Feeling the weight of her head on his shoulder seemed comforting, somewhat. As a spymaster and someone who kept people at arms length unless a situation necessitated it, Magnus found it a foreign feeling for someone other then his sister and parents to be sharing a tender moment with him. For Magnus, he preferred his moments of solitude to be with his own thoughts and plannings. Yet Iolanthe's company was pleasant in its own ways, as was her sweet innocence despite her status as a widow.

Obviously however, her experience as a wife was not the best. Having grown up watching loving parents and with a sister he doted on, Magnus could never imagine allowing his sister a marriage to someone who would view her as a trophy on a shelf - Magnus would be the first to annul that marriage, customs or no customs. A gentleman at heart, he frowned as he watched Iolanthe seemingly hiding from him after her words, and instinctively, Magnus reached out to lay a hand on her arm to stop her actions.

While it may be inappropriate behavior for court, he would like to believe that out in the open sea, one was allowed some space for freedom.

"I see a princess." He didn't know where that came from, all he knew was that he was a damned shame for a woman who believes herself to be lower then she was worth. Magnus's smile was encouraging as it was comforting, listening patiently to her next words. That she would dread her bed made Magnus wonder just what exactly had her husband do to her. Was she tortured? Mild ire stirred in him at that possibility.

Laughing when she mentioned the wine, Magnus sat up to brush the hair she had covering her face aside, tucking it behind her ear. His fingers gently ghosted over her cheek as he spoke, "Physical beauty is fleeting. Internal beauty, that I believe would last forever. You are kind and of good heart, Lady Iolanthe. That would go beyond any goddess blessed beauty." It may sound like sweet words, but Magnus truly did believe so. He was no man born of noble birth, but through hard work he's managed to get himself within their ranks. So he believed in the worth of hard work more then blessed beauty or of noble birth.

Frowning at her obvious dread of sharing a bed, Magnus's mind clicked, before the smile curled his lips upwards again. "It is an activity that.... is enjoyable, to say the least. Its a shame you feel dread at it, my lady." He grinned and winked at her."It provides warmth too. Perfect on cold nights." It was words and actions entirely inappropriate for two people of their status... yet Magnus wanted to try. This was the closest he's ever come to getting what he wanted - he would give anything a shot.

Magnus had been brought up with impeccable role models. His parents had treated each other with utmost respect, and it is by their actions that he modelled himself after. To hear that someone could treat a gentle lady with anything less then respect, for her to feel anything less then treasured, was something he could not fathom. It was second instinct for the spymaster to soothe and comfort, and it was what he did now as he spoke with Iolanthe.

Of course, he was not, nor had he ever been privy to the workings and schemings the nobility had to do in regards of marriages and how it helped one's status. While Magnus was eager to attain that of a noble status, he was not willing to sacrifice his sister's happiness for it. His own... well, that was debatable. It wasn't as if the lady Iolanthe would be a bad choice, all things considered. They had proven to been able to get along well in their dealings in Taengea, and Magnus was willing to consider the idea. They shared no love as Nifakis and Eudora did, but it was a comfortable feeling of camraderie he had with her.

Besides, she was beautiful in her own manner.

Her gentle innocence in manners of the skin amused Magnus, and it was obvious Iolanthe was not feigning it. The topic of the bed was taboo, yet in the middle of the Aegean Sea, Magnus felt as if they could speak of anything without repercussions for now. He was no playboy of ill repute, but it would be a lie to say that he did not enjoy seeking out the warmth of another - yet it was something he did not show to the world by and large. Magnus had his own preferences behind closed doors, one that not everyone could entertain.

Could she?

Perhaps. He was open to trying and testing waters.

"For the woman as well." he responded glibly, grinning and knowing full well it was probably scandalizing her, but the wine had managed to loosen both their tongues considerably.

