(45)
People are not what they seem.
Never judge a book by its cover.
All those sayings about never believing you know what a person is like just by looking at them make sense in front of my eyes with Claudia.
When I first saw Claudia, she struck me as submissive, a service girl who is used to lowering her head in front of her bosses, who has witnessed the best and worst moments of the family she works for but says nothing about it.
Was I wrong?
Yes, and boy, was I abysmally wrong.
Ares' mother waits for my answer, not bothering to hide her contemptuous look. I can't articulate a word, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm very intimidated by this lady.
Sofía crosses her arms over her chest.
"I asked you a question."
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 with a firm voice she speaks for me:
"She came with Ares."
At the mention of Ares, the lady raises an eyebrow.
"Are you kidding? Why would Ares bring a girl like her?"
Claudia looks away.
"Why don't you ask him yourself? Oh, right, communication with your children is not your forte."
Sofía 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 even know her."
The lady gives us a tired look.
"I don't have to waste my time with you. Where is my husband?"
Claudia doesn't answer, she just points to the door, and the woman enters, leaving us alone and, finally, I feel I can breathe.
I clutch my chest.
"What a scary woman."
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 very well."
It makes sense, I remembered how intimidating Artemis is, and even Ares himself before I got to know him well, and now this woman? Claudia must be immune to those 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 is not my boss, Juan is, and he has 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 is not much to tell. I've just fallen under the Hidalgo's spell."
"That's obvious, but I see you've already gotten that idiot to admit his feelings."
"How do you know?"
"Because you are here," she replies. "His grandfather is one of the most important people to him, the fact that you are here says a lot."
"I have heard so much about this gentleman that I would like to meet him."
"I hope you meet him soon, he is a wonderful person."
We chat for a while, and I realize how much I like Claudia. She's a funny girl 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 we just have good chemistry and we kind of click, even after talking once.
Finally, after talking to Claudia for a while, Ares leaves the room followed by Artemis and Apolo. Claudia and I stand up. Artemis' eyes meet Claudia's and he presses his lips together before turning and walking away 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 come in when my parents leave." And with that the youngest Hidalgo brother followed Artemis.
Ares approaches me, his blue eyes are full of emotion, relief, and tranquility. I can't imagine how worried he has been all these days about his grandfather, who is apparently well now.
The Greek God 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."
Ares looks at her.
"It wasn't your fault," he sounds honest. "His impulsiveness will never be your fault, Claudia."
She just nods, and I don't understand shit.
I say goodbye to Claudia and follow Ares. My eyes fall on his strong hand over mine and then up his arm, his shoulder and the profile of his pretty face. 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 jump out of my chest and leave me.
I want to kiss him.
I clench my free hand to control myself and not to pull him towards 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. I wrinkle my eyebrows. What's wrong with those two?
Slowly, my head begins to connect the dots: Artemis' 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 fuck 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 his long legs out in front and I know how defined his thigh muscles are under those pants, I also know what's in between those legs.
Raquel, for God's sake, you're in a hospital.
Questioning my morals, I take a sip of the coffee, closing my eyes, so delicious. When I open my eyes, Ares has one eyebrow raised. I lick my lips, not wanting to miss a drop of this delight.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I narrow my eyes.
"What?"
"The face you just made reminded me of the face you make when I make you orgasm."
My eyes open so wide they hurt, heat invades my cheeks.
"Ares, we are in a hospital."
"You insisted on knowing."
"You have no shame."
His mouth forms that crooked smile that characterizes him and makes me stop breathing.
"No, what I have is desire for you."
I clear my throat, taking another sip of my coffee. Ares extends his hand on the table, 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 from his coffee too and I'm curious to know what his favorite is.
"What did you order?"
He answers me in a mocking tone.
"A coffee."
"I know that, I mean what kind of coffee you ordered."
Ares leans over the table, his face gets 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 am not torturing you."
"Yes, you are, but that's okay, I deserve it."
We talk for a while, and I notice that his mood has changed drastically, he is happy, relieved, and I like to see him like that. Curiosity gets the better of me.
"What's going on with those two?" I point to Artemis and Apolo.
"They had a fight."
"Because of Claudia?"
Ares gives me a surprised look.
"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."
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."
Ares gives me 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 to my house, parking his car out front. He just turns off the lights in the car. The sexual tension in the air makes it hard for me to breathe. He unbuckles his seatbelt 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?"
He leans over me, forcing me to bury my back in my seat, 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 in the dating world, but I remember Dani telling me that she was the type to kiss on the first date, that she needed to know if there was chemistry or not, so she wouldn't waste her time with other dates.
However, this situation is not the same, I know there is chemistry, too much I would say, and that he kisses deliciously, and that is the problem. I don't know if I can control myself if I kiss him, my self-control has a limit.
Ares licks his lips.
"Are you not going to answer me?"
My breathing is already agitated, my heart on the verge of collapse, 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 seatbelt 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 kiss. 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 with sensations, every nerve responding to every touch no matter how slight 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 place 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 lips leave mine to attack my neck. I watch the roof of the car as he devours the skin of my neck with his lips, and he moves down to my chest, his clumsy hands are 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. For a moment, I think he'll be angry for turning him on that way and then saying no, but he surprises me with 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 separates a little from me.
"What?"
"The coffee you had."
Ares smiles back at me, and he's so fucking gorgeous in the semi-dark mix of the car, with the color of his eyes standing out. He points to 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 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 seemed sexy. "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 smiles 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 close the door behind me.
Ares makes the car window go down, with his forearm on the steering wheel.
"Hey, witch," I look at him. "When you touch yourself tonight, moan my name loudly," I stop breathing, he winks at me. "I'll do the same, thinking of you."
He rolls up the car window and drives off, leaving me with my mouth open.
Stupid, pervert, Greek god!