Page 56 of Alpha Marked

"When what?"

"When can we do it?"

"Uh… Well, I need to-"

"Check your calendar to find out when we are coming back. Right. I forgot."

Ares' mouth opened and closed again.

Damn, River. Why do you have to be such a bitch?

"I should head to bed." Ares gulped down his water and tossed the bottle into the trash with the beer he didn't open.

"Ares?" River said as he walked away.

He stopped but didn't turn back.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I…I don't mean to be like this. I don't, I just… This is all so much."

Ares sucked in a breath and strode back to her. Quick but gentle, he raked his hands into her hair and kissed her. It wasn't forceful. It wasn't needy. Just a soft caress of lips like a lover would give to his beloved. Then his lips planted on her forehead, and he kissed her a second time before he withdrew.

Without a word, he turned and left. River's wolf whined at the loss, and River shivered as goosebumps pebbled her skin. As she stared at the spot he'd stood moments before, she wanted nothing more than for him to come back and kiss her again.

CHAPTERTEN

It'd been three days since Ares had seen River, but every night when he returned to the hotel, her fragrance had lingered in the corridor between their suites, causing his wolf to grow increasingly more agitated.

Zeke and Theo had kept him apprised of her every move. She'd stayed in the hotel. Gone to her workshop to finish a project. She'd met with her mom and Strider for lunch, and they brought her two duffle bags of things for her. Bianca had stopped by almost every day. But she hadn't come to him. Not once.

On the third night, Ares' wolf couldn't handle being cooped up so close to her and not in the same room. To touch and taste her. He'd been forced to cut his last meeting short due to his complete lack of control and had returned to take a cold shower and have a few rounds with his hand. But neither did anything to quench his wolf's frustration.

Around eleven p.m., he called for Theo and Santiago. He'd dressed in a tight black T-shirt and pair of jeans and walked into the hall. He stomped to the elevator and poked the button.

"Where do you want to go, Boss?" asked Santiago.

"Out."

"Anywhere specific?"

The bell on the elevator rang, and a light laugh pierced him straight in the heart. The doors opened, and River stopped laughing. Bianca, Zeke's mate, let out a small squeak, noticing the men.

Ares' wolf roared to life, but he fought the beast back into its cage.

He stepped to the side, and Bianca moved around him, heading for River's suite. River stepped out, her eyes raking up and down his body.

"Hi," she said, her voice husky.

Ares nodded. "Beloved."

She choked down a lump, and they stared at each other for several moments.

"Are you prepared to leave?"

She licked her lips and nodded.

"The car will be here at nine a.m. to pick you up and take you to the plane."

Her eyebrows scrunched together. "Are you not coming?"

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