“Laura.” He peppers my neck with kisses and I hum a response. Ares puts his forehead on my collarbone. “Sweetheart, can I touch you?” His words are rough, hisvoice deep.
“Yes, Ares.” I know he’ll want to hear me say it’s okay. As soon as I utter the words, I place my hands on his cheeks and pull him up to me. With my fingers woven into his dark hair, I kiss him again. Adjusting his body, he slides the tips of his fingers under my waistband. I suck in my stomach as I feel the rough pads of his fingers below my belly button—this is new. My hips arch into his hand, he’s so close to touching me I can hardly think of anything else.
My heart rate picks up even faster. I try to focus on his kiss, how soft his tongue is, the way he glides the tip over mine, but then his hand moves and I’m back to thinking about where his fingers are. What if I didn’t shave right, should I have taken a shower? I was in school all day, then training for a little while, then shopping. Oh god, I probably stink.
My knees close around his hips and arm as Ares’s hand slides lower, the tips of his finger brushing against my pubic bone. I tighten my legs even more. I don’t want him to stop, Ijustdon’t have any idea what I’m doing, what to expect, what he expects. He has to know I’m a virgin, but what if he doesn’t? I mean we’ve never really talked about it.
Ares pulls back, his eyes opening to look down at me lazily. I roll in my lips, should I say something? “I’m a virgin,” I blurt, before giving the idea any real thought.
Ares jerks back, probably more from my overly loud tone than the statement itself. “Okay, I kind of thought you were. Do you want to stop?” he drawls, making sure I hear every word.
I shake my head quickly in denial, but add, “Ijustwanted you to know. I don’t… I… well… Ithought you should know.”
I close my eyes, feeling foolish now for letting it slip out the way I did. “Hey, look at me,” Ares coos softly, brushing his knuckle across my cheek. His other hand is still down my pants, but it’s not moving. When I don’t immediately open my eyes, he shifts his weight, leaning on his elbow as his fingers inch away from my center.
I place my hand on his arm, stopping his retreat. If I’m ready to have sex, I should be ready to talk about it, right? “Ares, I don’t want to stop, this is just all so new. I know you’re not a virgin. And I don’t know. I was feeling a little… insecure. What if I don’t look like what you’re expecting? Feel the same? I mean, I didn’t evenstart shaving, shaving down there until I moved in here. And I got all sweaty when I was training,” I ramble, all my thoughts come spewing out in a rush of words.
Ares’s eyes soften, the corners tilting down the tiniest bit. “I swear on our Infinitythatyoudon’t need to worry about any of that.” He pushes his hand over near my hip, instead of over my lower stomach, still under my pants and panties. His voice is a little more gruff when he continues, “I can promise you, I love every inch of you, inside and out.”
I swallow at his proclamation of love, his words ringing true. I feel the same way about him.
“I’vebeen imagining what you would look like, feel like, for six years.” Ares brushes his nose against mine.“I couldn’t have dreamed up anyone better.” I tip my chin and kiss him then, but he’s not done, he pulls back, licking over his bottom lip and staring right into my eyes. “I let the darkness consume me. I was so angry and alone. I forgot what it felt like to have the warmth of the light on my face, my skin. You’re that light Laura. Without you, I’m just a shadow.”
A stupid tear leaks out of the corner of my eye before I can stop it. I wrap my arms around Ares’s neck and squeeze himto mewith a strength that has mequestioning if I’ve stolen another ability, this time from Milo.
I want to say something, anything, to tell him how much his words mean,to tell him how lost I was until they found me, but I can’t speak past the lump in my throat. I’m certain I would burst into tears if I tried. I shake my head, still clinging to him. “Ares.” His name is about all I manage, so instead, I release my hold on his neck. He leans back and before he can retreat again, I grab his face and kiss the hell out of him, hoping I can convey the wordsI can’t say out loud right now.
Chapter 14
Knowing our time alone won’t last much longer, I run my hands over Ares’s bare back, feeling the flex of muscles and the heat of his skin under my palms. I’m desperate to show himhow much I need him. Without an ounce of urgency, he returns my kiss slow and drugging. Having removed his hand from my hip while I was hugging him, he’s now leaning on his elbows, surrounding me. Ihave no doubt I’m as safe as I’ll ever be, there’s freedom in knowing Ares will always take care of me. I can just let myself go, I don’t have to worry about being invisible with him because he’s always seen me, will always see me.
