Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

R iver paced the suite.

"Please sit," said Bianca. "You're making me want to throw up."

River stopped in front of the blazing fireplace. Her little sister hugged herself.

"I'm sorry." She sat next to Bianca and put her arm around her.

River had no doubt Ares could handle himself, but Zeke and the others were something else. She'd never seen them fight, and as hybrids, she didn't know the extent of their strength. But they were Ares bodyguards, so they had to be capable, right?

"Zeke still hasn't called me. Do you think he's okay?"

River hugged her sister tight. "He's fine. They both are." She said the words mechanically, unsure whether or not she believed them. She'd know if something happened to Ares, right? Her wolf would know.

Not necessarily, she realized. He'd been stabbed earlier, and she hadn't realized it. The thought pushed River almost to the point of hysteria.

Santiago's phone buzzed, and then River's.

We're on our way up. It wasn't from Ares number.

"They're back." Santiago went to the door to wait.

Bianca searched her phone. "I… I didn't get a text. Why didn't I get a text?" she pleaded with River.

"It's okay," said River. "Maybe he sent it when he got in the elevator, and there wasn't a signal." She bit the inside of her cheek. Ares hadn't sent the text either.

The bell rang, announcing the elevator, and Bianca rushed to the suite door.

"Ezekiel," she cried.

River stood and held her breath. Please don't let anything have happened to any of them.

A crash sounded as the front door banged against the wall, and a gigantic bloody mess in a ripped, expensive suit raced in. His black eyes scoured the room and landed on her by the fireplace. He stalked to her. Watery blood dripped off him and onto the carpet, staining it. He stared at her for a minute and fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around her.

"Beloved," he whispered into her stomach.

Relief flooded River, and a small cry flew from her lips. She pressed his head into her body and raked her fingers down his back.

"Ares."

A purr started and spread over her, making her fear drift away.

Behind him, the others strode through the door. Lachlan sported a bruise above one eye and a cut on his neck. Drew walked in behind his younger brother, drenched but seemingly uninjured. Theo entered next, seemingly unharmed, though covered in blood. He talked on the phone with someone trying to calm them, his mate River assumed.

Theo spotted her and nodded before heading into one of the spare bedrooms to continue his conversation.

Where were Bianca and Zeke?

Finally, they walked in, Zeke leaning on Bianca heavily and holding his side. Bianca cried and fawned over him.

"You two take the other spare room," River said.

Zeke nodded, and they headed toward the other room.

Ares's eyes were still black as coal. "I thought I would lose you."

"Why? You were the one attacked. All I did was get in the car and drive away."

He shook his head. "They were after you. He was after you."

"You… found him?"

"We made one of his rogues talk. He's been watching you."

She fought the fear coursing through her. "But it's been over four years. Why now?"

"He heard I'd found my mate, and she was an Omega."

River got the feeling he wasn't telling her everything.

Ares stood and cupped her face. "We need to fly back to my estate immediately and-"

"But you still have meetings," said Drew.

"Cancel them."

"No," she said. "This proves you need these meetings. If someone is willing to attack you in public…"

"She's right," said Drew. "If you go now, it will appear like you're running, that you are scared. It will give the rogue the excuse he's been looking for to gather more support against you. She needs to be at your side. They need to see her. Know she is real. A shifter Omega is your mate. It will help sway them to learn your fated mate is a shifter, not a Lycan."

So, now she'd become arm candy? River thought about it, remembering how desperate her wolf had been minutes ago, thinking something had happened to Ares. If being with him might stop that from potentially happening again…

"I'll do it," she said. "If it will help. I'll do it."

"No. I won't take you to all the packs. That's too many chances something will go wrong."

"Bring them here," she said. "All at once. An area meeting. A dinner."

Ares growled. "This is my space. Your space. I don't want them up here."

"Downstairs. In the ballroom. We can have the hotel cater and organize everything."

"It's a sound idea," said Santiago. "We know the layout. It's your hotel. It will be like being on our own lands. It will be easier to keep secure because we can station everyone up at the exits. We decide the time and we leave whenever you are ready. If things seem off, we come right up here and lockdown."

Ares licked his lips. "Have Vanessa arrange it up for tomorrow night. I want out of here the next day."

River's chest squeezed. The next day? "I… can't we stay until the end of the week? I still have some things I want from my studio."

"I'll make you a studio. Whatever you want, I'll buy you."

Again, with the money.

"I appreciate that, but there are tools I'm used to. They're like an extension of my limbs. It would take me a year to break in new ones."

"Fine. I'll send Vanessa to make sure the whole thing is packed up and shipped to the estate."

River's wolf snarled, and River growled. "I don't want her in my space or near my things."

