Page 87 of Beneath Scarred Vows

The sensation is strangely intimate, more so than anything we've shared before. It's as if we've fully surrendered to each other. Becoming complete and whole.

He shudders against me, his breath hot against my skin. I reach back, threading my fingers through his hair, holding him to me as his body continues to tremble with aftershocks.

For several moments, we stay like this, connected.

When he finally lifts his head, our eyes meet in the mirror once more and it's beautiful.

Ares slowly withdraws from me, and I feel that emptiness he's always given me after sex. His hands are gentle as they release me. He turns me in his arms, cradling my face between his palms.

"I'm so proud of you," he says, looking at me, and I know exactly what for.

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache. I've felt many things in my life about myself: damaged, broken, a burden, a pawn. But with Ares—he's made me feel so incredibly worthy of just being me.

I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his in a soft kiss that contains none of our earlier lust but holds something deeper, something I'm not ready to name.

When we part, Ares keeps his arms around me. His fingers trace my cheekbone, his eyes studying me with his infamous intensity.

"How do you feel?" he asks softly. "Sorry if I was a bit rough."

I smile, feeling a strange new confidence bloom inside me. "I think I needed it. I've spent my life hiding from what you've now made me see as a strength," I say and kiss him again. "If you weren't already my husband, I'd want you to be."

His smile transforms his face, softening the hard edges, making him look younger, almost carefree. It's a version of Ares I've never seen before, one I suspect few have witnessed.

"I'm glad I already am," he says and looks down at my body, which is starting to show the coldness that's creeping over my naked skin.

"We should probably get dressed," he says.

"Yes," I agree. "It's cold all of a sudden."

He holds the dress open for me to step into, and I slide my arms through the sleeves. He turns me gently, zipping up the back.

When I'm clothed again, I turn to help him, buttoning his shirt. There's an intimacy to this—dressing each other—that feels almost more profound than undressing one another.

"Ready?" he asks, extending his arm.

I take it and nod.

He leads me to the corner of the room, where a large cabinet with sex toys is.

"I don't think I can handle any of these after what we just did," I say, laughing.

"You sure?" he asks with a wink and pulls something. The cabinet slides to the left.

"Wow, secret passages. I'm impressed."

"I did say this was the VIP room. Politicians, celebrities, you name it—they've been here. Need to have a way for them to get in and out without being seen."

"Of course," I say and smile. "Have to avoid the scandals."

"Exactly," he says and takes my hand.

We walk down the dimly lit hallway, Ares leading the way.

"Does this lead anywhere cool?" I ask.

Ares nods. "Yes, you have to see it to believe it."

We walk to the end of the hall and Ares pauses at the exit door.