I trace my finger over his brow, pushing a few locks of hair away from his forehead in the process.He lets out a soft sigh, not waking.
Letting him be, I turn toward the bathroom door. Should I wait for Ares to come out? He knew I was coming. Biting my bottom lip, I approach the door, and with my palms out I place my ear on the wooden panel. “Ares?” I’m eager to see him, but when I left him, he was naked in the shower. The image of his toned body leaning against the wall, water cascading over his skin, fills my mind.
“Come in,” Ares calls back. I push the door and peek around the edge. Ares is facing the wall, pulling a pair of gray sweatpants up over his bare butt. I freeze. He told me to come in, right? He straightens and turns to face me. Forgetting I caught him dressing, and that he still doesn’t have a shirt on, my only thought is to go to him.
In the blink of an eye I’m there. Only I didn’t walk. A wave of vertigo washes over me, so I stumble against him. Ares catches me, his eyes wide in shock. “Holy hell, are you all right?”
Ignoring his concern, I blurt, “Why didn’t you call, is everything okay?” His eyes search mine as his brow furrows.
“I knew you’d be asleep when we got back from the meeting. I didn’t want to wake you.” He runs his fingers along the side of my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I told you to call, I wouldn’t have cared if you woke me. What about today then, why didn’t you call today?” My worry that something might have happened to them morphs into anger now thatI know they’re both fine.
“We got a late start this morning, once I knew we were coming home today, I wanted to get home to you as soon as possible.”
“Well, you guys should have called.I’ve been worried all day.” I plant my cheek against his bare chest and wrap my arms around his back.
“Are you mad at me?” Ares’s question sounds slightly pleased and a little incredulous.
“It’s not funny. And yes, I think I am.” I didn’t even realize it myself until I knew he was safe. I pull back, looking into his eyes. He’s sporting a slight grin, and he tries in vain to stifle it when I narrow my eyes at him.
“Don’tbe upset.” He licks his bottom lip, dipping his head closer to mine. “I was thinking about you every second.”His words are spoken just above a whisper. I swallow, licking myownlip. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s seducing me, and he’s not even trying.
“If you were thinking about me, then you should have called,” I chide him, but my voice is breathy.
“I like the more direct approach,” he tells me, taking a step closer and forcing me to take a step back. Istart topull away but he grabs my hand, laying it over his chest, up near his heart. I feel the steady beat under my palm. His pupils dilate as he walks me backward, never getting more than a breath’s width away from me. “I missed you, did you miss me?” Ares bumps his nose against mine as he nuzzles me.
I nod. “Yes.” My eyes fall closed. I expect him to kiss me, but he makes me wait. I feel the brush of his body connecting with mine as my back hits the wall. He crowds me, taking up every inch ofavailablespace, so he’s all I can see, feel.
Ares’s hands skim up my sides, and he lifts my arms as he continues trailing his fingers up, so my arms are above my head. Only then does he lean in and seal his lips to mine. His kiss is slow, drugging.
Taking my arms from the wall, I reach for him. My hand glides over his taut jawline, feeling the rasp of his stubble on my palm as I continue until my fingertips sink into his damp hair. He tilts his head, angling to take the kiss deeper.
I part my lips, letting him take the lead. Ares makes a satisfied noise, more of a groan of approval really. I wrap my other hand under his arm and around his back, and explore the way his muscles move under my fingers, the way he arches into my touch the same way I arch into his.
Ares’s weight has me pinned to the wall, but I don’t feel trapped, if anything the pressure from his body feels comforting.
I stroke my hand down his spine, feeling the curve of his backside, then the fabric of his pants, stopping my descent.
Ares pulls his mouth from mine and he’s panting. His forehead hits my collarbone as he takes deep, steadying breaths. “Sorry I got carried away,” he murmurs.
I tip my head back,letting it thud against the wall behind me. My breath is choppy, my heart is racing, and I can’t figure out why he stopped.
Ares eventually lifts his head, his eyes are dark, but I can still make out the tawny brown color behind his pupils. “Hey,” he mutters, looking at my lips. At least I’m not the only one affected here. “I, ah… oh, yes. Next time I’ll call.” He takes a moment to stumble over the words.
That brings a genuine smile to my lips. Ares is always so cool, it seems like he can walk away from our encounters without a problem, but not now. He’s struggling just as much as I am. I slide my hand over his shoulder, stopping where our chestsare pressed together. He still hasn’t backed up.
He takes a step back, like he’s justcome to the same realization. I fold my arms under my chest. “You better call next time, and Dante’s not off the hook either. Ididn’t want to wake him up.”
Ares tries again to hide a smile but fails. “Got it, from now on we’ll check in. Be home when the street light come on.”
I snort and roll my eyes at him. I’m not being unreasonable. “Like you wouldn’t have freaked out if I turned the tables.”
He shakes his head in denial. “Wouldn’t happen,” he states with complete confidence.
“I know. I wouldn’t do that to you guys.”
Ares keeps his eyes locked on mine, but takes a few more steps away from me. He reaches for a foldedt-shirt sitting on the bench seat. Shaking it out he slides his arms in, then ducks a little to pull it over his head. The fabric gets bunched up on his side, leaving a revealing glimpse of his lower stomach and abs. I don’t even try to look away. Ares’s clothing fits him well enoughthatit hints at the body beneath, but there’s nothinglike seeing the real thing.
