Rush (Gods #2)(11)

I give him a look of mock shock. My hands go to my chest. "Coffee? That's not actually code for … coffee, is it?"

"Shit, you got me," he deadpans. "And I'll be wanting milk as well."

"Jesus, you're pushing it, Mr. Perfect. Okay, I go as far as milk. But, just so you know, you're not getting any sugar."

"Don't need it. I'm sweet enough."

"Ugh." I wince. "It was going so well, and then you ruined it with that lame joke."

He laughs, and the sound works through me in the best kind of way.

"Come on then, Mr. Perfect. Let's get inside and get you your coffee with milk."





"Here you go." I hand Ares the cup of coffee I just finished making.

He's standing in the middle of my living room. And the sight of Ares  Kincaid standing in my apartment is not one I ever thought I'd see.

He looks so imposing in my apartment. Like a giant in a playhouse.

"You can sit, you know," I tell him as I take a seat in my cozy armchair, leaving him with the sofa.

He takes a seat on it, almost taking up two of the three seats that the  sofa has to offer. Sitting forward, elbows on thighs, hands cradling the  cup, he stares across at me.

"I know I already asked you outside, but are you really okay? That prick didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No. I'm fine," I reassure him.

"Did he … used to be like that with you … in the past? While you were  together?" He seems to struggle with getting the words out, and if I  didn't know him like I do, I'd think the thought of someone actually  hurting me bothered him on an emotional level.

"No." I smile softly. "Kyle was a cheating asshole and could say some  pretty mean things at times. But he never once got physical with me.  That's the first time it's ever happened."

Ares exhales, his body seeming to relax a little. "Well, I'm just glad I was here to scare the shit out of him."

"Why were you?" He looks taken aback by my question, so I expand, "I  mean, I just figured you'd left after I got out of your truck."

He gives me a disgruntled look. "I might be an asshole, Ari, but I'm not  a careless one. I wasn't leaving until I saw you go inside your  building. Especially not when that prick was sitting, waiting outside  for you."

It jolts me when he says my name. He said it a couple of times when we  were outside, but everything was crazy then, so it was hard to register,  but now, in the silence of my apartment, hearing him call me Ari … it's  nice.                       
       
           



       

Better than nice.

I bring my coffee to my lips, blowing on it to cool it. "You are an  asshole," I say over the rim of the cup, giving him a wry grin. "But I  am grateful that you were here. I really do appreciate it."

Because I have no clue what would have happened if he hadn't been. I  would like to think that Kyle wouldn't have hurt me. But, once upon a  time, I never thought he would cheat on me.

It really is true that you never know a person.

I shiver, and Ares notices.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I was just thinking."

"About?"

"What might've happened if you weren't here."

His face darkens. "Don't worry about that. But I do think you should think about getting a restraining order."

"Doesn't that seem a bit extreme?"

He gives me an irritated look, and I concede. "Okay, I'll consider it."

"Get a rape alarm, too. That'd scare the motherfucker off."

"I'll pick one up tomorrow. But could I ask … please don't mention Kyle  turning up here to my dad? He's been trying to get me to move back home  with him since … everything. Kyle showing up would only strengthen his  case."

Even though I'm angry with my dad for not telling me that he gave Kyle  money, I can't let on to him that I know because then he'd know that I  saw Kyle, and I definitely don't want that.

"I don't know, Ari. Your dad should know."

"Please," I say softly, eyes pleading.

He lets out a sigh. "Okay. But on one condition."

"What?" I take a sip of my coffee.

"You let me drive you to and from work."

"What?" My head snaps up so fast that I hear my neck click.

"I don't want you catching the bus and walking home alone with that prick loitering around."

"First, how do you know I catch the bus? And, second, I'm pretty sure  Kyle won't be coming back around. I think you scared him off for good."

He puts the cup down on the coffee table. "One, I know you catch the bus  because you don't have your license at the moment." He ticks off on his  finger. And I wait for the barb about how I lost it to come … but it  never does. "And, two, that guy isn't smart enough to give up on the  first try. He'll be back; trust me."

"I don't need you babysitting me, Ares. And why would you even want to?"

"Because you won't let me tell your dad about what happened with that  dipshit tonight. And because, believe it or not, I do have a conscience,  and I would never forgive myself if something happened to you, and I  knew what was going on and did nothing about it."

"There's nothing going on."

"That out there wasn't nothing." He jabs a finger in the direction of  the window. "That guy was drunk and aggressive with you. He grabbed you,  for fuck's sake. So, it's either me driving you or we tell your dad."  He stubbornly folds his arms.

I stare at him, furious. I don't like being backed into a corner.

And since when did he turn into a decent guy who cared about my welfare?

"What's it gonna be?" He pushes. "I have your dad's number right here … so  we can call him now … " He reaches into his pocket for his phone.

"Fine!" I yell. "Fucking fine! You win. I'll ride with you to and from work."

He pushes his cell back into his pocket and smiles smugly at me.

I don't know whether I should be pissed off or thankful that he now  cares about my welfare. And he's not a bad guy, size-wise, to have as a  pseudo bodyguard. He's built like a tank.

He picks up his mug, drains his coffee, and then places it back on the  table. Then, he toes off his sneakers, which are huge, by the way.

Big feet, big-

Don't even go there, Ari.

Cheeks flush, I mutter out, "Um … are you staying?" I set my cup aside after finishing the last of my coffee.

"For a bit, in case that fucknut decides to come back."

"And do I have a say in this?" Clearly, I'm still feeling pissy about the corner he backed me into a minute ago.

He sits up. "Of course you do. It's your place, Ari."

"Well, I didn't have a say a minute ago." I fold my arms over my chest.

"You had a choice. You always have a choice. Would I prefer it if you  told your dad about what happened with that asshole? Yes. But you won't,  so you're stuck with me for the time being until I know Kyle the cunt  has gotten the message and is not gonna come back and bother you again.  Now, if you want me to go home now and leave you alone, I will. Just  promise me that you'll lock up after I'm gone. And, if he turns back up,  you'll call the police and then me. In that order."                       
       
           



       

I watch him reach for his shoes to put them back on, and I have this  odd, tight feeling in my chest at the thought of him leaving. The word  alone rattles around in my mind.

I'm tired of being lonely.

"Wait … "

He stops and looks over at me. I can't meet his eyes. I stare down at my hands in my lap.

"I, um … you … can … stay for a while. If you want." I make it sound like it's  me doing him the favor when actually it's the other way around.

I'm so pathetic; it's laughable.

I risk a glance at him through my lashes.

"Okay." He nods and sets his shoes back down.

I decide not to dig too deep into the fact that I'm not ready for him to  leave. I've just … I've never had someone care about me … well, care about  my safety, like this before, and it's … nice.

He's nice.

And there are two words I never thought I'd say in relation to Ares Kincaid.

How things have changed in such a short space of time.

"Do you, um … want to watch some TV?" I ask him for the need to break through the weird atmosphere currently residing in here.

"Sure," he says.

"What are you in the mood for?"

"Football," he says.

I groan, and just like that, we're back to normal.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot that you don't like it."

I don't believe for a second that he forgot. The smirk on his face is telling me that.

"Seriously though, how can you not like football? Especially when your  dad is a football coach. You must've spent your whole life around it."