As she continued speaking, Magnus noticed the wind that had nudged her blankets off her shoulders, and leaned forward to pick them up so he could wrap them around her again. In a twist of fate, as it would seem, his movements coincided with hers, and as she closed the distance, his movements met hers to have soft lips suddenly graze against his.

His surprise was obvious, as Magnus froze in place. If he had been anyone else but the Master of Information to the royal family in Colchis, he would likely be beheaded for pure indecency to a lady of noble birth. But Magnus had plans - and if the Gods were to view kindly on his thoughts and had intervened to give him this chance, he would take it.

Hands fell to rest softly on her bare shoulders, as he deepened the kiss by a short, brief moment, leaning in so he could thoroughly give his attention to hers, tasting the wine they had shared, before he leaned back, breath wisping between them. "Well, was it enjoyable for the lady, then?" His smile was cheeky, almost as if asking if she wanted more as he looked down at her.

He expected her blush - she was a lady, and to have been kissed the way Magnus had just done to her was no common matter. Magnus was beginning to suspect more and more that her previous, dead husband, had done nothing to show her of the joys that could be hand between a married couple. Magnus on the other hand was not so tame behind doors. Of course, this wasn't knowledge he bandied about, but he knew better then to expect just anyone to be able to accept his likes and dislikes between the sheets. It was why he preferred priestesses and flute ladies to taking a wife.

But someone as fresh as Iolanthe? Perhaps. What she brought to the marriage was, of course, a plus as well.

He felt her fingers curl into the fabric of his tunic on his chest. She made no move to pull away, and that, the spymaster took as a good sign. That must mean she wasn't entirely disgusted by him and his behavior after all, right? Moving his lips against hers in a purposeful manner now, it was clear Magnus had taken the happy 'accident', as it had happened, to much further heights. Her lips against hers brought a quick thrill under his skin, and his hands fell from her shoulders, to be cradled in the little dip of her waist, resting just on her hips.

Her eyes staring at him when he pulled back made the dark-haired male preen inwardly, noticing the slightly hazy look in her eyes, a proof that he had done his job well. Not that Magnus was unaffected. His breath came heavier then it did when it was just casual conversation between them.

As she searched his gaze, her words hesitant and suspicious, Magnus's heart skipped a beat - whether it be from excitement or nervousness, he could not be sure. Was he actually trying to seduce a noblewoman once he found her barony that came with her hand in marriage? How much of his actions was a farce, and how much did it come from his actual attraction to the lady? They were thoughts that lingered in his mind, yet something he knew he would need time to consider.

It was time he did not have for now, not when she awaited an answer.

"If the lady asks... then she shall receive." his low whisper came, and this time Magnus smiled along with his words. Unlike the chivalrous, friendly smile Iolanthe had likely seen him wear in Taengean courts and to her respectful self as they rode through the streets of Vasiliadon, this one held more promise. The smile somehow managed to be both boyish yet dark, a promise of things he could do to her if she would let him. "You only have to ask, should you wish to stop."

That was his final out for Iolanthe, his only way of promising her that if she wanted to stop at any time, Magnus would, no matter how hard, pull himself away. For plan or no plan, barony or not, he was still a spymaster in service of the royal family, and he had not only his reputation, but that of his kingdom to uphold. To have a noble house cry foul on his name would be to kill all he's worked hard for.

So he would let her lead in how much liberty she would allow him for now. Leaning in again, he captured her lips with his once more, nibbling on her bottom lip, stroking his tongue against her. Angling his head, Magnus leaned in such a way that would make Iolanthe have no choice but to bend backward, if she allowed him. His pressure was gentle, but also insistent. If the lady did not want to pursue this, all she had to do was to lay her hand on his chest and push. But if she did not, Magnus had no qualms at all about coaxing her till she lay all the way down on the blankets he had lain on the deck of the ship. For if he could, Magnus wanted to coax that passion that her husband had never introduced to her, the kind that existed dormant in everyone, until they found the right person to awaken it.

