Page 55 of Play Dirty

His eyes blazed with an intense blue fire. Almost like he was replaying the encounter.

“Why?”

The question set him back a step. He looked confused.

“Why what?”

“Why would you protect me?” I murmured. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know you.”

“You don’t even like me.”

“I…” he paused for a moment, like a cautious animal about to step into a trap. “I tolerate you.”

Our bodies drifted closer, somehow. Like the center of gravity in the hot house existed directly between us.

“You… tolerate me,” I giggled.

Ares’s brows crashed together. Like he was trying to figure something out.

“I’m not laughing at you,” I sighed. “I’m laughing at the idea that—”

My voice died, as I felt a hand brush my hip. It could’ve been entirely unintentional. A complete accident.

Then again, why were we occupying the same few inches when we had the whole place to ourselves?

“You think you’re right all the time, don’t you?” he breathed.

I didn’t know if he expected an answer. He expected something, though, because he still hadn’t stepped aside.

“Life isn’t some math problem,” Ares muttered. “You can’t solve everything with numbers and figures.”

Though his tone was admonishing, his hand still hadn’t left my hip. It felt electric there, like tiny bolts of lightning arcing between his fingers and my skin. And it was hot. I was sweating through what little clothes I had.

“And you can’t solve everything just by hitting it,” I poked him.

“You can if you hit it hard enough,” Ares growled, his voice low. “And sometimes… if you hit it at just the right angle?” He leaned in, putting his lips right up against my ear.

“You plow straight through it,” he breathed, huskily.

Goosebumps erupted everywhere, as his hand held me steady. His fingers spread even wider across my bare hip, just above my drawstring waistband. His fingers tightening just enough to test, to question.

Ares's eyes dropped — then came back up again. Slower this time.

Something shifted. Not anger. Not anymore.

“I—”

He didn’t ask permission… he just kissed me. Not slow. Not careful.

No, he kissed me hard and fast.

Ohhhhhhh… shit.

It felt like everything that had been held back between us was released, all at once. A dam broke. My hands flew up to his shoulders, pulling him closer instead of shoving him away.

Heat surged — sharp and immediate, nothing like the slow build with Sebastian.