Ares (6 page)

Ava shrugged. “You said you were sorry. That was enough for me,” she admitted to him and moved closer so she could wrap her arms around his neck. “Personally, I happen to really enjoy your company as well, that’s even better, don’t you think?”

His hands cupped her bottom and pulled her tight to him. “It is even better,” he said softly. “I quite enjoy your company as well. I want to spend more time with you, Ava. A lot more time, but all I have is time so I’m always looking for something or someone to keep me occupied. Will you keep me occupied from time to time, Ava?”

“I will keep you company for as long as I can. I don’t want to give up a moment of time but we both know that eventually you will have to find another companion.” Ava’s fingers played in his hair, caressing him as she did so. “So I think we should take the time to enjoy each other as much as we can, don’t you?”

He was frowning at her. “Why would I ever need to find another companion?” he asked quietly. “I don’t want to find another one when the one I have is so damned perfect it’s scary. No one, no woman, should ever be as perfect as you are, Ava Von Maur.”

“Because you are a God and I’m not, Ares. I adore you and I think I’m going to love being your companion, but we have to be realistic here. I will age, and one day you will find I’m not as much fun as I am right now. I understand that fully, that’s why I said we should enjoy the time we have now and worry about the rest later.”

“Oh sweet, sweet, Ava.” He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “You have so very much to learn about us Gods. For one, we don’t take rejection well and we always plan ahead. We will discuss that when you know me a little better and haven’t run the other way.”

Ava laughed and shook her head. “I seriously doubt that will happen but thank you for the warning.” Giving him a hug, she wrapped her legs tighter around him. Finally after a moment she released him and grinned, “So, let’s swim shall we?”

He pulled her right back to him, “I think another full body hug is needed. Never doubt my words, Ava. I know you don’t know me well yet, but you will see that I say what I mean and mean what I say. A Gods word is his bond.”

She couldn't deny him anything. Wrapping her arms and legs around him, she hugged him. Her cheek rested against his before she let it drop to the curve of his neck. She sighed happily and just cuddled there with him in the warm waters of New Zealand, happier than she could ever in her life recall being.

He let out a breath and rested his chin on her shoulder. One of his hands smoothed up and down her back, moving from the straps of the bikini top right to the top of the bottom piece. A few minutes later he pressed a kiss to her neck, “Come, you want to swim so we should. Just don’t get too close to the waterfall, it’s got enough power to suck you under and pummel you.”

“That would be very, very bad,” she agreed but cuddled up closer to him. “Although I’m finding that right now being in your arms like this is a little slice of heaven. It’s much more fun than swimming would be. I say we swim in a few, hold each other for now?”

“Sounds good to me,” he smiled against her neck. Then there was a small sting from his teeth on her shoulder. They were moving toward the edge and then he stopped. A couple minutes later he was sitting on a rock with her in his lap. “Much better, easier on the legs too.”

“I couldn't agree more.” When the wind shifted and blew over them though she shivered, “Okay, maybe it's time for some clothes. I really dislike being cold.” She tried to burrow in closer to him, tried to gain more of his heat as it were.

His hand moved up to her neck and a feeling of warmth slid through her. “Better?” he asked. He brushed his lips to her cheek and then nibbled on her jaw. “If you’re not warm enough I can add a little more.”

“Yes, that’s much better, thank you.” She relaxed into him with a happy sigh. “How is it that you know exactly what I need?” She hadn’t told him how warm she needed to be but he hit the nail right on the head the first try. It was surreal. “Almost feels like we are connected, weird I know since you just met me and me you.”

“Again, I’m a God. I pick up on things most people wouldn’t. Plus, I am beginning to know you. You’re also right, we are connected, Ava. We have been since the beginning and we will be until the end.” His hand slid down to rest between her shoulder blades as he nipped at her shoulder again.

“I like it,” Ava admitted to him. “I should be terrified, I should be running and screaming the other way or asking to be committed to a psych ward but honestly,” she shrugged, “this feels far too good to run from, so why run when it’s better to simply accept?”

“You are being very open-minded about all this, Ava. I have a feeling I should be worried,” his words were teasing. “Why are you being so accepting of everything? I don’t mean to pry, but I am curious to know you better.”

