Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

RIVER

W hen her heat subsided, River couldn't even use the word exhausted to describe how she felt. Every nerve and inch of her body ached, but she felt sated in a way she'd never known. She lay in Ares's bed, staring at his glorious form. The sheet rested just above his butt cheeks showing off his flawless broad back and narrow hips.

Her wolf purred drowsily in a blissful state of ecstasy.

She had no idea how many times she and Ares made love. All she knew was that their scents lingered on every surface of his room. The bed. The table. The desk. The couch. The bathroom counter. Two of the walls. The rug in front of the fireplace. Every surface of his room bore the brunt of their lovemaking over the last thirty hours.

River watched Ares' rhythmical breathing and fought the urge to touch him, but she brushed a curl from his eyes. His eyes flew open, and he grabbed her wrist.

She stared at him, and then he rubbed a circle on her skin before kissing it.

"Hello," she said.

"Hello," he replied.

She brushed her fingers down his cheek to his full lips. Need thrummed through her as she stuck her finger in his mouth, and he sucked on it before biting it playfully. Suddenly, it didn't matter how sore she was; she wanted to feel him inside her again.

Not like before. Not a frantic need from her heat. Just him. Every glorious inch of him.

Ares chuckled and kissed her. "I thought your heat was over, Little Wolf."

She kissed him harder. "My heat is over, but my need for you never will be."

He purred. "I like the sound of that, but it makes me wonder if I didn't give you enough over the last day and a half." He crawled over her and kissed down her neck to her spine. "Which one didn't satisfy, Little Wolf?"

He licked her skin, and her body thrummed. He blew lightly on the small of her back before kissing over to her side.

"Was it the first time in the shower? Or the second or possibly the third?" He planted a soft kiss on her side, making her giggle.

"No, it couldn't have been those. Maybe it was that first time in my bed. It was not the second, third, fourth, or even fifth time in my bed because you told me I was spectacular those times."

He nipped her playfully, making her jump and squeal.

She looked back at him. "Tease."

He cocked an eyebrow and then brought his hand down on her rear. The sting of his palm sent shockwaves of pleasure through her, and she gasped. He leaned in close and nibbled her earlobe.

"It could have been the time on the bathroom counter. I'm sure that one wasn't as comfortable as it could have been. I should have cushioned your beautiful tender rear with some towels, shouldn't I?"

His hand landed on her skin again with a loud slap, and River shuddered.

"Ares," she panted.

"Yes, Beloved."

"If you don't stop fooling around and take me soon, I'm going to climax without you."

He slapped her again. "You aren't allowed to until I say you can. Understand?"

River bit her lip as every nerve up in anticipation.

"I asked if you understood."

She nodded, biting her lip to the point of pain.

"Good girl." His hand slid over her rear, squeezing and caressing. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Trying to figure out where I'd failed you." His hand slid down her backside and between her legs, where he slid his finger back and forth agonizingly slow.

"So, was it the three times in front of the fireplace?"

River fought to keep herself from shattering apart. She grabbed onto the sheets and clutched them tight. "Four times," she whispered. "It was four times in front of the fire."

His fingers stopped moving, giving her a moment's reprieve. "Was it four? I can't believe I lost count."

He stroked her again, and she cried into the pillow. She wasn't sure she could hold out, and her body trembled.

"Oh, I remember now. It was that last time against the wall. I lost my grip for a few seconds near the end, and my hips shifted. I knew that one didn't feel as big as the others. That's where I failed you. I apologize. I promise not to make that mistake again. Do you forgive me?"

River's body shook as she held back her climax.

Ares slid a finger inside of her, and she bit her cheek. Her walls clamped down around his finger, and she whined.

"I asked if you forgave me," he whispered in her ear.

"Yes," she choked out.

He nipped her shoulder. "Will you allow me to make it up to you?"

"Yes," she whispered.

He slid his finger out and slid two back inside her. "I didn't hear you, Little Wolf."

"Yes," she cried.

He kissed her shoulder. "That's my girl."

