Ares: (Gods of Old Book 1) Read online

  Pulling her closer to him, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. He led her outside slowly and around a corner. Nudging her a little further into the darkness he wrapped her up in his arms. “I’m going to pop us into an alley near the gelato place that’s the very best in town. We can grab our dessert and then head up the hill.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Laying her cheek against his chest she sighed and closed her eyes. “I trust you,” she whispered the words softly to him and meant them. She did trust him. Fully, completely and without a shadow of a doubt. He was her everything, and she would trust him with her all.

  Smiling down at her he kissed her slowly and gently. The slight change in temperature warned her he’d flashed them. That and when she lifted her head, the buildings looked different. “You good?” he asked in that low, husky tone of his.

  “Damn that voice of yours,” Ava whispered with a smile. “Incredible.” She looked up at him and nodded, “Yes. I’m perfectly fine. Any time at all that I can be in your arms, I’m great,”she told him happily. “Just FYI for future reference.”

  “Good to know,” he grinned. Dropping another quick kiss on her lips he pulled back and took her hand. “Come on; you have many choices of gelato to try and narrow down.” Tucking her close to his side he led her out of the alleyway and around to the front of the shop. Inside he let her get up close to the counter and look at all the flavors.

  She took her time as she looked at the flavors; she sampled several before finally choosing one that made her sigh and close her eyes in bliss. “That one,” she told him. “The Coyote Chocolate one, please,” she said with a grin, then added, “Oh, and the Amaretto one.”

  “Mint lime for me, please,” Ares said shaking his head at her. “At least I know what to bring home on occasion.” He pressed a kiss to her hair before moving to pay for their desserts. “That is, of course, if this isn’t a passing fling with flavors.”

  “Oh no, I don’t think that it is. I really, really like it. A great deal.” Ava looked up at him and smiled, “So you’re saying that you’re glad you brought me here so that you have something that I like in order to steer me away from if I’m upset?” she teased.

  “Well yeah, what man doesn’t want to find something to soothe his woman when she’s having a bad day?” He’d phrased that rather well. “Plus, having something to surprise you with on occasion that I know for a fact you like, bonus.”

  “Well it’s totally something that I like,” she said with a smile. “So you can surprise me on occasion with it if you would like. Especially if you want to suck up. That’s a very, very good way to go,” she assured him with a smile.

  “I’ll remember that,” he said. Reaching out he took their desserts with a thanks to the man behind the counter. Passing hers to her, he waved her towards the door and followed her out of the store. “The sun’s starting to go down. We should head up and find a good spot to sit before it’s too dark to see.”

  “Then how about we find a shadow and you move us to where we should be?” she asked with a smile and took a bite of her gelato and sighed. Closing her eyes, she savored the flavors. “And people say that ice cream is best. Idiots.”

  “That’s because most will never experience a true gelato. The stuff made in the US, unless by a true master, is a pale imitation at best.” He guided her between buildings and into a shadowed doorway. Stepping in closer to her he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Close your eyes for a moment more and we’ll be where we need to be.”

  Ava wrapped herself close to him and sighed. Closing her eyes, she rested close to him, the beating of his heart reassuring her even as she felt the pressure change when they moved from place to place. “Are we there yet?” she said with a laugh.

  “Cute, but yes we’re here,” he said quietly. A quick kiss on her lips and then he was letting her go. “Here, hold my gelato will you, please. I’m going to create a blanket and spread it out for us to relax on.”

  Taking his gelato she took a bite of his, her eyes never leaving his as she did so, almost daring him to say something. “Well, go on. Create the blanket, honey, so that we can sit and enjoy the sunset.”

  “Quit eating my gelato, woman,” he said. Making a face at her, he shook his head and snapped his fingers. Shaking out the large blanket he created, Ares settled it on the ground. Holding out a hand to her he smiled, “Come on, darling. We have a great view of the ocean and the sun will keep us warm even as it slowly sets.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Passing him his gelato she settled down on the blanket with him, unsurprised when pillows popped up behind them. “You think of everything don’t you, honey?” That was one of the many things she adored about him. He thought of her in every single turn that he made.

