A snort of laughter bubbles out of me. His lip tips up, but he quickly smothers his grin. He’s still mad at me from last night.
I pat the bed next to me. “Come on and take a break. I’ll tell him you’re helping me with my homework if he comes looking.”
Ollie bites the corner of his lip and I can see the indecision written on his face. He wants to come over, but he’s not going to give in so easily. I reach for the side table and produce the remote to his gaming system. “You can keep me company while I finish up.” I offer him the controller to sweeten the deal.
He drops his arms to the side and huffs, but comes over anyway with a tiny smile on his lips. I think Ollie just wants me to think he’s still upset.
I roll back onto my tummy and bring the computer to life by touching the track pad. I let him get comfortable, resting against the wall with his legs stretched out on the bed, before I reach over and run my finger from his ankle up behind his knee.
He takes his eyes off the TV and glares at me, but he’s not serious. I can see it in the gleam in his green eyes and in the way the corner of his lip keeps twitching.
“I’m still mad at you,” he declares, his nose tipped into the air.
I push the laptop over and inch closer to him. “You are? I would have never guessed.” I make my eyes all wide and innocent as I peer up at him.
That makes him sneer, “Don’t you try that pouty face with me, Muenster. I know what you’re up to.”
“You do? What’s that?” I get a little closer.
“You’re trying to butter me up so I’ll forgive you. And you’re cheating with that gorgeous face, looking at me like that.”
“I think you already forgave me, Ollie.” I’m close enough now that I can see the little flecks of darker green in his eyes. “You know I didn’t keep it from you to hurt you.”
His eyes narrow a bit. “Yeah, but it did.” His voice is serious. Maybe I misjudged him, maybe he really is still mad at me. He lets out a heavy sigh. “But… me and Milo did the same thing to you when we weren’t completely honest about our feelings for each other,” he concedes reluctantly, fiddling with the gaming remote in his hands.
I move to get my legs under me, sitting with my knees butterflied out right in front of him. “We could both choose to learn from this and work harder to trust each other’s reactions.” I’m trying to figure out how to be in a real relationship, one that involves five of us. We’re all bound to make mistakes along the way.
“We could do that,” he replies, all light and airy, “but I think you need to grovel a little bit more.”
My mouth drops open in outrage. I reach for him and dig my fingers in his side. Here I was all serious and worried he was still mad at me, and he’s making fun of me. “Oliver!” I scold, leaning on him to keep him trapped while I tickle his sides. “You’re a mean, mean boy!”
He lets out a bark of laughter, his eyes dancing as I wrestle his hands down so I can torture him with my tickling fingers.
I get winded much quicker than he does, since he’s so much stronger than I. When he turns the tables, I think I have an advantage for a second. I try to connect to the ability Milo gave me, but I immediately realize the kink in my logic. I can always feel the guys’ touches, no matter how small.
“Mercy,” I call out, as soon as his fingers get close to my armpits. I’m rolled up in a ball, half on him, trying to keep my arms as tight as possible to my sides while his fingers are inching ever closer. “I… give… up!” I pant through my laughter.
Ollie’s fingers make it all the way to my armpits before I let out a girlish squeal. He pauses. “What do I get if I stop?”
“I’ll do your laundry,” I say, and it’s the first thing that pops into my head. He blows out a raspberry and tickles me a bit more. “I’ll… I’ll…” My mind goes completely blank. I can’t even think of one thing to offer him.
“Nothing? I see how it is.” Ollie curls around me tighter and digs in.
“I’m going… to pee… on the… bed.”
“You tried that last time. I’m not falling for your tricks that easily.”
“Whatever you… want.” I laugh, but I think I might actually be in danger of emptying my bladder.
He freezes. “Oh, now that’s an idea with merit. Anything?”
I suck in a few deep breaths. “Anything,” I confirm. He moves his fingers and lets out a deep belly laugh. I know I’m in for it the moment I hear the sound.
I grumble the entire time I’m walking down the stairs. “I can’t believe I agreed to this.” I cut my gaze to Ollie. “This is blackmail and you know it.” I fold my arms over my stomach, but it just pushes my boobs up higher, so I lower my arms to my sides.
