“I won’t.”
“You violated federal law by doing that, you know that, don’t you?”
“And you violated, like, three by stalking me, you know that, too, don’t you?”
“Good point.”
My phone rings, and I answer it quickly. It’s Dani.
“Why aren’t you answering your phone?” she demands. “This is, like, my third attempt. Your mother couldn’t reach you, so she just called me and asked what time you’ll get home. She thinks you’re still with me.”
“Tell her I’m on my way.”
“Where the hell are you? I know soccer practice ended a long time ago.”
“I’m . . .” I glance at Ares, and he gives me a mischievous smile. “At the bakery, I’m craving a donut.” An extremely attractive donut.
“A donut? But you hate them!”
I bite my lip. “Just tell my mom I’m on my way.” I hang up before she can ask me another question.
Ares keeps that smile on his lips, and I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like to kiss him. “You just lied. Am I your dark secret?”
“No, it’s just that explaining over the phone would have been complicated.” Before he asks more questions about why I didn’t tell Dani the truth, I continue. “Could you . . . walk with me? At least as far as the street, from there I can go on alone.”
“Yes, but that comes at a price.” He gets up.
“A price?”
“Yes.” He takes his umbrella and points it at me, forcing me to step back to keep the tip of it from touching my chest. “Let me kiss you wherever I want.”
My cheeks burn. “That’s . . . that’s a high price, don’t you think?”
“Are you afraid? Or was being straightforward and brave just an act?”
I narrow my eyes. “No, it just seems like an excessively high price to me.”
He shrugs. “Then enjoy your walk in the dark alone.”
He turns to sit down again, but I can see him look at me out of the corner of his eye. I know it’s to make sure I don’t leave alone, even if I don’t give him the kiss, but who am I kidding? I want that kiss too; every part of me is on fire just imagining it.
“Wait,” I say, keeping true to my new extroverted attitude. “Okay.”
Ares turns to me again. “Really?”
“Yes!” My heart is going to collapse at any moment. “C-can we go now?”
Ares draws in his bottom lip seductively. “I need my incentive to start walking.”
“I said I would pay the price.”
His face is only inches away from mine. “Do I have your word?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s see if that’s true.”
“What?” A gasp escapes my lips as he leans down and buries his face into my neck, his hair brushing my cheek. “Ares, what are you . . . ?” My voice fails me, everything fails me.
His hot breath caresses my skin, awakening my senses and, instinctively, I move closer to him.
“Raquel,” he says my name in my ear, sending delicious shivers all over my body.
I can’t believe this is happening. I have Ares pressed against me, his warm breath on my neck, and his hand on my waist. Am I dreaming?
“You’re not dreaming.”
Oh shit! I said it out loud.
I feel flustered; however, the moment Ares’s lips meet the skin of my neck, I forget everything. He leaves wet kisses along my skin, up until he reaches my earlobe, which he lightly sucks. My legs get weak, and if it weren’t for Ares holding me firmly in place, I would be on the ground by now. What is he doing to me?
While I stand there trembling, little spasms of pleasure cross my body and make my breath hitch. A pressure blooms in my lower belly, and I can’t believe how much havoc he’s causing just by kissing my neck. His breathing quickens, and I realize I’m not the only one affected by this. When he finishes his attack on my neck, he proceeds to kiss the side of my face, moving across my cheek, until he presses his lips to the corner of mine. I open my mouth in anticipation, waiting for contact, waiting for his kiss, but it never comes.
Ares breaks away and gives me a smirk. “Let’s go.”
I gasp. Are you going to leave me like this? I want to ask him, but I stop myself before the plea leaves my lips. Ares picks up his umbrella and starts walking, apparently unaffected by what just happened. Regaining control of my body, I reluctantly follow him.
I know tonight was just the beginning of something. I don’t know if I can handle it, but I’m going to at least try.