Page 91 of Bound By Flames
“Don’t worry, Ares. It was silly of me to ask.” She closes herself and turns her back on me. I fall on my back, resting my elbow behind my neck, staring at the ceiling. We stay like this, silent, until she falls asleep. The low echo of her breathing soothing my body.
I could tell her the truth. I could tell her that she’s already under my skin in ways I never expected. But the words...they’re stuck. Shoved away inside me after thirty-two years of being kept away from the outside world.
Business over women.
That used to be my number one rule.
But I guess the rules have changed.
Chapter 20
Mia
I smile at the bracelet Kiara gave me the morning we left Chicago last week. It’s been a few days since, and the energy between Ares and I have shifted. I can’t say if it was him defending me or opening up to me about fatherhood, but…I’m falling hard. I’ve never been obsessed with the idea of having children, I just always knew I’d become a mother one day, but with him, the idea of creating this life made of his DNA and mine is like looking at a treasure you’ll never get to touch.
I’m falling in love with my husband and I’m petrified at the idea that he’s not.
He does like me. He’s joking about having kids with me, but love?
I told him that I needed to be reassured to stay…
But he didn’t reply, didn’t say the magical word that would have changed everything. It’s silly, I’m well aware, and action is worth more than a hundred words… and yet sometimes words do matter. So much. Ares is a man of action. He’s all force, strength, and not afraid to get his hand dirty and swap his suit for a blooded shirt.
So why couldn’t he say the words I needed him so badly to say?
Will it be our marriage?
Friendship? Companionship?
It could be worse but…
I want him, I want us, I want…more.
Want can’t force people to love us. That’s the one thing money can’t buy. The only thing on this earth that is worth nothing unless it comes naturally from the other person.
“Mrs Malone, your friend just arrived,” says Maria, her voice warm and familiar.
Oh, Rose, yes of course.
I put down my crochet and walk to the door to greet her. It’s Saturday, no work for me today, but Ares went to the club to join Vox and the others. They're pulling an all nighter and launching a huge operation tonight. Ares wouldn’t tell me the details but Rose is supposed to stay here tonight and, well, at the risk of sounding scared, ten other men from the club arrived an hour ago to “secure the perimeter.” I’ve been raised in this atmosphere. I know the risks, the stakes, but it’s different this time. Knowing that Ares will be out there. That he could get hurt.
Don’t think about it.
I’d offer Erin to come stay the night too, and throw a pyjama party old school style, but she went to her mom an hour away from Knoxville.
Ares taught me a few signs before leaving this morning, I hope it’ll be enough to make her feel welcome.
“Hi, Rose, welcome. I’m Mia,” I say with a smile, hugging the shy girl, nervously entering our home as if she was bothering me.
Wow.
That girl is a model, like seriously? I’ve seen what angels look like in painting but damn. Her endless blonde curls with her huge blue eyes and bold lips; she’s so pretty. I chose to keep it casual since we’re staying home and wore my turquoise velvet loungewear set with a butterfly made of glitter on the back. She’s dressed simply but it only enhances her beauty: deep blue flare jeans with a tight black top, making her hourglass body shapeshine. That Vox of hers is a lucky guy. She nods with a smile and enters, removing her shoes carefully.
“It’s okay, you can come inside with it.”
She shakes her head then signs something quickly and I feel awful for not knowing what she meant.
“Wait, I got you, girl,” I tell her, rushing to the living room and taking out the notebook and my favorite pen with a pink feather at the end of it. Thought we could use it to facilitate the conversation.
