Infinity Chronicles Book Three Read online

  He doesn’t waste any time grabbing my hips and holding me against him. I return my palms to his chest, running my fingers up and down over him. I almost squirm at how delicious he looks under me. Ares makes me feel powerful, even though I know he likes to be in control he always makes it clear that I’m the one in charge of anything that happens between us.

  I lean down, placing my hands on either side of his head, connecting our chests, and kiss him. His hand sweeps up my spine and grips the back of my neck. Excitement fills me, it’s like my body knows that’s his spot. I lean forward on my knees to deepen the kiss. The heavy weight of Ares’s abilities uncoils in my chest, reaching out for him. I glide the shadows over his skin, surrounding us both in the darkness that comes so easily.

  Ares breaks the kiss, his neck arching back as he lets out a low groan. Opening his eyes lazily, he gazes up at me, licking over his bottom lip. His eyes are flickering with bright white dots, much like they looked the night we bonded. It doesn’t frighten me the way it did that night, but there’s definitely something otherworldly about it.

  He sits straight up and wraps his arms around my back, and my breath leaves me in a huff as he fuses our chests together. Without giving me a second to recover, he seals his lips to mine. His tongue slides into my mouth, licking and sucking over mine. Fighting to keep up, I return his kiss with just as much passion. “My turn to play,” Ares murmurs between kisses. Fingers on the clasp of my bra, he loosens the hooks. Eager to feel him against me, I drop my arms and let the lacy material droop down my arms. He backs away enough so the fabric falls in a heap between our bodies, and he snatches it free, tossing it off the bed. Slowly, he pushes against me. Not stopping until he leans me all the way back to the mattress, and my legs unfold to go around his waist as he switches our positions, with me flat on the bed and him over me. His hips rock as his whole body undulates against me. I cling to his neck, unable to even kiss him back as my body processes each and every touch. The heat of his chest against mine, the brush of his skin across mine. Every move he makes tightens my sensitive nipples.

  Ares’s hand curls around my hip, his fingers near the bottom of my butt, lifting me so I’m even closer to him. He’s leaning on his other elbow, his mouth near my ear. My heart is beating so hard I feel like it will come right out of my chest, and my breath is just as choppy.

  Ares drags his fingers out from under me and I miss the extra pressure immediately, but then he toys with the waistband of my leggings, his fingers sliding under enough so he exposes my hip.

  “Laura.” He peppers my neck with kisses and I hum a response. Ares puts his forehead on my collarbone. “Sweetheart, can I touch you?” His words are rough, his voice deep.

  “Yes, Ares.” I know he’ll want to hear me say it’s okay. As soon as I utter the words, I place my hands on his cheeks and pull him up to me. With my fingers woven into his dark hair, I kiss him again. Adjusting his body, he slides the tips of his fingers under my waistband. I suck in my stomach as I feel the rough pads of his fingers below my belly button—this is new. My hips arch into his hand, he’s so close to touching me I can hardly think of anything else.

  My heart rate picks up even faster. I try to focus on his kiss, how soft his tongue is, the way he glides the tip over mine, but then his hand moves and I’m back to thinking about where his fingers are. What if I didn’t shave right, should I have taken a shower? I was in school all day, then training for a little while, then shopping. Oh god, I probably stink.

  My knees close around his hips and arm as Ares’s hand slides lower, the tips of his finger brushing against my pubic bone. I tighten my legs even more. I don’t want him to stop, I just don’t have any idea what I’m doing, what to expect, what he expects. He has to know I’m a virgin, but what if he doesn’t? I mean we’ve never really talked about it.

  Ares pulls back, his eyes opening to look down at me lazily. I roll in my lips, should I say something? “I’m a virgin,” I blurt, before giving the idea any real thought.

  Ares jerks back, probably more from my overly loud tone than the statement itself. “Okay, I kind of thought you were. Do you want to stop?” he drawls, making sure I hear every word.

  I shake my head quickly in denial, but add, “I just wanted you to know. I don’t… I… well… I thought you should know.”

