Orion's heart felt that Daphne's words were honest and heartfull. They could still lack the passion and love Orion's all the other women had. However, never had he actually done anything to conquer her heart: the formal courting in Athens was made more to please the parents and to discuss the dowry than to conquer a woman's heart. For this reason, the gorgeous young woman's sincerity, detected in her smile, was more than a victory. It was a sign that Daphne would be his, together with her blushing, her desire not to hide anything, specially from her friend, whose name had just been disclosed.<br/><br/>On the other hand, Eirene's mood was not that receptive. No hesitation came from her voice though. Even more surprisingly, there was a hidden challenge that the emotionally intelligent Orion was able to catch. Instead of cowering in his presence, Eirene replied with a tingle of irony, suggesting Orion was not the best one to marry Daphne. Did she actually mean that? How bold was a woman to say that? Didn't she fear losing the friendship with Daphne by offending her? In that moment, Orion was sure that the image he kept representing Athens could not be better: bold and independent, never willing to curb to superior powers. She did not seem to fear that Orion was taller and stronger than she was. Even wearing his white toga, covering his large, well built body, Orion was an impressive male, intimidating for most of the by-passers, let alone for a lonely woman: his dominant gaze coming from above seemed to do little to intimidate the new rival.<br/><br/>For Zeus! Orion had to have Daphne to teach that woman a lesson... and later, Orion set the woman herself as a target. He admired her strong will from the beginning and in his sexist view, Eirene was like that because never had a capable man appeared to tame her.  Deep inside, Orion did not blame her: he remembered his fellow 'friends', who bullied him endlessly when he studied in the Academy - each of them competed fiercely for gaining the douche award. It simply did not occur to him that Eirene's attitude was like that, simply because that was Eirene's personality.<br/><br/>Just as Orion expected from a woman like Eirene, she took the lead and invited him to her party. Still with his eyes locked on hers, Orion nodded.<br/><br/><strong>"Sure, I will go"</strong>, he replied, just before turning to Daphne. His right arm stretched and for the first time since both Orion and Daphne  them had first met, he went for some physical contact. His fingers clutched around the left side of Daphne's waistline: first, it was tender; shortly after, a firmer grip pulled her just a bit closer to him, moving Daphne  slightly away from Eirene. There was nothing sensual or sexy in the move. It was a display of which weapons Orion could use. Eirene had kissed Daphne's cheek and challenged Orion - Orion accepted the challenge and replied with equal boldness. Whatever Eirene could be doing next, it could ruin her own reputation or, even worse, Eirene's reputation to the eyes of the entire Athenian society. After having kissed another woman in public, Eirene could not simply drag Daphne away form his legitimate suitor.<br/><br/>Orion had the upper hand. Orion 1, Eirene 0.<br/><br/><strong>"How could I miss the opportunity of meeting Daphne again?"</strong>, Orion continued with his gaze mixed with a passionate smile trying to hypnotize his young prey.<strong>"I hope we can enjoy more moments like this".</strong>Turning to Eirene's with the corner of his eyes, without hiding though his curiosity for the woman, he asked rhetorically, without willing to listen to Eirene's opinion.<strong>"Isn't the best kept treasure in the entire Athens? Her father really did a good work in hiding such a delicate flower"</strong>, Orion continued, ignoring the fact that her father had paraded Daphne to the 'best men' in the city and none of them had pleased her. This view did not make jsutice to Daphne at all.<br/><br/>Orion released Daphne, stepped back and kneeled in fronf of both girls. Surprised with the odd scene, two by-passers stop behind to him to see what was going on. Orion lowered his head humbly and with his voice choked with emotion, words came out strongly and confidently out of his lips.<br/><br/><em><strong>She appears to me, that one, equal to the goddess,<br/>the woman who, facing you,<br/>is seated and, up close, that sweet voice of yours<br/>she listens to<br/><br/>And how you laugh your charming laugh. Why it<br/>makes my heart flutter within my chest,<br/>because the moment I look at you, right then, for me,<br/>to make any sound at all won’t work any more.<br/><br/>My tongue has a breakdown and a delicate<br/>— all of a sudden — fire rushes under my skin.<br/>With my eyes I see not a thing, and there is a roar<br/>that my ears make.</strong></em><br/><br/>Orion made a dramatic pause. A crowd was slowly gathering around him and the two gorgeous women. Clearly addressed at Daphne, Orion give a tiny room for Eirene to interpret whom the poem was target at. Was it because Eirene and Daphne were close to each other? Maybe yes, maybe no. Nevertheless, never his eyes unlocked Daphne's. Holding his breath under his lungs, he continued.<br/><br/><em><strong>Sweat pours down me and a trembling<br/>seizes all of me; paler than grass<br/>am I, and a little short of death<br/>do I appear to me. </strong></em><br/><br/>Orion continued gazing Daphne. He felt a kiss could be stolen. He felt more could be stolen. The crowd around stopped to listen to Orion's declamation. Suddenly, claps erupted from those surrounding the three and Orion retreated from his plans. All he did was to bow before Daphne and Eirene, step back and wink ... that could have been caught by either Daphne and Eirene.<br/><br/><strong>"This is how I feel now."</strong><br/><br/>And the sailor left both of them with a wide smile for Daphne.