CHAPTER TEN
ALEXANDRA JONES
IPUSH THE DOOR TO THE DINER OPEN AND THE
bell above rings, announcing our arrival.
The place is seriously packed, and I squeeze in, holding onto Ares’ hand tightly so we don’t lose each other in the crowd. He tightens his grip around me, making me feel safe and secure. We make our way to the register where we place our orders.
“I usually get the chicken wrap; it’s really good,” I say, pointing to the picture on the menu. The noise from the other customers makes it hard to be heard, Ares tips his head down for my lips to meet his ears as I repeat what I said.
His lips curl into a smile, and we wait our turn in line.
When it’s our turn to order, Mike, the owner of the restaurant, greets me warmly, but his expression changes as soon as he sees Ares standing beside me. Ares stares back at him, giving a slight nod.
Mike seems nervous and stammers for a moment. “U-Usual Alexandra?”
“Yes, please, Mike. And another one for Ares, please. Oh, and can I also get the...sorry, one second,” I say, trying to read something off the menu.
“Can you hurry the fuck up!” I hear someone from behind us shout impatiently. My hands begin to shake in response to the sudden aggression. In an instant, Ares shifts his position, standing tall and assertive. He turns his head, his gaze piercing into the group of guys who were shouting at me. Their eyes widen in fear as they see him. “Sorry, Ares... we never saw you... and... her...”
“Get out of my face,” Ares says in a low, dangerous tone, causing the guys to quickly leave the area. A sense of relief washes over me as I see Ares take control of the situation but why did they fear him?
“You want the dip?” Mike asks, trying to change the topic. I nod my head, my heart still racing from the earlier confrontation. “That will be fifteen dollars all together,” Mike says, and I open my bag to get my purse.
But before I can take out the money, Ares stretches his hand over my shoulder and pays for the meal. I turn around with furrowed brows. “I thought this was on me.”
“When I’m around, that purse stays inside that bag,” he says with a hint of a smile.
“Ares.” I warn him.
“Butterfly.”
We collect our food and find a free table next to the window. I slip off my jacket and put my things to the side. Ares sits opposite me, and I open my wrap with a smile, dipping it into the sauce before taking a bite. Instantly, I realise something is off with the taste, but I force myself to swallow it.
“What’s wrong?” Ares asks, noticing my reaction.
“I think they put too much spice in the sauce,” I say, trying to hide my discomfort.
Holding out my sandwich to him, he chuckles leaning forward.
His hands cover my wrist as he takes a bite from my food, biting a bit of my finger, I gasp as he pulls away. His jaw moving to swallow the food. “I said the food, not my finger. And look, you spilt sauce all over it.”
He takes my hands and sucks onto my fingers; I felt his warm tongue. “Not anymore.” He smirks. I watch him, wondering if he can handle the spice, but he seems unfazed. “It’s not that bad,” he says, a small smirk playing on his lips.
He hands me his sandwich, and a warm smile spreads across my face as we switch. The taste of his sandwich is surprisingly delightful, and I take the moment of sharing this simple yet intimate gesture with Ares.
“I know this might be the wrong time to bring it up...” I whisper, and I see a slight shift in Ares’ demeanour. His eyes locks with mine, and I can sense that he knows exactly what I’m referring to. He leans back a little, his tongue poking out from the inside corner of his mouth as he seems lost in thought. “About the girl?”
After a moment of contemplation, he leans forward again, resting both elbows on the table. His dark eyes study me intently, and I feel a flutter of nerves in my stomach.
“Let me tell you something, Alexandra,” he says, his voice soft yet powerful, captivating my attention completely. “What happened that night...” Ares begins, his voice trailing off as he seems to choose his words carefully. “It’s a complicated story, butterfly. One that I’m not sure I’m ready to share completely.”
I nod, understanding the gravity of his words.
There’s a hint of pain in his eyes, something that he’s carrying with him, and I sense that he’s been through things I can’t even begin to comprehend.
“Is she dead?” I ask in a whisper, settling down my food.
Why would you ask that! God!