“Honestly?” she asked and shrugged when he just gave her ‘that’ look. “I’ve heard stories of the Gods all of my life. I have always been intrigued by you in particular. So if I am taking this all very well and with an open mind it’s because I have always known that you were real. The stories that have been passed down through the generations made me believe it.”

“You were still more than a little shocked when you met me. Not that I mind of course, it’s always nice to see a little shock and surprise. Gives me a wonderful little feeling of glee in my heart,” he said with a laugh.

“Oh you are rotten,” she said with a laugh. “Good thing I adore you already or else I might think about dunking you or something silly like that.” She wouldn’t and they both knew it. “Have I mentioned to you just how much I like you? How happy I am to have met you?”

“I think you may have mentioned it, briefly, but do feel free to tell me more any time at all. It’s nice to know someone out in the universe likes me for me and even enjoys spending time with me. In my family it’s obligation that pulls us together, or father’s big head and powers.”

“Well, I like you for you and I’m thankful for whatever brought you into the temple that day. Yes, I was a might pissed off at you, but it was because you just up and vanished without letting me explain. Please never do that again. I would hate to have to try to hunt you down because it might kill me, but I would totally do it.”

“Shh,” he pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m not going to up and disappear again. Not without a damned good reason. If it happens just wait for me, I will be back and I will explain. Later, when we go back to my place I’m going to add some things to the pendant I gave you. I want you to have the ability to know I’m safe and well. Plus I think I should give you a key to my place. You won’t be able to leave until I get there, but you will be safe there if you need a place to go.”

“You are too sweet,” she said with a smile. “It's one of the things I like about you. You don’t show it to very many people so it makes it even more special that you are showing it to me. Thank you for allowing me in.”

Shrugging he kissed her cheek lightly. “You are special, Ava, very special.” Rubbing his cheek to hers gently he nipped at her jaw. “You seem to totally stomp down my mean streak. Not sure I like that, it’s going to be hell on my reputation with you around making me look all nice and gentle, kind and generous. Hell.”

She laughed and shook her head, “Only with me. You can be whoever and whatever you want to be with others, but with me, I want you to be the man that I care for. The man that I know you are. You are such a sweetheart and I’m very happy you are in my life.”

“Oh, and the blows keep coming. That was a swift jab to the chin there, darling Ava.” He leaned back, a hand behind him to keep him sitting up at an angle. “Just don’t go around spreading those rumors. Don’t need all the others thinking I’m going soft.”

“Don’t worry, your secrets are safe with me,” Ava assured him and pressed a kiss to his chin. “Now then, what are we going to do after this lovely swim?” she asked happily. “I think you and I should do something else. I’m not sure what but we should go and do some other things, don’t you think?”

“We will,” he grinned at her. “After our swim I’m going to take you to a Turkish market and we’re going to get some food together. Then you and I are going for a picnic. A nice little spot I know near the wall of China. We’ll sit, enjoy the view, eat and then we can go for a walk along the wall for a bit.”

“I can’t wait. It sounds like great fun. I‘m going to assume you know all of these languages because if not, we are both totally and completely screwed. I’m so not good with languages.”

“Yes, I know the languages. It’s all good, Ava. I wouldn’t take you somewhere that wasn’t safe and I couldn’t understand the locals.” Ares lifted a hand to her cheek, “Trust me, sweetheart.” Smiling he leaned in and kissed her gently on her lips. “We should swim now though, I don’t want to take you to the market too late. We don’t want to miss all the good stuff.”

“I know you wouldn’t take me anywhere that was risky.” However, when he kissed her she forgot to breathe for a moment. Licking her lips when he pulled back and told her they should swim, she nodded dumbly. “Oh, okay. Yes. Swim.” She suddenly went stupid with the kiss.

“Yes, a swim,” he said with a grin. His hand cupped her face and he kissed her again, slowly. His tongue slid along her lips until she opened for him. Then he danced it over her teeth lightly and very slowly, touched her tongue.

