Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ARES
I can pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with Aphrodite. It wasn’t some grand, dramatic event; it was in the way she looked at me with those intense, vulnerable hazel eyes. There was a raw edge to her gaze, a steely resolve that told me she was determined to avenge her brother’s death, no matter the cost. She wasn’t asking for a handout; she was ready to throw herself into the fire to uncover the truth about Titan.
Her resilience was undeniable. She took on every challenge with a fearless determination that made me fall for her harder than I ever thought possible.
I saw our future laid out before me—a future that I was hell-bent on securing. I knew then that I would do whatever it took to protect her, to protect us. Giving up my family, my old life—it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. My love for her wasn’t just some fleeting emotion; it was a force that drove me to stand by her side, no matter the cost.
We arrived at the drop-off point where Hades had left another vehicle for us. I kept clear of the city’s main roads and drove onto the overpass, blending into the shadows as we made our escape. Serenity enveloped us as we traveled together, her head finding solace on my shoulder while my hand rested gently on her thigh.
Snow fell, looking like stars escaping from the sky as I turned into the parking lot of the Aegean Shores Motel. I felt guilty for bringing her here. She deserved a motel that wasn’t a cesspool of grime and neglect, somewhere clean and inviting, not a place that looked like it hadn’t been touched by a broom in years.
Turning the engine off, I leaned back and gripped the steering wheel, turning to face her.
“Ares,” Her voice was like a soft caress. “It’s our first trip together.”
We both let out a laugh, easing some of the tension. Aphrodite pressed her hand gently against my cheek. The flickering glow of the vacancy sign cast a soft light into the vehicle, highlighting the shimmer in her eyes. She drew me close, and our lips met, the world outside dissolving into a haze of tension and fear. In that fleeting moment, there was only us.
As she pulled away, her gaze lingered on mine, her voice a sultry whisper.
“Let’s go inside.”
I ran my fingers through her curls as I flashed her a cocky smile. “To be continued?” She rolled her eyes as she turned away and swung the door open.
I walked into the motel and approached the old wooden desk. The receptionist, a foreboding man, checked us in for the night.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Aphrodite standing with her arms crossed. Even in this bleak, desolate setting, she seemed to shine like a vibrant flower in full bloom. I slid some money across the front desk, quickly grabbing the key and avoiding any unnecessary conversation.
I took Aphrodite’s hand and led her to a room in a distant part of the motel. I unlocked the door and swung it open. The smell of smoke and mothballs hit hard as we entered.
I locked the door behind us while Aphrodite turned on the lights. The walls boasted dated vine wallpaper with tan furniture that had been patched so many times, I was surprised it was still holding it together. It looked like they hadn’t swapped out the comforter on the bed since the eighties, and the bathroom still had those pink tiles from the fifties. The bar had a broken fridge, a flycatcher, and there were dirty ashtrays all over.
“Well,” Aphrodite placed her hands on her hips and let out a laugh, “Are you up to date with your tetanus shot?”
I sat on the edge of the bed, covering my face with my hands, letting out a frustrated sigh. This wasn’t how I pictured things. I knew danger was part of the deal when we planned to escape, but it gnawed at me that our only refuge was this dingy motel.
She walked over to me and took my hands in hers. With a seductive gaze fixed upon me, she placed one knee on the bed, followed by the other, and settled onto my lap. Leaning in, she pressed her lips against mine, taking hold of the back of my neck as I pulled her waist closer. The intensity of our kiss was overwhelming, like a wave crashing against me repeatedly.
With a trembling hand, I cupped her cheek, savoring the sight of her before me as I caressed her soft skin. She moaned in response to my touch, making my dick throb painfully in my jeans, begging to be let free. As our kiss heightened, I gave into the impulse to explore every inch of her body. I traced the curves of her breasts. Her moan broke our kiss, giving us a chance to catch our breath.
She removed her top, revealing her stunning figure adorned in a black lace bra. Then, she pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it aside. Her fingers brushed over the bandage that covered my wound. She traced delicate lines over my abs and chest, and I tightened my grip on her ass. “I love you, Aphrodite.”
Her eyes, brimming with a deep, aching longing, locked onto mine. Her lips parted slowly, “I want you to reveal your darkest desires to me,” she breathed, her voice a seductive caress that sent shivers down my spine.
The weight of her words held a daring challenge that ignited a fire within me. She gazed at me with a tantalizing mix of anticipation and surrender, as if she was daring me to uncover the depths of our shared darkness.
Standing before me, I couldn’t tear my eyes away as she unhooked her bra with a slow, deliberate movement. Her breasts were a vision of supple perfection, flawlessly rounded and impossibly inviting. Aphrodite’s fingers tangled in my hair, pulling my chin up so that I was completely at her mercy. Her gaze was a hot, insistent flame, holding me captive.
With maddening slowness, she slid her hand to the button of her pants. My pulse raced, a desperate urge to rip her clothes off surging through me. I fought the impulse, letting her take control as she continued her slow striptease. She dragged her pants down her hips with a sensual grace, letting them fall to the floor in a whisper of fabric.
