Then why is he looking at me?
I feel the urge to show off to him.
I’ll give you something to look at, Greek God.
I begin to dance slowly, moving my hips to the rhythm of the music. Running my hands through my long hair and then down the sides of my breasts, my waist, my hips, I reach the end of my dress and play with the hem, lifting it a little. Even from this distance, I can see Ares’s eyes darken, and he brings his glass to his lips. Those lips that licked my neck and thighs, leaving me wanting more. Ares has teased me twice, and it’s about time he gets what he deserves.
I’ll prove to him that I don’t forget anything, and that even a Greek god can have a taste of his own medicine.
Seductive Raquel mode: activated.
EIGHT
The Candle Room
With so much alcohol in my veins, it’s very hard to focus on being sensual.
I have to try anyway. I need to get revenge on Ares. He’s played with me twice already, and he can’t go through life inciting innocent souls like mine and leaving them wanting.
Innocent souls . . .
I really am drunk. My stalker soul is not innocent, not with the things I do in the dark of my room when no one sees me. I blush as I remember all of the times that I’ve touched myself, thinking about Ares. In my defense, Ares was the first male presence I had access to when I hit puberty. It’s his fault for being in my field of vision when my hormones were raging.
I turn my back to him to give him a good view of my body. It’s not a spectacular body, but I have a good figure and a decent ass. Sweat rolls down my forehead, the sides of my face, and the neckline of my dress. I’m immediately thirsty, and I find myself licking my dry lips more often.
I don’t know how much time has passed, but when I turn again to look at Ares, he’s gone. My heart races even faster as I look around for him.
Did he come downstairs and come after me? What was I supposed to do in that case?
I haven’t worked out my seduction plan to that extent.
Stupid, Raquel, always getting into games you don’t know how to play.
But this isn’t going to stop here. Determined, I walk back to the staircase where the guard is.
“VIP area,” he says, giving me a tired look.
“I know,” I answer reluctantly, “but a friend of mine is up there, and he told me to come up.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth. He’s going to be angry if he knows you have me waiting here.” I lift my chin in defiance.
“If your friend wants you up there, he should come and get you, don’t you think? That’s the way the rules are.”
“Just a second,” I beg him, but he doesn’t listen. I try to pass by him on the side, and he stops me, grabbing my wrist. “Let me go.”
I struggle to get free, but he just tightens his grip on me.
“She said to let her go.” A sweet voice fills my ears from behind, and I turn to look over my shoulder to see Apolo Hidalgo standing behind me with his jaw set.
“This is none of your business,” the guard says rudely.
Apolo’s expression is kind but assertive. “A lawsuit for assault is pretty serious; I doubt you can come out of one unscathed.”
The guard snorts in derision. “If you’re trying to scare me, you’re just making a fool of yourself, brat.”
Doesn’t he know who he’s talking to? Apolo may look like a child, but he’s a member of one of the most powerful families in the state.
Apolo lets out a laugh. “Brat?”
The guard maintains his stance, and I try to free myself, but he tightens his grip again. “Yes, brat. Why don’t you go away and stop meddling where you’re not wanted?”
“Apolo, it’s okay,” I say, looking over my shoulder. “I tried to go up even though he told me not to.” I turn toward the guard. “Could you let me go?”
The guard’s expression turns guilty, and he finally releases me. “I’m sorry.”
We walk away from the guard and Apolo lifts my arm and inspects it. It’s red but not bruised.
“Are you all right?” he asks.
“Yes, thank you.”
“If he hadn’t apologized, I would have fired him.”
“Fired him? You own this bar?”
“No.” Apolo shakes his head. “It belongs to my brother.”
I stare at him with wide eyes. “This belongs to Ares?”
Apolo shakes his head again. “Ares with a bar? No, Mom would die. It belongs to Artemis.”