FORTY-ONE
The Boyfriend
Silence reigns as Claudia and I stare at Sofia Hidalgo. Out of all the possible reactions I could imagine, Claudia’s was not one of them. It reminded me of the sayings: “People are not what they seem” and “Never judge a book by its cover.”
When I first saw Claudia, she struck me as submissive: a service girl who was used to lowering her head in front of her bosses, who had witnessed the best and worst moments of the family she worked for but said nothing about it.
Boy, was I abysmally wrong.
Ares’s mother waits for my answer, not bothering to hide her contemptuous look. I can’t speak. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m very intimidated by this lady. Sofia crosses her arms over her chest.
“I asked you a question,” she says. I clear my throat.
“My name is Ra-Raquel.” I extend my hand to her in a friendly manner. She glances at my hand and then back at me.
“Well, Ra-Raquel,” she mocks my stutter, “what are you doing here?”
Claudia stands next to me, and with her head held high and a firm voice, she speaks for me: “She came with Ares.”
At the mention of Ares, Sofia raises an eyebrow.
“Are you kidding? Why would Ares bring a girl like her?”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself? Oh, right, communication with your children is not your forte.”
Sofia presses her lips. “Don’t start with your little tone, Claudia. The last thing you want to do is provoke me.”
“Then stop looking at her like that. You don’t know her.”
Sofia gives us a tired look. “I don’t have time to waste with you. Where is my husband?”
Claudia just points to the door, and Sofia walks through it, leaving us alone. Finally, I feel like I can breathe. I clutch my chest.
“What a scary woman,” I say.
Claudia smiles at me. “You have no idea.”
“But you don’t seem to be intimidated.”
“I grew up in that house. I think I developed the ability to deal with intimidating people long ago.”
It makes sense, I think, remembering how intimidating Artemis is, and even Ares before I got to know him well, and now this woman? Claudia must be immune to these kinds of strong personalities after growing up surrounded by them.
“I noticed, I just thought that since she’s your boss, you . . .”
“Would let her intimidate me and treat me badly?” she finishes for me. “She’s not my boss. Juan is, and he’s always protected me from that witch, especially after . . .” Claudia stops. “I think I’ve talked too much about me, tell me about yourself.”
I sigh, and we sit down.
“There’s not much to tell. I’ve just fallen under the Hidalgos’ spell.”
“That’s obvious, but I see you’ve gotten that idiot to admit his feelings.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re here,” she replies. “His grandfather is one of the most important people in the world to him, so the fact that you are here says a lot.”
“I have heard so much about this gentleman that I’d like to meet him.”
“I hope you meet him soon. He’s a wonderful person.”
We chat for a while, and I realize how much I like Claudia. She’s an interesting woman with a strong character. I think we could be incredibly good friends. She gives me a good feeling, and I feel comfortable around her. There are people with whom you just have good chemistry, and we kind of click, even after talking once.
After a while, Ares leaves the room, followed by Artemis and Apolo. Claudia and I stand up. Artemis’s eyes meet Claudia’s, and he presses his lips together before turning and walking down the hall.
Apolo smiles at us, avoiding Claudia’s eyes at all costs.
“Let’s go get a coffee. Grandpa asked for you, Claudia. You should go in when my parents leave.” And with that the youngest Hidalgo brother follows Artemis.
Ares approaches me, his blue eyes are full of emotion, relief, and peace. I can’t imagine how worried he’s been the past few days. He takes my hand, and I can’t help but notice that he doesn’t greet Claudia.
“Come on, Witch.” I glance at Claudia, who has her head down, and a murmur escapes her lips.
“I’m sorry,” she says. Ares looks at her.
“It wasn’t your fault,” he says, sounding honest. “His impulsiveness will never be your fault, Claudia.” She just nods, and I don’t understand shit.
I say good-bye to Claudia and follow Ares. Walking with him hand in hand feels so unreal.
Dad, this is Raquel, my girlfriend.
