Rumsinger’s angry shouts reached Jac’s ears. She had the overwhelming urge to turn back around and fight, but seeing as though one of the professor’s men had confiscated her weapons, it would be suicide to try.
The hunter led Jac through the jungle, taking care to ensure their tracks were well hidden. They walked throughout the rest of the morning and into the late afternoon. He’d tossed her a banana when she mentioned they hadn’t eaten. Jac kept up, refusing to be the one to slow him down.
At dusk they reached a tiny clearing and her rescuer stopped. “We’ll camp here tonight.”
Jac shifted her weight from side to side to alleviate the strain in her legs, with the circulation back to normal, they’d been hurting for hours. “What about the Professor?”
The man didn’t answer. He simply walked over and picked her up. Jac yelped, her hands automatically flying to encircle his neck, for fear he’d drop her. With no effort, he gently laid her on the ground.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She struggled to sit up.
He pushed her back down, his palm resting on her breast. Suddenly the hand on her right leg began to glow. Jac felt her eyes widen. Heat spread over her body, through her limbs, and into her tired muscles. Within moments the pain disappeared and she felt refreshed. He grasped her other leg and repeated the process.
“Who are you?” She continued to watch his hands. “Better yet, what are you?”
At that question his gaze met hers. She gulped despite herself. His hands prevented her from escaping.
“I am Ares.”
He moved his fingers away from her body and she felt a shock jolt her, much like static electricity. Jac scrambled out of reach, her gaze never wavering from his face. She debated what to do next, deciding civility would get her further than conflict.
“Interesting name,” she said. “I’m Jaclyn Ward.” She held out her hand, waiting for him to shake it.
Ares’s lips twitched as he looked from her hand back to her face. He enveloped her palm within his and shook it twice. “I know who you are,” he said cryptically.
Jac frowned. “How? Are you some kind of magician? Or did you hear the professor mention my name?”
His green gaze dropped to the front of her shirt. Jac felt an inkling of warmth and then an invisible stroke across her nipples.
The tactic worked. She’d forgot all about the questions she’d asked. “It was you that day at base camp.” The accusation held no heat. “I thought so.”
His gaze lazily flicked over her abdomen, dropping further still.
Jac swallowed hard.
“Are you thinking about backing out of our agreement?” He shifted, a slight movement that sent his muscles rippling beneath his tanned skin.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’d never go back on my word.”
“Good.”
She sucked in a quick breath. “Don’t you believe in foreplay?” Jac nervously rubbed her neck and scooted further away.
“I thought that’s what I was doing,” he said, devouring her long legs with his eyes. He couldn’t wait to feel them wrapped around his waist.
Ares stared long and hard at her body, focusing on her velvet sheath. She tensed, her eyes growing impossibly wider. There was no doubt that she’d felt him enter her. She fell back, no longer able to remain upright. His smile widened as he explored her mentally with his tongue. He swirled it inside her until Jac’s body shuddered. One more flick and the orgasm struck. She flushed as her blood rushed close to the surface of her skin. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
“Damn you,” she finally spit out and hit the ground with her fist.
Ares threw his head back and laughed. “Is that anyway to speak to your new mate?”
Jac stilled as his words registered in her ecstasy filled mind. Had he called her his mate? What exactly did he mean by that? She struggled to sit up again, her sated body refusing to cooperate. Jac pushed herself to her elbows, so that she could see him clearly. “What are you talking about?”
Ares stopped laughing and looked at her. Pure possession etched his rugged features. “You know of which I speak.”
Jac rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t. You better fill me in.”
“As you wish.” Ares’s eyes flashed again as his gaze bulleted to her sex. By the time she realized his intent, it was too late to stop him. She felt the familiar pressure building inside about a second before her body convulsed with another orgasm.
When she finally recovered, it took all Jac had not to knock that arrogant expression right off his handsome face. He knew what she’d meant. He was playing with her, like a cat fiddling with a bird right before the feline eats its prey. She squeezed her legs together. She could still picture his dark head buried between her thighs, his blade of a tongue lapping up her cream. She groaned. This train of thought was getting her nowhere. She needed answers.
Before she could utter a word, Ares rose and walked a few feet away, gathering wood to build a fire. With a pile neatly stacked, he crouched down, placing his hands above the logs. Jac watched as his palms started to glow. In a flash the kindling burst into flames, providing them with protection from the encroaching darkness. He glanced at her.
“That’s a neat trick, what else can you do?” she asked, terrified by what she’d seen and what his answer might be. She’d been joking earlier when she’d asked him what he was, but now there was no denying the truth. Ares wasn’t human. At least not like she was, which begged the question, what was he?
The expression on his face turned from mild amusement to out and out feral. Jac crossed her arms over her chest.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warned.
He gave her a knowing smile and turned back to the fire.
“What are you?” she asked.
“A man,” he said without looking at her.
“No, you’re not,” Jac said.
“Would you like me to prove it to you once more?” he asked.
“No!” Her body was boneless enough as it was. One more orgasm and she’d turn into a puddle of goo. Jac didn’t want to know, but she just had to ask again. “What did you mean earlier when you said you were my mate?”
