My reflection in the mirror gives me a disapproving look, as if judging me. I sigh.
What am I doing? Why did I decide to stay? I shouldn't be here.
But how could I say no? He asked me with those puppy eyes, a clear plea on his face. No one can judge me, not even my reflection. Having the guy you're crazy for, all wet and sexy, begging you to stay with him, is too much. The alcohol clouding my brain isn't helping either. Besides, my mom's not home, so I won't get into trouble.
I shake out my wet hair and dry it with a towel. I've already showered, abandoning my wet dress for a shirt that Ares loaned me. In his bathroom. I can't believe I'm here in the bathroom attached to his room. I feel like I'm invading his privacy. It's spotless. The white ceramic shines. I'm afraid to touch anything and ruin the tidiness.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I tug at the bottom of Ares's shirt, trying to cover myself as much as possible. Underneath I'm wearing a pair of his boxers. They're very loose, but it was either wear these or stay wet and freeze. For an instant I wonder if I can stay here, in the bathroom, but I know I can't.
Ares didn't say much after we left the pool. He let me use his bathroom, saying he would use the one down the hall. For some strange reason I know he's already back, waiting for me in his room.
You can do it, Raquel. He promised not to touch you. If you don't want him to . . .
That's the problem, I do want him to. I want to kiss him again, to feel him against me again, and I know I shouldn't. Why does knowing we shouldn't do something always make us want to do it more? Why did I say yes? Now I'm in the lion's den. Determined to get on with it, I open the bathroom door and step out.
The room is illuminated by a single small lamp. It's large and surprisingly tidy. Ares is sitting on the bed, shirtless, with his back against the headboard and a bottle of tequila in his hand. His eyes meet mine, and he smiles at me. "You look good in my shirt."
Don't smile like that! Can't you see you're melting my heart?
I smile back at him and stand there in the semidarkness, not knowing what to do.
"Are you going to stand there all night? Come." He points to a spot next to him. I hesitate, and he notices. "Are you afraid of me?"
"Of course not."
"Of course, of course, come here."
I obey him by sitting on the edge of the bed, putting as much distance as I can between us. He raises an eyebrow but says nothing.
"How about we keep playing?" He lifts the bottle, turning his body toward me.
"The pool game?" He just nods. "It's late, don't you think?"
"Are you afraid to play with me?"
"I told you, I'm not afraid of you."
"Then why are you about to fall out of the bed? You don't have to sit so far away, I made a promise, didn't I?"
Yes, you said you wouldn't touch me if I didn't want you to. The problem is that I do want you to.
"Just a precaution."
"If you say so." He sits cross-legged, and I do the same. We face each other with the bottle between us.
"You start."
I think for a while and decide on something simple. "Never have I ever slept with someone of the opposite sex in the same bed without doing anything." And I drink.
I watch him hesitate, but finally he drinks. He clears his throat. "Never have I ever been interested in my crush's best friend." He doesn't drink.
I look at him in surprise. Is he indirectly asking if I like Marco? Marco is very attractive, but I wouldn't say I'm interested, so I don't drink. His relief is evident on his face.
"Never have I ever had feelings for my best friend," I say and watch sadly as he takes a drink. Does he have feelings for Samy? It hurts me and for some reason I want him to be hurt, too, so I drink as well.
He looks surprised, and runs his hands through his messy, damp hair. "I think I want you to drink." He sounds victorious. "Never have I ever fallen in love one-sidedly."
Ouch! That burns.
That characteristic smirk of his appears, and I try to calm my stupid heart. Silently, I drink.
I raise my gaze to him and there's an edge to my voice. "Never have I ever faked an orgasm during sex."
His mouth opens, and he watches me drink. His ego is hurt. I can see it in the anger in his eyes. I know I'm lying, but I don't care about anything anymore. Ares takes the bottle, thinking for a moment, and I'm prepared for him to destroy me. I know after what I said, he'll only try to hurt me even more.
He looks at me. "Never have I ever lied when I said I don't like someone."
I frown. Did he . . . ?
Ares plays with the piercing in his lower lip and drinks.
I'm petrified, looking at him—is he telling me that he does like me, and that he lied when he said he didn't? Or am I overthinking things? Or has the tequila taken effect and made me even more drunk? He smiles at me and puts the bottle in between us. I take it, and I don't know what to say.
"You look surprised." He puts his hands behind him, leaning back, letting me see those abs and his tattoo. I can clearly see the one on his lower abdomen, which is something tribal and small, and very delicate-looking.
"No, it's just that . . ." I pause, playing with the bottle. "I'm thinking about my turn," I lie.
"Let's see, surprise me." He leans forward again and moves closer to me, and now only the bottle separates our bodies.
"I think I've had enough," I say nervously. I excuse myself, handing him the bottle. "It's late, we should sleep."
"Leave me the last turn, okay?"
"Okay."
