“You’re red.” Ares laughs. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
I can hear the arrogance in his voice. “Or were you remembering something?”
“Raquel!” Gregory calls to me from the table, beckoning me over.
“I’m coming!”
I only manage to take a step before Ares grabs my arm. “I told you to stay away from him.”
“And I told you that I don’t have to do what you say.”
“I warned you.”
Before I can process what he just said, Ares pulls me toward the pool with him.
“No, no, Ares! No!” I struggle wildly to get away from his grip, but he is much stronger than me. “Please! No, Ares, no!”
But it’s too late. A piercing scream leaves my mouth as Ares dives in, taking me down with him. For a few seasons we’re completely submerged in the water, my dress sticking to my body. Bubbles come out of my mouth as I struggle to surface. I gasp for air as I emerge from the water and instinctively wrap my arms around Ares’s neck, holding onto him tightly. He holds me by the waist. Our bodies are pressed together, and our faces are only inches apart, with those deep blue eyes gazing into mine.
“Attacking me so fast?”
Despite his arrogant question, I don’t let him go. My hair sticks to both sides of my face. “Swimming is not my thing.”
He raises an eyebrow in surprise. “Don’t you know how to swim?”
“Yes, but not very well,” I admit embarrassedly. We are so close, and his lips look so inviting. “Take me to the shallow end of the pool.”
“And waste the opportunity to have you pressed against me?” He smiles, showing those perfect, straight teeth of his. “No, I think I’ll enjoy it a little more.”
“You’re a pervert.”
“I’m the pervert?”
“Yes.” His body emanates warmth, and his skin is so soft.
“Who’s the one with the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy on her computer?” My eyes widen in shock. Ares’s hands are steady on my waist. “I’m not judging you, I’m just saying you’re not as innocent as you like to appear, Witch.”
“Reading doesn’t make me a pervert.”
“Are you saying that reading those sex scenes didn’t turn you on?”
I look away. “I . . .”
His hands go down to the outside of my thighs and he lifts my legs, encouraging me to wrap them around his waist.
“I’m sure more than once you wished someone would take you that way, hard and fast.”
For God’s sake, I need to get away from Ares urgently. My breathing becomes rapid and inconsistent, the water moves in small waves around us. “You’re crazy.”
He uses his now-free hands to remove the wet hair from my face. “And you’re beautiful.”
My world stops. I don’t breathe. I don’t move. I just lose myself in the infinity of his eyes.
“Ares! Raquel!” Samy calls from the shallow end of the pool. “It’s time to play.”
Ares clears his throat and starts to move over there. When we reach the shallow end, I break away from him. Before I can get close to Samy and Apolo, Ares leans over to say something in my ear. “I can be your Christian Grey anytime you want, you perverted little witch.”
I freeze, and he moves toward the group as if nothing happened.
That crazy Greek god!
TWENTY
The Game
“Raquel! Raquel! Raquel!”
I never thought that the first bet I would ever make in my life would involve alcohol. Apolo, Samy, and Gregory are around me at the edge of the pool, offering me a shot of tequila. And I hesitate. The truth is that I feel a little dizzy. I’ve lost count of how much I’ve consumed so far, and that’s not good. Especially since I’m in the pool.
Resigned to my fate, I take the small glass and drink it. The tequila runs down my throat, setting everything on fire on its way to my stomach. I grimace. Apolo gives me a high five. He’s already had a few shots. Apparently, when he’s home, his brothers are more permissive about him and alcohol.
“I’m surprised,” Samy admits, smiling.
I’d like to say that she’s a bad person who hits on Ares every chance she gets, who throws shade at me, or says things to make me feel like someone who doesn’t belong here, but I can’t. Samy has only been nice to me. Even though it’s obvious that she likes Ares, I don’t feel any anger toward her. Samy hasn’t done anything to me.