What were the repercussions that faced him? Magnus had to remind himself that widow she may be, Lady Iolanthe was still an esteemed member of the nobility, the cousin to a baron and the sister to another - she was no simple lady to trifle with, and should she wish harm on him and his family, even with the royal family's trust, the Kotas would not pick protecting him over a member of their noble houses. He risked a lot.

But what if she offered?

Her words tempted him. The spymaster chuckled at her question, but did not answer, too enraptured and eager for the taste of her lips on his own, to explore the depths of the passion her dead husband had left untapped. For the lady was proving to be a very willing partner in their actions, the kind that made Magnus wonder if perhaps, she'd be an eager partner when it came to his... more basal desires.

Pressing her to the deck, he moved with the grace of a jungle cat to bend over her. The hands which had slowly lowered her, now moved to her waist, grinning into the kiss as he felt her fingers in his dark curls, obviously a willing participant in this exchange. With her body pressing against his, Magnus moved his legs to tangle his ankles with hers, before crooking his knee, pressing it against her skirts so it would press against her warmth. Softly, gently, with not so much pressure that she would feel shocked, yet just enough that she would feel a warm presence right where she was most sensitive.

The rest of the deck was scarce of humans - Magnus had been clear in his instructions. When he was with the Lady, everyone else was to remain away and grant them their privacy. He had not shared the tidbit of information with her, but Magnus had always been someone who took the thrill in engaging in more basal acts in the presence of Boreas and under the skies of the Gods. Of course, this would mean his reputation would be at risk, so he kept his partners hidden, and his indiscretions even more secreted away.

When she broke the kiss, Magnus allowed her with no fight, merely pulling back with his breathe coming heavier, allowing Iolanthe to come down from her high, and to regain her senses. As she did so, he allowed himself to observe her flushed cheeks, darkened eyes, and came to the simple conclusion from her surprised and flushed look - her husband had never introduced Iolanthe to the world of pleasure a marital bed could offer.

What a shame.

"Of course, my lady." he murmured in response, such formalities laughable considering the compromising position they were in. But Magnus was well trained. He dutifully got up, helping the lady to her feet, and then turning his back so she may right himself. Only when she made an indication, did Magnus finally turn back, and offered his arm.

In silence, he escorted her down below decks, down to the narrow hallway that led to the cabin. At her door, he bent to unlock the door, opening the door with a flourish. Yet before she could venture deeper in, Magnus paused her, and without warning dipped his head to press a short but deep kiss against her lips, pulling back just as suddenly as he had kissed her, a small smile on his lips. "Had the lady asked for discretion... of course, it would be granted with no question. Anything, for the pleasure of the lady."

The whisper was husky, in a tone that was obviously meant for her ears only. And leaving her with that, Magnus took a step back, giving her a quick shallow bow, before turning on his heels to return to his room, his mind turning with possibilities and chances, many future plans that needed to be made if he wanted to set a plan in motion to gain his greatest ambition.

He had been raised to be a gentleman, even when he was a simple weapon crafter's son living in a small hut in Chaossis. Growing up watching his father treat his mother with the utmost respect, and watching the warmth between his parents, Magnus had long since learned that women deserved to be treated like the gems of the world that they were, to be cared for and protected. It was why he was infinitely careful of the friends Leto made ever since she and their parents made the move to Midas.

Yet the lady tempted him.

Her voice settled across him like a shroud on a misty day, stilling his steps even as he was walking away from her, from her quarters, from the temptation that staying next to her would bring. But she was the one who stopped him. Her fingers managed to incite frisson's of electricity even through his thick coat and tunic, tensing his muscles. But he did not resist.

When the lady turned him to face her, even when she dragged him down to her to meet his lips with hers, he did not struggled. Like putty in her hands, he returned her kiss with equal ardor. Hands came to hold her small waist, pressing against her, yet holding back. How far could he go? How far was she letting him go? Caught in between want and indecisiveness, it all showed when she pulled back.

