Page 10

Prophet

Days melded into each other, a blend of salt and sun, as we found solace in the beach and one another. We swam until our limbs grew heavy, basked in the sunlight until our skin turned shades darker, and strolled through the nearby town, hand in hand, as if we were just any other couple seeking summer’s simple joys.

I could feel the sand clinging to my toes, grains rough against the soles of my feet. I felt at peace here, and I thought Ares did too. I knew we couldn’t stay forever. The days had turned into weeks, and then months. We’d been here far longer than I’d anticipated. There were times I’d wondered if Ares would ever be ready to go home. The club knew why we were gone, and they supported the both of us. Although, Savior probably wouldn’t be happy to hear I’d claimed his daughter. He’d known it was coming, but I still should have given him a heads-up or asked his permission.

My gaze settled on a vendor nearby, an old man with stooped shoulders and wrinkled hands. He sold oysters, their shells gritty and raw, plucked from the depths of the sea that morning. An inexplicable urge took hold of me, a need to gift Ares something symbolic of our time here.

“Hey,” I called out to her, nodding toward the stall. “What do you think about taking a bit of the ocean back home with us?”

I’d already been in touch with Wire, letting him know we’d be returning soon. It was time. I knew Ares felt apprehensive about it.

Ares approached, her stride confident. I’d never thought I’d see the sight again. Warmth filled me as I watched her. She inspected the oysters, turning one over in her palm, her fingers tracing the rugged lines.

“Sure,” she said with a half-smile.

I picked up an oyster, its surface mottled and slightly iridescent, and handed the vendor some bills.

“Here,” I said, offering the oyster to Ares. Her hand brushed against mine as she took it, and the jolt of contact sent shivers up my spine. Since the first time she’d given herself to me, we’d been intimate countless times. In fact, I had a hard time keeping my hands off her.

“Thanks, Prophet,” she murmured, looking at the oyster as if it was a treasure. She had no idea I intended to do something with it later. It wasn’t like she could take an unopened oyster home. The thing wouldn’t last more than week, even if she put it in water.

“If you’re only getting the one, I’m going to assume you don’t plan to eat it. Do you want me to open it?” the vendor asked. “Some have a pearl inside.”

“That would be great,” I said. Ares handed it back to him, and he sliced it open.

He’d been right. There really was a pearl inside. A pretty pink one. Rather large at that. He gave the empty shell back to Ares and leaned in to whisper to me.

“You could take it to the local jeweler. He can shine it up and put it in a ring or necklace for your wife.”

Wife. I liked the sound of that. I glanced at Ares. Maybe I could turn the pearl into an engagement ring.

“Thank you,” I told him, sliding the pearl into my pocket.

“Isn’t that mine?” Ares asked as we walked off.

“I’ll give it back later.”

We continued our walk and returned to the house a short while later. I convinced Ares to shower and take a nap, and while she dozed, I quietly left the house. I knew which jeweler the vendor meant. I’d seen their shop in town.

I entered the small store, the bell jingling over the door.

“Can I help you?” asked the jeweler, a middle-aged man with a balding head and friendly eyes.

“I need a ring made,” I said, voice low, my usual confidence faltering at the admission of my intentions. She’d agreed to be mine, but in our world, that didn’t always mean marriage. What if she didn’t accept an engagement ring from me?

“Let’s see what we’re working with,” he responded, professional interest replacing any surprise at my appearance -- tattooed arms and all.

I drew the pearl from my pocket, feeling its slightly bumpy surface one last time before placing it on the counter. It didn’t look very impressive on top of the glass cabinet housing diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones.

“An engagement ring,” I clarified, knowing full well the stakes. If this went wrong, if Ares said no, I wasn’t sure how I’d come back from it. Regardless, she was mine, and I was hers.

“Unique,” I added, almost as an afterthought.

The jeweler picked up the pearl, eyes narrowing as he examined it closely. The longer he studied it, the more nervous I became.

