CHAPTER FORTY
ARES NICOLAIDES
TWO YEARS AGO
ILOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.
The way she smiles.
The way her eyes light up.
The way she laughs.
The way she bites her perfect lips.
The way she loves fresh pomegranates.
I have become fully obsessed with her and no one in the world could ever stop me from being so in love with her. We have been dating for four months, we had our ups and downs-I’ll admit it, but we always found a way to get out of it. Her lips were made for me, the way she kisses me, they made butterflies fly in my stomach. She towers over me; the fresh crisp air of the park surrounds us as I lean down against the mat she set out. We finally separate, catching our breath.
“I feel like it’s been five years.” She speaks, pushing my hair away from my forehead.
“I was gone for three days butterfly.”
“Three days too long.” She whispers, kissing me once more. “Let’s do it.” I raise a confused brow, she sits up, straddling my lap. “Let’s have sex.”
“Alright Alexandra, jokes over.”
“No…I’m being serious.” She reassures me.
No, I won’t make her do something she doesn’t want to do. She loves her religion, yes, she may find it restricted but she respects it. I am not going to be the one that makes her fall down the ladder towards hell. Even though she won’t be alone, she’ll be with me. I look at her, examining every inch of her face.
“Alexandra…we can’t, and you know it.”
“Ares, I want this, I want you…I’m ready.”
“I don’t want you to feel guilty, I don’t want you to regret this.”
“I won’t.” She shoots back.
“But how do you know that?”
“Because it’s you, don’t you get it?”
“I don’t…I don’t get it.”
And now her eyes are sad, the light slowly dies down and she shifts herself off me. I rush my fingers through my hair, the sounds of birds tweeting and dogs barking echo into the silence of our empty conversation.
She turns her head, a look of surprise evident on her face. “What?” she responds, clearly taken aback.
“Marry me,” I repeat, more determined this time.
“Ares...” she begins, hesitating.
“Be my wife,” I interrupt, my heart racing with anticipation. This is a big step Ares. But I know this is the best choice I will ever make.
Being her husband.
“Ares, we’re young...” she starts again, trying to reason.
“Age doesn’t matter,” I insist, desperation creeping into my voice. “I love you, and you love me, so be my wife.”
“All of this for sex?”
“All of this for us…you and I…what do you say stalker?” Without hesitation, she throws herself onto me, her lips crashing against mine in a passionate kiss. I smile through the kiss, feeling relief wash over me as she pulls back slightly.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice choked with emotion. “A thousand times yes.”
Her lips find mine.
“But I want a better proposal-with a ring.”
“I’ll do it all for you.”