I have seen the devil in suits so many times, and I admit it was always a sight worth drooling over, but tonight was different. It was everything you could only wish to catch a glimpse of.
Ares, wearing a mask, just unleashed all my dark desires in one go. It should be a crime to look that good, and he should be arrested for it.
Ares leaned against the doorway, hands buried in his pockets, eyes dragging from bottom to top in a bewitching way.
"Keep staring, and I’d get the idea you wanna rip this dress off me," I teased, but that was a mistake because his dimmed blues told me that was exactly what he had in mind.
"Your ideas might come true." He came towards me in a heartbeat. "Stay still."
I locked in place instantly.
Ares held my gaze, hand grazing my waist, and I gasped when he clutched my thigh, his palm biting coldly into my skin.
"What are you—"
He held a strap that matched my gown. I was mesmerized by the decorative garter. I have always loved them, and this just earned a spot in my top favorites.
He pressed it against my skin, and heat sliced through me. I could tell he did it deliberately, lingering, and I welcomed his feather-like touches as if teasing me for more goosebumps.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
I swallowed. "Y-Yes, but it feels heavy."
Maybe because of the designs?
Ares placed my leg down, checking if it was visible, but it wasn’t. It was fixed high up on my thigh.
"You look beautiful..." he murmured, brushing the back of his hand down my neck, stopping just at the top of my cleavage.
"And you look like you can have all the women turn their heads towards your direction. I guess acting as an expensive wife isn’t gonna cut it."
"How so?" he questioned, amused.
"I’m gonna be a jealous one too, a dangerous combination. Which are you gonna be?"
He tipped his head, not saying one word, but I didn’t know why a chill shot through me.
"W-We should stick to timing, Mr. King."
His eyes followed me as I walked past him. "Well?"
"Tonight..." He began. "Don’t ever leave my side."
"Is that a way of telling me not to socialize? It’s not like I would, everyone there is probably high class..." I paused as he neared me. "E-Elites."
Getting agitated by his silence, I replied to his earlier words. "Alright."
~☆~
I have never been inside a limo before, and it was an experience that would live rent-free in my head. I eyed the champagne, but I’m skeptical of taking it on an empty stomach. June succeeded in letting me not eat anything aside from a damn banana.
I sighed, shifting my attention to Ares, who sat opposite me. He hadn’t stopped staring ever since we left the penthouse.
I purposely did not sit next to him because I didn’t trust him to keep his hands to himself. One touch and I fear I may submit.
"Honey, your stare will burn a hole through my skin."
"Practice, baby. I need to have my eyes on you at all times."
"Smooth. You should get yourself an award for your acting skills. I’m sure tonight everyone would be able to tell we’re real without question. We need our A game."
"We must be very convincing."
I released a sharp exhale. "Yes, we must be. For example, creating an illusion that you fucked me on our way here..."
He licked his lips. "Keep throwing that word around, and you’re gonna regret it."
I smirked, eyeing the rise in his pants. "If it affects you so... I can’t help it."
"I want you to be beautiful tonight. It’d be a shame if you end up in a beautiful disaster after I’m done with you."
I rasped as heat spread all over my face.
"There..." His voice dipped low with a sinful intrigue. "You look freshly fucked."
Oh lord! Breathe, Catherine, breathe!
"So! Where is this ball happening? Should I expect a museum or something?" I switched.
"It’s held in the family estate."
"Estate? That means I get to see the famous King’s home."
I have been apprehensive the entire day, and the pending hours leading to this event had me on my toes. I said to myself to feel better that this ball was held in a grand building, but it was within the estate.
So much for trying to relax.
We have been driving for hours, and we finally came to a stop. I looked to the window, freezing when I saw men armed with big rifles. Their stone-cold expression was close to the hardcore criminals I saw on the news.
This is normal, right? After all, this was the King’s home, so security was required.
Ares pressed a button, and the window beside him slowly descended. He murmured something I couldn’t hear, and they backed away, the gates opening.
The car moved, and I kept my eyes on the men until I could no longer see them.
The drive from the outer gates to the main house took almost an hour. I couldn’t see much because it was dark.
Just how big is this place?
Finally, we stopped, and Ares got down first, giving me a hand, and I emerged.
I fixed my gown, catching a massive fountain of a winged woman who appeared delicate and mesmerising.
Ares was fixated on it too, but it wasn’t of awe like I was.
He blinked away from it, placing his hand at the small of my back, leading me to the entrance.
I could feel his mood had suddenly shifted. Whenever I visited the farm, it was always one of nostalgia. I wonder how he felt being here. I wanted to ask, but we were stopped by a bulky man holding a metal detecting wand.
He came forward to run it through me.
"Do that and lose your hands."