  I close my eyes, feeling foolish now for letting it slip out the way I did. “Hey, look at me,” Ares coos softly, brushing his knuckle across my cheek. His other hand is still down my pants, but it’s not moving. When I don’t immediately open my eyes, he shifts his weight, leaning on his elbow as his fingers inch away from my center.

  I place my hand on his arm, stopping his retreat. If I’m ready to have sex, I should be ready to talk about it, right? “Ares, I don’t want to stop, this is just all so new. I know you’re not a virgin. And I don’t know. I was feeling a little… insecure. What if I don’t look like what you’re expecting? Feel the same? I mean, I didn’t even start shaving, shaving down there until I moved in here. And I got all sweaty when I was training,” I ramble, all my thoughts come spewing out in a rush of words.

  Ares’s eyes soften, the corners tilting down the tiniest bit. “I swear on our Infinity that you don’t need to worry about any of that.” He pushes his hand over near my hip, instead of over my lower stomach, still under my pants and panties. His voice is a little more gruff when he continues, “I can promise you, I love every inch of you, inside and out.”

  I swallow at his proclamation of love, his words ringing true. I feel the same way about him.

  “I’ve been imagining what you would look like, feel like, for six years.” Ares brushes his nose against mine. “I couldn’t have dreamed up anyone better.” I tip my chin and kiss him then, but he’s not done, he pulls back, licking over his bottom lip and staring right into my eyes. “I let the darkness consume me. I was so angry and alone. I forgot what it felt like to have the warmth of the light on my face, my skin. You’re that light Laura. Without you, I’m just a shadow.”

  A stupid tear leaks out of the corner of my eye before I can stop it. I wrap my arms around Ares’s neck and squeeze him to me with a strength that has me questioning if I’ve stolen another ability, this time from Milo.

  I want to say something, anything, to tell him how much his words mean, to tell him how lost I was until they found me, but I can’t speak past the lump in my throat. I’m certain I would burst into tears if I tried. I shake my head, still clinging to him. “Ares.” His name is about all I manage, so instead, I release my hold on his neck. He leans back and before he can retreat again, I grab his face and kiss the hell out of him, hoping I can convey the words I can’t say out loud right now.

  Chapter 14

  Knowing our time alone won’t last much longer, I run my hands over Ares’s bare back, feeling the flex of muscles and the heat of his skin under my palms. I’m desperate to show him how much I need him. Without an ounce of urgency, he returns my kiss slow and drugging. Having removed his hand from my hip while I was hugging him, he’s now leaning on his elbows, surrounding me. I have no doubt I’m as safe as I’ll ever be, there’s freedom in knowing Ares will always take care of me. I can just let myself go, I don’t have to worry about being invisible with him because he’s always seen me, will always see me.

  I bring my knees up higher on his hips, it allows me to feel even more of him. Breaking the kiss to let out a low groan of desire my head falls back. Ares rocks against me, tightening his grip on my body even more. I don’t know how it’s possible to breathe, but I do, in shallow pants.

  Ares buries his face in the crook of my neck, his breath matching mine. I turn my face, and my lips find Ares’s shoulder. My hands move down to the waistband of his pants, I try to push them down, but I can’t get them past his butt. With a growl of frustration, I bite his shoulder. Ares’s head jerks back, and he rocks his hips against me harder.

  If I don’t already know he doesn’t mind me biting him I would worry, h
is eyes are still closed and his chin is still tipped up. When he looks back down at me, his eyes are barely slits. The room darkens so much that even with my extend vision I can’t see anything but him. Shadows cling to him, reaching out and dancing on my skin, only they feel solid, like icy fingers curling around my overheated flesh. The sensation is almost too much.

  Ares pulls back to kneel between my legs, I miss the heat of his real touch instantly. A shiver works its way over my body and when I breathe out, my breath fogs. Ares’s hands go to my hips, his eyes steady on mine, waiting for permission.

  I clench my teeth to keep them from chattering but tell him, “Yes.” Heat uncoils in my lower stomach, unfurrowing and stretching out to warm me. Ares skates his fingers down my body, over my nipples, and dragging his gaze with his touch. When he reaches for my leggings, he looks up at me again, watching me as he folds his fingers under the waistband. I lift my hips from the mattress, showing him it’s exactly what I want.

