“You asked.”
“You have no shame.”
“No, what I have is desire for you.”
I clear my throat, taking another sip of my coffee. Ares extends his hand, palm up, offering it to me. I don’t hesitate to take it.
“I know I shouldn’t have said you were my girlfriend up there; I don’t want to pressure you. I know I have to earn things.”
“It’s okay, really.”
His hand separates from mine and I almost pout. He drinks some of his coffee, too, and I’m curious to know what his favorite is.
“What did you order?” I ask. He answers me in a mocking tone.
“A coffee.”
“I know that. I mean, what kind of coffee did you order?” I clarify. Ares leans over the table, his face getting awfully close to mine.
“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” He points to his lips. This close, I can see how wet they are and how soft they look, but I push him away slightly.
“Good try.”
“How long are you going to torture me, Witch?”
“I’m not torturing you.”
“Yes, you are, but I deserve it.”
We talk for a while, and I notice that his mood has changed drastically. He’s relieved, happy even, and I like seeing him like that. This place seems loud after spending so much time in that grim, silent hallway upstairs. My curiosity gets the best of me.
“What’s going on with those two?” I point to Artemis and Apolo. Ares takes his time before answering.
“They had a fight.”
“Because of Claudia?” I throw my guess out there.
“How do you know that?”
“I connected the dots. What happened?”
“It’s not my place to talk about it.”
“Ugh, how boring.”
Ares crosses his arms over his chest.
“I’m not an old busybody, I’m your boyfriend,” he says. It came so naturally to him that he didn’t even realize he said it until he noticed my surprised expression. Ares scratches the back of his head.
“You’ve made a fool of me.”
“A fool I really like,” I say.
Ares’s lips curve into a triumphant smile.
“Do you like me, friend?”
I blush, giggling like a fool.
“Just a little.”
After passing by his grandfather’s room again, Ares brings me back to my house, parking his car out front. The sexual tension in the air makes it hard for me to breathe. He unbuckles his seat belt and turns his body toward me.
“I know it wasn’t the most romantic date in the world, but I had a great time. Thank you for being by my side tonight.”
“It was perfect,” I tell him honestly, “I’m so glad your grandfather is okay.” Ares rests his elbow on the steering wheel and runs his thumb across his lower lip.
“It’s time for the important question.”
“What question?” I ask. He leans over me, forcing me to bury my back in my seat, and his face is so close to mine that his breath caresses my lips.
“Do you kiss on the first date?”
I haven’t thought about that at all. I don’t have much knowledge of the dating world, but I remember Dani telling me that she was the type to kiss on the first date. She said she needed to know if there was chemistry or not, so she wouldn’t waste her time with future dates.
However, this situation isn’t the same. I know there’s chemistry, too much I would say, and that he’s a great kisser, and that’s the problem. I don’t know if I can control myself if I kiss him because I know my self-control has a limit. Ares wets his lips.
“Aren’t you going to answer me?”
My breathing is already agitated, my heart on the verge of collapse, and I can’t speak. Ares lets out a sigh of defeat and returns to his seat.
“I’m sorry. I’m pushing you again.”
Unable to help myself, I unbuckle my seat belt and grab him by his shirt collar to pull him to me. His lips find mine, and I moan at the sensation.
Ares growls, grabbing my hair, moving his lips aggressively over mine. The kiss isn’t romantic, and I don’t want it to be. We’ve both missed each other too much for it to be romantic. It’s a carnal, passionate kiss, full of volatile, strong emotions. Our hot breaths mingle as our wet lips touch, squeeze, suck each other, igniting that uncontrollable fire that flows between us so easily.
His tongue traces my lips, then gets into my mouth, intensifying the feelings. I can’t help but moan against his lips. Ares slips his free arm around my waist to pull me closer to him. My body is electrified, every nerve responding to every touch no matter how slight it is.