  “I try,” he shrugged. Leaning back on the pillows he settled his cup of gelato on his lower chest. “I just want to ensure you are comfortable at all times. If you’re not, then I have to figure out why and fix it. It’s part of who I am so I hope you’ll understand that in the years to come.”

  "Well, all I can say is that I am hopeful that in the years to come we will learn each other very intimately and know just what the other is thinking by the look on our faces." She smiled as she spoke, eating her gelato as she talked to him. "We will get to know each other. We will also spend a great deal of time loving one another. That, my dear, is what I am looking forward to."

  “The talking or the loving?” he asked with a grin. “Because while I adore talking to you, learning about you and just being with you; the sex is fucking rocking and will only get better with time. As we learn one another, we’ll learn more about what each of us wants and needs in our love life.”

  That had Ava laughing, and she nodded. “I happen to love the sex with you as well. If it is only going to get better, then you better take out some great life insurance on me because if it gets better than this, then I will totally die.”

  In a move too fast for her eye to track he had their gelato set aside and she was flat on her back with him over her in barely a moment. “Don’t ever say that,” he said softly. The look on his face was completely serious, no joking at all. “I won’t lose you, Ava; it’s not permitted. So please, never say such things even in jest.”

  Reaching up Ava touched his cheek. “I’m sorry, Ares, I was truly only kidding,” she whispered honestly. “It was a joke, pure and simple. I never want to be away from you. I never want to live in a world without you. I am yours, Ares, from now until the end of time. I don’t know how we will accomplish that but it’s what I want; what I need.”

  He hugged her tight, “I’ll find us a way, Ava. Somehow, someway, I will find us a way to share the life together that we want to have. One of pleasure, love, laughter and great in length. But no tears; tears are very bad, and I do not do well with them at all.”

  “No tears,” she promised him with a smile. “I know that you will find a way. I know that you will find a way for us to be together for your entire span of life. I have no idea how you will do it, but I know that you will. I trust in you that much, Ares.”

  A shudder wracked his body, and his arms tightened around her. “I love you, Ava, thank you for giving me such trust. You barely know me, so I understand just what a blessing it is. You’ve given me so much, little one, but this,” he kissed her gently. “This amazes me completely.”

  She smiled and shrugged, “Not that hard to trust you. I’ve been fascinated by you for my entire life; I’ve always wanted to know what you were like and now that I do-” She shrugged again, her fingers feathering through his hair. “Now that I do, I love you. Now that I do, I know that there is no one else out there for me, just you.”

  “And you are it for me, love,” he smiled. Leaning in he kissed her again, slowly, gently. A moment later he sat up and pulled her up as well. “Here you are, love,” he passed over her gelato. Then he settled back down against the pillows, “Oh, the sun’s setting.”

  Settling back against
him once more with her head on his chest she watched the sunset with him, enjoying her gelato and simply taking in the beauty. “Incredible,” she said after a small time. Smiling she looked at him, her gelato finished and simply enjoying life. “Thank you for this. It’s been an amazing day.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it, Ava,” he smiled at her. Pressing a kiss to her lips, he took her dish and set it aside along with his. Settling back he pulled the blanket up and around them both, his arms wrapping her close to him.

  Ava looked up at him and smiled, “Hey,” she whispered teasingly. “So what is on the agenda for now?” Her tone was teasing, happiness imbibing each word she spoke. “I thought that perhaps we should do something like, oh I don’t know, go back to your home on Olympus so that we can enjoy some alone time together?”

  “We could do that,” he nodded slowly. “But not yet. For now, just a short time, I wish to lay here and hold you. Just to enjoy this moment for a little longer. Then we will go to the house, and we can do whatever you’d like. All the food and drink is safe there for you; I cleared out all the rest of it so nothing would harm you.”

