Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

I t'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?"

"I'm going to take a later flight. I have a few meetings left. But Lachlan and Zeke will make sure you arrive safely."

"Oh."

He wanted nothing more than to hold her. To crush her into his body. To take in her heavenly aroma and rub it all over himself.

The elevator doors began to shut, and he reached out to stop them and nodded for Santiago and Theo to get in. He entered the elevator, and Theo hit the button for the lobby.

"Where are you going?" River blurted. "I didn't think you went to meetings so casually dressed."

"I'm not going to a meeting." He wanted to ask her to join him but didn't. Mostly because he didn't think he could take her rejection.

The doors began to close, and as they did, she said, "Bye."

Ares shut his eyes and reclined against the wall of the elevator. His wolf told him to go up and talk to her. Nothing about her demeanor had tried to shut him down.

Instead, he walked into the lobby.

"Where to?" Santiago asked again.

"A club. Any club. Just make sure it's loud and crowded."