Page 48 of The Cursed Chalice

ARES

I was speaking to one of my gun dealers. I had an issue on another port. I was pulled away mentally when she uttered, “God, no.”

God, no? Is she so disgusted at the thought of being my wife? Doesn’t she know that if she were my wife, she would want for nothing? The moment the store clerk started flirting, Aric and I changed places.

I felt like ripping off the store clerk’s head. Why did he even think he had a chance with something that was mine? Whether she knows it or not, she was mine.

“She is not yours.”

“Shut the hell up, Aric.”

The elevator door opens, and I walk out. I see Soraya leaning on the car with her arms folded.

“Stay calm.”

My blood was boiling. “I am fucking calm.” I whisper. I can feel Aric rolling his eyes at me.

My footsteps echo throughout the parking lot.

“Pick a phone. I bought five. I can carry back the ones you don’t want.” I walk in front of her.

“Keep the phone. I’ll buy my own,” she replies, turning to open the car door.

My palm presses against it, keeping it shut. “Don’t test me, Soraya.”

She turns and smirks. “Test you? You don’t own me.”

I stay silent because she is right. My gaze drops to her pink lips as she speaks and then drags back to her eyes.

“You threatened a complete stranger. Promising to send his mother his death certificate? Really?”

I shrug. “I was not issuing a threat.” I was being straightforward.

Soraya sighs and shakes her head. “Unbelievable.”

“I didn’t appreciate how close he was to you.”

She laughs hard and disbelievingly. “Close to me? You must be the most jealous man I freaking know.”

My eyebrows knit together. “You know other men?”

“Ares—” Before she can say more, my mouth crashes to hers.

Our teeth clink. She tastes of sweet cream and sin. Her tongue tangles with mine as her fists clench the lapels of my jacket.

My hand grips the side of her neck, holding her tightly. I pull away, my breath ragged. She’s blinking up at me like she is trying to find the words. Her lips are parted, her eyes are wide, and her chest is rising and falling fast. For a moment, she doesn’t speak. Can’t. Like she’s trying to remember how to formulate words.

I lick my lips and savor the taste of her cherry lip gloss. She swallows and exhales shakily as she realizes what just happened. Slowly, her fingers unclench my jacket.

I love the shock that is still lingering in her gaze. I bend, opening the car door beside her. “Get in the car, Little Flame.” With little protest, she slides in.

I jog around the car, open the door, and slide in. Just as I close the door, I feel it. “There is a God watching.” I scan around the parking lot.

“A god? Yes, Einstein. God is always watching.”

I smirk as I roll out of the parking lot. At least she called me Einstein. That’s a nickname. That is technically a win.

“No, it’s not.”