each time we meet. I can't do it anymore."

"But…you love me," said Artemis in shock, her brain unable to comprehend exactly what he was saying as it kept replaying him saying 'I think this isn't going to work,' over and over again in her head.

Percy tried his hardest to keep the tears at bay, the burning and tightness in his throat under control, the already-hollow hole in his heart filled…all to no avail. "I do," he said. "But I can't stay in a relationship where I know I love the other person more than they love me…it isn't fair. It makes me unhappy, guilty, and destroys my self-esteem."

Artemis did her best to collect herself, stumbling up to Percy and grabbing his upper arms. "Please, Percy, don't," she pleaded.

Percy closed his eyes, a pained grimace on his face. "I'm sorry, Artemis," he said quietly.

And as Artemis slowly let go of his arms and walked towards the door, shoulders hunched, Percy turned away from her as his shoulders began shaking. Why did he have to get his hopes up and think that she would fight harder than that for him? He thought this would be it, this would be the thing that spurned her into action. What a fool he had been to believe that his life would turn out perfectly.

There was always something.

Artemis angrily swiped at her tears, willing her hunting knife to materialize as she arrived at Aphrodite's temple. She burst in and found Aphrodite sitting on a chaise lounge, seemingly waiting for something. And as Artemis took in the sweet smile on the Goddess of Love's face, she knew what she had been waiting for. Aphrodite had been waiting for her.

Artemis strode up to her, knife held in a shaky hand, and picked Aphrodite up by the front of her slutty minidress, earning a yelp of surprise. Aphrodite kicked wildly as she was pinned to the wall, a shaking knife held to her throat. Artemis looked absolutely wild, and it was this that calmed Aphrodite down, a cool and mischievous smile on her face. Artemis's hair was all over the place, cheeks tear-stained, and eyes red.

"Oh dear," Aphrodite said exaggeratedly, seemingly unaffected by her predicament. Although Artemis couldn't kill her, she knew it was possible for the Goddess of the Hunt to cause her more pain than she wished to feel. "Have you been crying, Artemis?"

"Make him…" Artemis croaked. "Make him love me again!" she demanded more firmly, pressing the gleaming knife harder against her throat.

"Hmm…" said Aphrodite, enjoying the entertainment despite the golden ichor running down the blade of Artemis's knife. "Did you ever think that maybe he never stopped loving you?"

"I know that," said Artemis miserably; absolute, unrestrainable grief seizing her body. "Please…make him take me back," she pleaded as she started crying again, lessening the pressure on Aphrodite's throat.

"I can control love, Artemis," said Aphrodite as her feet touched the ground again, the fire dying in Artemis. "But you know I can't control how people decide to act upon that love. Whether Percy will take you back is between you two."

Artemis opened her mouth to respond but found that she couldn't get anything past the hard lump lodged in her throat, her heart shattering. The knife clanged as it bounced on the marble at their feet. Artemis's grip on Aphrodite's minidress slackened to almost nothing. She began crying and slowly fell to her knees, knowing that the only person to blame was herself. She was the one who had driven Percy into doing this, she was the reason she was so miserable right now.

Aphrodite helped Artemis up and led her to the disgustingly-pink couch, sitting her down on it before sitting back down on the chaise lounge. "What do I do?" Artemis asked miserably, continuing to cry. "I love him."

Despite the differences she and Artemis had had, Aphrodite couldn't help but feel bad for the confused, heartbroken goddess. "You know what you need to do, Artemis," Aphrodite said gently, reassuringly.

Artemis looked up at Aphrodite, her lips quivering as she vulnerably asked, "I do?"

Aphrodite nodded firmly, prompting her fellow goddess to think about it for a second. Artemis's crying finally died down to nothing and she took a deep, shaky breath as she rubbed her eyes. When she looked at Aphrodite again, her sapphire eyes were full of determination.

"I do."

"Good morning, Percy."

Percy grunted back at Poseidon, not feeling in the mood to be cheerful with anyone at the moment. It had been a week since he had broken up with Artemis and he was absolutely miserable. Nothing was fun, everything reminded him of her. And he was going to have to see her for the first time since it had happened.

Definitely not a mood lifter.

He heard laughing coming from just outside the pavilion and whipped around to find Artemis and Aphrodite laughing together like the oldest and closest of friends. Percy clenched his fists angrily, both surprised and infuriated that Artemis could find it in herself to be happy at a time like this. He couldn't help but feel empty, though, as he looked at her beauty. Oh, how he missed her.

"You alright, Percy?" asked Hera from behind his shoulder.

"Fine," he snapped, taking his seat.

Hera walked back to her seat with a confused look on her face, unsure what she said wrong.

"People, if we could get this show on the road," said Zeus loudly, prompting the rest of the gods to take their seats.

Zeus did his spiel about the state of affairs on the Earth and where the gods needed to approve. Artemis frequently stole nervous glances at Percy, butterflies in her stomach. Percy didn't look her way even once. At the end of the meeting, Zeus asked, "Anybody else have anything the rest of us should know?"

