I wake up feeling warm and cozy but in pain. My head is resting on something soft, and I can feel a gentle weight pressed against my side. My eyelids are still too heavy to open, my head pounding with a migraine. My hand lazily skims over the figure next to me. The skin is warm and firm, muscles defined under my touch.

Suddenly, everything comes back to me. The party, the drinking, the kiss. Alex helping me inside, getting me water, putting on his shirt.

I force my eyes open, and my breath catches. Alex is still asleep, his body stretched out along the length of the couch. His shirt is gone, since I'm wearing it, and I can see the definition of his abs. My hand is splayed across his chest, and his arm is wrapped around me, holding me close. I don't remember falling asleep like this, but here we are, tangled up in each other.

His breathing is steady and his face is peaceful. I've never seen him look so relaxed. It's a good look on him. My gaze travels down his body, taking in the smooth skin and firm muscles. His pants are low on his hips, and the trail of hair leading from his navel disappears beneath the waistband.

As if sensing my scrutiny, his eyes open, and he smiles. "Good morning," he says, his voice husky with sleep.

"Good morning," I reply, a blush rising on my cheeks.

"Yes, good morning," a voice says from the chair across the room. It's a familiar voice. A voice I didn't expect to hear in my house.

Ares.

I freeze. Oh shit. This can't be happening. How long has he been there? Why is he even here? I grab the blanket, yanking it up to cover Alex and myself a bit more, as if that thin barrier could shield us from the reality of the situation. I feel caught, guilty almost, despite knowing I've done nothing wrong.

I glance over at Ares. He's sitting in the chair in the corner, his expression unreadable. His eyes are locked on mine, and I can't tear my gaze away. My stomach does a little flip. He's dressed casually, in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. The shirt is fitted, and I can see the outline of his muscles. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his biceps bulge.

My heart is racing, and my palms are sweaty. I feel like I'm under a microscope, being studied.

I'm not sure what to say. So, I don't say anything. Alex shifts beside me, stretching his arms over his head. He blinks a few times, then sits up, looking between me and Ares.

"Uh, morning," Alex says again, his voice rough with sleep.

Ares doesn't respond. He just continues to stare. His gaze is intense, and it's making me feel self-conscious.

I'm suddenly very aware of how I must look, how this must look. I'm still wearing Alex's shirt, and it's wrinkled and twisted. My hair is a tangled mess, and I'm sure my makeup is smudged. Alex's arm is still casually around my waist. My leg is slung over his body.

"What are you doing here?" The words tumble out of my mouth, breaking the thick silence that's settled over the room

"Archer and your mother decided to extend their honeymoon," he begins, his voice carrying that familiar note of authority that somehow manages to command attention even in the most awkward of situations. "I had some business to attend to on this coast, and they asked me to check in on you. Make sure you're okay."

I glance at Alex. "I'm fine," I tell him.

"You look it," he shoots back.

Ares's eyes flicker to Alex, sizing him up with a glance that feels like it could cut glass. "Who are you?" he asks.

"Alex," he replies, his voice sounding a little uncertain. He sits up, stretching his hand out to shake Ares's.

Ares, however, doesn't take the offered hand. Instead, his focus snaps back to me. "Get dressed. I'm taking you to breakfast."

My stomach chooses that moment to betray me with a loud growl, but I stubbornly retort, "I'm not hungry," even though the very thought of food has my mouth watering.

"Get. Dressed." Ares repeats, his tone brooking no argument.

I stand up, letting the blanket fall from me. It's only then that I realize I'm only wearing panties. But I refuse to scramble for cover. Instead, I turn on my heel and stride toward my bedroom with a confidence I'm far from feeling, acutely aware of the eyes following my every move.

I turn back to see Alex's gaze lingering on me, a mixture of admiration and something softer in his eyes. "Uh, yeah. I'll just... I'm going to go," he stammers, clearly flustered but unable to tear his eyes away.

"You do that," Ares responds, his voice icy, the temperature in the room dropping a few degrees.

But I can't let Alex leave without his shirt. "You can't go anywhere without your shirt. Come on," I gesture for him to follow, throwing a glance back at Ares. The sight of his jaw clenched tight sends an unexpected thrill through me, and I can't suppress the smile that flits across my lips.

I lead Alex into my bedroom, closing the door behind us.

"Who is that guy?" Alex asks, his voice hushed.

"My uncle," I reply with a nonchalance I'm far from feeling. The weight of Ares's gaze still lingers like a physical touch.

"He didn't look too thrilled about seeing you in my shirt."

"He's just protective," I say with a shrug, trying to sound as casual as possible while I rummage through my closet for something to wear. Settling on a sundress.

