Page 23 of Found In Destruction

The room went quiet, and there was an obvious tension between Judas and the guys. He was riling them up, because they were territorial, easy targets. Heat flashed across my face. I knew my cheeks were probably pink with embarrassment.

The meeting went on for another half hour—something about training arrangements and ally outreach—but I barely listened. My mind kept drifting away. Usually, I’d sit with them at these meetings and we’d all mindlink each other with side comments and jokes. I’d barely been able to contain my laughter. But now I felt like I was on the verge of crying.

When the meeting ended, everyone hung around for a few minutes. Michael and I made plans to meet up for breakfast tomorrow at his place, and I caught up with Charlie. Oisín stalked him from across the room, and I had a feeling they were working through their own issues. Relationships never seemed to end well for the Morningstar family.

Once everyone left, it was just me and the guys left. To say the energy in the room was awkward would be an understatement. I couldn’t stand being around them for a moment longer, and I escaped to my bedroom. Before I could lock the door and ward the room, Ares shot in behind me with his unnatural speed and did it for me.

“We need to talk.”

10

ARES

“We need to talk,” I demanded.

Her three and a half month absence drove me to the point of insanity, and I had to feel her, be near her—breathe the same air as her. I couldn’t let this awkwardness separate us. She was my everything, and I wouldn’t let her reduce us to nothing.

She gasped, turning to the door to see it was already locked. Fuck, cornering her like this probably wasn’t the best move, but I’d take my chances if it got us alone in the same room. I closed the distance between us, hooking my hand under her elbow and hauling her to me. Our chests brushed together before she tried to take a step back. Banding my arms around her, I didn’t allow any distance between us. We were going to work this out, here and now. Ineededher back—there was no other option for me.

“Ares,” she whimpered, her voice exhausted and strained. “Please, stop.”

“I need you. Please don’t make me go away,” I begged her. “You’re my Little Goddess, my whole entire world. I know what I did was messed up, but please don’t hide from me anymore.”

Her whole body glowed a soft gold as she trembled in my arms. She peered up at me with watery blue eyes, and I swiped her tears away with my thumb. Knowing I caused her pain made me feel like shit, but seeing it mar her beautiful face killed me.

She shook my hand away, gazing at the wall behind me. Her hair was longer, the curls brushed into soft waves. Winding my fingers through it, I tilted her head back, so she was forced to look at me—to see me. The man who was so fucking in love with her that he’d burn the entire gods damn world to ash for her. All she had to do was ask, and I’d do anything for her.

“I…I…” she stuttered. “I don’t know what to do,” she cried. “I love you, but I hate you—I can’t even look at you without my heart aching. I can’t forget what you did…”

I felt the contraceptive spell she cast around herself, so I couldn’t forget either. The truth was, I didn’t regret my actions. I worshiped my Little Goddess and wanted to give her everything, including the ultimate gift of all, a piece of us that would live forever. But I did regret how I hurt her, how careless I was with her thoughts and feelings. The deceitful way I treated her was a reflection of the man I worked hard to not be anymore. If penance was what she needed to see the man I truly was, I’d beg and grovel to prove myself.

But I would never let her go.

I leaned down to kiss her soft, pink lips, taking my time to explore her mouth with my tongue, reminding her how it felt to be claimed by me. She tensed at first, then melted into me, fisting my shirt and pulling at it to bring us closer. When we parted, I heard her soft panting and knew I had her where I needed her to be.

“I can work with hate—as long as you still feel something for me—because you better believe I’m burning up for you, Little Goddess.” I whispered in her ear before walking her toward the bed and gently pushing her down until she sat on the edge.

Kneeling in front of her, I rubbed her thighs, hiking the skirt of her dress up and revealing her bare skin, thick thighs, and mile long legs. I missed being between them, worshiping her in my favorite way. Resting my chin on her thigh, I peered up at her frowning face, vowing to change it to an expression of ecstasy.

“Ares?” she asked, but I cut her off.

“I’m sorry,” I said, kissing her knee. “I’m sorry for being a deceitful monster.” I kissed her inner thigh. “I’m sorry for hurting you.” I kissed slightly higher, the creamy skin beneath my lips driving me insane. “I’m sorry I drove you away for months.”

I parted her thighs more, giving myself enough room that my shoulders fit between them. Pushing her back onto the bed, I inhaled her scent, my mouth watering.I missed you.I licked her clit, taking my first taste of her since she returned.

“Fuck, Little G, you taste so good. I missed you so much,” I croon before licking her again, from her clit all the way down. I speared her with my tongue, giving her everything. I had to convince her to give me another chance.

“Oh Gods, Ares” she moaned, grabbing my hair and pulling me closer.“Fuck.”

That’s right, moan my name while I devour your pussy,I linked her as I continued to lick and suck, feasting like a fucking starved man—and I was. I had gone months without my favorite treat and now I wanted to binge until my ever-present desire for her was sated.

It would be impossible, but I’d try.

I slid two fingers inside her wet perfection and took my time teasing her as I flicked her clit. I wanted her climax to build slowly, until she couldn’t take it anymore and let it take her over like a wave crashing against the shore. Her moans got louder, less coherent, turning into keening mewls and gasps. I felt her magic wrap around us and meld with my own. No matter howangry she was at me, she couldn’t deny the natural chemistry we had.

“Please, please!” she begged as she pushed my head into her sex.

“Please what? Use your words, Little Goddess. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.” I added a third finger, taking pride in how wide her eyes went from the stretch. “I can do this all night.”

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