Ares had the pizza ordered before we could discuss what just happened between us. A tether had finally clicked, this new tug that I couldn't recognize now connecting us. I watch the handsome devil settle at the base of the bed while I pull my shirt back over my head, "You are something else, my darling."

He reaches a hand out, and I pretend to shift to grab my shoes to ignore the offer of touch. While we just shared a moment, I'd rather keep to myself till the end of days, at least with him. He's too addicting, and one slip up I might let myself fall for him, the need to be with him overpowered my thoughts, and now I understand why Jess and I had to have a taste.

I don't think we could have left without knowing the true extent of these males, and now that I do, I have to get out of here fast.

He brushes it off looking around the room while I finish pulling my shoes on, "Thanks for that, while I still don't like you, I needed it."

I watch his mouth open and close, hand still outreached towards me, "I let the bond take over instead of really discussing the implications that came with it..."

I shrug my shoulders, "My kidnapper was able to convince me to have sex. Completely consensual. Now we are going to eat greasy pizza and never talk about this again. This situation is really one of the most fucked up things I have done in a while."

"Darling-" He tries again but I raise my hand up to stop him.

"Never again. I let my body take over, instead of my head. While I enjoyed it, and had a great time, I was using you, okay?" The lies slip from my lips easily, far easier than they ever have before. The pain that erupts from my gut almost has me kneeling over, I try to play it off, grabbing my stomach, but Ares knows something's up.

"Veronica... now that we've been intimate your body won't let you leave me, or reject me. That is what I am trying to explain..."

"The fuck is this?" I scream about to puke, my stomach rolls again, almost like a snap against my abdomen that twists into a tight enough knot to send me to the ground. Ares kneels next to me laying his hands on my arms. The sparks I had felt before were nothing compared to now almost like a lightening storm that scatters over my skin sending my brain into a fried overdrive.

"You need to breath, I am here, love." His voice is soothing. It reminds of water after a long run. The dry throat that just needs to chug water to be rejuvenated, and right now, I need all of a gallon jug.

"Please get-" I have to take another breath, "Away from me."

"I can't do that, Veronica. Let me assist you."

"Fuck." The tears pour from my eyes, a steady fall that ruins any makeup I had on. The pain wins against me, my eyes looking up to the worried Ares begging him to do something, "Please... please help me."

His eyes have a rim of gold, jaw set in determination when he pulls me up from the ground setting me on his hips. I leg my lets hang on either side of him, and he tucks my head under his chin wrapping his wonderful arms around me in a tight hug. Ares shifts so the bed is against his back, and I breath in his scent my mind going into a fuzzy nothing, "Focus on clearing your mind, focus on me. Let my presence comfort you."

And I do just that, my heart settling and the pain subsiding. I take in his smell one breath at a time. My fingers trace over the defined muscles of his sides, my legs sizzling in connection with his. The essence of him removes the pain, and I fully relax letting my tired body melt into his. When the pain is finally gone I still stay against him enjoying the warmth that he provides my cold heart.

"Are you better?" His words are rough almost as if he smoked a pack of cigarettes before speaking. He runs his hands through my hair keeping me tucked under him so I can't look at his face.

"I am. Thank you, Mr. Gray." I mumble into his skin my lips leaving a ghost kiss on his collar bone. I feel him still at the touch, but he doesn't mention it continuing to rub my head.

"Do you want me to release you?" The words are pained a desperation I haven't heard before.

"Yes, please." No, hold me closer.

I am my own hypocrite.

He helps me off of him setting me on the floor in front. I watch as he stands to grab his clothes tugging them over himself without looking at me. I must have fucked with his feelings big time.

But why does it matter? I mean he's the one that made this complicated. But why did I have to add to it?

My inner turmoil is embarrassing, I know what I have done is wrong, but other parts of me are high in serotonin at the thought of finally bedding this man. Such a confusing brain that I can't think straight enough to make a settled decision. The anger that builds from it finally gets my tongue rolling, maybe in a bad way, "So what is this?"

Ares pauses putting on his watch to look over to me, his hair is messy from where my hands tugged at the roots. It takes everything not to lick my lips at his delicious figure, "What is what, Veronica?"

"You know something that I don't, here."

"I know a lot of things you don't." I flatten my lips at his response rolling my eyes.

My feet get under me in one movement when I stand up, my finger pointed at him in an accusing manner, "No, something about this. Why are you so obsessed? What is the point? I am a dirty, poor, New Yorker that barely remembers the last nice meal she had before you. Now, I have a billionaire taking me and demanding for a relationship. I just looked you dead in the face and said I was using you, and you still comforted me?" I take a breath looking back to where we sat, "And what the hell was that? I haven't experienced anything like that with anyone. So what the fuck?"

He gives a non-humorous laugh, "And why would I tell the woman that is using me anything? Do you believe you deserve an explanation before you have earned one?"

"I do. It involves me. How can I make any decision if I don't have all the details?"

He stops fiddling with the watch snapping it into place, "Have you ever thought someone could care so much about another that its debilitating? Ever known a relationship where they just can't get enough of one another?"

"No, that just isn't how it works." I spit throwing my hands up.

"That is how this works. You and me. And when you finally get rid of this wall you have, then we can talk. Because for me Veronica, you're it. I plan to marry you, build you a home, have kids, have you with me to run our p-business. You are my everything, my weakness, my strength. Loving you is all I want to do, and yet you fight me."

"You've known me less than a week! How can you just say these things?" More tears form, my mind shutting down from all the admittance. It sounds so good, amazing actually that part of me wants to give into him, let him rule me.

He walks over, and I stay in place. The back of his hands comes up to trace the side of my face catching a tear with his thumb, "Who broke you, my love? Who ruined your heart so that you ignore the fire that burns over your skin at our touch?" He traces down my side, every moment of his touch breath taking as he lands on my hips pulling me into him, "Because I know you feel this, this pull between us. You're mine."

I shove away, my heart breaking, "I need to go home please."

He takes in a breath holding it for a moment before releasing it, "You haven't eaten, love."

"I just... I need space."

"I'll bring it with us then, if that's alright?"

I look up to his eyes, the care that he feels for me falling from him so effortlessly, "That will be okay, thanks, for everything."