“Oh God, yes, Ares, I love it, more, please.”
I hold on to her hips to speed up the rhythm. I can see everything and that turns me on. I’m a visual man, so I love positions where I can see everything.
Raquel moans uncontrollably.
“That’s the way you like it, huh? Hard?” She keeps moaning. “You’re mine, Raquel,” I tell her, “and I’m fucking yours.”
“Yes!” She grabs my neck again, and her hands move down my back until I feel her nails digging into my skin. “Faster!” she pleads, and I growl with desire, obeying.
Nibbling on her neck, I keep moving, feeling her completely. I bury myself and lose myself in her. I squeeze her hips so hard that she winces, though I know she loves to make me lose control.
My rhythm grows relentless and fast, and I can feel her getting even wetter. Her orgasm is getting closer and that only brings me closer to mine. Her moans become even louder. Her words bolder and more sexual, and that’s all I need to come inside her, with her. Our orgasms rage, leaving us breathless and in absolute pleasure.
I rest my forehead on hers. Her eyes are closed.
“Raquel.” She opens her eyes and looks at me and then it happens, that big difference, that connection that burns between the two of us. “I love you so much.” The words leave my mouth, she always makes me so cheesy.
“I love you, too, Greek God,” she says breathlessly.
We get dressed and walk out into the lonely hallway back to the gym, where prom is still in full swing. Raquel walks awkwardly and uncomfortably, and a smirk dances on my lips. She notices and furrows her brows.
“Enjoy it, you idiot.”
I play innocent. “What’s wrong? Can’t you walk?”
“Don’t start,” she threatens, giving me a light punch on the arm. I grab her hand.
“You deserved it for provoking me,” I say. She snorts. Running my thumb across her cheek, I reach up and kiss her softly, enjoying every little brush of our lips. When I pull away, I kiss her nose.
“Come on, Witch, time to get back to the dance, and let everyone know that your boyfriend just gave you the fuck of your life.” I wink at her, and she taps me on the shoulder.
“You’re still an idiot, Greek God.”
“An idiot you beg to fuck you.”
“Shut up!”
Smiling, we enter the gym.
- RAQUEL -
Ouch.
It hurts to walk. I never believed it when guys said, “I’ll fuck you until you can’t walk properly,” but now, thanks to Ares, I know the truth. He’s walking around with an arrogant expression.
I give him a killer look, to which he responds with a wink as he continues talking to Joshua. Ares and Joshua have been getting along great lately, and I’m happy about it. There’s nothing better than your boyfriend and your best friend getting along.
Dani, on the other hand, is giving me a look that I know all too well.
“What?”
“You got fucked hard, didn’t you?” she asks.
“Dani!” I protest, averting my gaze. She raises her glass and clinks it with mine.
“Cheers, you bitch. I love it.”
Anyone would be offended, but Dani means it affectionately. I know, it’s weird, but what can I say? My best friend is weird.
Ares approaches us.
“We’ll go to the after-party at my house, right?” He asks us.
“Yes.” Dani nods. “Dean sent me a text, apparently they’re already there.”
We all leave the dance and head to Ares’s car. It’s barely nine o’clock. I can’t believe so much has happened in such a short time.
As soon as I walk into Ares’s house, I hear someone call my name.
“Raquel!” Gregory shouts, stretching out his arms, and I hug him tightly. “Congratulations!”
I like Gregory a lot, and I get along really well with him, way better than with Marco. Marco is so . . . I don’t know how to explain it. His personality is very closed, so similar to Ares when I met him, and maybe that’s why they’re best friends.
“Enough,” Ari says, pushing Gregory away from me.
Gregory looks around. “Okay, Mr. Boring.”
I glance around the beautifully decorated room. There are a few people already there, including some guys from Ares’s school. There are also a few adults, and I guess that they’re the parents of his friends. My eyes spot Claudia in a very nice black dress with two other girls dressed like her, and then I notice them passing champagne and snacks around. Oh, they’re servers.
I look for Ares’s parents, but I don’t see them, and my eyes fall on an older man sitting on the sofa in a very elegant suit. Grandpa? Yes, that’s him. Ares has shown me pictures of him, and there are more hanging around the house.
Grandpa Hidalgo has an incredible air of confidence. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s as if wisdom emanates from him. When Ares told me about the way his grandpa spoke to his father and Artemis, he earned all my respect. A big part of me wants to go hug him and thank him, but I know I’m a stranger.
Artemis is next to him, wearing a suit as well. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in casual clothes. Elegance definitely runs in this family.
I leave Ares talking to his friends and turn to Claudia, who smiles at me when she sees me.
“Hello, congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I say. “It was a very . . . interesting year.”
“I know,” she agrees. “But you made it, I’m happy for you.”
“Me too. How are you?”
She shrugs. “Surviving, you know.”
“I’m glad to see you.”
“Do you want some?” She offers me a glass of champagne, and I take it.
“Thank you. I should let you get on with it.”
I walk away to sit on a sofa on one side of the room. They must have moved it to make room for people. I swirl the glass in my hands, watching the liquid inside it, my mind distracted, thinking a thousand things at once. The couch sinks slightly as someone sits quietly beside me. I recognize the smell of that sophisticated, expensive cologne.
“To what do I owe the honor?” I joke, turning to look at him. Artemis smiles at me.
“Curiosity. Your mind doesn’t seem to be here.”
“It’s that obvious, huh?”
“I admire your ability to celebrate despite what this means for your relationship.”
“It’s not easy.”
“I didn’t say it was.” He loosens the knot of his tie a little. “That’s why I admire you.”
“My mother said the same thing, something about being mature for my age.”
“Ares is lucky,” he says. I raise an eyebrow.
“Is that an indirect compliment?” I ask. He says nothing, taking a sip from his glass, so I tease him some more. “Artemis Hidalgo, the iceberg, just gave me a compliment. Am I dreaming?”
“Don’t act so surprised.” His countenance has an air of sadness and melancholy. “I can tell the difference between good and bad people.” He points at me with his glass. “You are one of the good ones, and that’s why you have my respect.”
I don’t know what to say.
His eyes fall on Ares, who is openly laughing at something Gregory just said.
“I never thought he’d have the ability to overcome what happened to us, to believe in someone in this way, and change for the better. Not just because he was able to fall in love. Ares isn’t the same capricious boy he was a year ago who didn’t value anything or anyone. Somehow that gives me hope. Maybe all isn’t lost for me.” He drinks the rest of his champagne in one gulp. “Thank you, Raquel.”
He gives me an honest smile, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile. He gets up and walks away, leaving me speechless.
FIFTY-SEVEN
The Trip
Run . . .
Shit. Shit.
I still hear barking behind us.
Oh shit.
I should have exercised. Why am I so out of shape?
Because you don’t exercise, you idiot, you just said so.
In the distance I can see Ares’s silhouette. Marco passes me by, like The Flash. Once again, I hate soccer players.
My heart is about to burst out of my chest as Dani also catches up with me.
“Run, Raquel, run!”
“I’m not . . .” I run out of air. “Forrest Gump!”