My heart stopped working.
It fucking stopped and my stomach bottomed out.
The gasp I was about to let out got stuck in my throat and my lips trembled against his. Against his cold but soft lips. My eyes stung from the tears and my heart felt full.
I didn't dare open my eyes. Fearful that this moment would stop. Fearful that he would pull away from me.
I didn't dare breathe.
And when those soft luscious lips brushed softly against mine, once then twice. I shattered. I lost it. I shakily brought my hands up and placed them on his shoulders.
I tilted my head until it bumped against the shelf behind me, letting his lips lock better with mine.
I parted my lips. He captured my bottom lip. Sucking on it lightly, trying to ingrain the shape into his head. Before brushing his lips against mine all over again.
The tremors of my lips were evident as I let my tears slip out freely. His mouth pressed against mine more firmly. The scruff around his lips chafed against my cheek and I briefly wondered what they would feel on other parts of my body. My core clenched in anticipation.
Ares kissed me softly, simply, with expertise only a man like him could know. Like an expensive china plate, he was afraid of breaking.
He kissed me until my legs turned into jelly. Just his lips– soft, firm and on hers.
I had always dreamed about what my first kiss would be like. Always imagined how I would feel. Would I feel like I was floating on cloud nine? Would it be simple? Would it be soft?
But right now? I knew those little dreams I had when I was kissed were nothing compared to now. Compared to the real deal.
It was the most beautiful kiss I could have ever dreamed of. So untainted from the sinful man in front of me. So unlike him. A surprising softness I didn't expect from a man like Ares.
With the intensity he came with and the dark promises that shone in his eyes whenever we had been together, I expected him to devour me.
But this wasn't devouring.
Ares was taking his time. He was savouring this moment, savouring the rapid pounding of my heart, savouring every little gasp and whimper that escaped my lips.
My toes curled inside my loafers and my heart clenched painfully. Heat pulsed throughout my whole body.
My breast felt heavy. My nipples– sharp hardpoints trying to make themselves visible. His scent invaded my senses, and clouded my reasoning, igniting a need deep in my core. And I suddenly wanted to smell like him. Climb him like a damn koala.
I pulled back slightly, breathless, when he ran his knuckles over my face, over my heated cheeks only to find grey eyes on me. His lips were swollen and I was sure mine was too.
He looked down at me, eyes half-lidded, for long breathless seconds. His hand on my cheek run sensually to my jaw. I was aware of the pressure of his fingers gripping my jaw.
His thumb moved to press itself on my lower lip. The mere heat of his hand on my face increased the electricity running in my body. My nipples were painfully erect now.
Before I could blink, his lips landed on mine. Prying them open with his tongue. Flicking and thrusting against my tongue in movements that made my core clench around nothing.
I clenched my thighs to relieve the ache and raise myself on my toes to meet his ravaging lips.
And finally. Finally.
Ares devoured me. Fulfilling every promises his dark eyes had always held for me. He devoured me while tasting like sin. And a tang of whiskey. He devoured me so thoroughly, that I struggled to stand upright. But his hands were my anchor.
They gripped my waist tightly and slipped his hand to hold my nape firmly. My fingers on his shoulders latched tightly.
His kiss was electrifying.
Sizzling. A continuous spark throughout my entire body.
It made me whole.
Lifting my toes higher, I sucked on his tongue. Sensually, invitingly. Earning me a nip on my lips in response. And I moan in response to the nip.
I bit his lips, the ever stubborn human I was. And a shiver ran down my spine when he groaned. It rumbled around him, around us.
He abruptly pulled back. And I slowly opened my eyes. Stunned by the ferocity of his kiss, by the force.
His jaw tensed, and I saw a vein pop on the side of his head as his eyes stared into mine. They pierced mine for long moments, searching, digging deep into my soul.
He licked his lips.
I licked mine.
He breathed in.
I breathed in.
All in one symphony.
And in a flicker of some seconds. Ares closed his eyes. His shoulders slumped and his hands on me dropped. And I could see the defeat in his posture.
My heart raced. "Don't say it."
His eyebrow quirked up. "Say what?"
My voice was clipped as I moved back only to meet the edge of the shelf. "That you regret it."
"Please don't regret this. Because I don't. I loved every second of what just happened between us." I breathed heavily as I confessed those words.
He brought his hand to my face again. "I don't." A husky whisper. "I don't regret it, Akira."
"T-then why d-did you stop?" I couldn't help my stuttering.
Ares breathed in deeply. "Because I'm afraid of what I'll do to you if you let me continue ravaging those sexy lips of yours."
My core clenched. Again. "Oh."
