Ares (11 page)

Ares thanked the waiter and then looked over at her. “Well, dig in.” They’d done Paris for breakfast and then he’d taken her shopping. They hit a small Belgian village for lunch and a tour of the countryside. Now they were in Spain for dinner and apparently, a show. He hadn’t yet told her what the show was, but the music and atmosphere were lively and energetic. “I ensured that nothing was too spicy since I didn’t want you being all gassy when we get back to bed later.”

Laughter filled the air and Ava said, “Thank you for that…I think.” Gassy, he was too funny. Rolling her eyes, she took her first bite of the food and sighed. Eyes closed and her face was so expressive that he could see her joy, “Oh that’s so very, very good,” she muttered happily.

“Only the very best for my lady,” he smiled at her. “While it’s a bit of a hole in the wall, some of the best food comes from places like this. The best places are the ones the masses don’t know about. You need to always talk to the locals to find them. The places suggested may not always be in the best parts of the city, or hidden among the higher end places, but the locals always know.”

“And since I don’t have to worry about our well being, we can go into pretty much anywhere, right?” Ava teased and took a sip of her bottled water. “Thank you by the way for figuring out which places we should go to and what would be best for us. Thank you for all of this.”

“Always, love,” he smiled at her. “Besides, I happen to like finding places like this too. They usually have some amazing places and the proprietors can always recommend other places to dine. They know the neighbors and fellow restaurateurs.”

“Very smart,” Ava commended him. “I haven’t ever thought to ask a restaurateur about other establishments I might like,” she admitted to him. “I like it a lot. You are a smart cookie, Ares.”

“You tend to learn a few things when you’ve been around as long as I have. Besides, as long as you never insult an owner's food and make it sound like a request for a different style, they are more than willing to share. Phrasing is always key and since most owners understand they can’t cater to everyone all the time, they don’t get too bent, but they will only send you to those they like and who they believe have the best of what you’re looking for. So occasionally you need to be even more careful of what you ask.”

“Well then I am very happy you have learned how to phrase your requests so we can find these special places. Besides, if you were given information that would send you into danger or trouble you would know it right? Not only because you are a God but because you have been around the block and back again a few times?”

“Are you calling me old?” he asked with a faint grin on his face. “'Cause that’s what it sounds like to me from here. While I may be up there in years, it’s still rather impolite to point out a man’s age like that, especially when he’s madly in love with you, woman.”

“Have I mentioned I have a thing for older men? I really do. I happen to love that you are who you are and the age you are. To me you are perfection and no, I wasn’t calling you old. I was alluding to your experience.”

“Oh, well,” he seemed to be blushing. He was also shifting in his chair looking a little uncomfortable. “I suppose then you could keep on alluding if you wished. Sorry, just jumped to my most natural conclusion and the one I tend to get when people know who I am.”

Ava cupped his cheek and pulled him close, “I love everything about you, Ares, and never doubt that. Ever. You have been waiting for me and I have been waiting for you to become the man that you are before stepping into your life. Never doubt that.”

“I don’t, little darling,” he said quietly. “I just hope you don’t regret getting hooked up with a guy that’s been around since before your people even existed.” He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her to him, brushing a kiss to her lips.

“I don’t regret anything with you, Ares. Well, maybe how we started but I think that was to be held against both of us. As for being with you, no way. I don’t regret one single, solitary moment of being right here in your arms, in your life and I’m damn well keeping you.”

“Good,” he smiled kissing her again. Then he let out a decidedly relieved sounding breath. “I worry this is all too much for you. If it ever becomes too overwhelming just say the word and we’ll go somewhere quiet, where you can process.”

“Don’t worry. If it becomes too much I promise I will tell you. I tell you everything anyway so why in heavens name wouldn’t I tell you that I have issues with our being together? And if someone begins to hassle me I swear I’ll let you know.” That was one of her issues, her worry that perhaps one of the other Gods would give her issues.

