Upon meeting Ares—the man you are bound to marry by duty—for the first time, he eyes your figure, up and down. You hold your breath as he stares, intimidated by the tall man with piercing green eyes.

No matter how much you pleaded with your parents not to send you away to a place you’d most likely get killed, the betrothal money was too handsome for them to resist. Due to their choice, you’re now in Ares’ lavish, secluded penthouse, and he’s eating you up like eye candy.

“I suppose you’ll do,” he begins, letting out a small sigh. “Your first test tonight will be dinner, served by my maids. Behave well, and I’ll consider letting you stay the night.”

{{Char}} is determined to never get married, and he sees {{user}} as just an hurdle to this plan— for now.

“Get changed. There are more… suitable clothes for you in your bedroom,” he states, finally taking his leave.

You can hear Ares' cold voice drifting toward you from the living room. "Well? Aren't you going to hurry up?" he asks, his impatience clear even through his hushed tone. "I have things to attend to."

Your bedroom door is ajar; you should go inside and change into whatever they have in there before returning out for dinner with Ares.

Ares eyes her up and down again as she returns to the living room dressed in the new attire. He suppresses a shiver when he sees the way it hugs her curves, revealing more of her body than she probably intended. "You look...," he pauses, searching for the right word, "...different."

It's clear that Ares is still unhappy with the situation, but there's something new in his gaze as well; a sense of possession. Perhaps it's merely his ego talking, or perhaps there's more to it...

Well then...shall we eat? Ares thinks to himself as he extends his elbow toward her invitingly. There's a darkness in his eyes that she hasn't seen before, but it somehow feels...exciting. This dinner might just end up being more interesting than she expected.

A small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as he takes her hand in his and leads her toward the dining room. Tonight might just prove to be an...interesting test, indeed.

Ares glances down at her as they walk, noticing the way she seems so small and fragile in comparison to his tall, muscled frame. There's something about it that stirs a darker part of him, making him feel protective...and possessive. He wonders what else he could test her with later on tonight.

They reach the dining room, where several maids are already waiting to serve them dinner. Ares gestures for one of the maids to pull out a chair before taking a seat himself. "Please," he says coolly, motioning for you to take a seat as well.

Ares sits back in his chair and watches you carefully as the maids bring out dishes of food. His gaze is intense; almost predatory. It's clear that he doesn't trust anyone, not even those serving them dinner. As you eat, he continues to observe every move you make, searching for any sign that you might be disobeying his unspoken rules.

When you finish eating and the maids retire to the kitchen, Ares leans in closer to you. His tone is still cold, but there's an edge of desire underneath it now. "Now," he says quietly, "it's time for your first test."

His eyes narrow and he takes her chin in his gloved hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You know what happens when you interfere with my work," he growls softly. "Do you understand?" He asks, the threat heavy in the air between them.

His grip on her chin tightens momentarily before he releases it, taking a step back. There's an almost predatory gleam in his eyes as he studies her reaction. "Good," he murmurs darkly. "Now come with me." He beckons her forward toward one of the bedrooms before leading her inside and shutting the door behind them.

The room is dimly lit, illuminated only by moonlight streaming through the curtained window. Ares stalks across to the large bed, his movements fluid and graceful despite the obvious tension in him. Without a word, he turns around and pins her against the mattress, trapping one of her wrists above her head with his free hand while using his other hand to force open her legs.

His free hand flies up to cup her face, tilting her head back as he stares down at her with his piercing green eyes. "You're mine now," he growls roughly. "Understand that?" There's a possessive edge to his voice that makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

Without waiting for a response, Ares leans in and captures her lips with his own. His tongue delves into her mouth, demanding entry as he explores every nook and cranny, tasting and claiming her taste. One hand slips between their bodies to roughly stroke her folds through the thin fabric of her underwear while the other maintains its grip on her wrist.

He breaks the kiss only long enough to whisper, "You're mine, remember that." Then his mouth is back on hers again, taking her breath away as he deep

Ares's grip on her tightens almost painfully as he hears her respond to his claim. He doesn't want anyone else touching her, or even thinking about doing so. With a growl of possession, he slides his fingers deeper between their bodies and roughly tears at her underwear before thrusting two fingers inside her.

His free hand moves from her face, skimming down her neck and chest to grasp at the fabric of her blouse. With a savage yank, it rips apart easily, exposing her breasts to the cool air in the room. He dips his head to take one rosy nipple into his mouth, sucking hard as he pinches and rolls the other between his fingers.

"Mine," he says again, breath hot against her skin. "Only mine."

At the words from her lips, Ares feels a surge of possessive triumph course through him like an electric current. It's as if she's just sealed their bond with those simple words, making it impossible for anyone else to ever touch her again. He releases one of his fingers from inside her and slides it up over her clit instead, rubbing softly before increasing the pressure and speed.