A huff escaped his lips and I could only gaze at the warmth shining in his eyes. Nothing around me existed. Nothing but this man. This mate of mine. Sinfully and disgustingly hot mate of mine.
He was mine.
Another thought halted my train of possessive thoughts. "Did you sleep with them?"
His hand rubbing little circles on my red cheeks faltered their movements. "No."
I knew he was telling the truth but something in me couldn't help but ask again. "Did you sleep with Serena?"
Her name was a constant ache in my whole body. And not the good type of ache.
"No, Akira." He grunted out. "I couldn't stand the thought of you kissing the male servant and it hurt badly when I saw you do that." Another heavy sigh from him. "I knew I was going to be hurting you badly, especially with the mate bond and I couldn't stand that."
I smiled all through his confession until I realised something... "You saw us kiss." It wasn't a question.
He nodded, stiffly. "And I didn't fucking like it."
A snort escaped my lips as I looked into my favourite colour of irises. "You weren't supposed to, smartass."
Again, Ares cracked a smile. It was small, with no teeth but it was there.
"What you saw back there with Serena, it wasn't what it seemed like." His voice was steady as he spoke and his hand returned to my waist. Heating my entire body.
"She was straddling you. And your hand was wrapped around her throat." I blinked at him. Jealousy was rearing its ugly green head at me and it threatened to choke the life out of me.
The brute only shook his head in amusement. "She did try to suck my cock though." My cheeks turned red. With anger this time around. "But I didn't let her and she proceeded to straddle me. I was about to choke the life out of her when you stepped in."
I was glad he was beginning to be honest with me. I was glad we were moving somewhere. But it was all happening so fast. Like a whiplash. And I found it hard to believe this was happening.
"Is this really happening?" I whispered. "Did you truly just apologize and kissed the bejesus out of me in one fucking go?"
"You and your fucking syllables." He growled, ducking down to plant a soft kiss on my lips.
My poor heart clenched again. She was pounding so hard. She was scared. We both were.
"And yes. This is happening." Ares declared. "I've been a dick and I'm sorry. But I'm selfish with you.
I smiled at the cuss word that came out of his mouth. This Ares was different. Soft. He was handling me with care.
His fingers started a trail from my right cheek to my nose then over to my left cheek. They dipped down, nearing the corner of my lip. They then pause their movements.
"I want to see where this would head. I want us to try."
I wanted to tell him that he didn't need to try. We didn't need to tr because it was going to be forever with us.
My heart thudded at the realization. The realization that I was willing to spend the rest of my life with him.
But I didn't. I didn't dare open my mouth to disrupt this beautiful moment.
I could only nod. My bangs moved as I did. And he brushed them away.
Jesus.
My heart was a goey puddle on my feet now. And I felt my soul leave my body. This man was too much.
"How do I make it up to you?"
I grinned, teeth and all. "You can start by making me change out of this godawful gown."
He dragged his eyes down my body. I died.
It wasn't the slutty gown he asked me to wear. It was long and big and ugly. Swallowing me.
But the way Ares was looking at me? I felt like a goddamn princess. I felt beautiful. Womanly. He wasn't looking at me like a timid little human.
"Then, maybe – just maybeeee," I dragged the syllable with a smile. "When I take a shower, you can take me on a treat."
If Ares wanted to win my heart then we were going to do it on my terms. My human terms. He was going to take me on little dates and picnics and he was going to win my heart the old-fashioned way.
He inhaled, a frown etched onto his handsome face. "Why do you want to take a shower?"
"I smell like bleach and detergent and germs," I answered dryly. "You're a Lycan. Aren't you supposed to have like a heightened sense of smell or something?"
He arched another brow. How he was this good at arching just one eyebrow was still going to be a complete mystery to me. "I didn't know your little mouth is as sharp as a razor."
I arched my brow. Well, at least I tried to. "I didn't know you're this bad at comparisons."
His lips twitched.
Mine split into a full childish grin. "You should try to smile. I can teach you," I moved my hands to his face. "All you have to do is stretch both sides and voilà! A smile."
I pursed my lips when he looked at me. Unamused. I was stretching his lips and his straight freaking-annoying perfect teeth were on display. He looked awful. Handsomely so.
I grimaced. Jesus. Trying to teach the man how to smile was going to be hard. Good thing I was always up for a challenge. I smiled.
"We're going to crack your stupid little built-up wall someday." I patted his cheeks lightly.
"I don't have a built-up wall." He grumbled, twirling a strand of my red locks.
"Sure. Says the person with an uncrushable hatred for my species. Which we still need to talk about by the way–"
His lips cut me off. He smashed them hard on mine.
Normally, I would try to argue. But it was his lips.
I could only part my lips open for him.
Only for him.