Page 40 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“Synergist,” Ares corrects. “You are. Of that I have no doubt.”
There’s nothing I can do to convince them. “Prove it,” I challenge, completely suspicious. Ares takes a few steps in my direction and I hold up my hand up to ward him off. “No funny stuff, none of that mind mumbo jumbo.”
The corner of his mouth lifts before he nods his head in mock seriousness. “I would never dream of using my mumbo jumbo on you.”
Ollie sits up straight next to me. “What are you going to do?” He’s looking back and forth between Ares and me.
“I’m going to show her my identifier,” Ares watches me from under his brow, how he perfected this look while standing above me is a thought another time before continuing in a low and sultry voice, “and I’m going to find hers.”
I cast my eyes around, unsure where to look as Ares lowers himself to his knees in front of me. Slowly, he brings his hands up to the fitted vest over his chest and slides the top button open.
I swallow. “Uh, wh… what are you doing?” I glance back at his hands, there is only one button left.
“You wanted proof.” There’s a glint in his tawny eyes, the pupil, while large, doesn’t hide the smoldering gleam. Did I ask for this? The vest is left open as he tugs the bottom of his shirt free from his belted jeans. How far is he going to go? Using his right hand, he lifts his shirt, gathering the material and holding it up so his lower stomach is exposed. His belly button has a trail of dark hair leading down to his pants. My mouth goes dry and my eyes flash up to his. I expected to see him smiling, but instead his eyes are on my lips, no grin in sight.
“You know I could show her mine, right?” Dante mutters from the couch.
“You’ve had days to show her, it’s my turn,” Ares answers without looking away. His left shoulder lifts and he bites his lip. I’m so tempted to look down when his eyes lower, then rise back to mine in invitation. More shifting, and I lose the battle not to look.
Ares’s left thumb is hooked in the waistband of his jeans pushing them down. The swirls of a dark mark are just visible near his hip. As soon as it’s partially exposed, my breath leaves me in a huff. There’s something familiar about it. My fingers lift without consent. Before I realize it, I’m touching his warm skin. Tracing what I can only describe as a Rorschach inkblot.
A low groan reaches my ears and I jerk my hand back. “I’m so sorry, I …” My voice fades off. I don’t even have an excuse to offer. My ears feel hot and I can’t look at any of them.
“Well that went about how I expected,” Milo announces, embarrassing me further. I tuck my hands in my lap and drop my head. “That’s probably enough show and tell for tonight,” he suggests.
“I’m not sure we should do group show and tell for a while,” Ollie’s voice sounds off, deeper than usual. I’m tempted to look over at him, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Ares knee walks, closing the small distance between us. I feel his fingers glide across the right side of my jaw, trailing up to my ear. A warm flush follows his touch. He tilts my face up. “It’s a compulsion,” he murmurs, “not something you can helpcara.”
As his words register, I whisper back, still staring up at him, “I thought we agreed no mind melting?”
“That wasn’t me compelling you. I have no control over the Infinity. That was your proof.” Ares stands, removing his hand from my face, and places it under my elbow. “I’m tired of her sitting on the floor. This room has served its purpose, but I’m back now so let’s go home.” Ares doesn’t wait for a response from anyone. He leads me over to the stairs with a gentle pat on my back to descend. I look around, seeing if the guys are following along as easily as I am. Sure enough, they’re all tagging along, leaving the open pizza boxes and all.
The sun has set, leaving a slight chill in the air. I fold my arms over my chest and tuck my hands into my sides. Milo jogs ahead opening a gate in the black fence surrounding the pool. Ares leads us to one of the French doors at the rear of the house. The door slides open freely, unlocked. I’m the last to enter.
The room is dim; three pendulum lights hang down from the ceiling illuminating a large, rectangular island a few feet in front of me. There are four wooden stools tucked under one of the longer sides. Dante steps up to a panel of wall switches flicking up one as he passes by. Under and above cabinet lights flare to life, casting the room in a warm glow.
The kitchen forms a U around the Island, with the sink and dishwasher on one short side, refrigerator on the other. Opposite the stools is a six-burner stove and all the spare space is lined with ivory cabinets. There’s a closed door tucked away next to the stove. The floors are maple colored wood, and shiny enough to eat off of.
I watch as the guys head to the right, stepping down two steps into a sunken family room. Two long sofas face each other. Against the far wall there’s an empty fireplace with a couple chairs turned into it at one end. It’s cozy with unlit candles and knickknacks dotting the tables and shelves.
Milo sinks into one of the couches, repositioning some of pillows. Ollie drops down on the other end and kicks his feet up, he doesn’t even bother removing his shoes, just leaves them hanging off the edge.
“Laura, have a seat, get comfortable,” Dante offers with a wave of his hand. I go to the corner of the unused sofa and sit. I shift a few times, barely sitting on the edge of the cushion before I give up and scoot all the way back. Immediately the pillows and cushions engulf me. I watch Ares as he slinks past and sits near me in the middle of the couch. I tip a bit as his weight lands. Dante is last to join us and he takes the last corner.
Seconds tick past in silence. Ollie is completely comfortable, his eyes are closed and his hands rest over his stomach. Milo is staring at his phone, his thumbs flying over the screen. Ares leans in close to me, his voice hushed, “Are they always like this?”
I bite my lip and nod. Half the time I’m around them is filled with awkward silence, the other with my wondering what the hell I’m doing with them. “You should’ve seen the first time they asked me to hangout. I just got done with a shift at the diner, they asked if I wanted to stay and eat. I said yes.” I wave my hand dismissively. “It was a fluke, I didn’t feel like going home yet. They just sat and stared at me a bunch. I thought I had food on my face.” A laugh bursts free from Ares as he scans the others,who all seemed to be engrossed in something other than us.
“Tell me more.” Ares turns to face me putting his elbow on the back of the cushion.
“Like what?”
He shrugs. “What else have you guys gotten up to?” Ares’s eyes flick down to my mouth then back up.
Happy to have a distraction I decide to vent all the strangeness from the guys. I peek at Dante first. He’s rubbing his hands up and down his thighs. “Dante told his girlfriend I asked for his help in art, and now she, and all her friends hate me,” I blurt before I change my mind.
Dante leans his head past Ares to look at me. “I did not.” He sounds like I just accused him of kicking a kitten.