Ares dropped more wood on the fire as if he hadn’t heard her question. When he finished he returned to her side and sat. He stared, his gaze distant, as if pondering her words. Finally he spoke. “If I choose to respond, you will not like the answer.”
“Try me.” Jac shifted, the ground suddenly growing extremely uncomfortable beneath her.
Ares released a breath. “You will sleep by my side, bear my young, and welcome me with open arms and legs for as long as we draw breath on this planet and the next.”
Jac’s mouth dropped open, she couldn’t help but gape. After the bear my young part Ares might as well have been Charlie Brown’s teacher, because all she heard was waa, wa, wawa, wa. The trembling started with her hands and continued to rise until Jac’s body vibrated like a top about to topple. She was pretty sure steam came out her ears. Of all the antiquated, Neanderthal, bullshit ideas she’d ever heard, this one took the cake.
She jumped to her feet. There was no way she would put up with this crap from him or any other guy. Jac didn’t care how gorgeous he was. Her vision blurred, as the jungle took on a red haze. She clenched her hands into painful fists. She’d thank him and be on her way, obviously he was delusional.
“I appreciate you coming to my rescue, Conan,” she said through gritted teeth.
“My name is Ares.” He shifted, but didn’t attempt to stop her.
“Whatever.” She threw her hands up. “You’ve got the wrong girl for the job, so I’ll be on my way.”
Jac strode into the jungle. She’d made it about ten yards when she slammed into something solid. She looked up and jade eyes flashed, capturing hers. The heat from his body flowed over her, melting her intentions, dissolving all thought from her mind, leaving her with nothing but the physical reaction created by his nearness.
“I need you to step aside,” Jac whispered. No came into her mind, but his lips didn’t move. “I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes flashed with what looked like amusement, but he didn’t move.
“Fine.” Jac shrugged. “You leave me no choice.” She raised her hands as if to strike, at the last second she swept her leg out, knocking his knees out from under him. Two giant hands snaked out, grasping her at the last second, and then they were both falling.
Ares’s back hit the ground a second before Jac landed on top of him. A whoosh of air came rushing from his lungs. Her eyes widened when she felt the thick erection beneath his loincloth. She started to rise, but he rolled her beneath him. Soft ferns mashed under her back. Jac could feel the delicate leaves tickle the skin of her arms, stroking like tiny fingers.
She began to struggle, pushing against his heavy bulk, partly out of fear of Ares— but mostly she was afraid of her own reaction. Her skin heated as her body registered his weight. Jac fought like a wildcat. He held her down with little to no effort on his part, until she wore herself out and ceased to fight.
Her lungs heaved, with each breath her nipples scrapped against his muscled chest through her t-shirt. All sound stopped but the beating of their hearts. Jac glanced to his savage mouth and renewed heat flooded her system. Her tongue darted out.
It was all the encouragement Ares needed. His mouth swooped down onto hers, punishing, hungry, desperate. He licked her, following the outline of her lips, then switched to nibbling the bottom one, until Jac moaned. He didn’t hesitate. He plunged inside her dark recesses, deepening the embrace. Like a half starved animal, he fed from her.
His tongue swirled, tasted, devoured her until Jac couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. Her body came alive as every nerve ending fired at once. Her hips started moving of their own volition, grinding against his hard length, searching. She was aflame. Her movements seemed to drive Ares harder. Soon his actions mirrored her own. He thrust against her, his hips pistoning. His hand closed over her breast and kneaded. Jac cried out. She tugged at his loincloth like an animal in heat, scratching his skin, running her nails down his back. “God, I hate you and everything you stand for. I shouldn’t want you,” she heard herself say.
“But you do.” Ares growled and sat up, taking her with him. His eyes smoldered, tumultuous emotions swam in their green depths. He stood, pulling Jac to her feet, then strode back to the fire. He let go of her hand only long enough to untie his loincloth. The material slithered to the ground and Jac’s heart skidded to a halt.
Good lord where does he think he is going to put that?
Jac felt her eyes practically bug out of her head as he stepped forward. Ares grabbed her t-shirt with both hands. With a quick flick of his wrist her shirt was off her body and floating to the ground. Her nipples stiffened under his intense gaze, engorging to the point of pain. His fingers immediately moved to her shorts, but fumbled with the clasp. His movements grew frantic. Jac knew if she didn’t help him, Ares would rip them from her body. She moved his hand aside and slipped her shorts off.
Free of barriers, they stood naked, staring at each other.
Ares’s body trembled, his muscles flexed. “In all my years of existence, I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight as you have chosen to gift me with tonight.”
Jac felt heat rush to her face. Good god, I’m blushing. Jaclyn Monroe Ward never blushed.
“You are most definitely made in the goddess’s form.”
Butterflies danced in her belly at Ares’s words. She was acting like such a…such a…girl. Jac needed to bring back the control she was famous for, turn this situation around before she got so mixed up that she wouldn’t be able to find her way out of these conflicting emotions without breadcrumbs. It would kill the mood, but the subject needed to be brought up before they went any further.