But all it took was those simple words from her, to wipe all the indecision away from her.

Magnus gave a low chuckle, relief flooding across his face. "Then what the lady wants, the lady shall get." he replied in his husky voice, before surging against her again to resume the kiss. This time though, it was much more insistent, so much so that the spymaster pushed Iolanthe against the wall of the narrow corridor that separated their sleeping quarters. Against the wall, he pressed the whole length of his body against hers, hand slipping below to splay his long, calloused fingers over her bottom, cupping them and giving them a gentle squeeze. Using his palms, he pushed his hips against hers, aligning his own so he would push against her center.

His lips move downwards, trailing gentle, butterfly kisses along her cheek, down the column of her neck, to where neck would meet shoulder. There, right in the crook, he buried his nose to take a deep breathe, almost memorizing her scent. "You should not fear a bed with your next husband, my lady. I'll assure you, you'll find it quite pleasurable indeed." Magnus murmured, nibbling at her earlobe. Trailing downwards again, his nose nudged the shawl and the sleeve of teh chiton so it fell off her shoulder, and there he rained kisses over the bare shoulder, just grazing his rough stubble over the top of her breasts. "Even if there was no bed involved."

While he enjoyed the bed, it wasn't exactly Magnus's favorite position for the act of lovemaking. Yet considering this was likely the lady's rare few occasions of the act, he finally straightened up, and grasped her hand, leading her towards his quarters. There, the male closed the door behind them, and was quick to pick her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and then dropping her on his well padded, nailed down bed, grinning as he crawled over her. "Now... you'll have to show me what you know, my lady. The lessons shall proceed from there."

He smirked at the sounds she made, promising to Magnus's ear. He was always hesitant when he started with a new bed partner, a new lover as one may. Magnus was always discreet in his affairs, albeit he has not had many in the years. One who was intent on his work, the human needs fell by the wayside when it had naught to do with his family. Whatever desires he slaked, it either was done at the city brothel, or with whomever necessary in order to gain information for his job. Whichever way it was though, Magnus's own favorites for the act between man and woman meant that when it came to lovers of noble birth, he had to be more careful.

"I shall fulfill them till the lady denies me, then."he murmured, the smirk firmly in place. Settling in between the legs she had offered to him, he buried his nose in her neck, taking a deep breathe as she pushed her chiton away from her shoulders. Taking that as a sign of invitation, Magnus pushed them all the way down, exposing the cream of her breasts to which Magnus dipped his head to press soft, gentle kisses to. He started from her collarbone, drawing a trail downwards until his lips found the peak in which he could close lips around, moving in such a way that would ensure Iolanthe's pleasure. He was calculating each move based on the arch of her body, the sounds he managed to pull with the flick of his tongue, and the nibble of his teeth.

Rolling the chiton down to her waist, his hand found the twin mound of her chest, feeling the weight of her breasts in his palms. His fingers toyed with her, even as Magnus looked up again, drawing his lips away.

"No lessons then." he murmured huskily, reaching down to adjust her chiton so his he could press his hips firmly against the center of her. Even through his pants, he could feel her heat, and he was sure she could feel his desire for her growing. Going willingly with her kiss, his hands left her breast to now travel downwards, one palm on each bottom cheek, so as to firmly hold her against him, pressing their cores against each other as he rocked his hips against her.

Slowly at first, he took his time before he firmly pressed harder, pulling back from her amorous kiss. Breath came in heavy pants, and Magnus thanked the Gods that the women's undergarments proved easy to shift aside, yet his pants were proving to be a hindrance for now. "I'll need your help, sweet one." he murmured, one hand gripping hers, and bringing her fingers to the ties of his pants that held the garment up. Leaving them there, his own fingers trailed to her own center, finding the skin that was most sensitive to her as he murmured in her ear. "Clothes are such a hindrance, but I find my hands too busy to take mine off. Could you help me?" he teased, as he played with her pleasure.