Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

ARES

A res rushed up the front steps of the estate and threw the front door open wide. He dropped his coat to the floor and shrugged off his suit jacket. Loosening his tie, he took the stairs three at a time. He'd been in the middle of a Zoom meeting when his phone rang with Cherry's number. Without saying goodbye, he shut his laptop and raced to the waiting car.

The last twenty-eight hours had been the hardest of his life. About halfway through, he'd feared that perhaps Apollo and River had mated and that there would be no more need for him, but he'd refused to give in to fear. He knew River was his. Knew they were meant for each other. Even so, the thoughts of Apollo being with her had consumed him until the call. And now, as he rushed toward her bedroom, all he could think of was seeing her. Being able to look at her and know she was okay.

Even before Ares opened her doors, her scent shot straight through him and made him hard as the North Pole in the middle of winter.

His heart beat wildly as he took in the room. Cherry held a wet rag to River's head. Half a dozen empty cola cans lay strewn over the bed and floor.

Cherry looked at him and scowled. "Took your time getting here. Did you take the scenic route?"

Ares growled. "I got here as fast as the car would go."

Cherry scoffed. "Then you should have run. Can't you see the pain she's in?"

Ares stepped forward, and Strider appeared from a dark corner of the room and walked to Cherry.

"Come on, Love. You've done all you can." Strider kissed Cherry's head and pulled her hands from River's face.

Cherry grabbed him, and Ares swore he could smell panic on her. He took her in, noticing she wore the same clothes from two days prior, and her hair looked like she hadn't brushed it in a month. Even her eyes seemed puffy and sunken in.

As Strider led Cherry out of the room, it struck Ares. No matter how she appeared or acted, Cherry truly loved River.

His chest squeezed, remembering his own mother.

"Cherry?" he said softly.

She turned to him.

"I'll take care of her. I promise on my life. I'm going to take care of her, whatever she needs."

An expression came over Cherry's face resembling respect, and then she nodded. "You'd better, or I'll eat your balls for breakfast."

The door closed behind them, and Ares couldn't help but smile.

River moaned and rolled over. He undid the French cuffs on his shirt and then threw off his tie and unbuttoned his crisp shirt as he sat on the bed and touched her too-bright cheek.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she tried to focus on him. "Ares?"

"Yes, Beloved. I'm here."

She whimpered, and he'd barely stripped off his shirt before she crawled into his lap naked and needy. Her lips clamped down on his, and his wolf howled in delight. He tangled his hands in her hair, and she kissed him franticly, her hot hands roaming his skin.

She kissed down his neck, and his arousal strained, almost bursting the zipper.

She ran her hands down the front of his pants and rubbed him through them.

Ares growled as she licked back up his throat and kissed him again. Her fingers fumbled with his belt buckle, and she grumbled in frustration.

Her scent invaded him, making him want her all the more, but then a second scent hit him. Apollo.

Ares wolf snarled. Ours. Our mate.

Ares broke the kiss. "River."

Her mouth slammed down on his again. He groaned as one hand rubbed him through his pants, and the other tried to undo his belt again.

Ours. Mine. Mate. Claim.

Ares fought between wanting her and needing to wash Apollo away. It took every ounce of strength he had, but he grabbed her wrists and pulled his mouth from hers.

She looked at him bewildered through bleary eyes.

"Beloved, stop."

"You… don't want me? Is it because of Apollo? Did it break us?"

Ares wolf roared in pain, and Ares took a deep breath to keep from finding his twin and ripping his throat out. But in the moment that he fought to calm himself, he realized that nothing changed for him. His wolf still wanted her. He still wanted her. And they both still knew she was meant for them.

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Do you still feel like I'm meant to be your mate?"

River nodded vigorously. "I need you, Ares. I want you."

"Then that's all that matters."

"But-"

"That's all I care about. My wolf is still telling me you are his. And I know in my heart you are still mine. I don't care what happened with Apollo. I only care what happens between us. Here. Now. That's all that matters. But I need something from you first."

"Anything."

"I need to get his scent off you."

She nodded. "Shower?"

He purred. "Absolutely."

Ares stood with her still wrapped around his waist and covered her with a sheet before opening the door and walking down to his room with her. He forced himself not to look at Apollo's door as they passed, but he couldn't help it as his gaze flicked that direction, wondering if Apollo was in there.