Ares looks me straight in the eye as he says, "Never have I ever wanted to kiss someone as much as I do now."
The air leaves my lungs as he drinks. His eyes are fixed on my mouth, and he hands me the bottle. I don't hesitate as I take a swig. In the blink of an eye, Ares is on top of me. His mouth finds mine and throws my fears out the window. His kiss is not tender; it's rough, passionate, and I love it. His soft lips lick, suck. I can't help but moan into his mouth and his tongue enters mine, tempting, provoking me. He tastes like tequila and strawberry gum. I grab his hair, kissing him with everything I have. I've missed him so much, and it's only been a week. He could easily become my addiction.
Ares spreads my legs to get between them and let me feel him all over me. His hand goes up under the long shirt I'm wearing, caressing the back of my thighs. His fingers curl around the waistband of the boxers and he pulls them down. He moves away from my lips for a moment so he can remove them completely.
I take the opportunity to look at his beautiful face in front of mine and caress it. He closes his eyes and I raise a little on my elbows to kiss his neck slowly. I hear him sigh. His skin is so soft and smells like fancy soap.
Ares stands up and my skin feels cold from the lack of contact. He takes my hand and pulls me until I am upright in front of him. His hands grab the hem of my shirt, and he pulls it off over my head. His eyes scan every part of me, making me blush and shiver with excitement.
Ares grabs my waist and kisses me again. Feeling his naked torso against my breasts makes me let out a small moan. He pushes me onto the bed until I fall on my back, and he climbs on top of me still kissing and touching me. His restless lips leave mine and move down my neck. His tongue, as nimble as ever, licks deliciously, sending streams of desire throughout my body.
Then he goes down to attack my breasts, leaving me breathless. This is too much, I close my eyes, biting my lips. To my surprise, Ares keeps going down my stomach, and that puts me on alert.
"Ares, what are you doing?" I ask as he spreads my legs, and I tense up.
He looks up at me. "Do you trust me?"
Tell him no! You don't trust him, do you? Like a fool in love, I nod. "Yes."
He smiles on my skin and keeps going down. I stare up at the ceiling nervously. The moment his tongue makes contact with the spot in the middle of my legs, I arch my back, with a loud moan leaving my lips.
"Oh God!" I clutch the sheets. New sensations invade me, drowning me in pleasure.
Nothing has ever felt so good, so perfect, especially because it's with him. Ares is claiming all my first experiences, and I like that. It makes me feel like we have a unique connection. Ares gets more aggressive with his tongue, moving it up and down and then in circles until I feel like I can't take any more. I cover my mouth with my hand to quiet my moans.
Ares stretches out his hand to grab my wrist and pull my hand away. "No, let me hear you moan. Only I can make you lose control like this."
I shudder, and he continues his torture until I feel like my body is going to explode. "Ares!"
His voice is deep and sexy. "Yes, like that, moan for me, beautiful."
The orgasm that sweeps me is unprecedented. I arch my back, my hands go to his hair to push him away from there, as everything becomes very sensitive. My legs tremble, my breathing is ragged and quick. Ares stands up in front of me, licking his lips, and it's the sexiest thing I've ever seen in my life.
I can see him so clearly, his chest and defined abdomen. His eyes shining with desire. He pulls down his shorts along with his boxers, dropping them to the floor, and lets me stare at him completely naked in front of me. He is so perfect. I want to feel him, all of him.
He takes something off his nightstand, and I watch him put the condom on. I can't wait to feel him inside me again.
He grabs my ankles and pulls me to the edge of the bed. His hand takes my chin. "Do you want me?" I nod. "Turn around."
I obey, and he grabs my hips and lifts me up until I'm on my hands and knees. The anticipation almost kills me as he rubs himself against me but doesn't penetrate me.
"Ares, please."
"Please what?"
He has made me so naughty.
"Please, I want you inside me."
I feel him grab me by my hair and a scream leaves my lips as he penetrates me all at once. It burns and hurts a little, but nothing like the first time. He doesn't move, as if he's waiting for me to get used to it.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
He begins to move slowly, and it still burns, but the friction begins to feel amazing.
A few minutes later, I no longer feel anything but pleasure. Ares lets go of my hair and grips my hips to thrust into me even deeper, faster. The sound of skin against skin echoes throughout the room, mixing with our moans. It isn't long before we both collapse on the bed, side by side. Our quickened breathing makes our chests rise and fall rapidly. Ares reaches over to the nightstand and grabs the tequila bottle.
"Never have I ever made a girl come with oral sex." And he takes a drink.
I can't help but smile. "You are crazy, Ares Hidalgo."
His eyes meet mine. "You're driving me crazy, Witch."
He wraps us in his sheets and caresses my cheek tenderly. Suddenly, sleepiness overwhelms me. I blink to try to stay awake, but I fall asleep, naked in the bed of the boy I stalked from the shadows until a few weeks ago.
Life really is unpredictable.