Exodus

by Jordan Summers

  Ares forced the pain away, letting go of the heartbreak, instead readying himself for the inevitable. The onslaught of debris scraped his skin raw. Soon there would be enough of his blood in the water to bring out the caiman. If the river didn’t get him first, the caiman surely would. His mind centered, he forced away all thought. Then he heard Jac scream.

  Over the roar of the water, it came like a whisper of hope. His eyes flew open and he sought her out. She stood like a shadow of her former self, white as a ghost, trembling with…Fear? He read her mind a second before she started to move. He knew in an instant she’d risk her life to save him. He couldn’t allow that, though it pleased him greatly that she’d try.

  Do not come out here, Jac. ‘Tis too late. He sent the thought with as much force as he could muster. You will not die trying to save me. You must stay on shore. Go back to your home. New York awaits you.

  Her thoughts scrambled in her mind. The past and present slammed into her, turning her upside down, inside out. Ares knew she heard him, because she hesitated. I’m not going to lose you, too. I love you. The thought slammed back in Ares’s head. He knew Jac had no idea she’d sent it. His heart swelled, then pounded in his chest as he gasped for breath once more. He only had moments before the water took away the luxury of air. He would go to his death peaceably, knowing that she loved him.

  So Ares sent out a final thought, hoping Jac received it before it was too late. Please Jac, do this for me. Return to your home. Live your life. All I ask is that you remember the time we spent together. He gulped, taking in a mouthful of water and began to choke. With a last gasp he finished his words. I love you, too. Until we meet again.

  * * * * *

  Jac felt the second Ares gave up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she glanced back and saw his head slip beneath the surface. She sprinted up the shore, tugging off her boots, and then slipped out of her skirt. Naked, Jac raced forward and dove into the swift moving water. All her training came back to her in a second. She had one shot at reaching him before the current swept her too far down stream to be effective.

  Jac stroked hard, her muscles straining against the fierce pull. Her lungs screamed as she sucked in mouthfuls of water, but she didn’t stop, she put her head down and swam harder. She broke the surface a few yards from where Ares had been. The top of the stake poked out of the water. With one final kick Jac dove, searching blindly in the mud and muck. Her hands latched onto limbs and rocks, releasing them instantly once she’d established their origin. Lungs burning, she refused to surface. Spots were forming behind her eyes and still she grasped.

  Hope dwindling with every second, she lunged one last time and struck something hard, a log. Jac felt around it until she encountered flesh. She wrapped her arms as far around the object as she could and kicked to the surface with all her might. Jac’s head broke the surface at the same time Ares bobbed up. His face was blue and he didn’t appear to be breathing. Hot tears scalded her face as she tried to keep the log from rotating and flipping him face down in the water.

  Jac worked her way along the stake, until she encountered his hands. He’d been bound. Her stomach rolled, threatening to empty its contents. In seconds she decided to leave him that way, because if he slipped from the log she’d never make it to shore toting his body weight. She continued forward struggling to reach his battered face. With one hand she clasped his nose, while the other pried his mouth open. Jac took a big gulp of air and forced it into Ares’s lungs. The effort left her shaky.

  Nothing.

  The current carried them swiftly. She took another breath and exhaled into him, losing her grip for a moment, before pulling herself back up from the thrashing depths. His lashes lay like black crescents against his chiseled cheeks, so handsome, so strong…so much to live for. She wasn’t going to let him die, too. Jac pushed breath after breath into Ares, without getting any response.

  “Daddy, please help me.” Her cry rang out to the heavens, like a wounded animal, a tortured sound half woman, half child. She kicked again forcing the log to stay upright, her muscles growing weary balancing and fighting the endless drag. They were moving downstream at a frightening clip. “Daddy, please don’t let him die.” Her hands dug into Ares muscled arms, as if by holding on tight, he’d be unable to leave her—wouldn’t die.

