Page 90 of Broken Obsession

What mattered was that his disposition had led to their meeting. He’d sought Eden out because of it, and while he didn’t take any pleasure in knowing the Black Hart had been struggling, he also couldn’t wish things had happened any other way.

He felt bad for the Ares of the past, but Eden didn’tknowhim. He knew this version, the present one. The one who was already broken and cracked. The one who whispered wicked promises in his ear and eventually held him down andtook. The fact they’d only had sex once—albeit spread over the course of almost two days—was boggling.

That was Eden’s doing. He’d turned Ares away last night, too worried he wouldn’t be able to walk straight into class today. Surprisingly, the Black Hart had accepted that.

Would he tonight?

Or would he shove Eden down and—

Eden loosened his tie, trying not to think about how it was the same shade of crimson as Ares’ eyes, and picked up his steps. Castle Black was just down the path. He’d go inside and see if Ares was home like he’d told him to be at the café, and they would take things from there.

They had to finish their conversation; that was the most important thing.

Not getting dicked down.

No matter how badly Eden wanted it.

It didn’t even make sense how hot and bothered he suddenly was from just briefly thinking about it. He’d always been a sexual creature, but the ache in his lower back from their fuckingnearly two daysago should have put him off. He should not be eager to climb back onto Ares’ cock and willingly cause himself suffering in exchange for a bit of pleasure.

Okay. A hell of a lot of pleasure.

But still.

He—Came to a halt at the end of the driveway when he noticed one of the garage doors was open, and he could see Ares bent over a hoverbike.

Shirtless.

Damn it.

Clenching his hand around the strap of his briefcase, Eden forced himself to move forward, pulling his shoulders back and trying to morph his expression into something passable.

The Black Hart kept tinkering, not taking notice of his presence until Eden was practically standing in front of him on the other side of the bike.

“Paradise.” Ares straightened slowly, like an uncurling cat after a long nap, and tapped the wrench he held in his right hand against his left palm. “How was your first day?”

Eden scoffed. “I’m not a child.”

“Don’t lovers usually ask how each other's day went?” He tipped his head and gave him a searing once over, the mirth in his gaze causing Eden’s toes to traitorously curl in his loafers. “You don’t seem upset. Tense but not upset.”

“I’m not tense.”

Ares chuckled but left it at that. Turning, he replaced the tool and grabbed another, then picked up working on the bike.

The garage appeared to take up the entire level beneath the house, with over two dozen vehicles parked in neat rows. A glass box with doors to the left showed an elevator and a yellow door that no doubt led to the basement, another area Eden had yet to see.

“When are you going to give me the tour?” he asked, spinning in a circle to take it all in, searching for signs of which area belonged to the Black Hart currently sweaty and covered in grease stains.

Which was not sexy.

That would be so cliché.

Damn it.

“Those are mine.” Ares pointed straight ahead to a row of five vehicles: two cars, a jeep, and two hoverbikes.

“Didn’t ask.”

“Not with your voice, anyway.”