Ares (4 page)

“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “For wanting to.” She leaned in even closer to him when someone came near her. “I don’t understand a great deal of what is going on but I do know one thing for sure, you mean something to me. It’s odd, I know it’s likely something you hear a great deal, but I do want to get to know you. You, not the myths, not the stories, but you.”

His expression was odd when he looked at her. “No one’s ever said that before. No one has ever wanted to get to know me. They all want something from me or to know of my biggest, bloodiest battle or some such nonsense. No one’s ever requested to know who I am outside of the myths.”

“That’s who I want to know. The reality of Ares, not the myths, not the battles. I just,” she shrugged, “all of my life you have been different to me. My family has kept close chronicles and all my life I just knew they were wrong on one God, you, but it's more than that. Now that I have met you in person. I see you as more. I know how crazy that sounds, but it’s the truth. I see you as a man. One that I honestly like.” One she was heavily attracted to.

“How do you know I’m not much, much worse than the stories?” He was watching her as he asked that question. “I could be, Ava, and you’d never even know it.”

He was trying to scare her. Why, she didn’t know, but there had to be a reason. “I feel it,” Ava said simply. “Deep down inside. I don’t know how or why but I do. I feel you would never, ever hurt me. I know, completely weird.” Maybe she was just off her rocker insane or something, but she truly believed he wouldn't hurt her.

“You are not weird, quit saying that,” he muttered. “And you are right, I won’t ever hurt you, Ava. Anyone else,” Ares gave a shrug, “but never you. I don’t know what you’ve done to me, little darling. I fear you’ve already got me wrapped around your little finger. I have no clue how it’s occurred or when it did, but it’s happened.”

“Well, whatever happened hit both of us,” she admitted quietly. “Dance with me?” she asked suddenly. “I would like to know what it feels like, even if it's just the one time, to dance with you.” To be held in his arms, to feel the beating of his heart under her cheek.

Nodding, he stood and offered his hand. Helping her to her feet, he walked her toward the dance floor. There were a few other couples out dancing, but since it was just piped in music, most people were talking and mingling. “I should warn you, I’m not very good at this sort of thing. Dancing I mean. It wasn’t exactly part of my life on a regular basis.” He faced her and let out a breath, “So if I stomp your toes, I apologize profusely ahead of time.”

“It’s okay. I’m not very good at it either but I want to try, with you.” She was never a very good dancer, but she wanted to dance with him simply to be close to him, which amazed her more than she could possibly explain to him.

“That was a lie,” he said shaking his head at her. “I’m a God,” he murmured. “You can’t lie to me or any other God, but I’ll take it, mainly because one of us has to know what the ever-loving hell they are doing out here.”

She smiled and said, “All right, I’ve never been a very good dancer at all. I wanted to dance with you simply because I wanted to be close to you. I want to know what it feels like to have your arms wrapped around me and us moving together. I want to know what it feels like to be held by you. That’s the truth.”

“That is the truth,” he said quietly to her. Smiling, he took her hand in his and pulled her close, his other hand on her waist. “Well, I know enough that we can probably manage one or two dances. After that, everyone will realize it’s the same movements every time.” He waited a moment and then began to guide her in a simple movement.

“I don’t mind the same movements,” Ava said with a grin. “Sometimes it’s kinda nice to be able to know exactly what is going on and when it’s going to happen.” She laid her cheek on his chest and sighed happily. “This is so very nice. I have literally never felt this relaxed and happy in my life.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” he said softly. He pulled her in closer to him, his movements and hers slowing a little. His breath on her cheek was ruffling some loose hairs, his hand warm on her back and his body, oh his body, pressing in tight and hot to the front.

“I am with you right here holding me close like this,” she murmured quietly and wrapped her arm tighter around him. “I think this is something I could become accustomed to, dancing with you that is.”

“Well then, one of us should take lessons,” he laughed quietly. “Or maybe we both should so we each know what the hell we’re doing out here. That is, unless I grind your toes into the floor and you decide I’m more of a hazard than not.”