Artemis immediately shot to her feet. "I do," she said strongly, garnering Percy's attention for the first time since she had walked in.

Percy swallowed as Artemis met his eyes, a mixed apology and steely determination making her eyes glimmer.

"Yes, Artemis?" Zeus prompted, not catching the intense look between the two.

Artemis walked over to Percy and pulled him up out of his seat roughly, startling him. But not as much as when she forcefully pressed her lips against his, earning a mixture of gasps and whistles from the others. Percy was frozen as Artemis kissed him surprisingly softly, her lips conveying her apology and asking for forgiveness. He smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around her, prompting her to smile back. Everything was solved with that one kiss.

When Artemis pulled back, a watery smile was on her face. "I love you, Percy," she whispered. "And I'm sorry."

He grinned back, lightly brushing the tip of her nose with his own. "Better late than never," he breathed with a chuckle. Then his grin turned into a warm smile and he whispered, "I love you too."

Artemis turned and faced the rest of the shocked gods, her fingers intertwined with Percy's. "I would like to announce that Percy and I are—"

"Going to get married," Percy interjected without thinking, though not necessarily surprising himself. After all, he wanted nothing more in the world than to keep that wonderful woman by his side forever.

Artemis looked up at him, choked up, and smiled. He smiled down at her and she gave him a small nod, earning another short, sweet kiss from him.

"My sis and Percy,
They know how to spread the love,
My prose is awesome."

Everyone's attention turned to Apollo, who was grinning broadly. Then Artemis started laughing, setting off a chain reaction that even included Ares and Athena.

"Well, seeing as we have a feast to set up to celebrate their engagement," said Poseidon between chuckles. "I say we adjourn!"

After a round of congratulations and more than one scolding that Percy hadn't gotten her a ring yet, the couple instantly teleported to Percy's bedroom. Their lips smashed together as Percy tore Artemis's shirt over her head, exposing her perfect, pale chest and lacy black bra to him for the first time in a very long week.

"You're sure about marriage?" Artemis asked breathily as Percy kissed her collarbone, working his way up to her neck.

"I've never been as sure about anything in my life," he said against her skin, tickling it.

"Gods, I love you," Artemis gasped as Percy lightly nipped the hollow of her neck. He pressed his hand against her covered core, the friction sending lances of pleasure shooting from it. "I missed you so much," she breathed.

"I missed you too," he replied, ripping his shirt off. He grabbed Artemis's wrists as her hands worked on his belt, making her look up at him. "I love you," he said, staring intensely into her eyes.

She smiled at him and hooked her thumbs in two of his belt loops, pulling his pants down with a quick wrench of her arms. Percy stepped out of them, stumbling backwards and falling on the bed. Artemis pounced on him, pinning his arms down and kissing him ferociously. She began grinding her quickly moistening core against his achingly-hard cock, the thin layer of his boxers not doing much to dull the overwhelming pleasure. He moaned and flipped them over, unfastening Artemis's bra along the way. Her pale, perky tits came into view, and he immediately attacked them, sucking her right nipple into his mouth as he unbuttoned her jeans. He pulled her jeans and panties down in one move, exposing her soaking pussy to his unbridled lust. He ripped his boxers off and immediately slammed into her, making her cry out as he sighed in relief.

Her pussy twitched around his cock as it adjusted to his girth, gripping him like a vise. He grinned down at her as she looked back at him, lust clouding her out-of-focus eyes. "Percy…" she moaned, making his cock harden painfully.

"Artemis…" he gasped before setting a quick pace inside of her, thrusting hard and fast.

She whimpered and moaned as he pumped into her, frustrated that he couldn't go any faster. He growled and flipped her over, making her yelp, and pulled her up on her hands and knees, holding her hips for maximum force and speed. She fisted the sheets as he impaled her again and again, the sound of their slapping skin reverberating throughout the room. Artemis couldn't think straight as Percy pounded her from behind, and every time he thrust into her he hit a spot that made her eyes cross.

Percy would've sworn if he could've managed the syllable. After not cumming for a week, he was already about to reach his limit. He could tell that Artemis was close, too, but not close enough. He reached an arm around her waist and lightly touched her clit, making her back arch and her pussy clench around him. Percy thought she was going to come, then she calmed back down, though she was panting harder than before.

"Percy…need…cum…" she moaned, her arms shaking along with the rest of her body.

Then she looked back over her shoulder at him, her eyes clouded with lust. Her cheeks were flushed and mouth just barely hung open as she panted, the sight of her beautiful face looking so thoroughly fucked making Percy's balls tighten. He thrusted into her a couple more times before he erupted, pumping her full of his hot cum. After he had shot his first few streams into her, Artemis's back arched again and she cried out as she came on Percy's cock, her glistening fluids completely coating it.