Damn, he hoped so. He wanted Apollo to hear and smell every last thing he would do with River.

River pulled his chin back to her, and she kissed him. He kissed her back and stopped at his door long enough to press her into it and kiss down her neck and over her breasts.

"Ares. I need you."

"And I you, Beloved."

A spasm ripped through her, and she cried out, clawing at his back.

"Ares, make it stop."

His wolf whimpered at the pain in her voice.

He kissed her again and opened his bedroom door. "Don't worry. I'm going to give you exactly what you need."

He didn't bother turning on the light or stripping off his pants. He slid out of his dress shoes and headed straight for the shower. The lights turned on automatically, illuminating the black slate enclosure with a river rock floor and a giant overhead rain shower.

Towels and several lotions and oils lay on the cream travertine counter, just as he'd instructed.

He stepped into the shower and pressed her into the cool tile as he reached for the water and turned it on. Frigid ice shards pelted his back as he shielded her from the icy blast. She clung to him until the water warmed, and then he turned and let the water wash over her.

She sighed as the water hit her skin. He held her up, letting the water soak her body. She smiled and relaxed before her face contorted in pain, and her nails dug into his arms.

Ares swooped in and kissed her as he trailed his fingers down her body to the apex between her legs.

She mewled into his mouth as he traced her hot and swollen sensitive parts. As he slid his fingers inside her, she bucked her hips toward him.

"More," she panted. "I need more."

She didn't even bother trying to undo his belt this time. Instead, she sliced through it with a long, sharp claw and then ripped open the zipper of his pants.

Ares growled at her strength and feistiness. His manhood jutted outward as she shoved his pants and underwear down around his hips.

"Ares. Please."

He kissed her again, swirling his tongue with hers. It wasn't how he'd seen their first time going, but that didn't matter. His mate was begging him for help, and by the goddess, he wouldn't deny her.

With a gentle thrust, Ares eased himself inside her. Instantly, his vision darkened, and his fangs descended as his wolf howled in ecstasy. Her warmth surrounded him, and he almost came right there. He forced himself to stop. This was for her. Her needs, not his.

He waited, kissing her under the warm spray until she wriggled in his grip. She dug her heels into his rear and pushed herself up before sliding down on him again.

Ares growled when she did it a second time and then a third before her muscles clenched around him, and her head fell back against the wall.

She cried out his name, and he rocked into her with hard, long thrusts. She hadn't even finished her climax when he rolled up his legs and coursed across his hips and back.

Ares roared her name as he came hard and fast. Every instinct inside him told him to bite her, to make her his, but he fought back and tried to focus on just her being with him.

Her climax passed, and she sagged in his arms. Eyes hooded, she smiled and touched his cheek.

He leaned in and kissed her softly before trailing his lips down to her breasts and kissing and sucking on them until she made little whimpering sounds.

A surge rippled through her, and she panted again.

"Ares…"

"Tell me what you need, Beloved."

"I need you. Hard and fast. But I don't understand. Do you not want to give me your knot?"

Ares's stomach quivered. Of course, he did. Hell, he wanted to give it to her every time they made love, but he wasn't sure if that was what she wanted.

"Is that what you want?"

She reached between their bodies and stroked him. "I need you. I need your knot. I need all of you."

"Absolutely. But not in here. Let me wash you first."

Ares set her on her feet, and she wobbled uncertainly. He kept a tight grip on one of her hips as he pulled a bar of soap from the soap dish and slid it down her body. She shivered and turned her head, exposing her neck to him.

Ares swallowed hard, seeing the mark from Apollo and the old scar from Titan.

Third, to the party is third best , he heard Titan laugh.

Anger bubbled to the surface, but he pushed it away. No. He wouldn't let either of them ruin this for him or River.

Ares washed her, turned off the water, and stepped out of his ruined suit pants to grab a lush white towel. He wrapped it around her and carried her to his bed. He laid her on it and gently unwrapped her. He took in her beautiful, naked curves for the first time. He trailed his palms down the curve of her breast to the small of her waist and back over the voluptuous curve of her hip.

"Goddess above you are perfect." He pinched her nipple, and she arched off the bed and gasped. "I want to touch and taste every inch of you."

