Chapter Two

When I turn, I see Ares, a challenge set in his dark eyes. Daring me to pull away. Daring me to say no, but also daring me to dance with him. To bump and grind and let my body fit into his.

A smirk slides along his lips, and anger bubbles in my veins at the arrogance in his gaze. I push my pelvis against his, curving my hand to the back of his neck, undulating to the rhythm of the music and let myself become consumed. He is not the God of War. I am not the goddess of love. We are just two people, moving together as one unit.

I tip my head back, arching my body up and I writhe and grind against him and he follows suit. He meets my body as I undulate against him. Ares brings his mouth to my throat, not exactly kisses, but a contact that has heat flaming through my body.

I clamor my way up his body, my nose nudging his throat. He hooks a hand behind my knee, hiking it up against his hip  lifting my body slightly and I breathe heavily against his mouth. Ares body moves against me and my blood heats as he grinds directly against me.

Heady intoxication fills my body, making my head fuzzy and light.

Hours go by and the haze between Ares and I, is broken when Persephone says they are leaving.

I stumble away from Ares, panting, pulling down my dress that made its way up my thighs.

"Sorry  to interrupt,"  Persephone says, a mischievous glint in her eye, telling me she's not sorry in the slightest. "I  just wanted to let you know that we are heading out." She looks at Hades and the desire that rolls off them is almost tangible.

"Yeah, no problem. I should be heading out, let Max out."  I smile at her.

"Don't worry, I will get her home safe,"  Ares says from behind me.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and I embrace Persephone, accepting my clutch she held in her gigantic purse while we danced. Once Persephone and Hades get in his black Mustang with red LED light, I whip around towards Ares.

"You  are not taking me home,"  I hiss.

He leans against the building at the bar, the breeze ruffling his hair. "Why is that?"

"I don't like you,"  I grit out. "In case you haven't fucking noticed."

Ares smirks, sweeping his gaze over my body. "I noticed, but why is that Aphrodite? I've done nothing to you. I also know you're just as closed off to other gods. Is it because of Heph..."

I cut him off. "It's none of your business."

He gets in my face, towering over me. "What did he do?" Wrath courses through him,  radiating off him and onto me.

"Take me home,"  I say, changing the subject.

A dark brow raises on his forehead. "This conversation isn't over."  He takes off his jacket and I reluctantly take it.

If he gets us into an accident I won't be the one without safety.  Ares moves to help me with the helmet, but I take it, strapping it under my chin. With a quick mumble of my address, I slip on to the bike behind him.

He revs the engine, taking off, our surroundings fly by us and he goes so fast I have to wrap my arms fully around him.

Quickly we reach my apartments and I slide off the bike, shedding the helmet and jacket. Without a word, I make my way up to my rooms. Ares follows me, and I twist to face him in the second floor stairwell.

"Leave me alone,"  I say crossing my arms.

He looms over me. "Go somewhere with me."  His voice is low and husky.

"I don't want your company."

He smiles, rubbing his jaw. "You don't have to lie. I could smell your arousal at the club."  He leans down, murmuring in my ear.

My core throbs, sucking in a breath, still high on the sensual energy from the club. "You are disgusting," I whisper.

He smiles, mouth tilting to one side. "I don't believe your body agrees."

Seething, I shove his chest, walking away, flustered and angry. Absolute Pig. This is exactly why I do not associate with God's. I palm the handle of my door and before I can pull my key out, Ares is leaning against the doorway.

"Go out with me, Aphrodite. Tonight, right now," he says.

"I am telling you no," I hiss.

"You're only saying no because you are scared."

Clenching my jaw, I shove my door open. "What do you know, Ares? You have no idea what you are talking about."

"Then help me understand."  He sounds sincere but there is no possible way he could be.

I look up at him as he closes the door behind him. "Understand what?"

"You. Your hate of Olympus and the Gods. Your odd fascination of Earth. You intrigue me," he says.

Closing my eyes, I grab a leash.

"Kinky." He smirks and I roll my eyes.

Max hops off the couch I left him on earlier and I clicked the leash onto his tags. Ares raises a brow and I move my hand in a way that tells him to lead the way. He smiles making his way out. Max excitedly runs after Ares following him out of the apartment.

"Why are you on Earth? Why do you do what you do?" I ask as we walk towards downtown.

Ares shoves his hands in his pockets. "You don't even know what I do," he says.

Rolling my eyes, Max slows to a leisurely pace. "What do you do, Ares?" Sarcasm drips from my voice.

"I work on cars, and I am not here to cause mayhem.  I also oversee wars. Aphrodite, believe it or not I try to help guide soldiers home safely.  I try to dissolve the problem before it turns into a war. Humans make such a mess of things."   He sounds exasperated and runs a hand through his hair.

"That sounds tough,"  I say, realizing my misinterpretation of his motives. "But isn't that the beauty of humans? The chaos they create, the mistakes they make. They are reckless because they are unsure of tomorrow."

Ares considers this. "Perhaps,"  he starts, tossing me a smile. "But they are still stupid."

I smile, giggling. We stop by the river and Max plops right in front of it. "I guess we are stopping here."

He sits at the river's edge and I take a moment to look at his tall, imposing figure. His dark hair, whipping around in the wind. I sit beside him, the river sparkling and glittering under the moonlight.

"Why are you here?"  he asks.

I pet my dog's head, petting his soft hair. "They are different. I like the way they live their lives. When their energy radiates into me, it just makes me feel alive."

Ares sits in silence, contemplating my words. "Why the dog?"  he smiles, rubbing Max aggressively, the dog groaning in approval.

I smile, leaning back on my hands. "Why not, he's super cute."

He chuckles. "I guess that's as good a reason as any."

"About Hephaestus," he starts.

I shake my head. "We aren't there yet, pretty boy."

Smiling again he leans his forearms against his knees, the wind ruffling his hair. "I am tired of doing Zeus's dirty work."  His voice is so quiet I almost think he didn't mean for me to hear it. "I don't enjoy forsaking idiotic humans for 'offending' him or whatever he deems needs a reckoning for."

I lean against my arm between us, my hand hidden in the dewy grass. "Is that why you spend time here on Earth?"  I ask, watching as Max wallers in the thicker grass near the river's edge.

"Mostly, here we are almost unreachable. They stay up on their mountain and we do what we want and can here,"  he says, a note of wistfulness in his voice.

"Do you miss it?"

He contemplates this. "No. The women there are more entitled. Not the goddesses per se but the Immortals. Humans are shy and timid. Rarely you find the one who approaches. Also, humans have cooler things."  He smiles.

"Like your bike?"  I ask, grinning with him.

"Like my bike. I should take you on a real ride sometime."

I raise an eyebrow, brushing my hair away from my face. "What makes you think I'll get on your bike again?"

He grins knowingly, leaning in close to my face. "Because I dare you to."

His words skitter along my skin, digging in to latch onto my very bones.