  Unaware or unbothered by the frigid temperature change, Ares slowly pulls my leggings off, leaving me in lacy black panties. His eyes scan over me several times like needs to see every inch of me.

  His tongue makes a lazy lap over his top lip, before he bites his bottom lip. Ares lets out a shaky breath and brings his left hand up to his mouth. I see the tip of his tongue peek out and he delivers a long lick up the side of his middle finger and around the tip, before immediately placing it on my stomach and tracing a circle around my belly button. I suck in a startled breath. The sensation has me trying to squeeze my thighs together and tighten my muscles.

  Holy hell, I felt that in places he hasn’t even touched yet. I squirm under his gaze. His eyes jump up to mine, and I bite the corner of my lip and look down at his pants, I can see the outline of his erection. I swallow, thinking that can’t be comfortable, we should definitely do something about that.

  With slow, deliberate movements, Ares reaches for his belt. I sit up with my hands already reaching for his. Gazing into his eyes, I place my hands on the center of his belt. He draws in a quick breath and his chest expands, not releasing it. I slip the leather free from the loop of his pants, my eyes still on his, and tug. I have to look down to unclasp it, but only for a second. He lets out a shallow exhale when I do.

  I don’t stop there, inching my fingers into his waistband I expect to find a button, but the flap is smooth. Noticing my confusion, Ares reaches down and releases the clasp, and I bat his hands away again and pull down the zipper. I shiver as a wave of icy air stirs my long hair. Ares’s pants fall a few inches and he pushes them down his thighs, lifting each knee to get them the rest of the way off.

  My eyes immediately go to the black swirl design that marks him as mine. My fingers twitch, itching to see the entire mark, it’s half covered by tight, black boxer briefs. Ares lowers his bottom to the bed, his knees spreading wide, and crooks his finger at me, beckoning me forward.

  Rearranging my legs, I crawl toward him, closing the small distance between us. Ever aware of the passing time I settle my body against his, wrapping my arms around his neck and putting my mouth near his ear.

  Ares’s hands fall to my hips, his fingers biting in. I stifle a groan, he may be causing the icy temperature in the room, but his body is warm and solid under mine. My nipples drag against his skin as I snuggle in, trying to get even closer. Ares is rigid, barely even moving as he draws in each breath. Keeping my hand on the back of his neck I lean back to see his face, his jaw is taught, his brows are drawn down, and a heavy look of concentration covers his features.

  “Are you okay?” My whispered words are spoken with a misty fog. His eyes narrow and he looks around, noticing the utter darkness of the room and the chilly temperature for the first time. Sensing his confusion, I place my hand on his jaw, drawing his attention back to me. “What’s wrong?”

  “This… I’ve never… I didn’t realize,” he stumbles, sounding apologetic. “I’m a little overwhelmed,” he admits, watching my lips.

  “You mean you don’t always turn the room into an ice cave when you…?” I bite the corner of my lip and leave the suggestive words hanging, hoping it will lighten the mood.

  “You aren’t like anything I’ve ever experienced.” Ares places his hand on my lower back and leans over, so he is holding me. “I can feel you on my skin.” His eyes close as if he’s focusing on the sensation. “Even when you aren’t touching me.” Prowling over me, he lays me down until my back hits the mattress.

  “I’m trying not to let myself go,” he breathes, rolling his hips against mine. Holy hell, the difference in feeling with his pants off is night and day. I can feel him between my legs, my panties a barely there barrier.

  “I want you to let go.” My fingernails dig into his lower back, and I raise my hips off the bed to get that closeness back when he tries to retreat.

  “I have no idea what could happen, I’m not sure we’re even on the same plane of existence right now.”

  “You’re thinking way too much Ares. You’re mine, I was made for you.” I don’t care if we’re on the fucking moon. All I know is I need him. There’s no room for questions. “Love me.”