There was something about the way he looks at me, he nodded his head and looks away from me. “Yeah, she died.” He answers me, “she was everything to me…and now she’s gone.” I feel my eyes tearing up, God, I always had a soft spot for this. I gently takes his hands in mine; he glances at me as I squeeze it for comfort.
“I’m sorry for your loss Ares…”
He sits up properly, removing his hand from mine before standing. “We should get going.” He speaks.
Part of me regretted asking but another part of me wanted to confirm if it was true. It wasn’t online, and I didn’t want to just assume. I didn’t want to believe the rumours. I wanted to believe him. But does he not understand how hard this is for me?
I straighten up, slinging my bag over my shoulders and sliding my jacket over my arm. As I grab the rubbish and place it in the bin, Ares stands up, takes my hand, and walks. I wave farewell to Mike, who smiles back before his expression drops as Ares walks by. Mike grabs Ares’ arm, and I come to a halt, turning to look at them.
I overhear a few murmurs. “She’s a good girl...please don’t-” Ares rips his arm free from Mike’s grip, and I can see the tension in his jaw as he speaks, his back facing me.
Mike seems hesitant, his eyes shifting between me and Ares.
Ares towers over Mike, his presence commanding and intimidating. He’s clearly a head taller than most people, and there’s a certain aura of power and strength that surrounds him. His build and height give him an air of authority, and it’s clear that he’s not someone to be trifled with. As Ares makes his way towards me, he reaches out and interlocks his hands with mine. We start walking back to the car, and I steal a glance at Mike, who shakes his head at me and mouths, “he’s dangerous.”
I furrow my brows, puzzled by the warning.
I look away and glance up at Ares, his grip on my hand warm and reassuring. Despite the warning, I can’t help but feel safe and protected when I’m with him. There’s something about his presence that makes me feel secure, as if he’ll shield me from any harm. Ares opens the car door for me, and I slide inside as he closes it. Once he’s settled in the driver’s seat, he starts the car, and we pull away from the restaurant. The atmosphere inside the car is filled with unspoken emotions and the lingering tension from our encounter with Mike.
As we drive, I steal glances at Ares, trying to understand the complexities behind his enigmatic facade. There’s so much I don’t know about him, so much beneath the surface that I’m eager to explore. I can’t help but wonder about the mysteries that lie in his past and what has shaped him into the man he is today.
“What did Mike say?” I ask him.
A smile spreads across his face as he stops the car, turning to face me. “More like what did he say when you turned back?” He responds to me. “Come on butterfly, answer me, I answered all your questions.”
“He said you’re dangerous.”
He turns to face the road, nodding his head slowly.
“I am dangerous.” He speaks.
I look at him, my heart racing at his admission. “Dangerous? In what way?” I inquire, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity. “Why would Mike say that? Why is everyone warning me? What have you done?”
He doesn’t respond.
He never responds! He never answers my questions, he ignores me as if I were a five-year-old kid begging for candy.
“Take me home.” I order him. “Actually, I’ll walk home.” I push the door open and slide out into the rainy road. I hear him calling my name as I walk down the pavement, careful on my feet otherwise I’ll slip. I glance back and notice him slamming his car door closed. I had no idea where I was to be honest, and I didn’t want to turn back to Mikes shop otherwise it would look like something is wrong.
“Alexandra!” His deep voice echoes into the empty street.
“Leave me alone!” I shoot out, my hair clinging to my face.
“Stop being stupid, it’s cold and it’s raining.” I gasp and turn around fully; he stops in front of me and looks down at me as my head falls back to look up at him.
“Don’t you dare call me stupid,” I shout at him.
“Well then stop acting like it.” My mouth drops open, and I shake my head before resuming my walk, determined to put some distance between us.
But he follows me, relentless in his pursuit.
“Oh, fuck me. I’m sorry. Now let’s get back inside the car and I can take you home.”
“Leave me alone Ares! Clearly, you’re just wasting my time, you don’t want to tell me anything and you always answer my questions with questions!” I yell out, suddenly in an instant, he grabs my arm, turning me around to face him. My chest collides with his, and my heart races as he grips my neck, tilting my head back to meet his gaze.
