Ares
Twenty Five
Icouldn’t get her out of my head. The sound of her whimpers.
The feeling of her soft body. How tightly she squeezed me. Those tattoos and the scent of her perfume and body lotion.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth I was down bad.
Hooked to her as though she were narcotics. If this is how I felt after one moment of intimacy that didn’t even last long, then God only knew how I’d feel after fucking her thoroughly.
The bullpen buzzed with agents all working on different tasks. Different sounds all mixed into one which was enough to overstimulate anybody who felt sensitive to chaos.
Keyboards clicked, multiple conversations took place, somewhere in the distance we could hear police sirens, phones rang and it wasn’t even 9 a.m. yet.
I nearly reached my desk when I heard Asher’s voice. “Valiente.” He called out from his office, gesturing for me to enter.
He never summoned us this early unless there was an emergency and my first thought immediately went to Amala. I glanced around the room and didn’t see her which left a bad taste in my mouth.
“Yes, sir?” I asked, stepping into the large office—a drastic change compared to the bullpen behind me.
“Come in, close the door.” I didn’t question him or display my concern outright but for some reason my hands felt clammy and I instinctively tucked them into the pockets of my jeans after the door closed with a soft click. “Have a seat, Ares.”
“Is everything okay, Asher?” Now that we were alone, I could refer to him by his first name. After years of working together, we formed a friendship outside of the office. I relied on him whenever I needed support and vice versa.
Our line of work often became overwhelming to deal with, hence why you constantly needed someone in your corner who could understand your experiences.
“About an hour ago,” He paused, resting his forearms on his desk. He seemed hesitant. “Kayden found crucial information on Dominion and we discovered his real identity.”
“That’s the breakthrough we wanted right?” I didn’t understand why he looked somewhat upset while relaying this information. “Why do you look disappointed, Asher?”
“When I tell you who he is, you’ll understand my feelings towards this.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This remains between us, it’s confidential. You’re not allowed to share this information with anyone. Not even your partner.”
That’s when the wheels in my head started turning and I narrowed my eyes, leaning back in my seat.
“Wait, wait.” I held my hands up. “What do you mean by that, Braun? We’re partners. The relationship is built on trust. She’s your agent.”
Asher clenched his jaw, blinking slowly. “I understand that, Ares but when you’re in the position I am you need to make difficult decisions.”
“And that decision ends with you not being honest with one of your agents?” I sat upright now. “One who’s actively working on this case.”
“Calm down, Ares.” He said to me in that firm tone that made everyone else in the building fall over their own two feet. “This isn’t a negotiation. I’m telling you this so that you know what the plans are moving forward.”
“Asher, this is ridiculous and you know it.” I snapped. “If she finds out about this, it’s not going to end well.”
“She won’t.” He said with that finality in his tone. “You’re going to make sure of that.”
At this point, I was utterly fucked. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. “Who is it?”
Amala wasn’t at the field office today due to personal reasons but the information Asher shared with me, weighed me down.
I ran a hand down my face before drinking the entire glass of whiskey in one gulp.
She was currently on her way here and I didn’t know how I’d tell her the truth. If I’d even tell her at all. My hands trembled slightly because I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.
If I kept this from her and she found out, it’d sever everything we’d built this far, and whatever bond we established already wasn’t much but if I told her the truth, I’d have to face the repercussions thereof.
Either way, I’d have to make a decision and fast.
The doorbell rang once, twice and I opened my eyes slowly—sitting up straight before rising to my feet. The walk towards the front door felt like an eternity, each step heavier than the last.
When I opened the door and those brown eyes peered up at me, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to share the information with her.
Not when she looked so angelic standing before me in a black mini skirt, a black halter top with a red dragon pattern embroidered, and black boots that made me want to drop to my knees in front of her.
“This is uncalled for,” She scoffed. “Did Asher at least tell you why we’re being pulled from the case? We didn’t do anything wrong.”
I stepped aside, allowing her to enter. “Unless you stirred the pot. What did you do this time, Ares?”
“Why would you automatically assume I did something?”
“Clearly it can’t be anybody else’s fault.” She walked towards my couch, still looking somewhat nervous or maybe, a little anxious.
She’d been here twice before and one of those consisted of me taking her virginity.