“We can do unique,” he finally said, a note of respect in his voice -- I wasn’t sure if it was for the pearl or the task, or maybe for the love behind my request.

“Thank you,” I said.

The jeweler leaned in, studying the pearl some more. My nervousness spiked again, as I worried something was wrong.

“Remarkable,” he finally whispered. “Could make something… exceptional.”

“Show me,” I said, eager to see what he envisioned for the ring I’d give Ares.

He sketched rapidly on a pad, lines flowing into curves, the design taking shape before my eyes. He added etchings of flowers, which I assumed he planned to engrave on the band.

“Like this,” he said, holding the drawing up. “A band that echoes the pearl’s strength and purity.”

I stared at the design. It resembled Ares. Her soft side, and her strength. “Perfect. Let’s do it.”

“Give me a few days,” the jeweler said, his own excitement a mirror to mine.

“Thank you,” I managed, the weight of the moment settling over me. This ring -- it was a vow, a pledge to face whatever hell might come, together.

I returned to the house, slipping back in before Ares woke. She’d never know I’d been gone, or what I’d been up to. Not until the time was right.

* * *

Days slipped by, and I kept myself busy. Ares laughed more, her guard lowering with every sunset we watched bleed into the horizon. And yet, I could feel the tension coiling within me. It was time. The ring was supposed to be ready today, which meant I’d be proposing to the woman I loved.

“Is it ready?” I asked the jeweler. His nod was all the confirmation I needed. He unveiled the ring, and it was like gazing upon a reflection of Ares herself. The pink pearl sat nestled among tendrils of silver, strong yet delicate. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect ring for her.

“Beautiful,” I whispered. I lifted it from the box, admiring it from every angle.

“May it bring you both joy,” he said, and I could see the glint of respect in his eyes. “If it’s not too bold of me to say so, I don’t get many bikers in here. I’m glad to see a hardened man such as yourself still has a softer side when it comes to the woman you love.”

“Thank you,” I replied. Perhaps I should have felt offended by the way he viewed men like me, but I understood where he was coming from. Not everyone in a leather cut had the same values as the Dixie Reapers.

I left the shop with the ring burning a hole in my pocket. What if the scars of Ares’ past were too deep? What if my love wasn’t enough to eclipse the darkness that still lingered in her eyes every now and then? She’d healed, and was doing so much better than before, but I wasn’t sure she was entirely whole, and I knew she might never be.

But her smile had brightened, and her laughter sounded full of joy. She’d been carefree most days this month. She’d been to hell, but perhaps she’d finally made it back to me. It had been a while since she’d had a nightmare.

I prayed to every known god that when I asked her to marry me, she’d say yes.

I pulled to a stop in the driveway of the beach house and turned off the engine. Making my way up to the deck, movement on the beach caught my attention. I saw Ares, staring out across the water. I removed my boots and socks, rolled up my jeans, and walked down the steps, my feet sinking into the sand with every step I took.

“Come on,” I urged gently, reaching for her hand. Our fingers laced together, fitting as perfectly as I hoped our lives would.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked.

“More than you know,” I answered, my throat tight as we walked. I knew she’d meant the water, but I’d meant her . Before we made our way back to the house, I paused.

“Prophet?” Her voice, tinged with curiosity, pulled me from my thoughts.

“It’s nothing,” I lied, squeezing her hand a little tighter. “Just enjoying the moment.”

The salty breeze, the cries of the gulls, the endless blue -- it all faded into the background. Only Ares and the ring burning in my pocket mattered. This was it. The perfect moment.

My heart hammered against my ribcage, every beat a drumroll to the moment I had been steeling myself for.

“Let’s stop for a second,” I said.

She turned toward me, a question in her gaze. “Prophet, are you sure you’re all right?”

I steadied my breath, reaching into the pocket of my jeans. I dropped to one knee, opened the jewelry box, and showed her the ring inside.