“Enough,” he says firmly, his eyes searching mine.
Raindrops cascade down around us, adding to the intensity of the moment. Ares’ grip on my neck is firm, his eyes locked onto mine with a mix of concern and frustration.
“Stop running away,” he implores, his voice tinged with emotion. “I’m not trying to waste your time, Alexandra. I just... I don’t know how to explain everything yet.”
His touch on my neck feels both gentle and possessive, and I can’t help but feel a rush of conflicting emotions. “You can’t keep pushing me away and then expect me to understand,” I retort, trying to hold my ground.
“I’m not pushing you away, butterfly,” he says, his voice low and earnest. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” I demand, feeling frustration building within me. “From the truth?”
He hesitates, his gaze searching mine for a moment before he sighs. “Yes, from the truth,” he admits, his grip on my neck loosening. “But it’s not because I don’t trust you. It’s because I’m afraid of what the truth might do to us.”
“That’s for us to work out, not you alone.”
“Okay. But you need to give me time. We just met. I’ve never been like this with anyone…”
My eyes fall down onto his lips, and it my heart begins beating rapidly. I slide my hand around the back of his neck and pull him down to my face, I press my lips against his and he doesn’t kiss me back.
Embarrassment catches up with me, and I gently pull back.
“Oh, fuck this.”
His lips are warm and velvety against mine, and I respond with equal fervour, pressing myself against him. His other hand slides around my waist, pulling me closer as he deepens the kiss. Our mouths move in perfect harmony, dancing together in a sensual rhythm.
I lose myself in the taste of him, a heady mix of mint and something distinctly masculine. The world around us fades away, and all that exists is the electricity between us. His tongue traces the outline of my lips, seeking entrance, and I gladly grant it.
Our tongues tangle and explore, each movement sending a surge of pleasure through me. The passion between us intensifies, and I feel myself getting lost in the sensations, my body melting into his.
Ares’ grip on my waist tightens, pulling me impossibly closer, as if he wants to merge our bodies into one. His hand trails down my spine, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, and I gasp into his mouth at the delicious sensation. We break apart, both of us gasping for breath, our eyes locked in a silent conversation of longing and desire. I can see the hunger in his gaze, matching my own, as he leans in for more.
He grabs the back of my thighs and lifts me up, I wrap my legs around his waist as he pushes me against the front of his car. Settling me down, the rain drenches us, but we didn’t care.
I just needed more of him.
He kisses down my neck, savouring me.
“Ares...” I whisper as he continues to suck onto my neck, I lift my dress further up my thighs and slide my hand underneath his shirt. God, just feeling his body…in my hands.
Suddenly, he pushes himself away from me and the car, turning around to grab the back of his neck, leaving me desperately wanting more of him.
“Alexandra, let me take you home,” Ares finally speaks, his voice low and tinged with a hint of regret.
I can feel the tension between us, and I wonder if I made a mistake by kissing him. But deep down, it didn’t feel like a mistake; it felt like something I had been longing for. I slide off the bonnet of the car, the rain continuing to pour down on us, soaking us both. Without looking at him, I make my way to the passenger side and get inside the car, Ares following suit.
The silence inside the car is deafening, and I can feel his eyes on me without me turning my head.
The car starts, and we drive off towards my house, the windshield wipers working hard to clear the rain. The atmosphere in the car is heavy with unspoken emotions, and I can’t bear the silence any longer.
Why did I kiss him? I shouldn’t have kissed him.
He regrets it, I could tell.
He’s not even looking at me.
The car continues to move in silence until we finally reach my house.
Just before he says anything, I quickly slide out of the car and shut the door, wanting to escape the vulnerability of the moment.
Hurrying to my balcony entrance, I take a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. The rain continues to pour down, matching the turmoil in my heart. I feel tears falling down my eyes from the shame, the embarrassment that’s grabbing my heart.
I push my balcony doors open and throw my things onto the floor angrily. I drop onto my bed, and cry into my pillow.
I probably seemed so desperate.