I stepped out when he opened the door for me and looked around.
“This city is nice.”
He shut the door.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
I followed him down the block until he stopped in front of a jewelry boutique.
The windows glowed with diamonds sparkling on velvet stands like tiny stars.
I glanced at him. “A jewelry shop? Really?”
He already had the door open. “Come on.”
Inside the shop, everything looked exclusive. Polished glass counters. Dark wood cases.
A woman behind the counter greeted us in French, smiling politely.
I walked slowly along the display cases while Ares stayed right behind me.
Close.
Too close.
“I don’t need jewelry,” I said as I picked things up that caught my eye.
He ignored what I said.
I stopped in front of a velvet display with a white diamond necklace that looked like royalty, the matching earrings, and a ring set beside it.
I leaned closer without thinking.
Ares noticed immediately.
“That one?”
I straightened up. “I said I don’t need anything. I'm just looking.”
He moved closer behind me.
“You need jewelry.”
“For what?”
“So you look like you belong next to me.”
I rolled my eyes. “I already do.”
The shop owner quietly placed the necklace on a velvet tray.
Ares picked it up.
“Turn around.”
I hesitated but slowly turned my back to him.
His fingers brushed my neck as he placed the necklace in front of me. The cool metal settled against my skin while he fastened the clasp behind me.