"Yes," she breathed. "But first." She wrapped her legs around his waist and flipped him onto his back.

Damn.

She straddled his hips and pressed her palms into his chest. "I need something else."

Ares' had never been so turned on in his life. Not even when they'd been on the dance floor, and he'd seen her in that bustier and mini skirt.

"Use me and take what you need."

She didn't have to be asked twice. She positioned herself over him, and instead of gently sliding down on him, she impaled herself on his shaft and cried out.

Ares was about to ask her if she was okay when she did it again. The sensation of being exposed to the cool air of the room and then the sudden heat of her body made Ares strain to not climax. Gods above, she felt good.

Again, she speared herself onto him and cried out. Ares looked down to see a rivulet of blood trickle over his hip.

"River stop. You're hurting yourself."

"I need more," she panted. "Harder. I need it harder. I need you to give it to me like you promised Ares."

"I've been trying to be gentle, Little Wolf. You're so small and soft."

River growled in frustration and raked her nails down his chest, opening his skin.

Ares hissed, and she leaned in and licked the lines of blood from his torso just as they began to seal shut.

When she finished, she bent in and bit his lower lip, making him growl. When she looked at him again, all fatigue left her gaze.

"Are you going to give me what I want, or am I going to have to call for Apollo."

Ares snarled and slapped her rear. She shivered in pleasure and smiled.

"Good boy," she whispered.

Ares sat up against the headboard, giving him better leverage and easier access to her full round rear. She slid down on him and then rocked her hips backward, grinding her pelvic bone into him. She shuddered and moaned. He slapped her butt again, forcing her hips forward. She cried out and wrapped her arms around his head, burying him between her breasts. Just where he wanted to be.

River rocked her hips back again, and he slapped her forward once more, and then her rhythm grew faster and more frantic. Ares felt the coil inside him as he drew closer to the edge again. He grabbed her hips and helped her as she rocked him inside her. Her breathing quickened, and just as he thought she was going to climax, she cried out.

"Bite me, Ares. I need you to bite me. Mark me. Make me yours."

His wolf howled in triumph, and all thoughts of Titan and Apollo getting to her first fled. In that moment all he knew was that she wanted him. Him. Not them. Him.

"Tell me," he said thickly from behind his fangs. "Tell me you choose me."

She rocked back onto him again, and his climax rolled up his thighs.

She leaned into his neck, and her fangs grazed his skin. "I choose you, Ares. I choose you."

Before he could move, her fangs pierced his skin, and she cried out as she tightened around him.

Ares roared and bit her throat. His climax rushed through him in a crashing wave so intense he stopped breathing. Her blood exploded in his mouth, and his wolf howled.

His climax thickened and engorged as his knot filled her.

She cried his name as she climaxed again. Ares held her through her aftershocks until she fell onto him, limp and slick with sweat.

Her rushing heartbeat pounded into his chest as she dropped her head to shoulder and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around her and ran his fingertips up and down her spine. Bliss cocooned him, and soon he began to purr.

River sighed, and then he heard her soft snores next to his ear.

Delicately, Ares rolled them on their sides into a more comfortable position for her and watched her beautiful face. He brushed the wet hair from her cheek.

"I love you, River," he whispered.

"I love you too, Ares," she murmured.

Ares's chest squeezed tight, and a tear leaked from the corner of his eye. Everything washed away. All the pain of his past. The loss of his parents. Even his anger toward Apollo. All of it disappeared like smoke from a chimney on a winter's day. Nothing mattered anymore. Not the crown. Not the problem with the rogues. Nothing mattered but her. His River. His Beloved. His mate.

His knot barely disengaged before River woke up and called for him again. He poised over her, but she put a hand on his chest and pushed him back. She turned on her stomach and got on all fours before him.

Ares got a full view of every last swollen inch of her, and his body was ready to go again.

He positioned himself at her entrance, and his wolf clawed at his tether to be let loose.

Ares held the beast at bay as he ran his palms over her backside to her hips and gripped her tight.

"How do you want it?"

River looked over her shoulder at him.

"I want you to take me until my limbs give out, and then, I want you to take me again. And after that, I want you to take me again. And again. Until one of us loses consciousness."

Ares didn't have to be asked twice. His mate demanded he perform, so he would give her a performance that she would never, ever forget.