Page 64 of Alpha Marked

He nodded. "He is trying. This fated mate thing is awkward and tough and not something you want, but it won't go away between you. I wouldn't be his friend if I didn't ask you to please give him a chance. He wants to make you happy. Knowing you enjoyed yourself will do that for him."

River choked down the sharp retort on her tongue and pressed her nails into her palms. After all, wasn't that what she'd decided to do after seeing the flowers? To give him a chance? Isn't that what she wanted? She liked the flowers. So, didn't it make sense she'd want to do something for him?

River inspected her hands. "I guess my nails could use attention, and I've never had a pedicure."

Theo helped her from the back of the sedan.

"Thank you."

She had no idea how to respond. How did one respond to a man who thanked you for getting your fingernails painted?

River had never been sonervous, and she had no idea why. She sat on the bed in her hotel room and fiddled with her hair as the minutes ticked by. She watched the clock. Four fifteen. Had Ares changed his mind?

She felt like a high school girl waiting on her prom date. At least her nails were perfect. The ladies in the salon had been able to remove all the oil and dirt from under her nails and filed them into cute little round nubs before painting them clear. She'd not been able to do that since starting art school.

The front door to the suite opened, and she peered at the suite door. Drew entered first, followed by Ares talking on his phone. Santiago walked in last.

River didn't know who Ares talked to, but his raised voice and agitated posture said something wasn't right. She wondered if their date would be canceled, but as he spoke, he turned and spotted her.

He stopped speaking, and his body relaxed.

Her heart thundered as their eyes connected, and neither moved.

He was power personified. Sex on two legs. Even from yards away, his Alpha presence called to her Omega side, and she couldn’t deny the tug which propelled her to him.

Santiago and Drew disappeared as Ares shoved his phone in his pocket, and without another word, they gravitated toward each other. He stopped a foot from her and took her in from head to toe before closing the distance between them and folding her into his muscular arms. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. His familiar cologne and something metallic washed over her, and she relaxed.

How did the simple feel of his body pressed against hers and his scent filling her nose soothe her?

As she went to wrap her arms around him, he kissed her head and backed away.

"You're like… like an angel sent from the Luna Goddess."

River chuckled. "No one has ever called me an angel before."

Ares smiled, but his eyes looked troubled. She wanted to reach for him and smooth away the lines that creased his forehead.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said.

"Did your meetings go well?" she asked.

He licked his lips. "Not exactly."

A pit formed in her stomach. "If you don't want to go out or have other meetings, we don't have to go."

Ares took her hand. "Absolutely not. There will always be more meetings, but I won't let them interfere with my more important duties."

"More important duties?"

"As your mate."

The sincerity in his words and earnestness in his voice made her heart squeeze.

"Let me change, then we can go." He turned to leave, but she clutched his hand, and he turned back.

"I like what you're wearing now."

He smiled. "I'll be right back."