With one swift movement, he lifted her hips and plowed into her. A rumble escaped his chest as he seated himself fully inside her.

"River… You feel so amazing. I want to live inside you forever."

She shivered as he withdrew and then pistoned into her again.

"Ares."

He slid out agonizingly slowly and swirled his hips against her backside. "River?"

"Ares, please."

"Please, what?" He slid into her again.

Her thoughts no longer made sense. She couldn't concentrate on anything more than not climaxing.

"Please," she whimpered.

Ares slapped her hard and then slammed into her again. "Come on, Little Wolf, show me how much you need me."

River shuddered as Ares withdrew from her and then rocked into her hard, no longer playing, no longer teasing. Nothing but total, unbridled lust.

The pleasure wound tight inside her as he slammed into her hard and brought his hand around her waist to rub her sensitive nub.

"Show me River. Show me how good I can give you what you need." He slapped her butt, and River screamed as her climax ripped through her.

Her entire body tensed, and Ares grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head to the side as he bit her neck. Just as she thought her climax would end, it grew even harder, and she stopped breathing.

She had no idea how many times or how loud she called his name. She only knew that when they'd both finished, and he collapsed on top of her, they both gasped for breath. His knot filled her in a way that made her sure that if he moved, she would surely climax again.

"Tell me," he said. "Tell me that you are mine."

"You know I am."

"I need to hear you say it. I know that our time together is almost up, and soon-"

She turned her face and kissed him, stopping his words. His tongue tangled with hers, and her wolf chuffed happily.

River broke the kiss and looked over her shoulder at him. "I'm yours. Today. Tomorrow. Until I die, Ares. I am yours."

A strange look crossed his face that she couldn't place. Something akin to a mixture of joy and sadness.

He rolled on his side with her and wrapped his body around hers. "I love you, River. Until the day I die, I'll love no other but you. Not ever."

River's chest squeezed, and as she went to tell him the same, a knock sounded on the door.

"River?"

Cherry.

"What's up?"

"Are you okay? Do you need something to eat?"

"We'll be down in a few minutes."

There was silence for a minute. "Does that mean you're… finished?"

"She's finished dozens of times," Ares whispered.

River slapped his arm. "Yes. It's over."

"Okay. Good. I'll uh… I'll go get some food ready."

"Something sweet," River called.

"Right."

River could practically hear Cherry roll her eyes.

"Thank you, Mom," she called but was met with silence.

River wiggled and felt Ares's knot soften. She rolled over and smacked his chest.

"That was not funny. That's my mom. What if she heard you?"

He shrugged. "This was her idea. Besides, I'm sure you and your mom have the same libido."

River's eyebrows drew together. "What does that mean?"

He smiled and ran a finger down her arm. "It means her room is right above mine, and a few nights ago before I left… let's just say I heard Strider's name called at least half a dozen times."

River buried her face in his chest. "Ewww… yuck! Why would you tell me that about my parents? I don't want to think of them… you know."

"Having sex? Making love? Boning? Getting it on?"

"Yes. All of those."

Ares opened his mouth, but River grabbed between his legs and squeezed. Ares sucked in a shuddered breath and shook his head.

"Of course, Beloved. I wouldn't dare ever say something like that about your mom again. But to be clear, I am absolutely sure your mother heard every single time you came. You aren't shy about yelling my name."

River squeezed him a fraction harder. Ares shuddered, and his erection grew again. He bucked his hips and grabbed her arm.

"Little Wolf, you are playing with fire."

"Feels like I'm playing with you." She squeezed even harder, climbed on top of him, and leaned in close to his ear, making sure to rub her breasts on his hard chest. "This time, it's you who doesn't climax until I say you can. Even if I get there multiple times. Understand?"

When she looked at Ares, his eyes were black, and his fangs descended.

"Yes," he ground out.

She smiled and squeezed again, making him grow thicker. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, Beloved."

She kissed him on the nose. "Good boy."

Ares growled as she lowered herself onto him.

Breakfast would have to wait. For how long was yet to be determined.