Chapter Fifteen

The crumpled letter rustles in my hand and my blood burns with rage. This morning as I was readying for work a letter along with a lily arrived at my door.

I'm sorry, Aphrodite, for everything. I regret pushing you away and I didn't mean any of the things I said that night, please forgive me. I love you. Give me one more chance, I promise to make it worth your while.

Love, Ares.

How dare he? His words have played over and over in my mind for three weeks. You're a distraction. You put the club in danger and the brothers come first. Fourteen days, I cry myself to sleep, wondering how my life came to be. Cursing that bar, cursing him, cursing flowers and cursing his stupid fucking face. When I got the letter, I immediately jumped in my car and started making my way towards his car garage.  I pull into the lot and I see red.

When I see Ares inside a garage, wiping his greasy hands off of a towel, I fly out of my car, rage pounding in my veins. My heels click against the concrete and I burst into the the garage.

Fifteen men stand around, looking at me, some obviously checking me out and others smirking, as though they can feel something is about to happen.

"Who they hell do you think you are?" I shove Ares chest, getting right in his face. Even in heels he is still 3 inches taller than me. I take the flowers out of my car, throwing them at him. "Stop this. I am not kidding. I am tired of you fucking with my emotions." My chest heaves with a slight crack and I have to reign in the wobble that was about to break into my voice.

Ares shows no emotions, grabbing the flowers off the floor along with the note that caused this mad dash. Men whistle and laugh and Ares jaw ticks with irritation. He snaps out, grabbing my wrist and yanks me through the garage to the back, farther and farther until we exit out a door into what looks like a junkyard.

"I am not fucking with your emotions, Aphrodite," his voice is dark. He is more serious than I have ever seen him.

I jut my chin out and glare at him. "I want you to stay away from me. I don't care that you want forgiveness, I don't care that you had reasons. You broke..." my voice breaks and the tears that I have become all to familiar with pour down my face. "You broke my heart." I push at his chest. "You made me open myself, you challenged me. You were so... then you broke me. As if I were nothing." Emotions fly through me and I lean against the side of the garage, shoulders shaking with great, heaving sobs.

Ares whole demeanor changes and his hands come up to hold my face.  "Baby, listen. After what went down with the phantoms, I was scared." He tips my face up, forcing me to look at the amber eyes. "I was terrified. I know you can handle yourself, but all it takes is one man with a plan for vengeance and a gun. I cannot bear the thought of losing you. Seeing you all bloody, no matter how strong you remained, I was terrified. All I could remember was Jez's wife bloody, and bent at odd angles and I didn't want that to be you. In such a short time you have become everything and that is scary."

His voice is so gentle and his soft touch draws me in further. "I am so deeply sorry for the things that I said. It killed me to lie to you, but I.. I couldn't put you at risk."

"So what changed?" I ask defiantly. "What made you decide that you could screw the risk?"

"I'm out of the gang, Aphrodite. I wasn't in like the others. I have no ties to any of the men besides Jez and I have decided I can look out for him without being in the gang."

My heart stops. "You left?"

"I did."

My shoulders sag and my head falls onto his shoulder. "You can't keep doing this," my voice sounds as defeated as I feel. "I won't keep chasing after you, I deserve better than that."

"Of course, dove. No more running away. You deserve the world, Aphrodite." He tips my face up and brushes his lips along mine and I find myself sinking into him, his words, his reasons all make sense and I ache for him. It's been too long since I've had him this close and I can't waste it.

I slide my arms around his neck and press myself against him. All of my worries fade away and now I feel like we can finally be together.

-~-

To prove he won't be trying to commit anymore Hero acts he moves my things into his place, truly making it my home as well. In the following days we decorate the barren walls with pictures of us and even a few art pieces we attempted, to say the least they are quiet abstract.

Within days the place is transformed from a bachelor pad to a couples home and it feels nice. Ares makes breakfast every morning, waking me up with sweet kisses and the smell of sausage, bacon and eggs.

The hot water pounds against my skin and my hair sticks to my skin. As I back into a wall, Ares closes me in, pressing himself against me, hands sliding over my water slick skin, lips crashing on mine over and over, tongue sweeping into my mouth, delving deep, tangling with my tongue, lips crushed against mine.

He drives into me over and over, sliding a hand to cup the back of my knee, pulling it up against his hip, rolling his hips to rub deep, undulating, I cling onto him, sliding my hands into his hair, moving along his length. When the climax crests, we stand panting in time with each other and I smooth my hands over his chest.

"Say it," he murmurs.

Since the first time I confessed my feelings and after the fall out and everything he has craved hearing me tell him again and again. "I love you," I whisper, pressing a long kiss against his lips, slipping my arms around his neck.

He rests his forehead against mine, arms circling my waist. "I love you."

Without warning he picks me up and carries me into our bedroom. He yanks me up, holding my hips as I lay on top of him. His hands roam my back and legs, lips pressing kisses along my shoulder and neck. The cool air on my wet skin causes goosebumps to raise and I burrow into his warmth, tucking my face into the crook of his neck.

"I am looking for new jobs," he says, sliding his finger up and down my spine.

I pull away to look down at him, pressing myself against his side. "Why? You love working with cars."

"Fixing cars doesn't pay the bills, beautiful." Soft kisses are reigned on my face.

I frown, sitting up a little more. "I am starting to pay bills too. With both of our jobs wouldn't you be able to afford this place?"

"I don't want your money, Aphrodite."

"Don't be like that. I am not giving you money, it's not a loan or anything. I am living here too. It's only right that I help with rent," I reason, patting his chest. "This isn't up for discussion big boy."

He smirks, rolling on top of me, laying between my legs. "You want to be my sugar momma?" he teases, pressing kisses along my neck and chest.

I squeal as he descends upon me once more.