Ares

Chapter 6 | | Sheer and wild abandon that's all I need and someone I can trust.

Another update in two days? Yes! Because the support and comments I got from you guys was incredible! Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

"And I'm craving, craving, craving something I can feel."

— Craving, James Bay

Ares rested a hand on the long door handle and hesitated, knowing it was too late to bail out now. Grace had probably already seen him through the glass. His heart was beating so fast he could barely breathe. He took a deep breath, wondering what his problem was, and pushed. Soft music drifted over him from above as he stepped inside, the smell of coffee and daisies permeating the air. The tables were mostly empty, which wasn't surprising at nine o'clock on a Monday morning. Sydney grabbed a blueberry muffin from the glass case and started for the register. She saw Ares and froze. Grace bumped into her from behind, knocking a flower pot from her hands. They jumped back, dodging the broken pieces of the pot as it exploded across the tiled floor. Grace slowly looked up from the mess to her sister, who stood gawking at Ares as he quietly approached the counter. Grace followed Sydney's stoic gaze and her eyes widened.

When those green eyes fell upon him, everything else faded down a long tunnel that stretched for miles. His blood pounded thickly in his temples, driving the music from his ears and replacing it with a pulsating thud. He crossed the black and white checkered floor on rubbery legs. Her eyes were greener than green, and when she looked at him it was like they were whispering, "She's too good for you."

It was all he could do to keep from tripping over his own two feet. He tried to focus but Grace's hair spilled over her shoulders like chocolate waterfalls and the need to run his fingers through it consumed him.

"Hi," she said, a tentative smile pulling at her lips.

He finally reached the counter and rested against it, struggling for breath after the long walk through quicksand. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's all thumbs around here," he said, observing the brick coloured mess on the floor.

She smiled in embarrassment, the tips of her ears going pink. "Her fault," she said, jerking a thumb at Sydney. "She stopped short."

A lady in a pretty dress that masked her weight let out an irritable sigh, her long purple nails drumming against the counter.

Grace apologised and turned her mesmerising gaze back to Ares. "Give me one second."

"Take your time," he replied, watching her grab a new pot and falling in love with the back pockets on her tight fitting jeans. It seemed like months since he had last seen her and he craved more.

"You look nice."

His eyes snapped over to Sydney and slowly lowered to his black sports coat and jeans. "Thanks, got a big meeting today so I figured I'd grab a box of muffins on my way in and some flowers to brighten up the office."

"I bet you did," she said coyly, setting the blueberry muffin on the counter in front of the lady. "No tie, huh?"
He smoothed his button down and shook his head. "Trying to quit."
"I like your style," she grinned, letting her gaze wander to his crotch for a moment. "You married?"
His eyebrows pulled together. "No."
"Kids?"

"Sydney," Grace softly warned, drizzling chocolate syrup over whip cream.

"I'm just trying to figure out what's wrong with him."
"No kids."

The lady by the register sized Ares up from head to toe, her nails clicking against the counter. "He's obviously gay. No way a man that good looking is straight. Trust me!"