He was talking long term, interesting
.

“I would very much enjoy taking lessons with you. That is if you wouldn’t mind taking time out of your life to take lessons with me? I have no idea where we would go and get the lessons, around here at least. Do you know of where we could take them?”

“I wouldn’t mind at all. I don’t exactly have a lot to keep me busy. Besides my interfering family, I don’t have much of anything to do.” His hand on her back was moving up and down slowly. “Are you planning on staying in Ireland?” he asked quietly. When she looked up at him he shrugged. “You did ask about lessons around here.”

“Right now I’m at loose ends to be perfectly honest. I sold my family home in America and cashed out all of my bonds and CDs. I have a trust fund left to me by my grandmother so I’m just trying to find myself or something like that. Honestly, I just wanted to get out of America because the family was dogging my heels trying to get cash from me. Money grubbing asshats.”

“Well, wherever you settle I’m sure we can find dance lessons. Not sure where they are available but with the Internet we’ll find something. Do you have any idea where you might end up living?” he asked, his tone curious.

“Not the first clue. Honestly I’ve been letting the winds push me here and there. I’ve no true destination in mind. The only family I have left are a bunch of vultures, so I honestly don’t care where I live as long as they can’t get anywhere near me.”

“I understand that,” he murmured. “Well, is there any place in the world where you’ve always wanted to live? One place where you thought, this feels right, this feels like home. A place where you could see yourself walking the streets. A place where you wanted to fall in love, have kids and grow old.”

"So far I haven't found that place. I think however, it is more a state of mind than anything else. I just haven’t found that perfect place for me. I think once I find it I will know it. Maybe I can’t find the one home because I’m alone.”

“Well, you’re not alone at the moment. Maybe I can help you in your search. I’m cheaper than a plane ticket after all, and faster. Getting places I mean, not anything else.” He let out a groan, “I have no idea why I just clarified that. It’s like my brain is fried any time I get near you.”

“Well I’m glad yours does because mine does too. I’m very happy I’m not alone in being all tied in knots when you are around. I swear you come close to me and I forget just about everything under the sun.”

“Well, that is useful to know. If I can ever get my brain to work in the same room with you that is,” he muttered. He was smiling when he said it. Then he looked around. “Do you really
not
want to be here anymore than I do?”

“I really don’t want to be here,” Ava said with a laugh. “I would much rather be anywhere but here please." She looked down at the gown and added, “While this gown is stunningly beautiful, I think it would be best if I were out of it and in jeans and a sweater instead.”

“All right,” he smiled. “Let’s go to the bar. We’ll have one more drink while we edge our way closer to the doors. We’ll stand, chatting, maybe admiring that painting there. Then when Dion’s back is turned, we’ll ditch the glasses and get out of here. We’ll get you up to your room so you can change and I’ll just switch out my clothes. Then we can literally go wherever you would like to go.”

“I think that sounds like a marvelous plan. Will you be able to do something with this gown so it’s cleaned and put away? It’s likely worth more than a small nation so it needs to be protected. Will you do that for me please?”

“Once you are out of it, I’ll clean it and store it. Did you want it in the room or should I stash it elsewhere for now?” he asked. Taking her hand he led her toward the bar. Leaning over, he ordered them each a drink, soda for her, scotch for him. “Think on where you’d like to go, Ava,” Ares advised her as he handed over her glass of soda.

“I think somewhere else for now. With the diamonds that are on this gown I think somewhere very secure would be a great idea. Can you make that happen?” she asked him with a smile. “As for where?” She shrugged. “Surprise me. Take me to your favorite spot, show me what makes you, you.”

“I can pretty much make anything happen if I put my mind to it,” he said. With a scotch in his one hand, he took her free hand in his free hand. Guiding her slowly through the room, he had his head cocked at a slight angle. He was likely thinking. “I don’t know if I really have a favorite spot. There are a few places that help when I’m feeling the urge to obliterate the universe. I’ll show you those spots.”

