Hitting the orange snooze icon, I drop the phone next to Ollie as I make my way to the bathroom. He’s always in charge of waking up the others. Milo is usually the easiest, and Ares is the hardest with Dante falling somewhere in the middle.
I’m so happy I don’t have to wake up Ares, much like my experience last night, he tends to ignore you or be a grumpy butthead when he’s woken up.
With shuffling steps, I walk toward the bathroom. I’ve gotten over my hesitance to use the well-appointed room. Pushing into the door I squint and rub my hand over my eyes. The light is still on, and even though it’s not bright, it’s still too harsh on my eyes.
“Good morning, cCara,” Ares purrs. I freeze, my back going rigid. I didn’t even think about him not being in bed.
With my hand thankfully still over my eyes, I spin on my heels to face the door. “I’m so sorry. I should have knocked. I wasn’t thinking.”
Ares chuckles, his footsteps on the tile coming up behind me. Ares is obsessed with my neck, and whenever he touches me it’s usually there. So, it doesn’t surprise me when I feel his palm on the column of my throat. Water drips from his skin landing on mine, he’s just out of the shower. I swallow as Ares applies a scant amount of pressure, tilting my head back. “No need for apologies.” My mouth falls open as he breathes the words into my ear. While I’m attracted to all the guys, Ares exudes an air of sexuality that makes my knees weak.
His front meets my back and the dampness from his skin seeps into my clothes, making me shiver hard. I feel the fabric of the towel around his waist brush against the back of my thighs. I sag with the knowledge, not sure if it’s in disappointment or relief.
With his right hand still on my throat, his lips find the sensitive spot where my shoulder and neck meet. He traces the water droplets that have fallen from him onto me with his lips, pushing tiny pecks against my skin. My body goes pliant in his hold, my eyes falling closed as I let my arms drop to my side. Assuming my reaction is acceptance of his ministrations, Ares nudges my head farther to the right, exposing more of my neck to him. He plants open mouth kisses along the column of my throat until he’s right under my ear. His breathing is a little ragged as he pulls in a deep breath.
“Can I kiss you Cara?” We haven’t kissed since that day in my camper, and it feels like so long ago, but in reality, it’s only been a few days. I nod, my mouth dry. I’ve wanted him to kiss me like that again for too long.
The feel of his teeth on my shoulder has me gasping, but not in pain. It makes me shiver in a way that has nothing to do with being cold. Ares works his way over to my lips. I don’t think it’s possible for him to really kiss me, standing behind me like he is, but I’m proven wrong. Reaching for him, I tangle my fingers in his inky hair. Feeling the soft short hairs on the back of his head, I glide my hand up and grasp near the top where it gets a little longer.
Ares’s hands move to my shoulders, and his lips leave mine as he turns me to face him. His eyes are heavy as he peers down at me, his lips still damp from our kisses. “Kiss me,” he murmurs, not a demand, but I obey anyway. Lifting up on my toes, I close my eyes and brush my lips over his. Ares keeps his hands on my shoulders and arms, but his grip tightens on me. I let my mouth open a bit more and pull his full bottom lip between mine. A huff of hot minty air falls from his mouth. I have a second where I want to pull away, embarrassed I haven’t brushed my teeth yet, but then his tongue licks under my top lip and I don’t care anymore.
Pushing harder against his mouth I explore his lips with the tip of my tongue, kissing him deeper when he opens to me. I pull his tongue into my mouth and rub the underside in gentle strokes. The kiss slows, but my heart rate doesn’t take the hint.
My eyes open slowly, dazed by his touch. I find Ares staring down at me, his eyes fully black and his lips parted. He leans down, capturing my lips again, and he controls the kiss this time. Nipping at my bottom lip, he plunges into my mouth and tangles his tongue with mine. Just when I think I’m catching on to his kiss he pulls back, coaxing my tongue from my mouth to kiss with the tips barely touching.
I sigh, leaning my chest onto his. Ares slows his movements, turning the fervent need into a low smolder as he releases my lips, going back to open mouth pecks punctuated with little bites. Eventually, he places his forehead on mine and takes a few deep breaths. I gulp a few lungsful of air also, trying to get my breathing and heart rate under control.
“Did you need to get ready?” Ares asks huskily, his voice deep.
I open my eyes. I’m not even sure how much time has passed, but it didn’t feel long enough. “Yes, we have school,” I answer dejectedly. I’d much rather stay here all day. He smooths his hand over my hair, giving me a kiss at my temple before pulling away. I can’t keep my eyes from following his back as he fiddles with the black towel at his waist. The fabric pulls tight over his butt as he opens the sides, and then tucks them together, keeping his back to me. My mouth goes dry, and I wonder, if he turned around would I be able to see his mark?
“I’ll let the others know you’re getting ready.” Ares pushes out the door, closing it behind him. My head falls back on my shoulders, and I let out a low groan. How can he seem so unaffected? My legs feel like jelly, and my lips are all puffy, but he’s as cool as a cucumber.
I use the bathroom and wash my hands and face. I’m still a little flushed, so I keep the water cold to pull the heat from my cheeks. There’s a knock on the door as I brush my teeth. “Come in,” I call out around a mouth of foam.
Milo pushes into the room, his eyes sleepy and his hair all disheveled, looking terribly cute. “Almost done,” I announce as he walks over to me and leans his shoulder against the wall. Holding my hair at the back of my neck, I put my mouth under the faucet, taking in water so I can rinse and spit.
When I stand up, Milo is watching me through the mirror as I use the washcloth to clean my face and wipe my mouth. “Everything okay?”
His lips turn down in a slight frown. “You were in here a long time.” The heat I was hoping to erase from my cheeks flares back to life.
“I was? Sorry.” I look away, unable to meet his eyes.
“It’s okay.” Milo shrugs, his frown disappearing, but his lips form a hard line instead. When I turn to leave, he stops me by placing his hand on my arm. “I don’t mind.” Milo’s voice is soft. “Sometimes I get jealous, though.” My head snaps up, and I see he isn’t looking at me, he’s looking at the floor. “Ollie and Ares make it look easy, but I never know if you want me around, or if… if I could touch you the way they do.”
I get a pang in my chest. Reaching out to grab his hand in mine, I reply quietly, “This is all really new to me. I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time. But I always want you… I mean, I always want you around, Milo.” I want to slap my hand over my mouth for the slip. I didn’t mean for it to come out so forward, but in truth it’s what I meant. I want him to touch me, to be as close to me as the others—Dante, too. I just don’t know how to show him that, or if it’s acceptable to feel that way.
I think I have an understanding of what our relationship will be like, but it’s so foreign to me I don’t know how to deal with it yet. So, I just pretend that we’re all just friends, even though I know it’s more.