Her skin glowed under the moonlight streaming through the window, making her look almost otherworldly. The sight of her, illuminated and exposed, stoked the flames of my desire until I could barely hold back. My restraint was slipping away fast, the need to possess her overwhelming and impossible to ignore.
I stood, my eyes locking onto hers as she watched me unbuckle my belt with one hand and lower my jeans and boxers. Her eyes widened at the sight of me standing naked before her, fully exposed, my cock already hard for her. I lifted her off the ground with ease, and she wrapped her legs around my waist as I carried her to the bed. Placing her down, I positioned myself above her, ready to devour this woman entirely. I watched as the moonlight danced on her bare body. I couldn’t wait any longer.
She was finally mine.
I kissed her intensely, trailing along her collarbone and down to her breasts. I squeezed her hips, and her body arched into me. An electrifying sensation coursed through my veins. I slid my fingers along her folds, feeling her wetness, and she moaned in response to my touch. Without warning, she pushed me onto my back and straddled me.
In one swift, commanding motion, she lowered herself onto my dick until I was sunk to the hilt. It felt miraculous to be inside of her again. Her hips moved tantalizingly, grinding against me as her breasts bounced, perfect nipples pebbled and hard.
Gods, she was beautiful. I wanted to feel her body erupt against me. I needed her closer. I sat up and pressed our bodies together.
“Ares,” she breathed as I drank in her embrace.
“I surrender to you, Aphrodite.” I said between ragged breaths.
Our hungry gazes locked. I growled, bound by her hold. Our bodies moved together as if we were one. Our connection transcended the physical boundaries of intimacy.
Rapture consumed me as her head tilted back with a cry that resonated to the heavens. Kissing her neck, I savored the sight of her flushed skin, and with each kiss, I could feel the quickened rhythm of her heart.
“I surrender to you, Ares.” she said, moaning my name.
I pressed my lips against hers with the fervent need to taste her. I turned us around, pinning her down beneath me. Aphrodite let out a small whimper as I raised her hands above her head. Thrusting harder into her, I watched her eyes widen as she cried out.
I could feel her heart pounding as I released her hands and placed mine around her neck. My fingers stroked her skin, feeling the vibration of her moans.
I wanted to feel her body unravel completely as I took her fully, filling her with every part of me, leaving her trembling and consumed.
“I’m fucking coming, baby,” I growled, my voice rough and desperate as I pressed my lips against her neck. The sensation of my climax was crashing over me like a tidal wave, and I could feel her body responding with mine, her cries of pleasure rising.
“Ares!” she screamed, her voice raw and fragmented as she reached her peak. Her body clenched and trembled around me, the explosive pleasure of our simultaneous orgasms sending shockwaves through both of us.
As my climax hit, a guttural growl escaped my lips, my face buried against the slope of her shoulder. The intoxicating scent of sweat mixed with her floral perfume filled my senses.
Every nerve was on fire, and I felt an overwhelming need to possess and dominate her completely. “I want to fuck you every chance I get,” I whispered fiercely against her ear, feeling her shudder and convulse with the aftershocks of our intense release.
Lying in bed, Aphrodite rested her head on my chest as I gently twirled a strand of her hair. With a light laugh, I said, “I want to have babies with you.”
“Is that so?” She lifted her head, her eyes locking with mine for a moment.
“You make me feel like I deserve to be happy, to have a family,” I confessed. “Even after all the shitty things I’ve done in my life.” The confession hit me like a ton of bricks. I never thought I was worthy of redemption, but with her, it felt possible
She gently caressed my cheek, her hair falling into her face. “Ares, nothing could ever make my love for you fade, no matter what your past is.”
“Tomorrow,” I said, “Let’s go wherever you want. We can leave our old lives behind and become completely different people.” I smiled at her, imagining the possibilities.
“I like the sound of that,” she replied, biting her bottom lip.
Despite the sacrifices of the day, my heart swelled with emotion.
“Ares?” she whispered, pulling my face close to hers.
“Everything has changed,” I said with a shrug. “I’m ready to leave it all behind. ”
“We don’t have to leave,” she replied softly. “We can figure out a way to stay and make it work. I can get a divorce?—”
“Aphrodite, you’re worth it,” I interrupted, turning to lie on my side as I held her hands in mine. “You’re worth everything.”
She pulled the covers over us, and we snuggled underneath, finding comfort in this fleeting moment of normalcy. It gave me solace to know that even in our cruel world, we could find happiness together.
My demons were mine to battle, but I knew Aphrodite would be by my side.
We fell asleep holding onto each other, finding peace in each other's embrace. A while later, I was awoken by the feeling of something cold pushing against my temple.
Opening my eyes, I saw Ouranos’ face, his gaze piercing through me as he stood above us, a gun pressed against my head in the darkness.
“Get the fuck away from my daughter,” Ouranos growled, the sound of his voice reverberating off the motel room walls.
Aphrodite’s eyes snapped open as she was jolted from her peaceful slumber.