I smoothed my hands up her back and pulled her to me, loving the way she felt in my arms.
She moaned and leaned more fully into me, and I allowed my hands to sneak up under the back of her sweatshirt she had put on in the truck to touch smooth, hot skin.
“Would you like to go on a hike with me the day after tomorrow?” I asked. “Saturday morning?”
She nodded her head against my chest.
“I’d love that,” she breathed.
Sadly, after that I let her go.
It was obvious that she was tired as hell, and I wasn’t in much better shape.
“’Night, sweetness,” I said, pressing my lips to her forehead.
I stepped away before she replied.
“Goodnight, Hayes.”
She watched me leave. “Lock this after me, Ares.”
She did as I asked, locking the door behind me as I left.
I wanted nothing more than to join her in that bed. But I knew that I couldn’t.
That night, I thought that my dreams wouldn’t haunt me since I’d spent so much time with Ares. Since she’d left me with a smile on my face.
I was wrong.Chapter 10Some people are just beautifully wrapped boxes of shit.
-Ares to Hayes
Ares
I was nervous.
Why was I nervous?
Because I was about to meet even more of Hayes’ friends, and these I didn’t know.
Oh, and I hadn’t heard from Hayes in two days.
After how things had ended after dinner with the SWAT team, I’d fully expected Hayes to call me the next day. But he hadn’t.
And then I’d only gotten the text stating ‘hike starts at eight am. Still want to go?’
After I’d replied with ‘yes’ he’d not said another word.
Which led me to now, seven-thirty in the morning, pacing along the sidewalk outside wondering what in the hell I should say and do.
I’d thought we’d hit it off well the other day. I’d thought that would at least warrant a few phone calls. Or hell, even a text message besides the terse one he’d given me.
Maybe I was overthinking things? Maybe I was seeing more there than there actually was?
I was so confused and caught up in my head that I didn’t even realize that Hayes had shown up.
Hell, I didn’t even realize that he was standing right behind me until I turned to make another round of pacing and nearly plowed directly into him.
“Oh!” I said, putting my hands out to keep my face from hitting the hard chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you…”
I trailed off when I looked up into Hayes’ eyes.
He looked… tired.
“Hayes,” I said softly.
He grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, making my belly take off into a different direction.
“Hey,” I said. “Are you okay?”
He tilted his head. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I licked my lips, realizing that maybe I really was just overthinking it.
I shook my head and stepped into him, wrapping my arms around his belly.
He stiffened slightly, almost to the point where I nearly pulled away, but then he was back. Once again wrapping those strong arms around and pulling me in tightly to his big body.
“You’re early,” I said into his chest.
“You’re waiting early,” he countered.
I was.
“I’m usually up and doing something at this point in the day. I feel like I’m wasting it,” I admitted.
He gestured for me to follow him to the truck with a tilt of his chin, and I moved in front of him.
He was always at my back. Was that a military thing?
I wasn’t sure seeing as neither my father nor my brother did it.
But it wasn’t like it bothered me or anything. It actually made me feel safe. Cherished.
“Glad that you’re up to hiking,” he teased.
I snorted out a laugh. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m up for that. More like, I’m up doing errands. Getting donuts. Visiting the public library. Going for a walk down my parents’ road.”
“There are so many things that I want to address with what you just said,” he teased as he opened my door for me.
I got in, very aware that in the way that I did, I gave him a fine view of my backside.
“Address away,” I said as I latched myself in.
He gave me a quick grin, then closed my door soundly before rounding the hood and getting into his own seat.
“Do you do donuts every weekend?” he asked curiously.
I shrugged. “If that’s what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes I drive to Longview and go to Panera where I get bagels, cookies, and macaroni and cheese.”
There was a moment of stunned silence, then he looked over at me with a large grin on his face.
“Macaroni and cheese,” he stated.
I shrugged. “Yep.”
“We’re going to Longview…” He left the rest of his statement hanging, allowing me to fill in whether I wanted to go or not.
I just shook my head. “I’m going to be honest with you here, and that’s only because I don’t want to surprise you or anything… but I can eat. You should really not tease me unless you’re willing to take me there.”