I bring my knees up higher on hiships, it allows me to feel even more of him. Breaking the kiss to let out a low groan of desire my head falls back. Ares rocks against me, tightening his grip on my body even more. I don’t know how it’s possible to breathe, but I do, in shallow pants.
Ares buries his face in the crook of my neck, his breath matching mine. I turn my face, and my lips find Ares’s shoulder.My hands move down to the waistband of his pants, I try to push them down, but I can’t get them past his butt. With a growl of frustration, I bite his shoulder. Ares’s head jerks back, and he rocks his hips against me harder.
If I don’t already know he doesn’t mind me biting him I would worry, his eyes are still closed and his chinis still tipped up. When he looks back down at me, his eyes are barely slits. The room darkens so much that even with my extend vision I can’t see anything but him. Shadows cling to him, reaching out and dancing on my skin, only they feel solid, like icy fingers curling around my overheated flesh. The sensation is almost too much.
Ares pulls back to kneel between my legs, I miss the heat of his real touch instantly. A shiver works its way over my body and when I breathe out, my breath fogs. Ares’s hands go to my hips, his eyes steady on mine, waiting for permission.
I clench my teeth to keep them from chattering but tell him, “Yes.” Heat uncoils in my lower stomach,unfurrowing and stretching out to warm me. Ares skates his fingers down my body, over my nipples, and dragging his gaze with his touch. When he reaches for my leggings, he looks up at me again, watching me as he folds his fingers under the waistband. I lift my hips from the mattress, showing him it’s exactly what I want.
Unaware or unbothered by the frigid temperature change, Ares slowly pulls my leggings off, leaving me in lacy black panties. His eyes scan over me several times like needs to see every inch of me.
His tongue makes a lazy lap over his top lip, before he bites his bottom lip. Ares lets out a shaky breath and brings his left hand up to his mouth. I see the tip of his tongue peek out and he delivers a long lick up the side of his middle finger and around the tip, before immediately placing it on my stomach and tracing a circle around my belly button. I suck in a startled breath. The sensation has me trying to squeeze my thighs together and tighten my muscles.
Holy hell, I felt that in places he hasn’t even touched yet. I squirm under his gaze. His eyes jump up to mine, and I bite the corner of my lip and look down at his pants, I can see the outline of his erection. I swallow, thinkingthatcan’t be comfortable, we should definitely do something about that.
With slow, deliberate movements, Ares reaches for his belt. I sit up with my hands already reaching for his. Gazing into his eyes, I place my hands on the center of his belt. He draws in a quick breath and his chest expands, not releasing it. I slip the leather free from the loop of his pants, my eyes still on his, and tug. I have to look down to unclasp it, but only for a second. He lets out a shallow exhale when I do.
I don’t stop there, inching my fingers into his waistband I expect to find a button, but the flap is smooth. Noticing my confusion, Ares reaches down and releases the clasp, and I bat his hands away again and pull down the zipper. I shiver as a wave of icy air stirs my long hair. Ares’s pants fall a few inches and he pushes them down his thighs, lifting each knee to get them the rest of the way off.
My eyes immediately go to the black swirl design that marks him as mine. My fingers twitch, itching to see the entire mark, it’s half covered by tight, black boxer briefs. Ares lowers his bottom to the bed, his knees spreading wide, and crooks his finger at me, beckoning me forward.
Rearranging my legs, I crawl toward him, closing the small distance between us. Ever aware of the passing time I settle my body against his, wrapping my arms around his neck and putting my mouth near his ear.
Ares’s hands fall to my hips, his fingers biting in. I stifle a groan, he maybe causing the icy temperature in the room, but his body is warm and solid under mine. My nipples drag against his skin as I snuggle in, trying to get even closer. Ares is rigid, barely even moving as he draws in each breath. Keeping my hand on the back of his neck I lean back to see his face,his jaw is taught,his brows are drawn down, and a heavy look of concentration covers his features.
“Are you okay?”My whispered words are spoken with a misty fog. His eyes narrow and he looks around, noticing the utter darkness of the room and the chilly temperature for the first time. Sensing his confusion, I place my hand on his jaw, drawing his attention back to me. “What’s wrong?”
