“Here, have a seat.” Dante urges me to the bench. Ollie picks up one of the boxes and examines it. He lifts the lid and pulls out the shoes, which are all folded together. It’s the flower ones. Before I can Dante reaches for one of the shoes, he flips it around in his hand one or twice then focus on me. “Are these slippers?”
“I don’t think so, they have a sole on the bottom, see?” I turn the shoe so he can see the bottom. He shakes his head but lifts up my foot to remove my sneaker. My old shoes are long gone, they were traded for white slip-on vans not long after the clothes first arrived.
Ollie picks up the other box and takes out the taupe ones too. “These are the bigger ones, if you need them.”
Dante slides his thumb up my instep and I squirm away from him. “Knock it off. My feet are nasty I’ve been in these shoes for hours.” Ignoring me, he brushes his fingers over my bare toenails.
“We should paint these,” he says, almost to himself.
I snatch the shoe and push my foot in, using my finger to pull the back up and over my heel. I wiggle my toes, but they don’t feel too tight. I grab the other one so I can walk around just to make sure, but they feel amazing, almost like I don’t even have shoes on, except I have padding under my feet.
“Wow, these are so comfortable.” I go up to my tippy-toes then back down, taking a few steps.
“Should you get a pair of heels too?” That comes from Ollie.
I gaze back at him and snort. “Only if you want me to break my neck.”
He picks up the two boxes of size eights, and lifts them in the air. “We’ll take both of these.”
“You guys hungry?” Rosa calls the moment the door closes.
“Always,” Dante replies, not bothering to take off his shoes. Milo has my dress bag and the little sack with both of my new shoes. After seeing the total when the girl rang them up, I wanted to leave and find something else, but Dante just ignored my protests and handed over his credit card again.
As we head toward the kitchen, the heavy scent of seared meat fills my nose. The kitchen is full, and Milo and Ollie’s parents are already here. The men are hanging out near the island or in the living room, picking at a couple of trays with small pieces of meat and cheese, chatting.
Linda, Carolyn, and Rosa are all seated at the island counter. Rosa is spinning the stem of a wine glass, while Linda has a mug in front of her.
I scan the room again looking for Ares, but I already know he’s not here. “How was your trip, find what you needed?” Linda spins to face our group. Dante is already heading over to the snacks laid out on the coffee table.
Milo holds up the two bags as an answer. “Here, let me put those away,” I offer, touching the bags.
“I can do it,” Milo volunteers quickly.
I shake my head in denial. “I got it.” Not only do I want to give them a few minutes to visit with their parents, but I want to find Ares too.
I excuse myself, by saying, “I’ll grab Ares and put these away, be right back.” I lean forward and Milo instinctually leans down so I can place a swift kiss on his lips, while I grab the bags. His cheeks have a rosy blush when I stand back, but he gives me a reassuring smile.
Making a quick retreat I head toward Ares’s office first, my bet is he’s still working. I hear the low thrum of his voice before I make it to the slightly open door. A thrill of excitement sends butterflies through my stomach. He’s close, I know I won’t really be able to sneak up on him, but I slow my steps and creep up the hall, nearing the door anyway.
“Laura’s home, I’m about done for the night,” Ares announces, and I hear a desk drawer close and the squeak of a chair.
“Just because she’s here you’re going to run off. I never would have guessed Ares Costa would allow himself to be leashed.” Mia’s voice holds a thread of teasing, but I hear the challenge as well.
Ares ignores her baiting ploy. “Scott said there was an issue with the Bennett job, but his message was vague. Let me know if he submits a complaint about the client.” The chair creaks again.
Finally reaching the office, I use my free hand to push the door open the rest of the way. It glides open on silent hinges. Ares is tugging the bottom of his vest down, standing behind his desk. Once my eyes land on him I don’t look away, he draws all my attention.
His eyes connect with mine and he straightens. “I was just coming for you,” he tells me, his voice somehow different than it was just moments ago when he was talking to Mia.
I lean against the doorframe. “I found you first.”
My words cause the corner of his lip to lift. “That you did.” He almost sighs as he rounds the desk and fingers the black garment back over my arm. “Please tell me this is the red dress,” he breathes against my lips.
I chuckle darkly. “You’ll have to wait and see.” Ares’s lips find mine. He kisses me sweetly for a long second, and then delivers one final nip to my bottom lip before pulling back. When I look up, his eyes are black with desire, and I love that he doesn’t hide that part of himself from me. That he lets me see just how much I affect him.
A desk drawer slams and I jolt, already having forgotten Mia’s presence. Ares straightens to his full height and takes the bag from my arm. “See you tomorrow,” he calls over his shoulder, guiding me out the door with his hand on the small of my back.
“I need to drop these by our room. I think everyone is waiting on you to eat, if you want to go ahead, I’ll catch up.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” There’s a teasing note in his voice.
Spinning so I’m walking backward, I playfully poke him in the chest. “Why would I want to get rid of you, I just found you.” Ares snags my hands and pulls me against his chest.
“I was wondering the same thing?” His eyes search mine before he tucks my head under his chin and holds me close. The plastic bag crinkles but he doesn’t let me go. I melt into his embrace, loving the closeness between us.
“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.
Ares begins 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 me I 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 really do love 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. “I did tell you 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 about this feels different, 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 and pink 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 we just stay 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 regret that I 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.” His voice is 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. You don’t need to feel like you’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?”
“You just did.” Ares leans down and kisses me softly, and bringing his hand up to the back of my neck, he continues. “We all need you too, Cara. All of us understand.” He pulls away from me abruptly. Reaching into his front pocket he pulls his phone out. Tapping a few buttons, he goes to lift the phone to his ear.