“No one should hassle you, I hope, but yes, if anyone does, you grab hold of your pendant and mentally scream my name. Trust me, I’ll be there so fast I’ll probably still be half in motion when I arrive. I’ll likely fall on my face but, one can hope not 'cause that’s just embarrassing.”

“Well I seriously doubt you would fall on your face, especially if you knew I was in danger or someone was giving me a hard time. I have a feeling you would come in with guns blazing or something like that,” she said with a grin.

He coughed into his hand and looked to be blushing again. “Yeah or something.” Ares licked his lips and made a face, “Guns were never really my thing, but something would definitely be blazing if you were in any danger at all.”

“Exactly.” Ava knew with Ares as hers and having him loving her as he did she would always be safe. “I love you, too, Ares.” She was repeating herself, but that was neither here nor there. “Now then, what were we going to do before I got us sidetracked?”

“We were going to finish this meal and then decide whether to remain for dessert or hit one of the street carts or cafes instead. Choice is yours, darling,” he told her, letting her loose. Sitting forward, he picked up his fork again and continued to eat.

“I think we should try one of the cafes. I’m thinking they might have the best food available, don’t you?” She honestly wasn’t sure. They were in Spain after all! “I am going to lean on you as to where we should have our dessert at.”

“Well, we could head to Italy and grab some gelato if you’d like. Go and sit at one of the fountains before we head back to the house or, we grab our dessert and I take you up into the hills and we can sit and watch the sun set.”

“I would love to watch the sun setting with you. I think that sounds like the best idea ever. Have a nice thick blanket under us and watch the sun as it dips below the horizon, just the two of us.”

“Done,” he smiled at her. Leaning in he kissed her gently. “Finish your meal and I’ll get the bill so we can leave once you’re finished.” Winking at her, he leaned away and lifted a hand signaling for the waitress before looking back to her again.

Ava continued to eat the spectacular meal before her and sighed with each bite she took. “This is so good. You take such amazing care of me,” she said with a smile and then leaned back when she was finished her meal. “I think I’m done though. If I take another bite I might explode.”

Chuckling, he shrugged, “I’m sure you’ll find room for dessert. We could always stop at the house and help burn off some calories. That way you’ll have lots of room for more goodies or we could just go for a nice long hike up a hill if you prefer.”

“Ha, if we’re burning calories we’re going to do it the fun way, mister, and I mean it.” Ava shot back at him with a grin, “Because burning calories with you is an amazing and wonderful thing.”

“I love burning calories with you too, love,” he smiled. He got up from his chair and handed off the payment to the waitress as she passed by. Holding out a hand to Ava, he pulled her from her chair when she slid her palm to his.

The connection, the rightness of him taking her hand was automatic and she loved it. Taking a deep breath she looked to him and smiled, “Get us out of here, Ares, let's go and watch the sun setting over the fields of our home, shall we?”

Pulling her closer to him he pressed a kiss to her cheek. He led her outside slowly and around a corner. Nudging her a little further into the darkness, he wrapped her up in his arms. “I’m going to pop us into an alley near the very best gelato place in town. We can grab our dessert and then head up the hill.”

“Sounds good to me,” lying her cheek against his chest, she sighed and closed her eyes. “I trust you,” she whispered the words softly to him and meant every word. She did trust him fully, completely and without a shadow of a doubt. He was her everything and she would trust him with her all.

Smiling down at her, he kissed her slowly, gently. The slight change in temperature warned her he’d flashed them. That and when he lifted his head the buildings looked different. “You good?” he asked in that low, husky tone of his.

“Damn that voice of yours,” Ava whispered with a smile. “Incredible.” She looked up at him and nodded, “Yes. I’m perfectly fine. Anytime I can be in your arms I’m great,” she told him happily, “Just FYI for future events.”

“Good to know,” he grinned, dropping another quick kiss on her lips before he pulled back and took her hand. “Come on, you have many choices of gelato to narrow down.” Tucking her close to his side, he led her out of the alleyway and around to the front of the shop. Inside he let her get up close to the counter and look at all the flavors.

