The metal racket stopped, and Ares used the creeper to roll out from under the tractor, bracing his hand for support.
Oh. Dear. Lord.
Ares was shirtless, sweaty all over like he had just had a shower. He looked bigger, almost as if his muscles had gained more mass because of the work.
There were grease stains all over his chest, hands, arms, and a little on his face. His hand was messy and wet, adding more fuel to that sexy look.
He looked like your typical mechanic, the kind you would drool over and watch all day as he gifted you with a sight worth drowning.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he stood to his full height and rolled his neck.
His jeans hung low, and the V-line was notable. I dragged my gaze to his solid abs, hard as rocks, his sweat mixing with the grease, making it look like his tattoo was melting. The artistic display of a snake moving within a skull, coming to life.
Ares came closer, and my eyes feasted as much as I could. He had a stain on his nipple, and so help me God, I wanna use my thumb to wipe it off, then use my mouth to cover the spot to lick that sweat off him.
The plate almost fell out of my grip, but I held tightly as if my life depended on it, and I tried to breathe properly without feeling like my nostrils were about to produce fire.
I held Ares’ gaze, and the wind nearly got knocked out of me at the sight of softness in those icy blues.
"Morning, baby."
The plate clanged loudly, and this time I pressed it against my body before I did something stupid.
"Morning, Mr. King," I replied, keeping my voice as stiff as possible.
But this devil wasn’t giving me any chances to maintain my sanity. He came closer until his abdomen pressed into the plate I held, and it became the only thing keeping us from merging our bodies.
"G-Granny asked me to bring breakfast to you."
"And you did." His eyes descended to my lips slightly apart.
I don’t think he’s aware I’m holding a plate.
"It’s not like I could say no."
"You had no intention of bringing it."
"I had no intention of seeing your face..."
He smiled, those dimples of his crinkling into his cheeks, and my legs weakened.
Keep it together, Catherine!
I pictured the look of repulsion he gave me yesterday, using it as my foothold to make use of my damn brain.
"Farm work..." I began strongly. "Who are you trying to impress?"
I walked to the nearby table to drop the plate.
"You."
I snorted, ignoring the tingles. "I didn’t know you told jokes, Mr. King."
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Because you’re my boss. What else am I supposed to call you?" I unwrapped his plate.
"Honey."
My entire body froze instantly. He had spoken directly to my ear, and I didn’t even know how he got close so quickly.
I turned too fast to free myself before he would cage me, but that was a mistake. Ares used that opportunity to trap me, pressing his sweaty body into mine, our faces inches apart.
"You’re being an asshole," I said. "Here you are glued to me after the shit you pulled off yesterday." I pressed my palm into his chest and gave a hard shove.
"You’re angry."
I scoffed. "Angry? No, I’m disgusted too about the fact that you can just act as if you didn’t just..." I closed my eyes briefly, trying to calm myself.
This man is taking so much out of it, and I don’t like it.
"You said the contract was a mutual understanding between adults, right? Then, as adults, I think we should avoid touching each other. It’s toxic."
I removed my eyes and walked, but he grabbed my arm. When I attempted to fight him off with every strength I had, he pressed his fingers into my neck to keep me still.
"Toxic?" he questioned sharply, the cold layers that always keep his emotions in check shattering, and all I could see was rage and pain.
"Yes..." I asserted even though I was in a situation where I should watch what I say. "We’re toxic."
His grip tightened against my neck, and my hand shot out to his wrist to pull, but they wouldn’t budge.
"A-Ares...." I stuttered as it felt like he was gonna crush my throat. "You’re hurting me!"
"It wasn’t about you..." he said, but I couldn’t understand what he meant, nor did I care.
I struggled more, showing him I was gonna push him to the edge if he kept this up. Ares released me, and I didn’t waste any moment to scurry out, my body on the verge of breaking from the amount of quiver.
The lingering feeling of where his hand wrapped my throat still felt like it was choking the air out of me.
"Catherine?"
I snapped my gaze up as Granny descended the stairs.
"What happened? You look breathless."
I forced my smile. "Nothing."
"There’s a black stain on your neck and face."
"Is there?" I used the back of my hand to wipe. "I must have touched a tool and rubbed it over me."
She smiled. "You were coming from the barn, weren’t you?"
"Yeah, you said I should give Mr. King breakfast."
"Is that all it was about?"
"W-What else?"
She shrugged. "I don’t know, but something did happen. I think a lot is going on."
"Going somewhere?" I asked, quickly changing the topic.
"Yes, we need groceries, plenty."
"I can get them," I offered.
"No, you need rest."
"You need to watch Gramps. So let me handle it."
"Are you sure?"
I rolled my eyes and took the keys to the truck from her. "Yes!"
"Maybe you should take Ares with you."
Uh oh. She’s not being formal with him anymore. He’s growing on her. That’s not a good sign.
"I can handle it, and it won’t take long. I promise."