  She pulled herself up a fraction out of the water and then brought her fist down on Ares wide chest. “Breathe, damn you.” Jac punched him again and again, then took one final breath, forcing air into his lungs, refusing to let it escape. She pulled back and waited. Strength waning, Jac slipped beneath the water. A second later she surfaced choking, her fingertips still gripping the stake. “You can’t die on me. I won’t let you. You promised to be my mate.” Pain and desperation ate at her. “Come back to me, damn it.” She choked again. “I love you.” She grabbed Ares by the hair, lifting his face to hers. “Do you hear me? I love you.”

  Water washed over them.

  “If you live, I promise I’ll stay.” Jac cradled Ares head in her hands. Her body trembled as she went into shock. She’d lost him, just like she’d lost her father. Both were so strong, so virile and full of life, and now they were gone. She clung to Ares, placing kisses across his face. Her heart squeezed in her chest, threatening to burst. With tears streaming down her face Jac did the only thing she knew how to do.

  She got mad.

  All the hurt from the past ten years flooded her system, overloading her senses until blind fury took over. Like a shot of adrenaline, anger coursed through her veins. She dropped Ares head back upon the log and began to strike his sternum, like a woman possessed. She kicked hard in the water trying to ease them sideways toward the shore, not stilling for a moment to lessen her blows. She knew there was no way they’d reach the bank without going with the current. Jac re-adjusted Ares’s head, opening his airway. She balanced half off, half on the stake, as she filled her lungs over and over, emptying them into his massive chest.

  Her head spun from dizziness and exhaustion when her feet finally touched bottom several miles downstream. She dragged the stake as far onto the shore as she could, continuing CPR. Jac didn’t stop until she collapsed. She lay next to the log, her arm flopping against Ares’s ribs. Her lungs labored. Her muscles cramped. But still she made some attempt to bring him back. Jac closed her eyes. It felt as if she’d been ripped in two. Her shoulders began to shake as unspent sobs racked her body. She unsheathed Ares’s knife, slicing the blade through his bindings. His arms fell limp at his sides. Jac slipped the blade back into the sheath.

  The water continued to thunder at their feet, its sound overpowering all others. Jac’s hand flopped against his ribs, at the same time Ares’s chest rose. Her body trembled so badly, Jac thought she’d imagined it. She opened her eyes and turned her head. Ares took a ragged breath and coughed, sending water spouting in the air. Jac froze, unable to move, fearing that her eyes were playing tricks on her.

  She waited, holding her breath. His chest rose and fell. Laughter mixed with tears, as Jac began to cry in earnest. She looked up toward the heavens. “Thank you, Daddy.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Within an hour Jac and Ares were surrounded by members of the tribe. Eros and Rachel pushed through the crowd, their faces ashen with worry. Jac sat up. Coridan appeared at their side, his face twisted and full of pain.

  “What is he doing here?” She glared at Coridan, fighting back the fury she felt being in his presence. “Where did you go when I needed you earlier?”

  The young warrior flinched but did not leave, his face growing visibly paler as the true gravity of the situation sunk in. He’d almost murdered Ares.

  “He’s admitted all, even down to the fact that he couldn’t swim and was unable to assist you earlier,” Rachel said calmly. “He’s here to help now.”

  The villagers raised their hands, palms facing down, and began to chant. Jac watched as a yellow glow spread throughout the group, building in intensity to correspon
d with their rising voices. Suddenly energy shot out, striking Ares in the chest. His body bowed up, rising from the log, before collapsing back down.

  Jac tried to steady his movements. Her eyes sought Rachel’s for reassurance. “They’re not hurting him, are they?”

  Tears pooled in Rachel’s brown orbs as she shook her head. “They’re healing him.”

  Jac fell back, her hand remaining on Ares’s chest, too exhausted to move. She’d done it. She’d saved Ares. Jac had saved the only other man she’d ever loved. Moments later, Jac felt herself being lifted from the ground by Coridan and carried through the jungle. She snagged Ares’s hand at the last second, refusing to release him into Eros’s care. So side by side, the warriors walked. Ares slung over Eros’s broad shoulder, while Jac lay cradled in Coridan’s arms.

  An hour or so later they arrived at Ares’s hut. Eros deposited the jade-eyed warrior onto his bed of furs and Coridan placed Jac carefully beside him.

