Page 74 of Furious
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.
“Maybe your tattoo doesn’t say Cal after all,” he says. “Think about it. It’s our initials. C for Chance, A for Ares, L for Lev.”
He’s right. “Oh my God,” I giggle. “I never thought about that. Maybe I should add a few dots in the right places, so they really become initials.”
Ares rubs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “You could. Of course, it wouldn’t be relevant once you choose between us. But like I said, you don’t have to change anything about your body or yourself just to please someone else.”
“Chance and Lev never brought it up,” I muse. “Be honest, Ares. Does it make you jealous? Even if we consider it three initials?”
He shakes his head. “Nah. Look, I just thought it was odd that your ex’s name happens to form the initials of the guys you’re dating right now. Don’t put too much thought into it. That tattoo might have been a mistake, but the sum of all our pastexperiences and mistakes are an important part of the person each of us becomes. And think about it, if you hadn’t been dating that dispshit, we would have never met. I just prefer to see mine and my brothers’ initials rather than his name, though.”
I have to agree. “So, that’s settled. It isn’t Cal, it’s C.A.L.”
I squeal, surprised when Ares flips me over again.
“Now, let me finish that job. I still haven’t kissed you everywhere.”
“You don’t have to kiss the tattoo if it’s too weird.” I say.
He traces the edge of the heart with his fingers. “I’ll kiss all of you, princess. Scars included.” His lips follow his fingers, drifting down my hip and along my leg.
When he gets to my foot, Ares turns to the inside of my leg. By the time he’s reached the apex of my thigh, I’m a moaning, panting mess.
“Ares? Can you do the other side later?” I squirm, fighting the need to rub my thighs together. “All these kisses feel too good and I…”
“And you’re soaking wet for me, princess.” He kisses his way between my thighs, circling my opening with his tongue. “Have I told you how much I love how wet you get for me?”
He hasn’t, but all I can answer with is a tortured moan. His tongue is robbing me of the ability to form any coherent words.
“We’ll do the other side later,” he grants my request. “Because right now, I need to fuck you with my tongue first and then show you how hard you fucking make me.”
I like his plans and I lift my hips to give him better access.
There are still a lot of things to discuss between us, but today isn’t the right time. All I want to do today is to give Ares the best birthday I possibly can.
Chapter 20
Who Can You Trust?
ARES
Iwake up early.
Soon it’s going to be time to take Zara to Lev’s house so he can take her home.
I hate this ruse, but I’m grateful for Lev’s help at the same time. I’m not afraid of my father’s disapproval, and I would fight him head on if Chance and Lev weren’t in the picture.
Things will be different if—when—Zara chooses me.
But I have to be realistic and prepare for the possibility that she might want to be with Lev or Chance.
Just the idea of losing her makes it hard to breathe, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I want Zara to be happy. If that isn’t going to be with me, I’ll have to accept her decision and support her anyway, no matter how hard it might be.
Truth be told, Lev would really be the easier choice. But if Zara wanted to be with Chance, I would back him up. I would help him talk to Dad and convince him to abandon his ridiculous expectations that we should treat Zara like a sister.
I’m not under the illusion that seeing Zara with my little brother—or with Lev—wouldn’t hurt. But this is what makes this entire situation so fucking confusing and heartbreaking.
I want Zara to myself, but at the same time, I would hate to see my brother and my best friend get hurt just as much as I don’t want to get hurt myself.
