Page 63 of Wild Kiss

"I'll see all of you tomorrow," he said in a firm voice. "I love you all,” he threw over his shoulder as he carried me out of the town hall. I peeked over Ares’s shoulder, and Connor mouthed “thank you” to me, bowing his head slightly.

I feebly smiled and laid my head back on Ares’s shoulders as he carried me to a waiting car and we went back to the house. My body was so out of it due to the blood loss that I fell asleep in the five minute ride home. I woke up to him carrying me to the stairs, and then into my room. He laid me gently down on the bed, taking off my shoes, and adjusting the covers around me.

And then he went to leave.

"Stay," I croaked, needing him by my side after the events of the afternoon.

He sighed, seeming relieved by my request, and then he slipped his bloodied shirt off and crawled into bed with me. He still had dry-crested blood on his skin, but neither of us cared. He pulled me into his arms and I laid my head on his chest, the sound of his beating heart…the sweetest lullaby I could imagine.

I was out within minutes, feeling safer than I could ever remember feeling.

* * *

My headstill felt heavy when I woke up, and I was shocked to see that Ares was still lying in bed with me…sound asleep. He was always up long before me. Ares was facing my way, and I admired his beauty in the dim light of the sunrise caressing his face from the room's window.

He resembled a sleeping angel, a perfect creation I could scarcely believe was real.

"I can feel you watching me," he said in a sexy, sleep-ridden voice.

I blushed even though he hadn’t opened his eyes.

"I was just wondering if you got up for me and brushed your teeth already, because your breath is surprisingly not bad," I teased.

His eyes flew open. A sexy grin stretched across his face.

"Just my vampire charm."

I laughed.

"How are you feeling, baby?" he murmured, his hand going to my cheek and stroking it softly. I pressed my face into his palm, soaking up the feel of him.

"Much better. Although a better question would be, how areyoufeeling?"

His face sobered. "Alive thanks to you. You saved my life, Rune."

I flushed, feeling shy under his worshipful stare.

"I wasn’t about to let you die on my watch."

Ares continued to stare at me intensely, and my gaze darted away. "What happened?"

He stiffened and withdrew his hand, running it anxiously through his wild locks.

"You heard that I used to be head of a clan of Hunters…" he began, still studying me closely.

I nodded. "What exactly did you hunt?"

He visibly blanched, and dread reared its head.

"Wolves," he said. I flinched and flopped to my back.

"Remind me how we met?" I asked intensely, knowing what he was going to say even before he opened his mouth.

"I was hunting you," he said after a long silence. "I kidnapped you from Amarok, and I took you to the clubhouse we’d set up…and I was going to kill you."

His words were heavy, fearful even…I tensed, sure that what he was about to say would change everything.

"Go on," I whispered.

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