Ares nodded.

"I'll do it," offered Bianca as she and Zeke re-entered the room.

"B, I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I'll go tomorrow, and you can Skype me to tell me what you want packed. I'll make sure it's done."

"But you have your things to pack."

"It can wait. I'm not leaving for a week."

River wanted to protest, but she'd be outvoted by, well, everyone.

"All right."

"Good," said Ares. "There's just one thing."

"What?"

"I don't want you at the meeting. It's too dangerous. There will be unmated Alphas, and even if I bring in all my men, I can't promise it will be enough to keep them from trying to get at you."

"So, you don't want me there?"

"It's not about want, Beloved. It's about keeping you safe until we are mated."

River wasn't a porcelain doll. She didn't need to be locked up in a cupboard and kept safe. Even so, the look in Ares's eyes told her he would not be swayed.

"All right." River took his hand. "Let's clean up."

He nodded and told his men to clean up, eat, and rest. Theo offered to be the liaison between Vanessa and Ares about the dinner, and Ares agreed, but said he wanted to pick the menu.

Then, before he figured out more work to do, River pulled him into the bedroom suite. She locked the door and then marched him into the bathroom.

* * *

Ares stared in the mirror. It'd been a long time since he'd been in a full-out battle, and what bothered him most was his suit wasn't salvageable. Damn. He'd only worn it once.

"Show me your wound."

"I wasn't injured."

River cocked an eyebrow. "The one from earlier."

"River-"

"I wasn't asking."

Her expression told him she wouldn't take no for an answer. Damn, he loved the fiery protective side of her.

He licked his lips and undid his tie, dropping it to the ground. Then he took off his jacket as well. She watched him intently as he unbuttoned his shirt.

Without a word, she stepped to him and ran her hands over his skin, making him harden instantly. Her slender but strong fingers ran over his torso, his arms, and his back, checking for wounds. She lifted his arm and inspected his bandaged side.

She peeled back the tape and gauze. "You ripped it open. The bandages are soaked through. I'll clean it, and then we can rebandage it."

"River, there's no need."

She steeled her gaze. "I will clean it, and we'll rebandage it."

His wolf chuffed at her tenacity. Damn, he liked her.

"Then I'm looking you over and making sure you aren't injured."

She glared at him. "You know I wasn't."

"Why is blood on your dress?"

She inspected the dress. "Damn. I thought I'd been careful. I liked this dress."

"I'll have another one here in the morning."

"That's not the point."

She ran the water, retrieved a soft hand towel, and wet it.

"So why is blood on your dress?" he asked again.

She turned off the faucet. "Because I threw a knife at one of the rogues, and when I removed it, I got his blood on me." She went to dab his wound, but he gripped her wrist.

"What?"

She looked at him. "What?"

Fear trickled through him. "Santiago let you fight?"

Her brows furrowed, and she snorted. "Let me? No, he didn't let me . I chose to defend myself."

He studied her, amazed as well as angered. He'd told her to leave, but she'd chosen to fight instead.

"What's the big deal? There were more of them than us. You and your boys may be tough, but I've had enough of being attacked by rogues." River slid her wrist from his hand and pressed the cooling cloth to his wound.

"Why did you have a knife on you?"

"I've always carried one. My mom made me start when I was twelve. She taught me how to use it and made sure I always had one. I thought it was because I couldn't access my wolf, but…"

"It was because you're an Omega."

"I believe so. I now think a lot of what she did was because I'm an Omega. Explains why she never made Bianca do the same things." She turned the sink back on and rinsed out the hand towel.

"What kinds of things?"

River turned back with the wet washcloth. "Self-defense. Knife training. Emergency procedures to sneak out of the territory undetected. Natural ways to mask my scent. Just stuff."

Why hadn't Cherry told River the truth? She had to know at some point, River would meet a mate. Or maybe she'd hoped it would never happen.

"You should probably shower, and then I can bandage you."

"What about you? Do you want a shower?" Ares couldn't believe he'd said the words.

She laid the towel on the counter and stopped. He was about to take back the question when she turned around and brushed her hair over her shoulder.

"Will you unzip me?"

Ares froze.

His wolf lurched to his feet. Mine. Mate. Take her.

Back off , Ares ordered. No way would he let his beast ruin the moment.

With shaking fingers, Ares slid the zipper down River's back to the waistband of her panties. She let the dress fall to the floor, revealing a lacy set of pink underwear and bra he'd bought her, as well as a black thigh holster with two thin blades strapped to it.

It was the hottest thing Ares had ever seen. The fabric of his pants groaned as they stretched against his erection.