“I’ve got a condom in my pocket, if you don’t have one in your pouch.” Jac dug through her pants pocket until she encountered latex. Glancing at Ares, her fingers trembled as she pulled the prophylactic out and opened the packet. Her eyes went to the condom to his penis and back. Dread filled her. There was no way in hell the rubber would fit over that monster jutting out between his legs and this was the biggest one on the market. They wouldn’t be able to have sex.
Damn it.
Jac’s body creamed in protest. It wasn’t fair. She’d waited her whole adult life to be with someone like this and now here he was, standing before her, gloriously naked and she couldn’t do a thing about it. She wanted to stomp, sulk, throw herself onto the ground and refuse to breathe until she got her way. But that would be pointless. Her eyes locked with his.
“Houston, we have a problem,” Jac said, hoping humor would lessen the blow.
Ares’s brow furrowed. “I no not why you insist on calling me by every name but my own.” He shook his head. “My name is Ares.”
“I know what your name is Tarzan. I’m trying to tell you it’s not going to happen.”
“What?” Ares crossed his arms.
Jac put her hands on her hips, the condom tucked in her right palm. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
He cocked his head to the side as if to say I’m listening, go ahead.
“The condom isn’t going to fit your—’ah, um,’ considerable assets.” Jac nodded to his shaft.
Ares glanced down at his thick shaft and back at Jac. “What is a condom?”
Jac cracked up. She couldn’t help it. She’d heard a lot of excuses why guys didn’t want to wear a prophylactic, but asking what one was—well, that was a new one. “Ignorance isn’t going to work.”
Ares pointed to Jac’s right hand. “Are you referring to that strange substance in your hand?”
She nodded.
“What were you planning on doing with that?” Confusion shadowed his features.
Jac stopped laughing and took a serious look at him. He appeared genuinely confused. “You really don’t know what this is for, do you?”
Ares shook his head, sending his ebony hair sliding over his broad shoulders. “No.”
She cleared her throat. “You wear one of these over your penis to prevent disease, babies, you name it.”
Ares’s expression went from shocked to horrified. “You want me to put that tiny thing over my staff.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Absolutely not.” He swept a hand through the air to indicate the conversation was over.
“No condom. No nookie.” Jac glanced at the fire, the conversation beginning to get on her nerves. She wasn’t about to give into temptation no matter how bad she wanted his cock. And she really wanted his cock.
Jac heard twigs snap. Her gaze shot up.
Ares had taken a step closer. His eyes narrowed and a red flush colored his cheeks.
“I am not diseased,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “It is physically impossible. My people are immune to the maladies of this planet.” His gaze leveled on Jac, boring into her, willing her to believe.
Jac took a step back. “It’s too bad I can’t take your word for it, but in this day and age you can’t be too careful.” She would not concede on this point. “Who are your people by the way?”
Ares’s face tensed as if considering whether to answer her question. “I agree with you about the perils of this time in which we live. The Earth is a very dangerous place, which is why we must soon leave.”
Jac looked around her at the jungle surrounding them. “Leave to go where?”
Ares waved a hand in the air as if to erase his last words. “‘Tis unimportant.”
“You obviously haven’t gotten out lately.” Her hands dropped to her hips. “Disease is nothing to joke about. These days a lot of stuff will kill you.”
“You think I jest?” He stepped closer. “Do you have any idea how old I am? What I am?”
Jac could feel heat rolling in waves from his body. She fought herself to keep from falling into it, drowning. He made resisting
much harder than it had to be—than it had ever been before.
“I’d say you’re about thirty-five.” She looked at him, studying the lines around his eyes, the slight weathering of his skin. She wasn’t about to touch the second question he’d asked. She’d already been questioning his origins. Jac wasn’t sure she was ready for the truth.
It was Ares’s turn to laugh. The muscles rippled in his eight-pack abs. Jac put her hands behind her back to keep from reaching out and stroking every ridge, every ripple.
He stopped laughing. His expression turned serious. Ares reached out and grabbed her upper arms, his thumbs rubbing her skin, sending shivers through her body. “Try three thousand five hundred years old.”
The trees behind him started to spin. Jac heard her blood, pounding in her ears, and then everything went black.
* * * * *
Chapter Five
Jac awoke to find Ares leaning over her, fanning her face with a palm leaf. She blinked a couple of times until he came into clear focus. “What happened?” she croaked, her tongue feeling thick in her mouth. The last thing she could recall was talking about condoms and the ills of the world, then everything went black.
“You fainted.” He smiled.
She tried to sit up, but Ares held her down. “I never faint,” she said.
Ares looked as if he tried hard not to laugh. Jac didn’t think any of this was funny. For all she knew he’d put a whammy on her when she wasn’t looking. Yeah, that had to be it. He’d been able to do a hell of a lot without actually touching her, so it stood to reason that was what occurred.
“I did not touch you.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.
Jac clutched her head. “I wouldn’t really know, now would I?”
“I’ve given you my word. ‘Tis enough,” he said.
“You’ll forgive me,” she shoved his hand away and sat up, “if I don’t quite believe you.”
Atlantean's Quest Volume 1 Page 25