Artemis's arms gave out, but Percy caught her around the waist and flipped her over. He lightly skimmed his fingers over her mons, making her stomach twitch as an aftershock hit her, pleasure lancing through her body and her cum leaking from her pussy.

Percy scooted up so his cock was right in front of Artemis's mouth, which she obligingly opened. He slid it all the way down her throat as her mind began to finally recover, allowing her to actually perceive what was going on. She looked up at Percy questioningly as she hummed teasingly, the vibrations sending pleasure racing through Percy's body.

When Percy pulled his cock out of her mouth, strings of saliva still connected the two. "Percy?" Artemis asked questioningly.

Then he nestled his cock between her pert breasts, bringing her hands up so she could press them around his rod. She smiled up at him sultrily, licking the top of his cock as he began titty-fucking her. Her warm breasts enveloped him, her soft skin almost frictionless as he thrust his cock between them.

"You want my cum, Artemis?" Percy panted, making pleasure shoot from her core. She loved it when he talked dirty.

She did nothing but moan in response, sliding her lips over the head of his cock and sucking hard, making him abandon the titty-fuck and scoot forward so he could fuck her tight throat. Artemis managed to flip them over and turn around, her pussy in Percy's face as she deepthroated his cock. She whimpered as three fingers were pushed into her, her hips rocking as Percy pumped them into her at a steady pace. Her blowjob slowed down, unable to focus on Percy's cock as he began to lick her clit. She rolled her hips and stiffened as he hooked his fingers in her, hitting her most sensitive spot. She pulled off his cock so she could cry out as her second orgasm slammed into her, Percy pulling his fingers out of her so he could lap up the juices flowing from her pussy as she grinded it against his face.

Then she went back to his cock, bobbing on it as she stroked the base. Percy's hips began bucking, pounding his cock into her throat repeatedly, making both of them moan. Then he gave one final thrust and blew his load down her throat, shooting stream after stream of hot, sticky cum into her body. She swallowed every last drop, milking him for all he was worth.

Artemis collapsed on the bed next to Percy, using his chest as a pillow. As he played with her hair, he chuckled and said, "Sex first, foreplay after? We really are crazy."

"What about sex, foreplay, sex?" Artemis mumbled, scooting up so she could kiss his lips.

Percy gently rolled them over so he was on top and slid his cock into her waiting pussy again, not stopping until he was fully sheathed inside of her, her warm, velvet-soft walls gripping him snugly. He kissed her for a couple minutes, playing with her lips and tongue with his own before beginning to slowly rock inside of her, making her hands come up and grip his shoulders as his cock slid in and out of her. They were as close as they could possibly be to each other as Percy slowly made love to her, their stomachs brushing as his chest rubbed against Artemis's sensitive nipples.

She sighed and kissed him again, gently nibbling his lower lip. She loved this slow sex just as much, if not more than that wild, abandoned fucking.

"Percy…" she moaned as he kissed her neck. "So…good…"

Percy smiled into her neck as he continued to make love to her with long, slow strokes. He kissed up to her jawline and chin before capturing her lips with his own again, their sweaty bodies only heating up further as Artemis's pussy began tightening around his cock.

Percy looked into Artemis's eyes as he kissed her, love shining through both of the windows to their souls. Percy whispered, "I love you," into her mouth and Artemis's lips stilled along with the rest of her body, her eyes squeezing shut as one of the most intense orgasms she had ever experienced slammed into her. She sighed, "I love you too," and began kissing Percy again as he continued to stroke into her, the extra pussy juices now coating his cock providing a little extra lubrication.

Artemis smiled against Percy's mouth and clenched her inner muscles around him, squeezing his cock with the perfect amount of force. "Artemis…" Percy gasped as he slammed his hips into her hard just once, shooting ropes of hot cum deep into her body.

He kissed her a few times before slowly pulling out of her and lying next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. They stared intensely into each other's eyes, their feeling passing between and through them, making them warm. Then Percy cracked a grin and he said, "You kinky, insatiable minx. How am I supposed to have enough energy to party now?"

Artemis smiled back and giggled, one of Percy's most favorite and cherished sounds. "Oh, you'll be full of energy when you see what I'm wearing," she said mischievously.

"You already have something?" Percy asked.

"Geez, Percy, a god for a year and you still can't remember that we can do something as simple as change our clothes at will," she said, her voice full of humor. "I'm sure I can come up with something that'll have you panting."

Percy scowled at her. "That's so unfair," he said.

Artemis just grinned evilly at him, failing to mention the fact that she found him irresistible when he grinned at her a certain way. No need to give him extra ammunition, was there?

"I love you," she said happily, glad that everything had worked out perfectly in the end.

"I love you too," he said, kissing the tip of her nose and grabbing her hand so he could intertwine his fingers with hers.

He would never let go.

Never.

A/N: Well, there's my first second chapter EVER, yay! Debating whether or not to put a honeymoon chap, but it's less than likely at the moment.