Page 6 of Midnight Pleasure

He reached out a hand, a silent offering of support, understanding the magnitude of the pain that consumed him.

But Ares, fueled by his stubbornness and refusal to show weakness, pushed Apollo’s hand away.

“Why else would you bother?” Ares spat, his anger flaring to cover the raw ache in his chest. “You don’t even like me.”

Apollo sighed, his grip on Ares’s arm loosening just an inch. “You’re right. I don’t much like you right now. But that doesn’t mean I will let you waste away just because you’re too proud to accept help.”

The words hung in the air between them for a moment, and Ares didn’t know what to say. Part of him trolled to lash out, to push Apollo away with all the fire and fury he’d ever used against anyone who approached him. Another part of him, though—a much smaller one, buried deeper—wondered if maybe, just maybe, Apollo wasn’t as indifferent as he seemed.

Ares glowered at Apollo, irritation bubbling under his skin. “I’m not some kid you need to babysit.”

Apollo smirked, seemingly uncaring at the expression on Ares’s face. “Could’ve fooled me. You’re acting like a stubborn five-year-old who doesn’t want to go to bed.”.

“Maybe I don’t want to go to bed,” Ares shot right back, defiantly folding his arms over his chest. “Maybe I’m tired of being cooped up in this place like an invalid.”

Apollo sighed, crossing his own arms and leaning against the wall. “Look, you’re still recovering. You need rest, whether you like it or not.”

Ares narrowed his eyes. “I don’t need you telling me what to do.”

“Then stop acting like you do,” came Apollo’s retort. “Or better yet, stop acting like you’re too good for a little help.”

That had Ares seething, his pride flaring up like a stubborn flame. “I don’t need help,” he insisted in his usual sharp tone. “And I’m not going back to bed just because you say so.”

“Oh, yeah?” Apollo lifted one eyebrow, amused and challenging.

Ares lifted his chin, the jaw jutting. Daring him, wanting... no, needed him. The rush of adrenaline surged through his veins, causing his hands to tremble and Ares’ breath to quicken.

Their eyes locked, and the air sizzled, thick with the tense moment as before the storm about to break. Hints of a dark and dangerous glint were in the intensity of Apollo’s look, and he hitched a breath. Then he slowly, deliberately, shook his head, pushing off the wall in smooth and controlled motions as a predator closing in on its kill.

“All right, you asked for it,” Apollo murmured; this voice, low and edged with something, sent a shiver down Ares’s spine.

Apollo came in with predatory grace, leaving no room for escape. Then, with a burst of controlled strength, Apollo lifted Ares over his shoulder as though he weighed nothing, so the sudden shift left him breathless and disoriented.

“Hey! What in the name of all the hells do you think you’re doing?” Ares yelped, panic flaring as he instinctively grabbed at Apollo’s back, his fingers curling into the fabric of Apollo’s shirt for balance as the room spun around him.

“Just making sure you don’t do anything stupid,” he said in a tone that wasn’t up for argument; Apollo had learned to carry himself with feral confidence in his stride. It was as if everything he did, from a simple movement to moving with Ares in tow, was done with a purpose. Each step was measured and deliberate as he carried Ares, as though he were entirely in control of the situation and Ares simultaneously. “You can go to bed like a sensible person, or I can carry you there. Your choice.”

Ares wriggled and tried to get free, but Apollo’s arms were insistent, holding him firmly—iron bands that bound Ares in place. “Let me down, you brute!”

“Not until you agree to rest, brat!” Apollo’s voice was on the edge of dark amusement, sending another shiver down Ares’s spine. “Honestly, I’ve dealt with toddlers who put up more of a fight than you.”

The flush to his face encompassed both his embarrassment and his indignation: not only his pride but something else, something far worse, that stung from the ease with which Apollo had taken control. It exasperated him that Apollo treated Ares as some kind of welcome amusement, insinuating that all Ares’s struggles were as nothing, a slight hindrance to his overwhelming domination.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Ares grumbled, hating how vulnerable he was, yet unable to deny the strange thrill that accompanied to be manhandled.

Apollo chuckled, a deep, resonant rumble vibrating through their bodies. “I can’t say I’m not,” Apollo replied, his tone rich with satisfaction. “You’re a lot easier to deal with when you’re not flapping your mouth about how much you don’t need my help."

Ares ground his teeth, feeling a mix of anger and safety that churned in his gut, a humiliating combination. He was astonished by how effortlessly Apollo had seized control of the situation, dismissing his protests as if they were mere child’s play. Something deeper than his screaming pride whispered that maybe he didn’t mind being caught, as a bittersweet sense of surrender filled his thoughts.

“You know, you’re a real pain in the ass,” Ares muttered. Apollo took him down the hall with every step, like a jolt to his body, his voice laced with grudging admiration. Ares complained, “You know, you’re a real pain in the ass.”

“Funny, I was just going to say the same thing about you,” Apollo responded, still laced with that annoyingly calm amusement.

The closer they got to the bedroom, the greater the feeling this was more than just a battle of wills. Apollo’s control and dominance was a challenge—a gauntlet thrown—that had Ares both infuriated and inexplicably, against all logic, drawn to the man who seemed to turn his world upside down in such a short time.

As they reached the bedroom, Apollo’s strength transformed into a delicate touch as he gently placed Ares onto the inviting bed. Instantly, Ares tried to get up, refused to bend, but Apollo’s hand was firm on his chest, all but holding him down, and damned if it didn’t have a surprising blend of strength and tenderness.

“Stay put,” Apollo said, his voice firm but calm.

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