I strip out of Alex's shirt and his eyes rake over my body, taking in my bare legs and exposed cleavage. He swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.

I toss his shirt to him before slipping the dress on and smoothing it down. "Thank you for taking care of me last night," I say, keeping my voice quiet.

He shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It was my pleasure."

There's a knock on the door, and it opens, revealing Ares. "Are you ready to go?" he asks, his eyes flicking between Alex and me.

I nod, grabbing a brush and pulling it through my hair. "Yes, let's go."

Alex and I follow Ares out, and I give Alex a quick hug. "Thank you again for last night," I say.

He nods, a smile playing on his lips. "Anytime."

Ares leads me outside to his car, an Audi A8. The interior is immaculate and smells like leather. He opens the door for me, and I slip into the passenger seat.

The engine purrs to life, and we pull out of the driveway. The tension is thick in the air, and I'm acutely aware of his presence.

"Where are we going?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"There's a place I like to go," he says, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

Yeah, great. That answers all my questions. Very informative. I try again. "Well, what are we having?"

"That's a surprise."

We lapse back into silence, and I fidget with the hem of my dress. The radio plays softly, and the scenery flashes by.

"So, you and Alex," he finally says, breaking the silence.

"Alex and I what?" I retort, trying to keep my voice light.

"Are you dating?"

I can't help but laugh. "Dating? No, we're not dating."

"Does he know that?" Ares probes further, and there's an edge to his voice I can't quite place.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, feeling defensive.

"It means the boy has it bad for you," he states bluntly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

I shrug, turning to look out the window. "He's a friend. That's all."

The rest of the ride passes in tense silence, and by the time we pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, I'm wound tighter than a spring. I step out, following Ares inside. This place doesn't look like much outside, just red brick, but the inside is a different story. The dining room is dimly lit, with dark wood floors and walls and intimate tables with white linen tablecloths.

Our waitress, a young woman with blonde hair and a pretty face, greets us.

"Private booth," Ares tells her.

She nods and leads us to a small table tucked away in the corner, secluded from the other patrons. The booth is large enough for four people, but it feels intimate with just the two of us.

The waitress returns with two menus, placing them in front of us before asking, "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Water, please," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Two waters," Ares orders.

"I'll be right back with those," she says before disappearing.

I pick up the menu, scanning the options. Everything sounds delicious, but I settle on a simple breakfast: eggs, toast, and bacon.

Ares orders the same, and when the waitress returns with our food, I'm ravenous. The smell of the bacon alone has my mouth watering.

Ares takes a bite of his eggs, his eyes never leaving mine. I feel nervous under his gaze. I want to eat, but I can't with him staring at me like that.

"What?" I ask, my voice coming out louder than intended.

"Nothing," he says, taking another bite.

I force myself to take a bite, chewing slowly. The eggs are creamy and flavorful, the bacon perfectly crispy. Ares's eyes never leave me.

"Are you going to keep staring at me while I eat?" I ask, irritation lacing my voice.

He shrugs, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Maybe."

"Stop," I say, trying to keep the exasperation out of my voice.

"Why?" He cocks an eyebrow, taking another bite of his breakfast. "I like watching you eat."

I don't know why, but the admission sends a shiver down my spine. I shake my head, turning my attention back to my food.

As I eat, I can't help but sneak glances at Ares. His gaze is intense, his eyes burning into mine. It's unsettling and arousing at the same time.

"I really like the dress," he says, his voice low and husky.

"Thanks," I mumble, a blush rising on my cheeks.

I take another bite, trying to ignore his gaze. It's impossible, though, especially when he scoots closer to my side of the booth. I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

"So, uh," I stumble over my words. "How long are my mom and Archer extending their honeymoon?"

"Another week," he replies, his voice low and husky. "But don't worry. I'll be here to watch you."

The implication of his words sends a shiver down my spine. I swallow hard, my heart racing. "I don't need a babysitter," I say, trying to sound firm.

Ares's lips curve into a smirk, and he leans closer. His breath is warm on my cheek. "I didn't say babysit." His gaze is intense, his eyes burning into mine. My palms are sweaty, and my heart is racing.

I open my mouth to respond, but the words die on my lips as his hand brushes against my thigh, his fingers teasing the hem of my dress. My breathing hitches, and I can't think straight.

"I... We should get going," I stammer, my cheeks burning.

Ares laughs, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "Of course." He stands, holding out a hand to help me up.

I slide out of the booth, my knees weak. His hand is warm and firm in mine, and I can't help but notice how large it is. Can't help remember how it felt touching my bare skin, caressing me.

My cheeks are still burning, and my heart is racing as he leads me out of the restaurant and to his car. The drive back to the house is silent, the air heavy with anticipation. My mind is racing, my emotions a jumbled mess.