“Sit.” I nodded. “Sorry to disappoint princesa, but I didn’t do anything. You know better than anyone else—challenging Asher never ended well so I didn’t bother. Now we’re back on administrative duties.”
“You’re fucking joking.” She shook her head, crossing one leg over the other and my eyes immediately zeroed in on her thighs. “We didn’t come this far just to get tossed aside. Are you certain we can’t have a conversation with Asher about this?”
“Nothing’s stopping us from attempting to have a conversation with him.” I brought a cigarette to my lips, flicking my lighter as I inhaled slowly. Watching the ember burn before smoke wafted in the air. “The question is, will he listen to anything we have to say?”
She observed me for a few seconds and I suddenly felt anxious under her scrutiny.
“Can I try?” Amala asked, peering at me with those expressive eyes. I took another drag of the cigarette as I shook my head no.
“Have you ever smoked before?” I blew the smoke in the opposite direction, holding the stick between my middle and index finger.
“I haven’t.” That’s when I did something completely unexpected.
I patted my thigh while spreading my legs slightly—gesturing for her to sit on my lap. She hesitated at first but then stepped forward, slowly taking a seat.
“And you want to try smoking, why?” I enquired.
“Curiosity.” She answered simply, making me chuckle. She was seated on my thigh but I wanted her ass planted firmly against my dick.
With the cigarette between my lips, I pulled her closer, positioning her the way I wanted. “Stress. Disappointment.” She added before gasping softly, the sound nearly sending me into an orbit.
I removed the stick from my lips before speaking. “You shouldn’t let your curious little mind persuade you so easily and stress is nothing but a silent killer,”
I murmured, grasping her chin. “However, I’d be willing to let you try.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I whispered hoarsely. “Open your mouth.” She furrowed her eyebrows but slowly obliged. I took one last drag and brought my lips closer to hers, blowing the smoke into her mouth.
I watched as her pupils dilated, her breath fanning my face as she exhaled. “More?” I asked and she declined, wrapping an arm around my neck.
“I’m good.” She stared at me with those expressive eyes and in this moment, I forgot about everything and everyone else. The case. Dominion. The bureau. My sole focus was her, my mind wandering as I got lost in her gaze. “Tastes fucking disgusting.”
I laughed softly. “Does that mean the taste of tobacco would deter you from kissing me?” I moved my face closer to hers. She looked at my lips for a brief moment.
A second at best, leaning forward. Our lips almost touching.
“No,” She murmured sweetly and it nearly sent me into a downward fucking spiral. This side Amala currently displayed was one I’d never witnessed before. “I don’t do kisses though.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted aloud. A fact nobody knew about me. I’d kissed someone once. My first girlfriend. It disgusted me. It was sloppy, her lips tasting like cheap beer. Ever since then I hadn’t done it again.
Now I wanted—no, needed to taste her lips. I could already foresee the effect it would have on me. Amala liked chamomile, mint, and green tea. Always chewed gum and only drank vodka or a strong cocktail so I knew she’d taste delectable. Just like she smelled.
“I’d make an exception for you though,” I said, my voice sounding unfamiliar. She shifted on my lap, pushing me backward. Until my back hit the couch before straddling me.
I tossed my cigarette onto the floor, stepping on it with my foot to kill the burning ember.
A low, rough groan escaped my lips and my hands instinctively rested on her hips despite the urge of wanting to move them a little lower. “You would?” She asked in a tone that screamed mockery.
Her hands wrapped around my throat, pushing my head back. “Should I feel honored?”
My breath hitched and I’m sure she noticed. For the first time ever I allowed a woman to handle me in this manner. To take control. “I can make you feel a lot of things.”
She moved her lips closer to mine again, but quickly swerved.
Nipping at my jawline. I swallowed hard, my throat bobbing. Normally I’d be able to control myself, practice restraint but this time I couldn’t.
I grabbed her ass, forcing her down onto me, and judging by the sound of her soft gasp I’m certain she could feel my erection.
The thin fabric of her stockings did nothing to separate the space where our bodies connected.
Fuck me. What was I doing?
This opportunity should’ve been used to share the reasoning behind us being pulled from the case but instead she sat on top of my dick like this is exactly where she belonged.