  Ares’s lips crash to mine, any self-control he might have been clinging to is gone. The cold intensifies, but he’s here with me, and the fire inside me is enough to burn us both up. Ares makes a fist over my hip, gathering the lacy material of my panties, and they grow tight before I hear the fabric tear and they immediately loosen.

  He rocks against me, and I tighten my knees over his hips while he uses his other hand to pull off what’s left of my undies. “We need a condom.” Ares almost whimpers at my words, his forehead dropping to my collarbone. He lips and tongue trace all over my chest like he can’t help himself. I push my hands on his shoulders, and repeat, “Condom?”

  He makes his way a little farther down until he’s level with my breast. He places a warm open mouth kiss right over my nipple. His tongue swirling around the tip before he sucks me into his mouth. My back rises clear off the bed, my hands threading into his hair, digging in. He makes a low sound that vibrates across my skin. The muscles low in my belly clench, needing something more.

  I cry out when I feel the blunt edges of his teeth on my hardened nipple, it’s never enough to hurt, but damn does it make me crave him even more. When I think I can’t handle another second, he switches sides, his free hand going to the breast his lips just left to massage as he tortures the other side with his mouth.

  My hips are rocking against him, but it doesn’t offer much relief, I have the weight of his body, not the length of him, and that’s what I really need. Ares releases me from his mouth, both hands moving to massage and pinch my nipples as he slides even lower on my stomach. He kisses my navel and right beneath. I suck in a breath, the heat of his lips almost too much.

  Grasping my thighs as he rises, I watch him move toward the closet. He’s only gone a second before he returns, with a small gold square in his hand. He tosses it on the bed, his hands going to his boxers, lowering them inch by inch. I’m transfixed. I can’t decide if I want to see his mark, or the rest of him. Thankfully, I don’t really have to choose, because once the material slides down his legs, I can see his entire identifying mark. It curls over the indents of his lower abdominals, almost to the very top of his thigh.

  I swallow as I get a glimpse of the rest of him. I’m not an idiot, I know what a penis looks like. I mean, I’ve had health class and read books that have described it, but I’ve never really seen one. It’s not like I had access to all the porn sites the kids at school talked about, so seeing Ares fully nude is a little intimidating.

  His hand comes up and he closes his fingers around his erection near the base. He has a small, dark patch of hair that leads up to a thin trail to his navel. From there it’s dappled up his abs before spreading out over his pectorals. My eyes are drawn back down to his hand and I watch, fascinated, as he does one lazy stroke from root to tip. “If you keep looking at me like t
hat, Cara, I might not last very long.” Ares’s voice is husky, which only serves to excite me more.

  Releasing himself, he kneels on the bed and stalks closer to me. His shoulders rolling with each movement as he nears. I fall back against the bed, expecting him climb over me. His eyes scan my body, apparently just as eager to see all of me as I was to see him. His eyes close and he licks over his lips. “Yup, gonna be over real quick,” he mutters, almost to himself.

  Ares kneels near my feet, sitting back on his heels, and his erection is standing out with a slight curve near the tip. I’ve read so many descriptions about what it feels like, velvet over steel, hard but smooth. I’m more than eager to see if any of those really fit. While I’m looking at him, it jerks like it was pulled by a string and Ares makes a low sound. My eyes jump up to his as he grabs hold of my foot. “What’s it feel like?” I bite the corner of my lip, feeling silly I’m asking that question right now.

  “A little too good, considering you’re only looking at me.” Ares slides my foot to the side, opening my legs a little.

  “No, I mean when you touch it.”

  “I’d imagine it feels about the same as it feels when you touch yourself.” Ares pushes my other foot to the side making room so he can crawl between my legs. “Good, but nothing like this. Just the way you’re looking at me has me about to explode.”

  I shake my head, he’s still not understanding. “I want to know how your skin feels, how hard you are, is it like velvet?”

  Ares freezes, his head lowering on his neck so I can no longer see his face. “Jesus Christ.”

  I roll my lips behind my teeth, guessing I should have left the question for later. I can be so awkward. “Sorry, I’ll shut up.”