Older || 18+

31. Emma

We are lying in bed, Ares's arms wrapped around me. I feel safe, content, and loved.

It's strange to think that word. Loved. But it's exactly how I feel right now. It's stupid, I know. Trust me, I know. This is suppsoed to be a fling, a fun time. But sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Every time he says he misses me, every time he touches me like he couldn't stand to be apart, I feel it. The love. And I fall deeper. It's going to hurt when he leaves, when we have to put an end to this. I know it will. I am already hurting and it hasn't even happened yet.

"So," he starts, his voice hesitant. "How was your weekend?"

His fingers trail a path across my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. It's like he's tracing a map of me.

I snuggle in closer before answering. "It was great," I tell him, a smile tugging at my lips. "We had a lot of fun."

"Tell me about it," he says, his voice low and rumbly.

Ares is always asking about my day, and now about my weekend. It's like he wants to keep up with my life outside of him, but not in a posessive way. In a way that is truley interested in knowing the little details.

"Well, we went to the game on Saturday, and the team won. Then we went out to a club to celebrate the win. Everyone was really friendly, and it was a lot of fun."

He nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "And that's when you danced with that guy."

His words are not a question, nor an accusation. He's just stating a fact.

"It is," I confirm, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.

"What was that like?" he asks, his fingers never ceasing their featherlight exploration of my skin.

"It was nice," I say, chewing my lip. "He was a good dancer, and he seemed like a nice guy."

"But?"

"But he wasn't you," I admit, my heart fluttering at the admission.

"Damn straight," he growls, the sound rumbling deep in his chest.

His possessiveness shouldn't turn me on, but it does. It isn't the normal type of jealous possessiveness but rather the possessiveness of a confident man. A secure man. A sexy man.

"What else did you do? Surely you didn't spend all weekend in your hotel room."

He already knows most of what I did. Although we didn't text much, I did send him pictures. I indulge his question anyway.

"Well, we spent all day yesterday shopping. I bought more clothes for my internship and maybe a few other things."

"Like what?" he asks, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Maybe something you will get to see me in later," I tease, my voice coy.

"Mmm, I like the sound of that," he murmurs, his voice husky.

His hands roam over my body, igniting a fire within me. I already want him again, but I'm still a little sore, not to mention utterly exhausted.

"Do you know where mom and Archer went? They were both in a hurry."

He hesitates before answering. "They had some errands to run, I think."

Something in his voice makes me think he isn't telling me everything, but I decide not to push.

"How long do you think they'll be gone?"

Before he can answer, there is a knock on his bedroom door seconds before it opens.