River unbuckled her thigh holster and laid it on the counter before walking to the roomy shower, opening the door, and turning on the water.

Ares feared moving. Afraid if he did, he might lose control again.

He took in the beautiful, sculpted lines of River's back and legs. Her spine stood out a little more than it should. The first thing he'd do when he got her to Canada was put meat on her. Anything she wanted. Anything she needed. He would give her.

For a moment, he imagined her body rounding out with pregnancy. Her breasts heavier. Her hips wider. The thought had him wanting to plow into her and give her his knot and his seed.

River stepped under the spray, still in her underthings, and turned to Ares. "Are you coming?"

Much longer, and he would be.

Unable to form words, he nodded and shucked off his shoes, socks, and suit pants next to her dress.

He had a pep talk with his wolf and told him what he'd do if his wolf tried to get out. Then he joined her in the shower. As he closed the glass door, the shower fogged up. As sad as he was he couldn't see her in the steam, he was also glad for it. Especially since the tent he pitched in the front of his underwear was embarrassing.

Wow! He'd never been embarrassed before. Not of his physique.

River picked up a bottle of something and squeezed it into her palm. Without a word, she moved to him and raised her palms, letting the slick liquid slide down his torso. His nipples hardened instantly at her hands on his skin. He brushed the wet hair off her face and slid his hands down her arms to her hips, where he rested them.

She lathered the soap all over his torso, moving in slow, meticulous circles, up over his chest to his shoulders, down his arms to his hands. She lifted them one by one off her hips and slid her fingers between his, massaging the palms of his hands.

He wasn't sure how to process the intimate sensations running through him. He'd never let someone touch him the way he let her. Without thinking, he began to purr, and her strokes on his skin soon went from light to deeper and more intense as she explored every line of his torso. She spun him to the wall, and he braced himself on it as she poured more soap on his back and kneaded his muscles.

Holy Goddess! She kneaded the muscles of his back with long, strong fingers. Stronger than he thought possible for someone her size. She worked her way down to his wound, gently put soap on her hands, and cupped them with water, thinning them. She let the water-soaked mixture pour over the edges of the wound, and Ares clenched his jaw at the searing pain. She did the same thing twice more and then let the shower rain water over it.

Ares stood with his fists lying on the wall of the shower, trying to work through the burn in his side, when River's hands slid inside the waistband of his underwear and cupped his rear. The sensation almost overpowered him as her soapy hands ran over his backside, slick and warm. His purr increased, and when she slipped her hand between his legs from behind, he almost exploded.

Ares spun around and cupped her face, kissing her hard. He claimed her mouth with his, and she didn't resist. He fisted his hands in her wet hair and pushed her against the wall, his thigh parting her slender legs. She moaned into his mouth, and her hands skimmed down the front of his underwear. She gripped him and squeezed, making him jerk in her grasp.

He broke the kiss and dipped his head to her shoulder, nipping lightly. "River…" His voice came out as a strangled whisper.

Her firm grip squeezed again, and she moved one hand down to cup his balls as the other stroked him.

"River." Her name seemed to be the only word his brain could manage. He licked her neck and throat as she stroked and cupped him, making the back of his thighs burn and his hips buck against her.

He nibbled her neck and up to her mouth once more. Her scent of vanilla and cherries invaded him, and he rocked his hips in her grasp. He wanted her. Wanted to be inside her, to feel her surround him in her perfect silkiness. He moved one of his hands down and tweaked her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

She moaned into his mouth and kissed him harder. He slid his hand further down her body until he reached her silky folds. He rubbed his thumb over her most tender spot, and she pulled her lips from his and tossed her head back on the wall.

"Ares."

That's it. That was his little wolf. Her eyelids dropped halfway as he slipped his fingers between her folds, rubbing her nub and downward through her folds again.

The desperation in her voice as she repeated his name almost had him crashing apart. She gripped him harder and squeezed his balls almost to the point of pain. Ares's orgasm built, and he locked his lips on hers again as he slid a finger inside her. She mewled, and he withdrew and plunged two fingers inside her.

Her breath came out in panting gasps as she stroked him harder and faster. Ares held them both up as he curled his fingers up to find the magic spot inside her while massaging her nub with the heel of his hand.

With every stroke of his fingers, her movements became more frantic, and when she cried out and her walls clamped down on his hand, she stroked him so tightly that he came as well. Their frenzied movements continued as they both worked through their orgasms. When they'd both finished, he kissed her again, and she lapped at his mouth greedily.

She slid her hands from his underwear and folded her arms around his neck. He pinned her to the wall and kissed her until both of them were left breathless and panting. As they both gulped in air, he held her against him.

Ours. Our Mate. Our Beloved. Our Omega .