  “Thank you for that.” Shifting slightly next to him she asked, “How would the food and drink at your home hurt me? I don’t understand. Wasn’t it just, well, food and drink?” She didn’t know what the issue was with God food and drink.

  “For you, a human, it would have been deadly. Everything on Olympus contains ambrosia and, in certain amounts it can be an aphrodisiac, for the Gods. For humans, it creates a buzz, a high almost. But that only lasts a little while. Then the throat starts to close, the blood pumps faster and death steals over them; asphyxiation would be the cause noted by any doctor of your world. There is no way to reverse the effects once it’s ingested. That’s why I didn’t want you eating or drinking anything there. But now, it’s safe, I cleaned everything out and replaced it with foods and drinks of the human realm.”

  Her eyes went wide when he said that, and she nodded. “Ambrosia. In the mythos doesn’t it say that that is how Gods turn their lovers into immortals or something like that?” she asked with a frown, trying desperately to recall the words of the book.

  “In theory, it can be used to do so, but what it doesn’t say is that there’s usually a life or death situation involved. On top of all that, you need the blessing of the God King to do it. Without the blessing of Zeus, lots of dead mortals.” Ares looked at her and touched her cheek gently. “There are other ways to turn a mortal immortal. But it takes a bit of research and, from what little I recall, a bit of help from another.”

  “Well, we have lots of time to think about it and figure it out. For now, I just want to be with you, Ares. For now, I’m perfectly happy simply being in your arms and holding you tight. To me, this is heaven. However, I wouldn’t be opposed to going home with you. Making love on your massive bed. Enjoying the amenities that you have as a God and all that.”

  “There are a few amenities,” he grinned down at her. “I do like the fact that I can strip you and have you in bed all with one thought. It saves with the awkward struggles to get out of a shirt or bra. The indignity of tripping out of your pants and falling on your face.”

  “Yes, this is very true. I like that part a lot too. I wish I could do it to you, but when I ask nicely, you are more than willing to do it for me,” she said with a smile. “That makes me all kinds of happy too by the way, that you are as eager as I am to get naked.”

  “I’d walk around in the buff all the time, but apparently, it upsets people. Personally, I don’t understand why. Though I guess I see that I’m likely showing up most males on the planet by being just so damned impressive.” His smile was teasing, he was poking fun at himself and everyone else all at the same time.

  That had her grinning, “Well, you are rather impressive, but I’m all for you walking around in the buff all the time. As long as we are home and no one can see in that is. I would even walk around naked as well. Just so that there would be no clothing between us at all. In fact, I like that idea.”

  “Then we will do that when we are alone and in one of our homes. At least at either of my places, we don’t need to worry about neighbors trying to sneak a peek. I have no one living close enough to bother with such things.”

  “I think that sounds like a good idea. Being able to spend time together without anyone seeing us. Yep, I like this idea a lot. And sunbathing without suits so that we don’t have tan lines. I think that you have hit upon very good ideas, Ares.”

  “Who said I’d ever let you out to tan?” he smirked. Then, dropping a kiss to her nose, he held her tighter for a moment. “I think we should head home. You’re starting to look a little tired, love. I think I might have worn you out a bit today with our adventures and globe-trotting.”

  “I think that you might have,” Ava agreed and lay her head on his chest once more. “You would let me tan,” she said with confidence, “Not burn, but tan a nice lovely golden color. I think I would look good with a head to toe tan, don’t you?”

  “If you look any better than you do now I will likely pass out from it. But yes, I’d never let you burn. I would never let you suffer the agony of a sunburn. But you know that so,” he sighed. “Alright, we’ll worry about all that tomorrow. So, Olympus or the Italian home for tonight?”

  “I think Olympus tonight so that you can really sleep.” She looked up at him and smiled, “I have a feeling that you and all your brethren sleep better in your God homes than your Earthen homes, or am I wrong on that?” Either place was amazing, but she wanted to be where he felt most comfortable because she would feel more comfortable as well.