  Jac peered at Eros. “He will be all right, won’t he?”

  Eros smiled and nodded. “Thanks to you, I still have my brother at arms.”

  Jac’s gaze strayed to Ares’s face. He seemed to be resting comfortably. She turned back to look at Coridan, not attempting to hide the contempt she felt for the man.

  He stepped forward and lowered his head. “I have chosen to exile myself from my people in punishment for my deeds. I hope someday you will accept my apologies and be able to forgive me, Jac.” With that he stepped back and left the hut.

  Eros watched Coridan leave, then turned to Jac. “He came to us, full of fright, desperate for our assistance. We picked up his psychic cry before he made it to the village. He told us what he’d done and begged for our forgiveness. I granted it on one condition.” Eros’s face looked pained. “That he exiles himself from the village.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jac said. It was a shame so many lives had almost been ruined because of what started out as lust for revenge.

  Eros stared at Jac. “I think it best that you both get some rest. Tomorrow’s ceremony will be a long, drawn out affair.”

  “Ceremony?” Jac’s brows furrowed.

  Eros smiled. “Ares has told me you have decided to stay.”

  “But how?” Jac’s head jerked around.

  A devilish smile curved Ares’s lips.

  “He couldn’t of…no way… he was dead.” Jac looked up to get confirmation from Eros, only to see the hide flap on the door fall. He was gone.

  “I’ll leave you two to work it out.” Eros’s departing words were followed by peals laughter.

  Jac let the King’s comment wash over her as she snuggled into Ares’s side, too grateful to get upset.

  * * * * *

  Jac awoke the next morning, her head resting on Ares’s chest. She could hear the steady thud of his heart as it beat against his ribcage. She smiled without opening her eyes, the sound, music to her ears. She encircled his waist and curled up tighter around him. Jac didn’t think she’d ever be able to let him go.

  “Ah, but you must release me, my love.” His voice rumbled, snaking around her, settling deep within her stomach, before dropping lower.

  Jac smiled again and shook her head in protest.

  “Today is our mating ceremony. We must be prepared.”

  She sat up to look at him, bracing herself on her elbow, her sculpted brow slightly arched. “That reminds me…how in the hell did you know I said I’d stay?”

  Ares grinned. “I may have left this realm, but I could still hear the words that were torn from your heart, for they spoke to mine.”

  Jac smiled back. She couldn’t help herself. “I think that’s a load of crap, but it’s still nice to hear.”

  Ares laughed. The hardy sound rolled over her, embracing, lifting, and gathering her close.

  “Just because I agreed to stay, don’t think things are going to change.” Her gaze leveled on his handsome face. The bruises had already started to fade and the cuts had scabbed over.

  “I’m counting on that.” Ares rubbed the rough pad of his thumb along her sensitive spine. “My fierceness.” His eyes sparked fire as he glanced down at her nakedness, peeking out from beneath the furs.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Jac felt her nipples respond, tightening into tiny nubs.

  Ares growled, his expression turning feral. “You deny a man who’s been ripped from the jaws of death a little pleasure?”

  Jac’s clit ached and began to twitch. Even though it had only been a day, it felt as if it were a lifetime, since she’d last lain beneath his pressing weight. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips and was instantly captured by Ares’s mouth in a searing kiss.

  “Mine,” he growled out against her lips and then he dipped deeper, swirling and sparring, tasting and tempting, seeking out her moisture like a man deprived.

  His teeth nipped at her lower lip, teasing, drawing out her desire as only he could. His hands gripped the round globes of her ass, pulling her up and over until she was spread and lying on top of him. He kneaded her bottom as if it were dough, rolling and grinding her skin beneath his fingertips. Jac’s sex dripped upon his staff, singeing him with her liquid heat.

  Ares’s muscles tightened in anticipation. He stroked over her outer lips, her channel moistened, readying her for his cock’s arrival, all the while intensifying the embrace. Ares felt his shaft lengthen, growing thicker with each passing second. Jac reached down and grasped his throbbing member. Air hissed from his lungs. Ares pulled away from the kiss and clamped his jaw down. His fingers sought her entrance, then slipped inside.

