Beside Her #2
Ares pulls back sharply as we both turn to the door where my brother, Royce, is standing, stunned. Skyla stands beside him, but unlike him, she’s smirking as if she’s just stepped into the perfect moment.
Royce stares at Ares.
Ares stares back.
No one speaks.
Then Royce clears his throat and looks at me, and I see from the corner of my eye that Ares has settled into the chair again, leaning back as if to put space between us, but then he rests his arm on the bed almost as if staking his claim. I hate to admit that move makes my core tighten.
“I was worried. Ahren made out as if you were quite… sick. Clearly not sick enough.” Royce cocks a brow as he walks over to me and kisses my forehead.
I look up at him. “I’m doing better.”
“Of course you are…” Skyla says, smirking as she raises her eyebrow at Ares questioningly.
He simply grunts, and I look at him. Is he really not going to tell them? Just as I think he isn’t going to speak, he does.
“We’re mates,” he growls, making Royce’s eyes widen in surprise, and I know for a fact my cheeks have heated up.
“You’re mates?” Royce asks, as if unable to process it. “But surely you two have been around one another on other Blood Moons?”
“Na, I hate that shit. I avoid being around any woman during them; this happened because of that dumb mission, init.”
I turn and glare at him; he’s acting as if he hadn’t just been kissing me hard enough to make the monitor betray my pulse.
Goddess, give me strength.
“Shut up, Westwood, don’t make me regret forgiving you,” I say.
Ares looks at me. “I was only explaining why we’ve never met on previous Blood Moons, nothing more, Arden.”
“What kind of mates call each other by their surnames?” Skyla asks, snorting. “Or is that some kinda kink?”
“Sky? Really?” I say. “Your cousin is simply weird.”
“Your sister-in-law is weirder,” Ares counters, glowering at Skyla.
“And yet you both had your tongues down each other’s throats; can’t be that weird now, can you?” Skyla remarks, watching both of us glare at one another, and Royce pinches the bridge of his nose.
Royce’s gaze moves from me to Ares, and something protective and very brotherly crosses his face. “I’ve seen plenty of dynamics… This one – this one’s new. Are you two happy?” he asks, his eyes softening as he looks at me.
I open my mouth, then close it. Why should I say so first? I look at Ares, and he looks back, and I cock a brow; he shrugs.
“I guess so,” he growls. “Happy?” he says to me.
“Not really, no. You sound like I’m forcing you to say that,” I retort, then turn to Royce and Skyla. “Time will tell; I’m mated to someone who growls more than he talks.”
Skyla snickers. “Oh, you two are perfect for one another, but if he annoys you, just tell me; I’ll sort him out.”
“I’d like to see you fucking try,” Ares shoots back and then, to my surprise, he turns his palm upwards beside me, as if giving me the option to take it or not.
My heart thuds, and then I slowly place my hand in his, and his fingers instantly lace with mine, giving it a far gentler squeeze than one would think he’s capable of.
Royce’s attention falls to our joined hands, and then he hugs me.
“Glad you’re ok,” he says quietly. I feel Ares’ grip tighten slightly. Almost possessively.
And I almost roll my eyes, even if it feels good.
Royce moves back, then looks between us. “Well, congratulations,” he says. “I know how much you wanted to find your mate.”
I nod. “I did, and despite being rough around the edges, he’s not bad,” I say. Then look at Royce and mind-link him. I’m here because of him; he protected me before we even found out we’re mates.
Royce nods as Skyla snickers. “Rough around the edges? He’s rough all over.”
“Well, we’ll leave you to get some rest; you’re still not well,” Royce says.
“Subtle,” Ares remarks. He just has to add something, doesn’t he?
I sigh as Skyla leads Royce out. “Come on, you know how it was when we first got together, right?” I hear her say before the door shuts.
“That was not how I expected to tell my brother,” I say, thinking he walked in on me kissing. I have had a few casual relationships over the years. Two I’d say were boyfriends, and not once did I manage to get caught by Royce.
“No shit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Royce look so displeased, but he can’t say shit; he and Sky were fucking flirting back when he was meant to be her trainer at the Academy.”
I cock a brow, then laugh lightly. “Yeah, that is true. I’ll just remind him if he ever complains, but he handled it well.”
“He did. If it were my sister, I don’t think I would have handled it so calmly.”
And there it is, that unreasonable cockiness he possesses.
“You’re impossible,” I say, smiling despite myself.
“I’ve been told,” he remarks, his thumb brushing over my hand lightly.
“So what do you want to do now?” he asks.
Heat rises instantly to my cheeks.
He stiffens, then rubs a hand over his face. “Fuck. I didn’t mean that. I meant about the bond,” he says swiftly.
Does he not realise that doesn’t help his case?
“Ares,” I say.
“What?”
“Just stop talking,” I say softly, my cheeks still feeling a little hot and my eyes betraying me, dipping to his lips.
I see the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes as he catches my gaze, and then he leans closer. His gaze falls to my lips before he looks me in the eyes.
“I can do that,” he murmurs, and then his lips are on mine again, and I sink into the utter bliss of having my mate kiss me.