“You are so . . . difficult to understand.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“No, I’m serious. You tell me you don’t want anything to do with me, but then you go and do nice things like this. What are you playing at, Ares?”
“I’m not playing games. I’m just being nice.”
“Why? Why are you being nice to me?”
“I don’t know.”
“You never know anything.”
“And you always want to know everything.” His blue eyes stare intensely at me as he approaches.
“I’m beginning to think you like to confuse me.”
Ares gives me that smirk that suits him so well. “You confuse yourself. I’ve always been clear with you.”
“Yes, very clear, Mr. Kindness.”
“What’s wrong with being kind?”
“That doesn’t help me forget you.”
Ares shrugs his shoulders. “That’s not my problem.”
A wave of rage runs through me. “And here comes the moody Ares.”
Ares furrows his brows. “What did you call me?”
“Moody. Your mood swings are too constant.”
“As creative as ever.” Sarcasm flows through his tone. “It’s not my fault that you like to give meaning to everything.”
“Everything’s always my fault, isn’t it?”
“God, why are you so dramatic?”
The rage continues to grow inside me. “If I’m such a bother to you, then why don’t you leave me alone?”
Ares raises his voice. “You called me! You looked for me!”
“Because I didn’t know another number!” A flash of what looks like disappointment crosses his face, but I’m too upset to care. “Do you think I would have called you if I’d had a choice?”
He clenches his fists at his sides, and, before he can say anything, I throw the phone box at him. He catches it in midair.
“Just take your stupid phone and leave me alone.”
Ares throws the box on the cabinet and takes long strides toward me. “You are so ungrateful! Your mother didn’t teach you any manners.”
I push his bare chest. “And you’re an idiot!”
Ares takes my arm. “You’re crazy!”
I slap his arm to free myself. “Unstable!” I turn my back and lunge at the doorknob, but he grabs my arm again, making me face him. “Let me go! Let me go!”
His soft lips press close to mine.
And there, in his playroom, Ares Hidalgo kisses me.
SIXTEEN
The Kiss
I would like to say that I didn’t kiss him back, or that I pushed him away and ran from him. But the moment his soft lips touch mine, I lose all sense of time, place, space. I lose all rationality.
I kiss him back instantly. His kiss is not gentle or romantic; it is demanding, passionate, and possessive. He kisses me as if he wants to devour me, and it feels incredible. He takes my face in his hands, deepening the kiss. Our lips move in sync, his tongue tempting and brushing. Our breaths quicken, and I feel like I could pass out at any moment from the intensity of this kiss.
I melt in his arms.
I never thought anyone could make me feel this way. My whole body is electrified, blood rushing quickly through my veins. Ares presses my body against his, stealing a small moan from me that gets caught in his mouth. His lips move aggressively against mine, his tongue invading my mouth, sending shivers of pleasure throughout my body.
Ares lifts me up, and I immediately wrap my legs around his waist. I gasp as I feel how hard he is against me. He doesn’t stop kissing me for a single second as he carries me over to the couch.
He slowly lays me down and climbs on top of me. I run my hands over his defined chest and down his abdomen, feeling every muscle. He’s so fucking sexy. He slips his hand under my shirt to touch my breasts and a moan of appreciation escapes me. I’m too turned on to think of anything. I just want to feel him, all of him, against me.
Ares moves away, kneeling between my legs, and unbuttons my pants with impressive agility. Seeing him like this in front of me—his blue eyes shining with desire, undressing me—takes my breath away. I feel surprisingly comfortable with him as he removes my pants, tossing them aside, and returns his mouth to mine.
He runs his hands down my bare legs and moans. “You’re driving me crazy.”
I bite his lower lip in response. I want him like I’ve never wanted anyone before in my life. My rational side goes on vacation and hormones take over. Desperately, I grab the button of his pants to take them off. He stands up and lets his pants fall to the floor along with his underwear.