Free Ares by Edlyn Reynolds

wander through and see what else might catch your fancy. It’s not all food, it’s full of interesting things.”
    “Sounds good to me,” she said with a nod. “I’m willing to try just about anything. We definitely need to get water if we are going to have wine because I really don’t want to be drunk later if you don’t mind,” she teased him. “Oh look.” She stopped in front of a vender and touched a small pair of earrings, “They are beautiful. Will you ask him how much?”
    Ares tapped the earrings and spoke to the vendor. The man replied and they chattered back and forth for a moment. “He says they are the equivalent of six dollars US.” He looked to her, “He also says there is a necklace that goes with them. Ah, there it is,” the vendor was holding out the silver chain with a matching pendant. “The entire set is fifteen US dollars.”
    Ava smiled and looked up at Ares, “I already have the best necklace ever. I will never remove the one you gave me, so this necklace would never be worn. It’s beautiful, but I would rather keep the necklace that you have given me if you don’t mind. I love it. I will take the earrings though.”
    Nodding, he looked to the vendor and spoke once more. He handed over the appropriate money and took the earrings, passing them to her. “Shall we continue your sojourn through the marketplace?” he asked, setting his arm around her waist once more.
    “Sounds good to me.” She put the earrings on and then wrapped her arm around his middle once more. “I think I could get used to this. Not the whole flashing from place to place, but the whole spending time with you.” She was seriously weird and she knew it. She had to be. Any moment now she would wake up and this would have all been a dream, she was sure of it.
    “It’s not a dream and you are not weird,” he said quietly. “I’m real, you’re real and we are both really here right now. I’d pinch you but I would hate to cause you any pain. Plus, you might deck me and I’d really hate to cause myself any pain too.”
    “Ah yes, good point,” she said with a laugh. “You’re reading my mind again, but I don’t mind,” she admitted happily. “Well, I’m very happy I’m not dreaming. I happen to really enjoy spending time with you, being with you.”
    “You’re projecting,” he corrected her. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he gave her a squeeze. “I quite enjoy spending time with you as well, Ava. It’s something we’ll do often, especially since I have nothing better to do than harass my siblings.”
    “Good,” Ava told him and gave him a small squeeze. “Oh, these are beautiful.” She stopped at a vender that was selling silk material. “I would love to get several of these. Are you sure you don’t mind paying for everything?” He had to since she had absolutely no cash on her at all.
    “I don’t mind getting you anything you wish, Ava,” he smiled. “Pick out which ones you like and how much you want of each. I’ll have her to cut it for you and wrap it all up.” Nodding to the woman behind the table, he started to talk with her. The woman smiled big and nodded before spreading her arms wide. “Point to which ones you like. She’ll set them on the back table until you’re ready to cut.”
    She took her time in selecting the material that she wanted, touching and feeling each bolt until she found the right ones. “I don’t know how much of each to get. I have a girlfriend that I might be able to talk into making me dresses from the material. Do you think she would know how much to give me to make a dress?” she asked Ares, talking of the woman who ran the booth.
    Ares spoke to the woman and then looked to her again. “She wants to know what type of dress you are thinking of having made from each. She says you’ll need more material the longer and more detailed it is. Though she does say if you have leftover, you could get it made into a pillow or a throw of some sort. I