My body feels heavy now, the last of my energy reserves burned up. As if he can sense it, Ares rolls off of me. Reaching for the tissues on the nightstand, he gently, carefully positions himself between my legs, cleaning me up. There’s something vulnerable about it, on both our parts, something tender.
I’d never let any other man do this. Ever.
But this is Ares.
He discards the tissues when he’s done and lays back on the pillow. He gathers me in his arms, and I let out a tired, breathy sigh as I rest my head on his chest. It feels like everything is exactly as it should be in this moment.
“Sleep, Lana,” Ares says as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You were perfect in every way today. Now you deserve some sleep.”
And so I do. With my arms wrapped around the center of my world, I close my eyes and let darkness take me under.
Chapter 16
There is no natural light in our apartment. The windows constantly remain closed during the daytime hours, for Ares’ sake. So, when I wake, I have no indication of what time it is or how long I’ve been asleep.
I roll over, noting the dull ache between my legs. And a wicked smile pulls on my lips as I remember everything that happened. And there, as I roll over, I make out Ares’ form in the bed through the dark.
He’s lying on his back, an arm slung over his eyes. I’ve never seen him sleep before. He told me once that, as a vampire, he doesn’t sleep often. But here’s the proof that he does, in fact, sleep at times. And I take great pride in the fact that I tired him out enough to do so.
Through the dark, I stare at him. He’s so damn beautiful. Yes, he looks dangerous. He looks like someone you’d cross the street to walk on the opposite side of the road from. But just look at him. Gorgeous lips. The most incredible jawline of any man I’ve ever seen. And that’s nothing said of this body.
I can’t help it. I reach out and touch him. My fingers trace their way over his chest, down his stomach.
I don’t startle when his hand suddenly wraps around my wrist.
“Dangerous, Vengeance,” he says. His voice comes out scratchy and low, so freshly woken from sleep, and it reaches a very feminine place in me.
“You’ve never made me feel in danger, Venom,” I say, grinning as I splay my whole hand against his bare skin.
He blinks the sleep from his eyes, staring up at me. Slower this time, he brings his hand to the side of my neck. He pulls me down to his lips, kissing me with reverence and fervor. “Good morning,” he says in a growl.
“Good morning,” I say as I melt into him.
Ares brushes the hair from my face, and I relish the feeling of his warmth. Even the smell of him is comforting.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks, his tone gentle and genuine.
“Sore,” I answer with a chuckle. “But amazing. Last night was perfect.”
“No regrets?” he asks. And as I look up and meet his eyes, I see worry there.
It’s my turn to touch him, to reassure him. I reach a hand up and place it on the side of his face, my thumb brushing back and forth over his cheek. “None, Ares. I meant everything I said last night.”
“I didn’t scare you away?” he asks. “Because I mean it, Lana. I’m in this. All the way.”
I stare into his hazel eyes, and I see the conviction there. Nothing in me doubts what he’s saying. “You’re not just my fake fiancé anymore, Ares. You’re mine. Exclusive forreal.”
“Mine,” he says, his eyes darkening. He rolls forward, pushing me onto my back. And he kisses me. Deep. Claiming.
Labels are such a strange thing. We’ve used fiancée for weeks now. I guess I could call Ares my boyfriend now, but that does so little to capture what this is.
Mine feels like such a better term.
Ares is mine.
From the nightstand, Ares’ phone buzzes. He ignores it, his lips coming to my neck, his hand sliding down my throat, over my chest, until he cups my breast. But then his phone goes off again. And then again.
Ares mutters a curse against my skin and, with a reluctant groan, rolls away from me to retrieve the device.