“Ares, you’ve walked through hell and came out the other side with a fire that burns so bright, it puts the sun to shame. Your strength has always amazed me. You amaze me. There are so many reasons to love you. You’ve faced everything head-on, never backing down or giving up. Ares… Will you join me on the adventure of a lifetime? Will you be my wife?”

Tears gathered in her eyes and her lips trembled. I worried she was about to reject me, but she let out a soft sob before dropping to her knees in front of me. Her hand shook as she held it out. “Of course, I’ll marry you. I love you, Hunter.”

I slid the ring onto her finger and brushed my lips against hers. I drew back and smoothed her hair from her face. Ares’ hand trembled as she admired the ring on her finger.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

I cupped her face in my hands. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”

Her eyes misted again and she threw her arms around my neck. “I love you so much, Hunter.”

Ares admired the ring again. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. I never thought…”

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You deserve all the happiness in the world, Ares. And I intend to spend my life giving it to you. I know in our world marriage isn’t really necessary. But this was something I wanted to give you. I want you to be mine in every way possible.”

She smiled warmly. “I don’t need anything except you.”

I kissed her again, then we returned to the house, hand in hand. She led me to the bedroom and slid the cut off my shoulders. After gently putting it aside, she worked on the rest of my clothes, removing them one item at a time.

I groaned as her fingers teased down my spine, her nails raking against my skin. I growled, unable to control myself any longer.

“Ares,” I breathed in her ear, “I want you so damn bad.”

“Good,” she murmured low. “Because I want you too.”

Her lips met mine, and we fell into a ravenous kiss. It was rough and messy, but it felt like coming home. I pulled at her clothes until she was bare, before pushing her against the wall. Our bodies fit together like two halves of the same whole.

She led me to the bed, and pushed me down onto the mattress, tasting every inch of my skin. I couldn’t believe this woman was now mine. My Ares… She’d become so bold since our first time together, and I looked forward to what our future would hold.

She straddled my hips and braced her hands on my chest. Reaching between us, I lined my cock up with her pussy, and she slowly took me into her body.

Ares moaned as she rocked against me. I gripped her hips and surged upward, controlling her motions. She tossed her head back, her hips undulating as she rode me.

Within minutes, she came, her pussy gripping my cock as the heat of her release triggered my own orgasm. I thrust up into her, taking what I wanted. My balls drew up, and I urged her to ride me faster as I came inside her.

We lay entwined afterward, breathing hard, our chests rising and falling in tandem. Ares smiled at me. “Do you have any idea how happy you make me?”

“Hopefully it’s at least as half as happy as you make me .” I kissed her again, then held her close, wanting the moment to last forever.

“We should go back,” she murmured. “It’s time I faced everyone.”

“If you’re ready, then we can pack tonight and head out in the morning. I’ll let the owners of the house know, as well as the doctors next door.” I didn’t know how the club had managed to convince them to stay this long, but I knew they had to have had a hand in it. Both men had been a big help in getting Ares back on her feet.

She pressed her lips together. “There’s something I need to confess.”

I leaned up on my elbow and looked down at her. “What is it? Whatever you have to say, you know I won’t be mad, right? You make it seem like you’ve committed some horrible sin.”

She took a breath and slowly let it out before holding my gaze. “I’m pregnant, Hunter. I asked Dr. Myron to do a pregnancy test, and he confirmed the results yesterday. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

I placed my hand on her belly, and marveled at the fact our child was growing inside her. “You’ve made me the happiest of men, Ares.”

She reached up and placed her hand on my cheek. “You’re the one who makes me happy, Hunter. I will love you until the day I die.”

I hoped that wasn’t going to happen for a long, long time. The day she’d disappeared from the compound, I’d nearly lost my mind. All the time it took to track her down had felt like agony. I knew I wouldn’t be able to survive without her. She was my entire world, and if she were to leave me, I’d have no reason to keep living.