Page 59 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“It’s hard. I don’t really know where I stand with all of you,” I finally tell him as he turns into the lot at Turtle Creek. His car is quite but the rocks under the tires still pop as he glides to the back of the park. My camper sits alone, no lights illuminating the path, with only the flare of Ares’s headlights to guide us.
Before the car is even in park, I release my belt and have a hand on the door handle. I’m not sure why he brought me back here, when he just said he was taking me with him. But I need out of the car anyway, I want out of the forced intimacy the supple interior provides. I want to breath air that isn’t tinged with his cologne and food making, both my mouth water.
“Carawait,” he calls with his door open but the engine still running. Ares jogs up to my side, halting my hand as I’m about to place the key in the door. He nudges me to the side so he’s the first one through the door and the hot air hits my face like a blast. I groan, the cooling unit must be broken again, because I know I left it on. I was rushing to get out of here yesterday.
I flip the toggle switch to the left of the door and the small light above the dinette flickers to life. Ares is a few steps ahead of me, his eyes scanning everything visible, which is most of the RV. He strides to the driver’s area, tugging back the heavy curtains. After a brief search he turns to face me.
With his attention wholly on me I shuffle my feet, running my hands over my hips. Stopping at the apron, I look down and untie the strings, pulling it free. It’s strange how having him here makes the place I’ve always called home feel so much smaller than it ever has. Even with him standing across the room he’s still so close. Ares’s head lowers and he’s still staring at me from under his brow as he saunters up to me.
“Um… do you want something to drink?” I blurt out as he nears. Ares bites the corner of his lip and shakes his head. When he releases his lip his tongue darts out, licking over his bottom lip. My heart stutters, then thuds to life with a heavy beat. Backing up, my rump hits the kitchen counter. He follows and I tip my face up, watching his approach. He stops when his body is just a hair’s breadth away from mine.
Now, that tiny distance seems like too much. I find myself wanting to lean forward, to breach the last of the space between us. “OhCara,” he purrs, placing one hand on the crook of my neck. His thumb runs from the bottom of my jaw down my throat and I swallow. Ares’s eyes search mine. “I should have let one if the others come.” His words are spoken softly, his thumb caresses the hollow of my throat and sweeps back up to my jaw. “I have no desire to deny myself.”
“Deny yourself what?” I breathe, my body leaning toward his without my permission. I feel like I’m playing a dangerous game, but it doesn’t stop me. I think the payoff will be well worth the price.
Ares’s hands go to the counter on either side of my hips as he leans his body into mine, pushing me against the counter. Dipping his head, his lips are barely touching the apple of my cheek and his nose traces along my temple and hairline.
“ThisCara… this never ending pull that makes me want to carve a hole in my chest so I can carry you there.” His words should frighten me, and if I’m honest they do, but not the way it should. I feel the slight pressure of his lips as he plants a tiny kiss right next to my ear. A shiver works its way over my skin, making the hair on my arms stand. “Are you okay?” Ares’s question forces me to examine whether or not I am. His nose runs down my cheek, stopping at the corner of my jaw. “Cara, tell me if this is okay?” His words vibrate over his lips and onto my neck.
“Are you allowed, I mean is it okay? I don’t know what rules there are—”
Ares stops my babbling when he lightly brings his lips to mine. He doesn’t move, just presses them on mine gently. I think he’s giving me time to adjust, or to push him away. My lips part as a weighty sigh escapes and my muscles go slack. It’s only him and the counter behind me, keeping me upright.
Ares groans, his hands reaching up for my neck as he moves his lips against mine for the first time. “My brothers will kill me, but I don’t care. I can’t help myself.” I feel the tip of his tongue roll over my bottom lip. I mimic the movement on instinct, my tongue tracing the same path as his. How can it feel so different when he does it? I must lick my lips a hundred times a day, but it has never felt like that. Ares pulls back, resting his forehead on mine. Our noses brushing together as I pant, and he nuzzles me.