  Jac moaned.

  He pulled her higher until he could push another digit in beside the first, then he began to finger fuck her. Jac’s breath came in gasps, her vision clouded, as a haze of desire spread through her. Ares pushed deeper and she ground her hips against his hand. His thumb scraped her clit and Jac cried out. He continued to massage the hidden button, flicking his nail enough to intensify her pleasure. Jac sat up and began to ride his fingers.

  Ares watched her creamy breasts bob up and down. The rosy peaks at the tips mesmerized him, capturing his full attention, as they engorged, stabbing out in search of his hungry mouth. He sat up, popping a bud into his mouth and began to suckle hard. His teeth nibbled and tugged, then he released one nipple and moved to the other. Jac’s hips bore down, frenzied. She tried to increase the speed of the movements, but couldn’t in her current position. So Ares released her breasts and sat back.

  He slipped one moist finger from her cunt and slid it over her anus. The muscles in Jac’s thighs clenched and her eyes widened in surprise, but she made no attempt to stop him. Ares circled the tight opening, moistening the edges, preparing it for his intrusion. Then slowly, very slowly he slid inside, matching the motions of his other fingers. Jac threw her head back and screamed, shattering against his hands in a violent orgasm. She collapsed forward onto his chest, her lungs laboring for breath.

  Ares cock bucked beneath her, demanding entrance into her tight sheath. It had taken every fiber of his being not to drive his length into her awaiting body, but he knew he must hold off, saving his energy. He should wait until after the mating ceremony, when he’d be potent. He knew then nothing would be able to keep him from pounding into Jac’s willing pussy.

  Jac saw stars. She’d never allowed anyone to get near her ass during sex. She hadn’t realized what she’d been missing—or maybe it was Ares’s magical touch. Jac swallowed a couple of times, trying to slow her maddening heartbeat. Her body trembled and shook as the last of her orgasm rippled over her, shattering her nerve endings, igniting her desire, fueling her love. Ares’s skin moistened beneath her mouth, with a quick flick of her tongue she tasted the salt from his sweat.

  The air filled with the odor of musky sex. His skin heated to a raging inferno as she touched him. She tried to steady herself, regain her thoughts. She’d wanted Ares to fuck her so bad she hadn’t been able to see straight. Yet, he hadn’t. Why? When
she could form coherent words again she’d ask.

  They lay in silence for a few moments. Jac could feel Ares cock, hard as diamonds, beneath her belly. She started to rise up so she could take him inside of her, but he stopped her movements as if reading her thoughts once again.

  His voice graveled when he spoke. “We cannot.” Ares shook his head.

  “Why not?” Jac couldn’t help but sound petulant.

  His jade gaze locked on her face. “The mating ceremony will take place in a few hours.”

  “So.” Jac sat up. “You pleasured me. Why can’t I take care of you?”

  “’Tis different.”

  Jac frowned. “Don’t give me that chauvinistic bullshit.”

  Ares’s lips thinned, but his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Since we didn’t get to spend the night apart, as is tradition, we must abide by this aspect if we hope for the ceremony to be a success.”

  “Successful?” Jac frowned. “I don’t know if I understand, all we have to do is say, I do.” Jac dropped onto her elbows and rested her chin in her hands.

  “Is it not a tradition for the bride and groom to spend the night apart in your culture?” He tilted his head.

  “Yes.” She admitted grudgingly.

  Ares face pinched with strain. “Given the circumstance, this is the best we can do.”

  Jac really didn’t agree with his reasoning, but she figured it wasn’t worth arguing about. Besides, her heart rate had sped up the second he mentioned bride and groom, and she couldn’t seem to slow it back down. She pushed off of Ares and slid from the bed. Her finger trailed along his heavy length before stepping away.

  “If you say so,” she teased.

  Ares’s muscles tightened, straining beneath her fingertips.

  “You better get going. You don’t want to be late for the ceremony.” She smiled and let her lashes drop to half-mast.