12. Ares

12

ARES

Y up, you're officially a creeper, Ares thought to himself as he watched the angry Italian sleep.

When Matteo wasn't awake and trying to poison him, he almost looked like a peaceful little angel. Gentle and kind. The type of person who got awards for humanitarian efforts and helping others in need.

Yes, Matteo might be a kind and generous man, but he was also something else. Something much darker… especially when he lost control.

Buried deep within that sexy hunk of a gentleman was a savage beast capable of all sorts of cruelty. Matteo was just like him. They could both be kind and generous, loving and caring, but if they were betrayed or if someone they loved got hurt, their need for punishment was brutal and severe.

Ares had heard the stories and seen the evidence. Formers members of La Maison de M who broke the rules or pissed off Matteo. The punishment always fit the crime. The lucky ones were able to function with only a few weeks of recovery, while the unlucky ones—the ones who committed the worst of sins against Matteo or his family—ended up at the bottom of the ocean or simply vanished without a trace.

Yes, Matteo's monster was brutal and swift. But so was Ares's. Perhaps that's why Ares had felt such a strong connection when he first met Matteo. Perhaps his monster sensed Matteo's lying deep within… waiting. Masking itself beneath a facade of generosity and kindness.

All Ares knew was that when he was with Matteo, he never felt more at peace.

Watching Matteo explode last night, seeing that glimpse of his monster emerge, reminded Ares of the passion they once shared. That is… before Ares… fucked it all up.

He continued to stand there. Watching his prey.

Matteo, sprawled out on his belly, legs spread apart.

Ass ripe for the taking.

Fuck, he wanted to sink his face in between those delicious cheeks and remind the stubborn man just how wicked his tongue really was. Hearing Matteo moan as he clung to the sheets beneath him had to be one of the sexiest moments of Ares's life. Watching the way that Matteo arched his back, desperately begging Ares for more.

God, his dick was getting hard just thinking about that night.

Ares palmed the front of his pants, feeling even more like a dirty old perv. What else do you call a man standing in your doorway, playing with his cock, while watching you sleep?

Talk about two perfect globes on full display… just waiting…

What would Matteo do if he just snuck onto his bed and buried his face between those delicious cheeks of his?

Probably strangle you to death with his powerful thighs.

Fuck you, voice of reason.

Matteo gave a gentle stir and ground his cock into the mattress.

Ares swallowed hard.

Was Matteo dreaming of him? Dreaming of all those hot, sweaty nights where he would pound into Matteo for hours? Fuck like bunnies that couldn't get enough of each other. Fuck like they used to… before everything went to shit, and Matteo hated his fucking guts?

God, you're pathetic, that wicked voice grumbled from somewhere deep inside. Grow a pair of balls and stop being a pussy. We don't beg. We don't whine. We are strong and powerful and feared by those around us. We get what we want. We take what we want. It should be him who comes crawling back to us, begging us for our forgiveness.

Ares hated that voice. That voice was the one that controlled him nearly 80 percent of the time. He was ambitious, he was brutal, he was cruel. He was his monster.

Closing the door behind him, Ares walked back into the kitchen and continued making breakfast. He wasn't sure what sort of mood Matteo was going to be in when he woke up, but he hoped a nice breakfast might soften it.

Ares opened the fridge and began planning the breakfast he would make. It was going to be delicious.

"You're still here?" a groggy voice asked, startling Ares.

Breakfast was just about ready.

Ares turned off the stove and plated the last of the bacon. Perfect timing.

"Good morning to you too, sweet cheeks," Ares greeted, glancing down at Matteo, who was wearing nothing but a pair of underwear.

"Argh! This is my fucking place, and I'll wear whatever I want around here. You're the uninvited little rat that broke in in the middle of the night."

His words were venomous but lacked any sort of heat. Ares also noticed that Matteo hadn't exactly told him to get out of his house just yet. So that had to be a good sign.

"Hey, I'm not complaining about the view. If it makes you more comfortable, I can strip down to my shorts as well." Ares shrugged his shoulders, hoping the man would take him up on his offer. He wanted Matteo to be comfortable in his own house after all.

Matteo rolled his eyes and walked over to the cupboard to grab two mugs.

Taking that as a no, Ares continued to set the food out on the table while Matteo brought them both mugs of coffee. Another good sign.

"So, we got Spanish eggs, which are basically scrambled with salsa, bacon, and tortillas in case you want to make a wrap," Ares explained as he took a seat at the tiny table.

The table was an improvement from the last one. It was much sturdier and probably wouldn't break under the weight of… well, that probably wasn't going to happen. Not with Ares anyway.

Ares shoved the memory from his mind and reached for the eggs.

He passed the bacon to Matteo and watched as the man began building his burrito. First, he added a layer of bacon as the foundation, then some eggs, followed by cheese, and topped off with a touch of salsa. Just like he used to do.

Ares smiled. The man never changed.

Sensing he was being watched, Matteo glanced up and scowled at him.

God, that look made his dick hard.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just watching you build the perfect burrito."

Ares slapped on some bacon, followed by a mound of salsa that splattered everywhere and a spoonful of cheese. He rolled up the sides, purposely leaving the bottom end open, knowing how it would drive Matteo mad watching all the filling spill out of the end.

He took a bite of his burrito and welcomed the growly sounds of judgment coming from the irritated man sitting across the table.

Ares reached for his mug and took a sip of his coffee before swallowing down the rest of the food still in his mouth.

Another groan.

"So, what time is your flight back home today?"

Ares smirked. "Well, it's funny you should ask that. I just spoke with the airline this morning, and it seems that they canceled their flights today. And sadly, there won't be another for a couple of days."

"Really. I hate when that happens. So then, what time will you be checking into your hotel? I hear there is a really nice Marriott that just opened outside of Barcelona. It's supposed to be stunning. Even has an infinity pool, I'm told."

Ares chuckled. The man was relentless.

"So, did you sleep well last night?" Ares asked, totally ignoring Matteo's attempt at humor.

"It sounded like a freight train was rolling through my living room, but eventually, I managed to fall asleep."

"Good. I'm glad you were able to get some rest. You seemed a little cranky when I went to bed last night." He tried not to laugh.

Matteo took a sip of his coffee. His eyes drifted to a ceramic plate that sat on the mantle above the fireplace. Ares remembered that plate. It was the plate Matteo had purchased on the day they first met.

He was surprised that Matteo still had it. He figured that Matteo would have burned every last item that reminded him of that magical day.

Ares studied Matteo's stoic face.

Did Matteo still think about their time together?

Don't be stupid. You ripped out the man's heart. No matter how much you grovel or try to say you're sorry, he will never forgive you.

Fuck, Ares hated when that asshole inside him was right.

Taking another sip of his coffee, he decided to try and be nice.

"After breakfast, I thought we could head into town and check out the local vendors. See what's new since the last time we were here."

Wiping the side of his mouth with a napkin, Matteo picked up his coffee and took another sip.

"I've been here lots of times over the years. I'm pretty familiar with what they have."

Ares felt his blood begin to boil.

No. He wasn't going to give in to Matteo's attempt at goading him. The man was looking for an excuse to fight. He wasn't going to give him one.

"Great, so you'll be able to show me where all the good finds are hidden," Ares decided to say instead.

Matteo's jaw clenched, realizing that Ares was not going to give in to his attempts to bait him.

They finished the rest of their meal together in silence.

"I'm going to shower," Matteo announced, grabbing his dishes and placing them into the sink.

When he got to the hallway, he stopped and then glanced back over his shoulder.

"Thanks for the breakfast," he mumbled before disappearing down the hall.

Ares smiled.

Progress.