“The others, they’ll be mad?” My fingers circle his wrists as I let my hands glide up his forearms, stopping when I reach the cuff of his shirt. I tease the smooth skin there, letting my fingertips delve under the fabric to his inner elbow before I drag my nails back down softly. I hear Ares swallow a gulp.
“Definitely,” he purrs. My eyelids low, I see his lips just inches from mine. I want to know what it would feel like to have him really kiss me. Lifting my chin, I bring our mouths closer together resting my lips on his. With the very tip of my tongue I trace just under his top lip. Ares’s hands tighten on my neck, almost to the point of pain, before he releases and flows his fingers over my shoulders and down to my waist. Gripping me, he lifts me so my butt is on the tiny kitchen counter. My arms go over his shoulders as he parts my legs, stepping even closer.
Ares angles his head low, his nose nudging my collarbone. My head falls back, allowing him better access as he runs the tip of his tongue up the column of my throat. “Oh hell,” I moan huskily when his teeth nip my jaw line. His fingers tremble as his palm finds my cheek. His forehead meets mine again, and I let out a huff of disappointment.
Rocking back and forth across my brow he mutters under his breath, too low for me to hear. It’s like he’s working himself up to it, and that thought splashes cold reality over me. My hands go from pulling toward me to pushing him away. Ares leans away, his eyes fully black and his mouth parted as he searches my face. Whatever he sees there has him stepping back, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Forgive meCara, I was lost in the moment.” His words are formal and stiff. I hop down from the counter, my fingers covering my lips.
“It was me, I’m sorry. You don’t have to… I don’t want to make you feel like… I’m sorry this bond is so different. I feel different than I ever…” Heat rises from my chest and up my neck, landing on my cheeks. Ares takes a step toward me with his arm outstretched, but I spin in the other direction, heading to the curtained off area that makes up my room.
Dropping to my bed I bend forward, burrowing my face in my knees. What was I thinking? He told me it was wrong, that the others would be mad, but I still wanted it. Still do, if the quiver in my stomach and the tremor in my hands are telling me anything.
Sitting upright, I tell myself it’s no big deal. Girls probably throw themselves at him all the time; he’s probably kissed tons of them. I feel an actual pain in my chest when I imagine him doing just that. Shaking away the image, I run my hands over my thighs a few times. I’m not even really sure why he brought me here—to grab my stuff?
A few moments pass before I hear and feel his steps as he nears my room. He’s hesitant, walking slowly. Not meeting my eyes, he tells my, “The guys called, are you about finished up?”
Taking my cues from him I stand, feeling awkward about the moment we shared. “What should I bring?”
He looks around my room and the corners of his eyes crinkle when he winces. “Anything you want to ke—” He stops mid sentence. “Have for a while?” His voice lifts at the end, telling me he’s not sure himself. “And the picture,” he adds, sounding much surer of himself. “Don’t forget the picture.”
Twenty One
Walking in the same side door we used yesterday, I toe off my sneakers. The house smells divine with the aroma of roasted meat filling the air. Ares is a step behind me and his palm meets my back when I don’t step out of the little room immediately. He guides me down the hall, past a few doors, and into the kitchen.
The rest of the guys are all seated at an island facing the stove. Each of their heads turn in our direction. Tangling my fingers together I wait, feeling unsure of where to go, or what to say.
Ollie hops out of his chair with a wide grin on his face. He rushes toward me, not stopping until I’m wrapped in his arms. Mine hang limply at my sides, completely taken aback by his greeting, I freeze. He pulls back but his hands are still on my arms as he peers down at me. “Hungry?” I nod remembering the lasagna in the car. “Good, come eat.” Not releasing me, Ollie tows me to the island, pulling out the seat he vacated and gesturing for me to sit.
What will they think about how Ollie is treating me? I glance around without really looking at anyone. “My food’s in the car.”
“I got it,” Ares replies, turning to leave without another word.
“How was Maggie’s, busy?” Milo leans past Dante, his arms folded on the table, an empty bowl pushed away from him.
