his eyes trail over her form as she moves, taking in each divot and curve that he's already oh-so familiar with. she's stunning, she's graceful, and she's perfect in each way that ares is not. where he has finesse with weaponry, she has advantage with her body, and it shows in each little motion she makes.

he's fooling himself if he thinks she can't pick up on what he's feeling, on how his heart is hammering.

"quickly?" he says, smirking. "all of those years courting you and trying to take you for my own? trying to show you how my wars are nothing without your love?" his tone is light, but his words are true down to his heart. she doesn't give him a chance to continue, though, when she kisses him, and ares feels himself relax a little more into the bath.

a broad hand reaches up to cup aphrodite's cheek, but his other arm stays extended over the edge of the bath. his skin shines with the leftover water, catching in the dips of his muscles, his chest heaving a little as his breath deepens in the face of his love.

"i missed you, my love," he returns in a whisper, his eyes still closed, close enough to her that their lips brush when he speaks. "i'm simply happy to be near you again."