Blood Descendants (Vengeance and Venom #1)

Chapter 7

A nd that’s exactly what happens.

As soon as the sun goes down, Ares and I head back downstairs. I don’t know anyone who has their own car and drives themselves around in Manhattan. But Ares, so far, has not gone anywhere without his motorcycle. Once more, we climb on, and he smoothly makes his way across the city. The thought of finding parking everywhere stresses me out, but he never seems to hesitate. He finds the closest parking, and then, hand in hand for show, we head into the Rockefeller.

Only as we’re getting our tickets do I realize the stiffness that’s crept into Ares’ shoulders. Only then do I see his eyes shift to the door twice.

Augustus keeps tabs on Ares, I remember.

We crowd into the elevator with six other people. And my heart jumps into my throat when Ares pulls me to him, sliding his arms around my waist. My own wrap behind his neck, and Ares traces his nose along my skin there .

“We’re being followed,” Ares says, his words so low and quiet, only I can hear them.

I nod almost imperceptibly. “I’ll do my part,” I promise.

On older man with white hair and a chronically unhappy expression clears his throat and takes half a step away from us.

I think that means we’re going the job well.

Ares’ hands slide down lower, and I swear, I hear the breath hitch in his throat, just a little. I lean closer into him, our bodies connecting in the small space.

Not only does Ares look the part of the god he’s named after, he smells incredible. Something musky and clean at the same time. Like wealth and danger bottled into the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever experienced. My forehead rests against his shoulder, against the black fabric of his t-shirt, and I take in a long, slow inhale, his scent branding itself into my memory.

Wrong, wrong, wrong , my brain is screaming at me. You just barely met this man. You know what he is. You know he’s dangerous. Are you really willing to play pretend like this?

But something ancient and primal is there, countering all those arguments. It doesn’t feel like days since I met Ares. I swear it’s been months already. And I was obviously wrong about my first assumptions about him as a vampire. Not once have I ever felt like I was in danger. Quite the opposite. Everything he’s done thus far has made me feel… safe. Protected.

Yet you’ve seen what a great actor he is, the logical part of my brain reminds me.

I don’t want to listen to that part. I shove it back into the recesses of my mind when Ares’ hands slide into my back pockets.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers.

I want to whisper back, don’t be . But that would be a confession of how damn good this feels. And that’s just something I can’t admit aloud to the universe.

The doors slide open, and the noise volume increases. The crowd quickly files out around us, and I hate that I suddenly feel cold when Ares disengages from me, taking me only by the hand, and steps out into the space.

There are so many people, and as I pay just a little attention, I hear a dozen different languages spoken around me. I always knew this was one of the top tourist attractions in the world, but it’s kind of humbling to see how many people have made it a goal to visit my home city and are in such awe of it.

Ares works us through the crowds, and just before we go up the stairs to go to the next level, I spare one glance over my shoulder.

I don’t know who it is I’m looking for, who is watching us. And maybe they haven’t gotten out of the next elevator yet. But one thing is for sure, I shouldn’t be looking around for them. This has to look real.

The air is warm when we step outside. Despite being seventy floors up, there’s barely even any breeze. Up this high, the city feels… calmer. More still. Below, I see headlights moving up and down the streets, but no longer can I hear thousands of humans around, no longer can I hear the constant horns blaring or the sound of sirens racing down the street. This is the city that never sleeps, and I love every minute of it. But this high up, it feels different.

Hand in hand, Ares and I wander to the tall glass walls that prevent anyone from doing something tragic. I place my hands on the glass, leaning up against it, taking in the modern miracle that is my hometown.

The lights are spectacular. It’s like looking up into the sky but multiplied by a thousand. Billboards and home lights. Streetlamps and headlights. It glitters in the darkness, the sun fully set into the west.

Ares settles in behind me, his body aligning with mine. He wraps his hands around my waist, and once more, he brings his nose to my neck. He inhales, and I wonder if he’s doing the same thing I was doing in the elevator.

“Do I ever need to worry about this position?” I find myself asking. I feel his breath on my neck, and I know his teeth are only an inch away from my skin, at best.

“I told you, Vengeance,” he says, his tone low and a little rough sounding. “You smell like dessert. My mouth hasn’t stopped watering since I laid eyes on you at that party.”

He leans in closer, his body fully aligned with mine. And he brushes the tip of his nose from my collar bone to the hallow behind my ear. “But my control is exceptional.”

I realize then that my eyes have slid closed, and my head has tipped back to rest on his shoulder. Goosebumps cover my entire body.

I’d be embarrassed if we didn’t need to be putting on exactly this kind of show.

