Page 64 of Obsessed with Her

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

I couldn't sayhow we got out of SIN.

I have no idea how I said goodbye to Madison and Cici; I’m just vaguely aware that they said they'd call me next week.

Without saying a word, Ares takes me to the back of the club, to the exclusive parking lot.

I see the driver, as well as the bodyguards, waiting for us, and I realize that we will not return on the motorcycle.

Ares helps me into the car and watches me fasten my seat belt. When the driver takes his place behind the wheel, Ares closes the partition to give us privacy, but he doesn’t try to talk to me until we arrive at the building we live in. Inside the elevator, I have to force myself to stay still, because I feel like his eyes are boring into me.

When we finally stop at my floor, I prepare to say goodbye, but he follows me outside the elevator.

Ares grabs me by the shoulders and turns me towards him. "We need to talk. I had no idea that..."

I wave my hand, without looking at him, and nod. "I know. You assumed I was experienced."

"Experienced, no, but I never imagined that after two years in a relationship..."

"I’d still be a virgin?"

"That."

"I'm sorry for the confusion."

"Confusion? You think it was a simple misunderstanding? You are innocent, untouched, and I abused your trust."

"You asked me if I wanted to leave. I made the decision to stay. I loved every second of it and would do it all again."

"You don't know what you're saying. It's not going to happen again. The first man in a girl's life is very important. Trust me, when you look back in the future, you'll regret it if I was that guy."

I can't imagine giving myself to anyone else.

Of course I don't say anything like that. I've already had my fair share of humiliation for the rest of the year.

"Good evening, Ares."

"Serenity . . ."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Call me a bastard. I deserve it."

I open the door with my fingerprint, but before entering, with my hand on the doorknob, I turn to him again. "No. I'll call youmy first everything. You cannot make the memory of what happened disappear. And I don't want to forget."

I enter quickly, because my courage was just enough to release what was weighing me down.

I walk to the bedroom on the second floor and throw myself on the bed without taking off my clothes, still feeling him inside me, wanting more, even though it will probably never happen again.

Days later

I'm avoiding him.

Yes, it's not dignified or honorable, but I still haven't recovered from the shame of our conversation because of what happened at SIN.I didn’t even have the courage to tell Debra—who is in Louisiana, by the way.

God, why did I say those things? If Ares had any doubt that I was an inexperienced fool, it vanished in that moment.

We've only been talking via text, which seems ridiculous since we live just one floor away. Ares has given me space, which is a blessing. I wouldn't know how to be casual after what happened.