Page 77 of Heroes & Hitmen
I roll my eyes as I twist around to face him, but it’s mostly for show. There’s no way he can’t hear how hard my heart is hammering against my ribcage, my lungs suddenly unable to draw enough air in to breathe properly. I couldn’t pretend I’m not on board with this even if I tried, and right now I don’t have any desire to self-sabotage.
There’s only one thing I want in this moment, and he’s standing right in front of me.
“You’re relentless,” I mutter, trying for exasperated but only managing to land somewhere between breathless and desperate.
He bends his head so his lips hover just above my ear, voice pitched in a low growl. “You love it.”
God help me, I might.
Not that I’ll give him the satisfaction of admitting it. Instead, I duck beneath his arm and dart off down the hall toward the bedroom, as if I have any real intention of escaping him. I cast a glance over my shoulder, more reflex than strategy, and of course he’s there. Following.Stalking.The gleam in his eyes is pure predator, and I’m not fooling myself about how much I like being hunted by him.
The bedroom is awash in the soft glow of the city lights filtering in through the massive window, the skyline glittering like a promise I’ve never trusted. I cross the room toward the closet, pausing at the door and glancing back just in time to catch Ares enter the room. He whips his shirt off over his head in one smooth motion, muscles flexing, and the sight of him– bare chested, copper hair perfectly mussed, eyes locked on me with feral intent– is enough to send my already fraying self-control up in flames.
“Need to grab some pillows for the couch?” I ask dryly, chin lifted in false bravado.
He grins, slow and wicked. “Not unless you’re sleeping there with me.”
I snort a laugh, but before I can come up with a witty retort, he’s crossing the room and pressing me back against the closet doorframe, body solid and unyielding against mine. My breath catches as his mouth finds my neck, teeth dragging across the sensitive skin as a hungry growl rumbles in his chest.
“You’ve been driving me crazy all night,” he murmurs against my skin, tongue skimming over my pulse point.
I shove at his chest halfheartedly, back arching off the doorframe. “I need to change.”
He tilts his head, lips grazing my jaw. “Go ahead,” he hums. “I’ll wait.”
Ares steps back just enough to allow me to slip past him, folding his arms over his chest impatiently. His eyes rake over my figure as I close the door between us for privacy, like he hasn’t seenit all before. My heart continues to pound while I quickly strip down to nothing, then pull on a silk negligee. It’s midnight blue, barely covers my ass, and skims my curves in a way that makes me feel like someone far bolder than I am. Someone who knows what they want and isn’t afraid to go for it.
Slipping the ribbon from my hair, I shake out my tresses, glancing to the mirror mounted on the back of the closet door. My chest is flushed, eyes too bright. I look like a girl about to dive headfirst into the one thing she swore she wouldn’t let herself want, but I’m too far gone to turn back now.
When I pull the door open and step back into the bedroom, Ares is waiting at the foot of the bed in nothing but a pair of tight black boxer briefs, the outline of his hard cock beneath the fabric leaving nothing to the imagination. My brain short-circuits at the sight of him, heart tripping over its valves.
He’s all sharp lines and firm muscle, ink curling over his ribs and etched onto his right pec. His eyes rake over me slowly, gaze turning molten as his jaw flexes.
“You wear that just to torture me?” he asks, voice rough.
“Please,” I scoff, lifting my chin. “You’ve been staring at me like I’m your last meal since we sat down at dinner tonight.”
“That’s because you look edible,” he replies, wetting his lips with his tongue as he undresses me with his eyes. “You gonna let me eat you up?”
God, the things this man says.
“Come here, babe,” he growls, inclining his chin.
I should probably run in the opposite direction, but I swear my feet move on their own accord, bringing me closer to danger. Ares’ hand darts out to snatch mine the second I’m within reach, yanking me down onto the bed with him.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he murmurs, hands latching around my waist.
I open my mouth to argue, but his lips crash onto mine, heat blooming so fast my head spins. I lose myself in the taste of him, the sweet afterburn of whiskey on his tongue as he kisses me hard. It’s fierce and claiming, deepening until I’m clutching at his shoulders to keep myself upright.
Somehow, I manage to pull away, gasping for air as I press a palm to the center of his chest and force him back. “I didn’t invite you to sleep in the bed,” I say, giving him a pointed look.
The corner of his mouth kicks up in a smirk. “You did last night.”
“That was a one-time thing,” I lie.
Ares just grins back at me, all teeth and devious intent. “Nice try. That’s my spot now, babe. Better get used to it.”
I try to roll my eyes, but his lips capture mine again and I’m a freakinggoner. He kisses me like he’s starved for it, hands sliding down to palm my ass, lifting me up. In one fluid motion, he twists and tosses me onto the center of the bed, his knees sinking into the mattress as he climbs over me. The hem of my negligee rides up, exposing my bare mound, and Ares makes a low, feral sound in the back of his throat.