  “I never truly let my guard down in either place. But, I suppose, the warding is better on Olympus. The power of the other Gods feed the wards and shields. So yes, we’ll spend tonight there. But only tonight. I tend to get too tense when I’m there too long. At least here on Earth, I can relax without the worry of one of my backstabbing siblings coming after me.”

  “As long as you are certain.” She frowned now and tilted her head. “If you would rather, I’m more than happy in Italy. I promise that I am. I just want to be where you are. I want to be where you feel safe. I just-” She shrugged. “I just want to be around you period.”

  “I kind of got that, darling. For tonight, we’ll go to Olympus. I do want you to see the sunrise from there at least once. It’s uniquely beautiful, unlike anything you will ever see here on Earth. And you’ll be one of the very few humans to ever watch it. Hold tight,” he warned leaning in to kiss her.

  “Don’t worry; you don’t have to tell me twice.” Ava wrapped her arms around him tightly and closed her eyes again. Her cheek to his chest she sighed and felt when they moved through space, time, whatever it was. She gave him another squeeze, “I can’t wait to see the sun rising, you will make sure we are awake for it?”

  “Absolutely,” he said as they landed on a soft surface and sank in slightly. “We’re here, darling. If you want to grab a shower you can. There are towels in there for you, a toothbrush and a bunch of other stuff that I mostly guessed at but the salesgirl said were a must have for any woman.”

  “Aww, thank you.” He went out of his way for her; that melted her heart more than he could know. “I think a shower would be good. If I’m not out in half hour, come join me?” she teased happily. “And thank you,” she added before giving him a kiss and then moving slightly from him. “Now, which way is the bathroom?”

  “Through that arch there,” he pointed just to her right and behind her. “Call if you need me or can’t find anything. Oh, and I should mention, it’s fairly open. No one can see in; again it’s shielded, but it can be startling to someone not expecting it.”

  “Oh, boy. Right, gotcha. So if I see someone outside the windows or whatever I shouldn’t scream, right?” She had a lot to get used to it seemed, a great deal to learn about this man and this place. “I trust you,” she said easily.

  “N
o, if you see some strange person outside you damned well better scream. Not that they could see you, but they also shouldn’t be there. So yeah, you see someone lurking you let one rip, and I’ll know I have someone I need to skewer.”

  “Oh. Okay. Well then, right. See someone and scream but don’t worry about it.” She laughed and looked at him. “Half hour, if I’m not out, come and join me.?” She added for the second time and before he could reply, took off for the bathroom so that she could get her shower and shave before he joined her. She wanted to be fully smooth for him this time around.

  Half an hour later there was a knock on the shower glass. “You still alive or have you drowned, my darling?” Ares called to her and pressed his face to the glass. “Hello. Ava, you in there? Babe, you have an awful lot of steam going on, what’s up with that?”

  Ava swiped her hand down the glass of the shower and grinned back at him. “I was enjoying a nice, wonderfully hot, shower, but I’ve cooled it down now. Wanna come in and wash my back for me?” She had been shaving. She shaved every inch of hair from her lower body and underarms, of course. She wanted to know what he would think of it and if he would like it or not.

  “Of course, I’ll wash your back,” he grinned. He pulled open the door and stepped into the shower with her. “Oh my, what is this?” he turned her to face him, and his eyes zeroed in on her bare pussy. “Holy mother of the Gods. You shaved,” he whispered. Then he fell to his knees before her, cupped her ass and hauled her in close to him. “Sweet mother of the Gods, this is amazing. I have to taste you like this.” Her only warning before his mouth was on her bare mound.

  Ava hadn’t been prepared for this, at all. Her hands moved to his head and shoulders when he grabbed her, and all she could do was spread her legs for him and lean back on the shower wall. Closing her eyes she moaned, shifted when he lifted one of her legs and put it over his shoulder and whimpered.

  His tongue slid slowly over her smooth folds, slipping between to find her clit. He flicked the tight nub over and over, his hands massaging her ass and pulling her tighter to his mouth. A growl sounded, and she could feel the reverberations through her body, but it all settled in her womb creating a heavy and deep throb.