I place my hand over the screen before he can. “Are you sure?” I whisper, wondering what he’s going to tell them. Will they all know what we’re doing? Even their parents? That thought sends a sobering jolt through me.
Ares pulls the phone free and places it at his ear. “Hey, yeah, she found me.” He goes silent, listening to the person on the phone. “I know, that’s why I’m calling. Laura wants to take a quick shower since we ran off right after training. We’ll be there in a little while. Go ahead and eat without us.” He listens again for a moment. Never breaking eye contact, he adds, “We’ll be down later to talk about this weekend.”
After a quick goodbye, he tosses the phone behind him on the bed. Ares’s eyes are his usual tawny brown, and the phone seems to have abated some of the desire he was feeling. Reaching for me again, he pulls me in closer for a hug. My arms wrap up under his arms and around his back. I nestle my cheek against his bare skin, tucking myself as close as humanly possible.
“We can stand here all night, or you can go have a shower. Just because you need time with one of us doesn’t mean anything other than that.” Ares’s palm glides up my bare back.
I know he’s telling me that there aren’t any expectations, he’s told me this before. “What if I don’t want to just stand here, or take a shower yet?” I let my hands roam over his back.
“I’m sure I could find a way to entertain you.” His hand dips a little lower, brushing over my butt. Feeling brave, I slide my fingers under the waistband of his pants, but I can’t get very far because of the belt, except it still feels like I passed some sort of barrier.
Ares’s hands go to my waist again and he lifts me so my toes just barely graze the ground, before spinning us so my back is to the bed. I wrap my arms over his shoulders, liking the feel of my body against his. Keeping me plastered to him, he goes to kneel on the bed. Releasing one arm, he plants it on the mattress and takes me with him as he crawls up to the pillows.
Neither of us has spoken or looked away from each other. There’s an intimacy in our gaze. We both know exactly where this is heading. Settling me on the pillows, Ares looks down my body. His lips are parted so I can hear the heavy breaths he’s taking. “Seeing you in my bed, Cara…” He groans, trailing his hand from my thigh and up the side of my body, until he reaches my stomach. Ares guides his hand up the center of my body, from my belly button to the hollow of my throat. He watches his finger, fascinated by his hands on my skin.
Ares flicks his eyes up to me. “You okay?” I nod quickly. I still want him, need him to touch me, but it feels more arranged, not as natural after the phone call.
“I need your words, sweetheart. I always need to hear you tell me.”
I swallow and clear my throat. “Yes, I’m okay.”
“Good.” Ares’s knees are on either side of my legs and he’s leaning over me, but not touching enough of me. Tentatively, I bring my hand up to his jaw, feeling the coarse stubble under my palm. I thread my fingers into his hair over his ear, making his eyes fall closed. He leans in, bringing his face close to mine before dropping a soft kiss on my lips.
He tilts his head from left to right, taking the kiss deeper. I open for him, loving the way he uses his teeth to give me little nips on my lips. I run my hand down his back, applying a little pressure, hoping he’ll give me more than just his lips.
He makes a low sound against my mouth. I know he knows what I want, his skin on mine, but he’s going to make me wait for it.
Ever so slowly, Ares brings his hand up and wraps it under my neck, then he lifts and brings me up to his mouth. He pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and sucks, before releasing me. I arch my neck, letting my head fall back. He moves down, peppering my neck with little kisses, and bites. My body arches off the bed when he finds a spot under my ear, my fingernails digging into his scalp and back. Bracing himself above me on one hand, I feel Ares’s knee part my legs. I let my thighs fall open and accept him.
With patience I don’t possess, Ares lowers his body to min
e, his hips between my thighs. But there’s still too much between us. Reaching down, I try to release his belt, but he flattens his stomach to mine, trapping my fingers.
Leaning back he looks down at me, and his eyes are completely black. I lose my breath, he’s so beautiful. “Are you okay?” I drag my hand from between our bodies and run my finger under his eye.
Ares’s voice is deep and thick when he answers, “Never better.” Taking my hand off his face, he lifts it above my head and squeezes my wrist. Switching hands, he grabs my other wrist and brings it up to his mouth, biting me hard enough that I suck in a quick breath through my teeth in surprise. It was almost enough to hurt. He then places it above my head with the other, a warning. Ares trails his finger down my forehead, and over my nose and chin, until he reaches the center of my bra over my chest.
“I might need to save this.” Ares drags his fingers over the lace cup, brushing across my nipple in the process. “I still have the other one.” I look down at his hand caressing me. I’d almost forgotten about the one I lost the night we bonded.
Lifting himself off of me, Ares lies on his side facing me, and I tuck my arms back down between us, turning to face him. With purpose, I lean in, almost placing my lips on his. Instead of kissing him, I open my mouth and give his chin a little nip, he freezes, and not even a breath passes his lips.
My eyes fall shut as I savor every moment with him. I place my palm over his heart, it’s beating fast, and he finally drags in a breath. Inching my body even closer to his, I move a little lower so I have access to his neck. Turnabout is fair play, since Ares is always kissing and biting my neck.
He tilts his head back, content to let me explore. I feel the short, crisp hairs on his chest tickling my fingers as I run my palm all over his torso. Without much experience I can only emulate what he does to me, and hope it feels half as good as he makes me feel.
Using the tip of my tongue, I lick the underside of his jaw and I feel his body tense, but he doesn’t try to stop me. With my eyes open I deliver another long lick, this time from the base of his throat, winding my way up to his ear, as I watch to see his expression. Ares’s mouth falls open, and he lets out a throaty sigh. Feeling brave, I push him over onto his back. Ares’s eyes snap open when I settle myself over his lower stomach, straddling his waist.
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