“You said anything,” Ollie reminds me.
“Yeah, clearly this was the last thing I thought you would ask for.” I gesture to my nearly naked body. “Where did you even get this? I swear to God, Ollie, if this is some other girl’s… I’ll…” I don’t even finish the threat.
“I got it for you, silly girl.” Ollie doesn’t even look like he feels bad. On the contrary, he looks ecstatic. When we reach the bottom of the stairs, he turns me to face him, clasping my shoulders. “Shush, or they’ll come before we’re ready.” When I open my mouth again, he hushes me.
I glare up at him, vowing to get even, even if it means I have to use one of the others to help me.
He must see something cross my face because he sobers up. “Laura, I would never ask you to do something you really weren’t comfortable with.” He studies my face.
Of course I’m not comfortable. “I made a deal. I keep my word,” I state. I know I really don’t have to do this, but that would be like admitting defeat, twice. No, I can suffer a little embarrassment if it means I get the last word with Ollie on this. But I’m still going to get him back. Plus, Ares will know right away this wasn’t my idea.
Looking a little more hesitant, he mutters, “Okay, if you’re sure it’s all right?”
I jerk my head in a nod. “Where is he?”
“The kitchen, last I saw.”
I turn away from Ollie and straighten my shoulders. I can do this. I walk toward the kitchen. Sure enough, Ares is at a small card table with his laptop open. He doesn’t even look up when I enter. “Ares,” I call out, my voice a little high-pitched.
“Hmmm,” he hums, still not looking up. I fidget and look behind me. Ollie is just out of Ares’s view. He does a shooing motion with his hands, telling me to get on with it. I can’t believe I’m about to say this. I reach behind my back and tug at the string hanging there. “Um, could you help me, please?” My face is probably as red as the damn bikini I’m barely wearing.
“What do you need, Cara?” He’s completely distracted with whatever he’s doing on the computer. I step a little closer, so he won’t be able to miss my bare legs.
“Could you tie this for me? Ollie said you’re putting in a pool and I wanted to make sure it fit.” The words race from my lips. I’m not even sure I took a breath.
Ares’s brows furrow. “I didn’t say…” His words die off as he finally looks up.
My face flushes even hotter. His eyes travel from the tips of my toes and slowly up my legs. He swallows when his eyes reach my bikini bottoms. Before he can look any higher, I spin around and show him my back, holding the top in place. I hear the noise of the chair being shoved back then his heat is right behind me and it’s all I can feel.
I look up to see Ollie giving me two thumbs up and disappearing from the doorway. Ares told me he fights dirty, but he doesn’t have anything on Ollie.
Ares clicks his tongue. “Foolish boy,” he mutters. I look over my shoulder. Ares’s eyes are fully black as he stares down at my body. “He sent you out here like this to me, when he could have kept you to himself?” Ares bites his lip, his eyes finding mine.
“Damn it!” I hear Ollie curse from the hallway.
I feel Ares’s hand touch my back, but it’s not to tie
the strings of my top. No, it’s a deliberate caress. Heat pools in my lower belly.
“Pity for him,” Ares whispers. It’s my turn to swallow, my mouth is suddenly dry. “And very shortsighted, I might add.” Ares traces his fingers over the crest of my shoulder and down my arm. A wake of gooseflesh follows. He clicks his tongue again. “Now it seems he’s left you cold.”
Cold is the last thing I am, but I don’t argue with his assessment. “Well, let’s see what we can do about that.” His fingertips brush back up my arm and wrap around my neck from behind. He steps even closer, bringing his body flush with mine.
I lean back into him, letting my head fall back to his chest. Ares makes a sound of satisfaction. “When you see Oliver, tell him he can have the pool.” I can hear the smile on his lips as he whispers in my ear.
“Would you come somewhere with me?” Ares’s lips brush against my earlobe. I nod, not even needing to know where.
Cool air coils around us. Ares wraps his other hand around my waist and holds me against him tightly. “Hold on, Laura.” I fold my arms over his and close my eyes. I know without him telling me that he’s going to shadow walk and take me with him.
