“Did you guys have fun today?”
I pull back and give him a skeptical glare. “We went to the mall.” I hope my tone is enough to tell him how fun I thought it was.
Aresbegins walking again, guiding me down to our room. “I thought women loved to shop?”
“Not this one,” I mutter, thinking about how I’ve always shopped in thrift shops or chain stores like Walmart. The upscale malls and shops make me feel like an imposter. Like they know by looking at meI can’t afford anything they have.
“Well, it looks like you found what you needed anyway,” he continues.
“I did.” Thinking about the dress brings a smile to my lips, I reallydolove it.
When we arrive at the bedroom, he opens the door and waves his hand for me to enter. I take the two small shoeboxes out of the bag and place them on an empty shelf near the floor. Ares hangs my garment bag in the area deemed mine, going for the zipper right away.
“Uh uh.” I lay my hand over his to keep him from opening the bag.
“Why not, they got to see it?” He sounds irritated that I’m keeping him from looking.
I roll my lips in to keep the grin from my face and cock my hip out to the side. “Then you should have come with us,” I challenge.
Ares’s eyes narrow. “That’s not fair.” He lets go of the zipper but flips his hand over and grabs mine instead.
“You once told me you play dirty, why shouldn’t I?” I don’t even bother trying to pull free, I’m exactly where I want to be.
He chuckles darkly and it sounds kinda evil. A shiver skates down my spine, but it’s not fear, oh no, it’s excitement. “Idid tellyou that, didn’t I? Well, it was a fair warning.” Ares licks his bottom lip and pushes farther into my space. There’s nowhere for me to go with the closet wall behind me, so I step back and lean against the wall to watch his approach.
His hands go above my head, caging me in. His body is still too far away, but he dips his face to the side of my neck. He breathes me in, making a satisfied sound when he exhales against my skin. His breath is hot, sending a wave of anticipation to my belly. Bringing my hands up between us, I pull him closer.
He comes easily, but I need more. I need to feel all of him. I want to feel his hands on my body, his skin against mine. Pushing away from the wall, I walk him backward. His dark eyes are open and watching my hands as I tug the bottom of his shirt free from his belted pants. Ares’s hands hang loosely by his sides, as he lets me lead him from the closet to the room. He stops when his heels hit the bed.
I look up at him through my lashes and slide the bottom button of his shirt open. He doesn’t stop me, and his breathing picks up, quick pants of air leaving his parted lips as his eyes grow heavily lidded. Working my way up to the last button, I push his shirt open, my palms running up over his pectoral muscles and continuing over his shoulders to push the shirt off his body.
Ares lets the shirt drop to the bed and I’m free to explore him. My eyes scan his chest and stomach. I’ve seen all of this before, and every time it’s amazing, but something aboutthis feelsdifferent, more deliberate. I know that I took his shirt off, that I am the one asking him for something.
Ares finally puts his hands on me, and he starts on the sides of my thighs. Pushing upward until his hands are under my t-shirt and around my waist. I lift my arms in the air as an invitation for him to remove my shirt. With his eyes locked on mine, he caresses all the way up my sides, taking the shirt with him. I shake my hair down my back once it’s free. Ares’s eyes rake down my body. His tongue peeks out as he gazes at my black andpink lace bra. I spin, giving his access to my back, expecting him to remove it.
Ares’s fingers push my hair to the side, over my shoulder. I feel his heart as he steps closer, leaning over me as he traces his lips from the crest of my shoulder, then over to my neck. When he uses his teeth on the spot where my neck and shoulder meet, I shiver, pulling in a deep breath. He settles me by placing his hands on my hips and squeezing.
My hands ball into fists since I’m eager to touch him, but not wanting him to stop what he’s doing either. Ares moves in even closer, his front connecting with my back. His hands continue to travel around to my lower stomach, to the waistband of my leggings.
Mouth at my ear, he whispers, “Do you want these on or off?”
I bite my lip,we’ve already been gone for five minutes, how long before someone will come to look for us? I don’t want to leave this room. Sensing my indecision, his hands move from my waist to rest higher on my ribcage.
I spin around to face him. Opening my mouth, I want him to ask him if he can guarantee us a few minutes alone. I need time with him, with each of them. “Everyone is waiting on us.”
Ares drops his forehead to mine. “I know,Cara.”
“Can we, can wejuststay here, can you tell them to eat without us?” I bite my lip, almost taking the words back as soon as I utter them, but I don’t regret them. I only regretthatI want time alone with Ares, with each of them, but I don’t know how to manage that yet.
“You want to stay here, with just me?”
I nod, looking down at the ground. Ares lifts my chin with his fingers. “Don’t do that,” he admonishes me. I look away again, feeling even more guilty that I asked.
“Laura.” Hisvoiceis firm. I can’t ignore him so look up into his eyes.
He traces his fingers over the swell of my left breast. “There’s nothing wrong with asking to be alone, for any reason. If you want to talk, or if you want to connect. Youdon’t need to feellikeyou’re doing something wrong, or feel guilty.”
“How do I ask though? How do I tell Dante and Milo to stay away for a little while? That I need you?”