“Don’t start shit you can’t finish,” I said hoarsely, breathing through my nose.
“When have I ever started something I couldn’t finish, Ares?”
She sank her teeth into my neck, biting the flesh and it instinctively made me raise my hips, groaning softly. “Or did you forget how I took every single inch of you without complaint?” She whispered against my skin and my cock twitched in my pants.
Memories of that night replaying on an endless loop. “Yeah,” I slid my hands up her bare back, thanking the Lord for the style of her top.
Open back. Warm skin. Delicate underneath my fingertips. “You took me so well, like you were made specially for me.”
She hissed, probably turned on by this moment as much as I was. “Just one taste.”
“No,” She said sternly but it lacked its usual venomous bite. “You don’t deserve it.”
My hands slid higher, tangling into her long hair. I tugged her head back roughly and she almost made a sound but quickly bit her lower lip.
“Then tell me what I can do to deserve it.”
I changed the dynamics, trailing soft kisses in her neck that was now perfectly exposed by the way I angled her head backward. “You’re in control mi corazón,” I murmured into her ear, licking the spot below it. “Tell me what you need and I’ll give it to you.”
Desperate.
I sounded fucking desperate. This wasn’t me. Wasn’t something I ever indulged in. I’d never begged anyone in my life before but today I was willing to do just that.
“Beg me.” She panted softly, digging her nails into my shoulders. “Beg me like a good boy.” Jesus Christ. If I had zero self-control, I would’ve came in my fucking pants.
“Please,” It sounded unnatural coming from my lips. Even more so when I realised who I directed the plea to. Amala, the woman who’d been nothing but a thorn in my side for years.
Now she straddled me while I spoke against her skin. Begging for a fucking kiss. “Please, princesa. Just one kiss. That’s all I’m asking for.”
She swallowed hard and I felt her throat moving against my lips. Amala held onto my jaw with one hand, leaning in.
Closing the distance between us. Blood pounded in my ears. Our eyes remained locked, neither looking away.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her body closer until her chest was flush against mine.
When our lips touched, just barely she stopped. “The answer is still no.” I could feel the vein in my neck protruding, frustration dripping from every inch of my skin.
“You fucking tease.” She smiled mischievously, pushing me back until my body collided with the couch. The breath left my lungs abruptly as she climbed off me.
“What you can do though is get us back on that case.” That sentence was like ice water being poured directly onto my skin after a hot day.
Shit.
I looked down, shifting my hips and adjusting the evident bulge. I ran a hand down my face, laughing humorlessly.
Of course she’d do this. Nearly make me fucking burst at the seams just to leave me hanging. High and dry. Then ask the impossible of me.
“I’m a Special Agent, Amala. Not a magician. How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
She gazed at me, like someone peeling back the layers of my skin to dissect me. “You’ll figure something out. You always do. We didn’t come this far, just to come this far.”
She retorted, standing a few feet away from me with her arms crossed over her chest.
This woman.
“Are you going to stand beside me while we negotiate with someone as hardheaded as Asher?”
“I’ve got your back.” She nodded, giving me a slight smile and that moment shattered something within me. Amala never smiled at me before.
Not unless it was malicious. I didn’t know what to do but I couldn’t say no to this request. If I did, she’d definitely find it suspicious.
“Also, if I didn’t dislike you I would’ve probably given in,” She added before I could respond to her. “Hearing you beg like a pathetic loser really excited me.”
I laughed softly, standing up from the couch. Stepping closer, watching as she craned her neck to look up at me.
“Keep playing with me.” I bent down slightly, talking directly into her ear. “There’ll come a time when I’ll have the last laugh.”
“Is that so?” She turned her head sideways, her eyes lingering on my lips for a split second.
“Yeah,” I kept both hands locked behind my back. “We’ll see if you have this same energy when you’re restrained while I pound that pussy.”
She placed both hands on my chest, shoving me away. “Shut up.” She scoffed. “Hurry up, cabrón. We haven’t got all day.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Give me ten minutes. Want some tea while you wait?” I mocked, but she only narrowed her eyes at me.
How scary.
“Nine minutes,” She sassed. “I’ll take chamomile tea and make it snappy.”