Even with my eyes closed, I know when the darkness surrounds us. Seconds later, with a slightly queasy stomach, I open my eyes and see the apartment above the garage where I first found out who I really was.
It’s dark and quiet, I can hear my own breath mingling with Ares’s. He doesn’t bother with any lights, he doesn’t even release me. “I’ve missed you,” he murmurs. Even though we haven’t really been apart, except for the night Ollie and I drove to Florida, I feel exactly the same way.
“I’ve missed you too. You’ve been distant. I don’t like it,” I reply, but it doesn’t make me feel weak, I love that I can admit how much I need him.
Ares’s fingers tighten a fraction, forcing my head to tip back further against him. He breathes against my neck. “I cherish the fact you need me just as much as I need you.”
I jerk my head in response, unable to form words. His free hand tugs at the string behind my neck and the red top falls to the floor. “This okay?”
I swallow and force myself to speak, I know he won’t go any further unless I do. “Yes.”
Ares inhales and releases my throat. I spin around and push myself into his space. His lips are parted as he stares down at me. I wrap my arms up and around his neck, leaning up on my toes to close the distance between us. He meets me halfway, his lips finding mine roughly. His kisses are hot and hard as he drags me closer to him. Meeting his need head-on, I kiss him back just as eagerly.
My fingers go to the buttons on his vest, fumbling to get them open. I break the kiss when I can’t focus enough. Ares doesn’t miss a beat, moving his mouth to my neck and ear as I start on his shirt after the vest is open.
He walks me backward until the back of my legs hit the tall bed in the corner. “Climb up,” Ares orders, pushing my hands away from his shirt to remove the rest of it himself.
I sit and scoot back, the small bikini bottoms almost sliding off as I do. I don’t know if I should thank Ollie or curse him. I look like a fool with them rolling down my butt and thighs.
Reaching up, Ares grabs the fabric as I lift my butt off the mattress and tugs them down the rest of the way. He stands back, the red material still clenched in his hand, and stares at me.
“I moved out here when I got my mark.” He licks over his bottom lip. “I was so confident I’d find you quickly.”
I rest my hands behind me on the bed. Ares’s head tilts. “I don’t know how many nights I lay awake in this bed thinking about you being next to me.” His eyes close. “What you would smell like, feel like…taste like.” His voice is husky, a promise of things to come.
Ares lowers his head and kneels on the bed, inching closer to me with every intent of learning the answers to his questions. All that intensity focused on me is a little overwhelming, but damn if I’m not lucky to be his.
“That first night I found you in here, I could hardly believe you were real.” He prowls closer until he’s leaning over me. His pants are still on, but his shirt and vest are gone. “But then you opened these beautiful lips.” Ares’s eyes close again as he places his lips over mine. “And I was lost.” He breathes against my mouth before dipping in to deliver a slow-as-sin kiss.
I reach up and run my palms over his shoulders and back, and he lowers his body to fit between my thighs. A breathy sigh leaves my lips when our bodies connect. Ares slips his tongue in my mouth as he rocks his lower body against mine.
A thrill of excitement has me pulling him to me tighter, he’s already hard. I can feel the soft texture of his pants against me, but I want to feel what’s under them. “Take off your pants,” I pant into his ear after breaking the kiss.
His left hand goes under my bottom to lift me as he grinds against me. Ares groans at the friction. “I’ve been waiting to have you here for a long time.” He nips the side of my neck. “Don’t rush me.”
My head falls back against the pillow. Ares uses his body to cage mine in, looming over me as he rises into a push-up. My mouth goes dry when I see the way his shoulders bunch. Glancing down, I watch the way his abdominal muscles tighten and roll as he rocks against me, until I can feel every inch of him nestled between my thighs.
Lowering his head, he buries his face in my throat and pushes one of his arms under the back of my neck. He flattens himself against me, and my breath gets stolen from my lungs as he tightens his grip.