His girlfriend . . .
The title makes my heart flutter with excitement. I never thought I’d get to be his girlfriend; he’s the guy I watched from the shadows, fantasizing about being by his side someday like this, but I never thought it would become a reality.
Ares looks at me, with his cute lips forming a smile, and I swear my heart threatens to pump out of my chest and leave me.
I want to kiss him.
I clench my free hand to control myself so as not to pull him toward me and crash my lips against his. We arrive at the hospital cafeteria, and Ares leaves me at a table after asking me what I want. He goes to order something for both of us. With my hands in my lap, I look around.
I find Artemis and Apolo, sitting at different tables. What’s wrong with those two?
Slowly, my head begins to connect the dots: Artemis’s bandaged hand, Apolo’s black eye, the uncomfortable look and tension between Artemis and Claudia as he left the room. Did they . . . fight over her? They couldn’t have. Apolo is interested in Dani, isn’t he? And the thought of Artemis being interested in Claudia doesn’t sound like him, does it? What the hell is going on?
Ares returns, putting a caramel macchiato in front of me, my favorite.
“Thank you,” I say with a smile.
He sits, stretching out his long legs. I know how defined his thigh muscles are under those pants, and I also know what’s in between those legs.
Raquel, for God’s sake, you’re in a hospital.
Shaking my head, I take a sip of the coffee, closing my eyes because it’s so delicious. When I open my eyes again, Ares raises one eyebrow. I lick my lips, not wanting to miss a drop of this delight.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he replies. I narrow my eyes.
“What?” I ask again.
“The face you just made reminded me of the face you make when I make you orgasm.” My eyes open so wide they hurt, and heat suffuses my cheeks.
“Ares, we are in a hospital.”
“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.
Ares pounces on me, forcing me back in my seat, without separating his mouth from mine. He uses the lever to push my seat back, and moves from his seat to mine, getting completely on top of me. I’m amazed at his ability to do that so quickly. His legs stay between mine, spreading them apart, and I’m glad I have leggings on under my fall dress, because he pulls it up to my hips, exposing me.
He presses his body against mine and I can feel how hard he is through his pants. His mouth leaves mine to attack my neck. I stare up at the roof of the car as he devours the skin of my neck and moves down to my chest, his clumsy hands pulling down the straps of my dress.
Going against everything I’m feeling right now, I put my hands on his shoulders.
“Ares, no.”
He lifts his head, his desire-filled blue eyes meet mine, and my self-control wavers. His chest rises and falls with his accelerated breathing. He gives me a warm smile.
“Okay.”
His mouth finds mine again, but this time softly and tenderly. I smile against his lips, and mutter: “vanilla latte.”
He pulls away from me.
“What?”
“The coffee you had.”
Ares smiles back at me, and he’s so fucking gorgeous. He gestures at his pants.
“Do you still think this is not torture?”
“Just a little.”
“Sure, it’s fine with me, though,” he runs the back of his hand across my cheek. “It will only make it much more intense the moment when you give yourself to me again.”
“You sound pretty sure that’s going to happen.”
“I am.” His confidence has always been sexy to me. “You think I don’t know how wet you are right now?”
“Ares . . .”
“Do you remember how good it feels when I’m inside you? That touch, that friction that drives you crazy and makes you beg me for more.”
“God . . .” I put my hands on his chest. “Stop talking like that.”
“You’re all red.” Ares grins and returns to his seat. “I also have the right to torture you.”
“Idiot,” I mutter, regaining my composure. “I gotta go.”
I open the door, and I’m not surprised at how shaky my hand is. I get out.
“Good night,” I say and close the door behind me.
Ares lowers the car window.
“Hey, Witch.”
I look back at him.
“When you touch yourself tonight, moan my name loudly,” I stop breathing, and he winks at me. “I’ll do the same, thinking of you.”
The car window goes up and he drives away, leaving me with my mouth open.
Stupid, perverted, Greek god!