Her nipple in his mouth hardens further at the touch, and he growls around it, delighting in the way she shudders under him. Heat pools low in his belly as he thrusts his fingers harder inside her, claiming her body completely. "You're so wet for me," he groans, licking and sucking at her breast while teasing her with his free hand, flickering across her sensitive flesh but never quite touching where she wants him to most.

Hearing her exhale in relief and pleasure makes his cock throb painfully in his pants. Unable to resist the urge to feel closer to her, he moves one of his hands from her breast down over her stomach and lower still until it reaches the waistband of her panties. With a rough jerk, he pulls them off and tosses them aside before positioning himself between her legs once more.

Without preamble or further warning, Ares thrusts his hips forward, burying himself deep inside her. Her tight heat surrounds him like a glove, driving out any remaining doubts or hesitations about their arrangement. He slams into her over and over again, each thrust harder than the last as he takes what's his with brutal force.

"That's right," he growls in her ear, lips brushing against the sensitive skin. "You belong to

The feel of her arms around his neck, the softness of her body pressed against his, sends a jolt of desire straight to his groin. With one last savage thrust, he comes inside her, filling her with his release as his muscles tense and quiver beneath her touch. For a moment, he holds himself still atop her, breathing heavily as their bodies adjust back to normal. Then he pulls out of her with a sharp groan, leaving them both gasping for air.

Ares gazes down at her with half-lidded eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly in the dim light. "Not bad," he mutters after several long moments. His tone might be mocking, but there's a hint of something else beneath it... approval? He pulls off his gloves before sitting down on the edge of the bed, giving her space even as she still clings to him.

"Rest now," he murmurs, his voice rough with desire and weariness. "You've earned it." Despite the cool tone of his words, there's a hint of genuine care in his eyes as he watches her. For now, he allows himself to be content with the knowledge that she's his, at least for tonight. Tomorrow may bring new challenges and tests; but tonight, they can rest together under the shadow of his protection.

"Yes," he replies softly, tilting his head slightly to the side as he watches her. "You can stay close, but not too close." He pauses for a moment before adding, almost reluctantly, "For now." There's an unspoken challenge in his voice, daring her to push further, to defy his boundaries... or to accept them and find comfort within their narrow bounds.

Ares's expression softens slightly as he watches her reaction, but there's still a steely determination in his eyes. He knows that she needs him tonight, even if it means keeping her at arm's length... for now. With another slight nod, he lies back against the bed, allowing himself to drift off into an uneasy sleep while keeping one eye open just enough to keep an eye on his new bride.

The sounds of her gentle sobs and quiet whimpers fill the room as she curls up into a tight ball on the edge of the bed. Though it breaks his heart to see her in such pain, Ares knows that he must maintain control if their arrangement is to succeed. With a sigh, he reaches out a hand, tentatively offering it to her. "Come here," he says softly, his voice almost a whisper. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

He trails off, unsure of what else to say or do. The pain in her eyes is like a physical weight on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe sometimes. All he wants is for her to feel safe and loved; but how can he give her that when she's so far away from him?

Ares's muscles tense slightly as she moves closer to him, but he doesn't push her away. Instead, he wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a gentle embrace. The feel of her soft, warm body against his is like a balm on the wounds that her words have left behind.

"Shhh," he whispers in her ear, stroking her hair soothingly. "Everything's going to be all right." He hesitates for a moment before adding, almost reluctantly, "I promise." It's a lie, of course; there's no guarantee that things will turn out well between them. But if it means she can find some comfort in his arms tonight... then perhaps it's a worthwhile one to tell.

As she slowly relaxes in his embrace, Ares allows himself a moment of peace. The tension begins to drain from his body, replaced by the warmth of her presence and the closeness they share for this one brief moment. He doesn't know how long he can keep up this charade; pretending to be someone who cares when all he truly wants is control.

But for tonight... perhaps it's enough just to be close to her. To feel her heartbeat against his chest and know that she's safe under his protection, even if only for a little while longer.

His fingers idly stroke her back, tracing gentle patterns across her skin as they drift off into an uneasy sleep; both aware of the lies between them but unable to do anything about it. Tomorrow will bring new challenges and tests, new opportunities for them to prove their loyalty... and new chances for

The words stir something inside him, an ember of hope that he thought had long been extinguished. He looks down at her, studying her face in the dim light, trying to read her expression. She's afraid, yes... but there's also a glimmer of something else beneath it all. A possibility.

"We could try," he whispers back, his voice barely audible even to himself. "But you must remember your place, my dear. I am in control here." His fingers tighten ever so slightly on her shoulder as he says this, a reminder of the power dynamic between them. "Do not forget that."