I have just enough air to force out short little breaths, but damn, I don’t even care. His weight, his body on mine, is so fucking worth it. Ares groans against my ear; it’s a purely masculine sound. In a quick movement, he thrusts his knee out to the side, forcing my legs to open wider. I run my hands down his back, my short nails tracing over the tautness of his muscles until I can feel the waistband of his pants. He’s still rocking against me, enough to make me crazy with need, but not enough to alleviate the pressure building inside me. I need him. All of him.
Just when I have my hands full of his ass, he inches down my body, leaving the arm that was behind my head to trail after him. His mouth moves down to my breasts as he kisses and licks his way to my nipple, but that other hand goes right to my neck. The moment I think to draw in a deep breath, his fingers circle the column of my throat. A shaky gasp falls from my lips instead.
I miss the feel of him pressed against my center, but his mouth on my nipple almost makes it worth it. My back arches off the bed, making his grip on my neck even tighter. My thoughts are already hazy and becoming even more of a blur. All I can think of and feel is him.
His grasp lessens and I pull in greedy breaths. Ares takes a heavy pull against my nipple, then releases me from his mouth, only to seal his lips over mine. He’s panting just as hard as I am. His body lines up with mine again, and I melt into the mattress. I didn’t even realize how tightly my body was coiled until that moment.
Ares nips at my bottom lip, nibbling. Then his teeth are on my jaw, my chin as he moves back down my curves, never letting me fully adjust to his body on mine. A small sound of protest hums from my throat.
He ignores it and kisses his way past my breasts, past my belly button, until his face is almost between my legs. He looks up at me then, his eyes fully black, fringed with inky lashes. He could be terrifying, but never to me. Ares’s soul spoke to mine the first moment I saw him. No matter how dark he may look, his heart is pure, and all mine.
He inhales, his chest expanding. Ares places my leg over his shoulder so my heel is in the center of his back, and slides his palm under my butt. His other hand snakes down the center of my body, stopping between my belly button and my pubic bone.
I lift up on my elbows so I can see him better; a tic flickers along his jaw. Keeping direct eye contact with me, he lifts my ass in his palm and slides his warm, wet tongue up my center. I fall back on the bed just as overwhelmed as the first time he did this. Every muscle
in my body freezes, waiting for another swipe of that devilish tongue.
A low moan releases from my chest when his hand tightens on my ass, I know what’s coming. There is only his mouth, his tongue; every other thought is obliterated from my head. The leg of my foot still against the mattress is shaking. I didn’t even realize I was pushing myself up to meet his lips, my thigh muscle is burning from the effort, but not enough to make me stop.
Ares makes a noise close to a growl and jerks me higher so the only thing touching the mattress is my back. I feel his fingers sliding along my backside. My body goes rigid when I feel his finger trace down the crack of my ass. He pauses mid-lick and gazes down at me; his eyes are heavily lidded, but they don’t hide the sparks of white dancing in the depths. I watch and feel as his tongue circles my clit, and any thought of where his hand is evaporates when he sucks that small bundle of nerves into his mouth.
I can’t even keep my eyes open. My body is strung tighter than a guitar string, and I’m on the edge of a precipice. His tongue flicks over me, and I’m gone. I cry out loud enough that I shove my own palm over my mouth to keep from alerting anyone that we’re here.
My body jerks embarrassingly hard, as he continues to lap at me. With every muscle now loose and pliant, Ares lowers me to the bed. I open my eyes to find him prowling over me, his lips wet. I grow flustered—what he did and how he made me feel was amazing, but now that the evidence is on his face, I’m a little embarrassed.
Ares brings his hand up to his face. I watch in fascination as he wipes his lips, but his tongue darts between his fingers like he can’t get enough. If my face weren’t already flaming with heat and lust, it would be now.
Without an ounce of reservation, Ares slams his mouth to mine, the taut line of his body rolling into place on top of me. The fabric of his pants and belt buckle feel harsh against my overly sensitive skin. I meet his kiss with a fervor all my own. I slide my hands into his hair and hold on as he steals what little breath I have left.
“I want inside you,” he begs, with a sinful roll of his hips, a promise of what’s to come.
Infinity Chronicles Book Four: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Series Page 13