“The urge to obliterate the universe? Huh?” She looked at him with wide eyes and shook her head. “I would really rather you didn’t do that. I happen to live in the universe and I really like living too. So I would really rather you didn’t destroy anything,” she teased. “All right, show me your secret places, Ares.”

“I will and they really aren’t all that secret, well... All right, one place is fairly secret, mainly because I only let a select few in, but I’ll show you so you can see that all the legends and myths really are nothing more than pretty little lies.”

“You would trust me with one of your secrets?” she asked with wide eyes. “Really? I would love that,” she admitted to him with a smile. “I would to see a place like that. Where is this place anyway?” She was rambling again, damn it.

“You’ll see,” he told her quietly. He downed his drink and looked to hers. “Finish up, little one. Looks like Dion is being summoned to the kitchen. We have ourselves an opportunity to make a break for it, because if he sees us darting out of here before he’s given leave.” Ares shook his head, “The legends of the battles of the Titans and the Greek Gods will have nothing on the snit fit he will throw.”

“Then we should get out while the gettin' is good I would say. Someone is there to cause an issue in the kitchens right when we want to get away. Such good timing, don’t you think?” She teased him with a grin. “Did you have something to do with that perhaps?”

“Not this time. It’s likely just a question like when he wants who served what. It’s all new kitchen staff except for a couple of the chefs. So more than likely, the person that’s in charge, can never remember the title, is nervous and wanting to double check everything.” Setting his glass down, he took Ava’s from her hand and set it aside. A hand on her back pushed her lightly toward the door as he continued to check over his shoulder.

“Do they know what he is? Or do they just think he’s an insane and wealthy man who tosses money around like its water and has a way of looking into a person’s soul and making them do what he wants?”

“They don’t know who he is outside of being the owner. Those who find out about us, well, it usually ends up with their memories being wiped and them sent on their way. There are a select few who know about us. It’s normally people who come from a history tied to us, like you.” He urged her toward the bank of elevators.

“Well, I’m glad I’m not going to have my memory wiped. I happen to like recalling what I had for breakfast and all that.” She teased. “In all seriousness however, I would like to recall you, no matter what. I happen to enjoy you, even when you do that thing with your upper lip when someone pisses you off.”

Frowning at her words, he just stared at her as they got into the elevator. It was empty, but given the fact the hotel had just opened and there was a party going on, not a huge surprise. “What thing do I do with my upper lip?” he asked.

She grinned and turned to look at him. “For example, when the bartender passed you a drink, he must have done or said something or thought something that pissed you off because you did this.” She gave a slight snarl with her upper lip to show him. “That is what I’m talking about.” She didn’t know if she was pulling it off, but she was trying.

“That’s not bad,” he said with a sigh. He sucked air through his teeth and tipped his head. “He wanted to know when you would be free next. I asked what he meant and his answer didn’t make me very happy. End of story.” He turned his head to watch the numbers on the display, obviously not wanting to discuss it. She need not worry, 'cause the God already had plans for the mortal that dared to think something as vile about a woman whom was on his arm. No one, and he did mean no one, fucked with those under his protection as Ava was. The God wasn’t even going to think about why he felt such intense anger at the bartender.

“When I would be free next? I don’t under.... Oh.” She gulped. “I get it. Now I understand that look. Wow, I seriously would not want to be in his dreams or his shoes right now. That’s really not a good thing to ask of anyone. How dare he?” She suddenly realized what the man thought she was. “Do I look like a prostitute?” she demanded.

“Not even a little,” Ares said quietly. He looked at her as they reached her floor. “I’ll be letting Dion know about the bartender, but you are right, no one will want to be in his shoes after tonight. I’d have done something but with the number of people at the bar, it would have been a little suspicious.” Taking her hand, he pulled her from the elevator and led her down the hall toward her room. Already Ares was
in talks
with Morpheus about gaining access to the mortals dreams tonight. He would have his pound of flesh, even if it were only in a dream.