She forgot all about everything except for kissing him. Nothing else mattered, only him. Holding him close, she kissed him back, let her hands move over his shoulders, down his back, and shuddered as she did.

His hands were skating over the skin of her back, slowly moving up and down, his thumbs brushing over her ribs and the outer curve of her breasts. Then the kiss changed, it became deeper, more demanding. His body tensed under hers as he pressed in closer to her, pressing her closer to him.

When they finally parted she was certain she had a glazed look about her face and a smile on her lips. “Wow.” Okay that wasn’t the most original thing she could say, but it was all she could think of at the moment. “I really think this date is going far better than either of us could have imagined.”

Ares chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t know about that but it’s definitely unique. Now, I think we were going to swim weren’t we?” He leaned in to kiss her lightly before sliding them off the rock. His hold loosened up a bit and then finally he let her loose.

“Yes, we were going to go swimming or something like that,” she said with a grin. “I like that idea. Let’s swim, get rid of a bit of energy that we have going on and then, when you are ready, we will get out of here. You can get us all dried off and then take us for a marketplace excursion and dinner.”

“Uh-huh,” he grinned at her. “Still trying to get your head back on straight I see, though your attention to detail is admirable. Especially the part about remembering I’m a God finally.” Chuckling, he kissed her cheek and let her go fully. “Stay away from the falls,” he warned her once more. Then he was off and swimming, an easy looking breaststroke, very relaxed as his muscles stretched and bunched.

“I will. Even if I somehow managed to get under them you wouldn’t let me be hurt, admit it.” She had faith in him. She watched him for a moment as he swam and sighed happily. Damn she was one lucky woman. To have him there with her, to be able to know he was part of her and she him? Oh yeah, life was good and it was only just starting. As she swam lazily, she wondered what would happen if they spent more time together, more than the small smattering of time they had now.

After a while, Ava paused to look around. Ares was sitting on the rock again one knee drawn up with his arm resting over it. “You ready to head out?” he called to her. “I don’t know about you, Ava, but I am starving. What say we get out, get dressed, and we can get a move on?”

“I say you should do your thing, get me out of here and dressed in one motion and then we get going.” She was totally down for him using his power as a God on her. Especially if it meant that she didn’t have to feel a cold breeze on her body. “So dress me as you think I should be dressed and let’s go find some food and haggle for some goods.”

His smile got bigger and he nodded. “All right, that I can do.” He lifted a hand and snapped his fingers. In the next moment she was on dry land, facing him, fully dressed just as he was. “Ready?” he held out a hand to her.

She laughed, she couldn't help herself. “Thank you.” She looked down and shook her head. “Well at least you dressed me nicely huh? I like it a lot. I also like the fact that you and I match. It’s kinda nice.” She said happily. Moving to his side, she linked her arm with his. “All right, let’s do this shall we?”

“The matching part was only a passing thought, but since it was there, it stuck. Sorry about that,” he said looking down at her. He put his hand over the one resting on his arm and kept looking at her. One moment the roar of the waterfall was there, the next the sound of voices rose. “Welcome to Turkey and the biggest, best marketplace anywhere in the world.”

She stepped in just a bit closer to him and smiled. “Yes I am perfectly fine with the matching outfits.” She assured him. “Okay, I don’t have the first idea what language they are speaking so you’re going to have to translate for me from time to time please.”

“I will,” he smiled down at her. Sliding his arm around her waist, he guided her between buildings. There before them were tables with cloth overhangs. “We have various meats, some questionable fruits, nuts and even some cheeses and breads. Any preferences what we get for our picnic?”

“I’m up for a little of everything. I’m not real big on cinnamon or peanuts, but I like everything else. No allergies. Oh, and I don’t like lamb at all. I should likely tell you that one now. Lamb just makes me go ‘ick’ and that’s not a good thing to do in the middle of a picnic, right?”

“That would not be good at all,” he agreed. Grinning, he shook his head and led her toward a table. “What are your feelings on goat?” he asked. Picking up a couple pieces of fruit, he pressed them to his nose and inhaled before nodding to the proprietor. The man said something to which Ares replied. They went back and forth for a time before Ares passed over some coins. “So, goat?” he looked at her again.