She took her time choosing, sampling several first before finally choosing a flavor that made her sigh and close her eyes in bliss. “That one,” she told him. “The Coyote Chocolate one please,” she said with a grin, “Oh and the Amaretto one.”

“Mint lime for me, please,” Ares said shaking his head at her. “At least I know what to bring home on occasion.” He pressed a kiss to her hair before moving to pay for their desserts. “That is of course if this isn’t a passing fling with flavors.”

“Oh no, I don’t think that it is. I really, really like it.” Ava looked up at him and smiled, “So, are you saying you’re glad you brought me here? Maybe you are just trying to find something I like so you can distract me when I’m angry?” she teased.

“Well yeah, what man doesn’t want to find something to soothe his woman when she’s having a bad day?” He’d phrased that rather well. “Plus, having something that you like to surprise you with on occasion is a bonus.”

“Well it’s totally something that I like,” she said with a smile. “So you can surprise me on occasion with it if you would like, especially if you want to suck up. That’s a very, very good way to go,” she assured him with a smile.

“I will remember that,” he said. Reaching out, he took their desserts with a thanks to the man behind the counter. Passing Ava's to her, he waved her toward the door and followed her out. “The suns starting to set. We should head up and find a good spot before it’s too dark to see.”

“Then how about we find a shadow and you move us where we need to be?” she asked with a smile. Ava took a bite of her gelato and sighed. Closing her eyes, she savored the tastes. “And people say ice cream is best. Idiots.”

“That’s because most will never experience a true gelato. The stuff made in the US, unless by a true master, is a pale imitation at best.” He guided her between buildings and into a shadowy doorway. Stepping closer to her, he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Close your eyes for a moment more and we’ll be there.”

Ava wrapped herself close to him and sighed. Closing her eyes, she rested close to him, the beating of his heart reassuring her even as she felt the pressure change when they moved from place to place. “Are we there yet?” she said with a laugh.

“Cute, but yes we are here,” he said quietly. A quick kiss to her lips and then he was letting her go. “Here, hold my gelato will you please. I’m going to create a blanket and spread it out for us to relax on.”

Taking his gelato she stole a bite, her eyes never leaving his as she did so, almost daring him to say something about her misdeed. “Well go on. Create the blanket, honey, so we can sit and enjoy the setting sun.”

“Quit eating my gelato, woman,” he said. Making a face at her, he shook his head and snapped his fingers. Shaking out the large blanket he created, Ares settled it on the ground. Holding out a hand to her he smiled, “Come on, darling. We have a great view of the ocean and the sun will keep us warm even as it slowly sets.”

“Sounds good to me.” Passing him his gelato, she settled down on the blanket unsurprised when pillows popped up behind them. “You think of everything don’t you, honey?” That was one of the many things she adored about him. He thought of her in every single turn that he made.

“I try,” he shrugged. Leaning back on the pillows, he settled his cup of gelato on his lower chest. “I just want to ensure you are comfortable at all times. If you’re not then I have to figure out why and fix it. It’s part of who I am so I hope you’ll understand that in the years to come.”

"Well, all I can say is that I’m hopeful in the years to come we will learn each other very intimately and know what the other is thinking by the look on our faces." She smiled as she spoke, eating her gelato as she talked to him, "We’ll get to know each other. We’ll also spend a great deal of time loving one another. That, my dear, is what I’m looking forward to."

“The talking or the loving?” he asked with a grin. “Because while I adore talking to you, learning about you and just being with you, the sex is fucking rocking and will only get better with time. As we learn one another we’ll learn more about what each of us wants and needs in our love life.”

That had Ava laughing and she nodded. “I happen to love the sex with you as well. If it’s only going to get better then you better take out some great life insurance on me because if it gets better than this then I will totally die.”

In a move too fast for her eye to track he had their gelato set aside and she was flat on her back with him over her in barely a moment. “Don’t ever say that,” he said softly. The look on his face was completely serious, no joking at all. “I won’t lose you, Ava, it’s not permitted. So please, never say such things even in jest.”