Ares tugs me from the railing. A wicked smile pulls on one side of his mouth as he walks backward for a moment, leading me to the end of the observation deck. His wicked lips pull a smile to my own.

It’s way too damn easy to pretend in this scenario. With this man. It makes me wonder. Have I really been this damn lonely? That I’m this willing to jump in the deep end?

But it doesn’t matter. I’m here now. And right now, it feels pretty intoxicating .

Ares’ eyes never leave me for a second, and I feel my skin heat. I know this is for show. But the effect he’s having on me is very real. Nerves are making me feel ready to jump out of my skin. This distance between us feels awful after experiencing his closeness just a few moments ago.

But I don’t have to wait. Because when we reach the far end, where the view is the best and the entire night seems to be celebrating for us, Ares stops. And he holds my gaze. He takes me by one hand, and he drops to one knee.

“Lana,” he begins. He’s way too good at his. His volume is perfect. Not awkwardly loud, letting on that this is meant to be overheard. It’s just like it was meant for only the two of us. “I don’t care if it’s quick. I don’t care if there’s going to be people who question. I knew you were mine from that first day. And every day since has been the best day of my life. You’re the other half to my soul.”

I stare down into his eyes, and my heart is beating about ten thousand miles per hour. My free hand covers my mouth, which is pulled into a shocked smile. It isn’t hard to fake this right now. Every reaction is genuine in this moment.

“I’m looking for forever with you, Lana,” Ares says. He looks so hopeful. So happy. He looks in love. “Will you marry me?”

Pound, pound, pound, my heart is going crazy.

I honestly never expected to hear those four words spoken to me. With as little dating experience as I’ve had by this age, I truly never expected that those words would ever be asked of me.

And now here they are. Asked by a rich vampire who looks like he could tear up the roughest of the rough .

Fake , my brain reminds me.

“Yes,” I answer, the word coming out a little emotional, an act, as I nod. My hand drops from my mouth, and a wild grin pulls on my lips.

And there’s that dazzling sight again. Ares smiles, the full, wide, uncontrolled version that makes my brain stop working. He pulls a black box from his pocket and opens it. And, there, inside, is the ring I was admiring.

I nearly choke on the shock as Ares slides it onto my finger. It has physical, tangible weight.

My gaze returns to Ares. For the briefest second, I see warning flash through his eyes.

But I only get one second to understand its meaning before Ares rises. His hands come to either side of my neck. He tips my head back just slightly, and then his lips are on mine.

This kiss is molten. Heat and fire and the sun.

Ares’ lips mold to mine perfectly. And his lips are hot. So hot.

The breath catches in my throat. All of my internal organs freeze. My body locks in place, completely overwhelmed.

But as Ares’ lips part slightly, and as his tongue teases my lips, begging me to play my part, I tell my body to simply feel. To push out every thought. My body knows exactly what to do, even if my brain can’t quite catch up or make sense of any of this. But my hands, my mouth, they know exactly what they need to do.

My hands slide up Ares’ chest. Hard lines and ridges are obvious through the thin fabric of his t-shirt. And I wonder if he has to work out to have a chest like that or if it’s just a bonus of being a blood-sucking immortal. My lips have no hesitation to that last thought, though, as I kiss Ares in return. They part, granting him access. His tongue is demanding and curious. He tips me back just a little, deepening the kiss, stealing the breath right from my lungs.

And it’s at least ten solid seconds before I realize the crowd surrounding us is clapping and cheering.

Ares releases me, and I blush when I realize there are dozens of people watching us.

“Congratulations!” someone shouts. “Kiss her again!” someone else yells. “Take it to your room,” yet another mumbles.

Ares turns to the crowd with that gleeful, mischievous smile. “Thank you,” he offers. “I will, and it’s our next stop.” I realize then that he’s answering the callouts thrown at us.

I offer one embarrassed smile before Ares tugs me to him again, his hand cupping the side of my neck. With that devious smile, he pulls me in, taking my mouth as his own.

A girl could get used to this. Ares is, without question, the best kisser I’ve ever touched lips with. Sensuous, dark, greedy, hungry, his mouth conveys a million claims. And I breathe in every one.

The crowd goes wild again. And this time, it’s me who starts smiling.

“You like that attention, Vengeance?” Ares asks against my mouth.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with the crowd, Venom,” I say, knowing I’ll most likely regret the honesty.

There’s a low rumble at the back of his throat, and he doesn’t say anything more for a moment. Let him process that as he will .

But after a few moments, he steps back just slightly. He waves another thanks at the crowd. “I think we better get out of here before someone calls the cops for public indecency,” he jokes. Then he looks back over at me. “Time to go home, fiancée.”