"No."
That reply disturbed me more than a yes. She could be lying, and she could have gone through my phone, seen Jenna’s texts, and known she’s a reporter.
Okay, calm down, Catherine.
My paranoid attitude is getting out of hand these days, but what can I say? I’ve been a King for two months. A lot of... shit had gone down.
"Um... she’s a high school friend, we recently connected. I’ve been too busy to reply to her texts," I said, gauging Athena’s reaction.
"Mmm...Good thing I didn’t hack your phone. I was worried someone was bothering you."
I forced a smile. "E-Excuse me?"
"I did well, didn’t I? I behaved, not because Ares told me to, but because of you. You’re really growing on me, Cat."
I hope I get uprooted soon.
"Don’t you have a shoot or something?"
"Oh, right!" She grabbed her bag from the counter and blew a kiss, and I watched her go, tensing when I saw Ares descending the stairs.
"Mua!" Athena kissed Ares on the cheek before leaving.
My body tightened when he neared the kitchen. He was drenched in sweat, which meant he must have been working out the entire time. I couldn’t avert my gaze from the way his abs tightened with each step.
He went to the fridge for water, gulping down the entire bottle while my eyes feasted on his moving throat, lowering to detail the ink design of a snake moving within a skull covering the left side of his rib.
Even though I have seen it several times, I’m still amazed by it and it made me wanna have one done.
A sharp crinkle snapped me out of it. Ares had squeezed the empty plastic to bring me back to earth.
This is embarrassing. I’m acting as if he hadn’t fucked me two hours ago.
"I’m still wondering how you could walk downstairs."
My cheeks flushed at his blunt remark. The humiliating image of me moving like a snail came forth, and Athena made a joke about it. I told her I sprained my ankle from the heels. I’m not sure she believed me, though.
"You didn’t break me," I replied. "Lane’s are tough."
His eyes darkened, but it was nothing compared to the countenance he had last night when I met him as the guest.
I pray I don’t see that side of him again... it was disturbing.
"Perhaps I’m still too soft on you."
My chest rose heavily as he dropped the bottle on the counter and rounded it.
I grew tense when Ares stood behind me, and heat found its way down my spine.
I rubbed my knees, still feeling the sticky sensation of his semen. I thought I’d break out in hives with disgust, but it’s weirdly hot still having a part of him inside me.
I drew sharply on my breathing when he gripped the edge of the counter and leaned down to me, his hand brushing my hair to the side so that the back of my neck was exposed.
"Using your safe word when we’re about to talk is foul play." His lips pressed there, and my eyes fluttered shut. "When I said we talk, I didn’t mean just the sex."
My heart raced.
"I mean the things I plan on doing to your body."
Seriously...?
I honestly thought he was gonna bring up the club. Is he never going to?
"I should get ready for work." I attempt to move, but his hand hasn’t come off the edge.
I felt another hand pressed on the back of my neck, and I sighed, affected already.
"I want you again. Do you consent?"
I gasped when he pulled on my hair until I could see him.
"I have many things I wanna try... and see if you can handle it," he murmured.
I almost caved, right there. My traitorous body almost sold me out.
"I have an appointment with Dr. Miller. Twice a week is needed."
"Do you consent?"
He wants a straight answer.
"No."
Ares released me, and I tried to breathe. I tracked his movement as he left the living room, unease settling deep in my chest.
I broke focus when Loki casually climbed on the counter, using his head to rub my hand.
A faint smile crossed my lips as I petted him.
~☆~
"Ares cheated on me."
"What?" Dr. Miller snapped his wide gaze to me.
"Well, not in the way you think, since I was the other woman in this scenario."
"Mrs. King, that’s—"
"Confusing, I know." I nodded, nibbling on my nail. "I can’t stop thinking about the fact that if it were another woman, would he have gone through it?"
"Yes, this is very confusing. How did this happen again?"
"He was meant to be gone for work or something, and I decided to go clubbing. A lot of shit happened, and there I was as the other woman."
"I see..."
"You’re probably thinking... why don’t I just bring it up? Confront him about it and get the answers I need."
"Well, that’s my thoughts... yes."
"I can’t do it," I confessed shakily.
"Why?"
"Because I’m scared of the answer I’m gonna get. That it might end up being true about his private business, and a third party might be involved."
"You sound hurt."
"No, I don’t because the con—whatever. I’m not hurt. This is just a normal reaction to something like that."
"Mrs. King, it’s okay to be hurt. You’re his wife."
Except I’m not actually his wife, and I had no idea why something like this eats me. It doesn’t make sense—Ares doesn’t make sense.
"S-Sorry, I just..." I couldn’t finish. "Should we just talk about something else?"
"Of course..." He pressed the bottom of his pen. "How’s your sleep routine now?"
"Better..." I mumbled, recalling the recent nights spent in Ares’ bed. "Change of environment seems to be helping."
"That’s good to hear. Eating?"
My phone chimed.
"Excuse me." I checked and saw it was a text from Jenna. Maybe I should really consider blocking her number. I had no idea what I was thinking, meeting with her in the first place.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just the consequence of my actions."
"You look more stressed than you were in our last session yesterday."
"A lot can happen in that period of time..."
"It’s only been twenty-four hours."