The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

here, Raven,” he orders, and I walk back toward him hesitantly, pausing in front of him, his legs on
either side of me. He leans back and spreads his arms across the back of the sofa, his eyes on me. I
haven’t seen him this way in years, with his torso bare and his abs and chest on display. Does he
realize what kind of image he’s painting?
“How do you feel, Rave? I’ve never seen you as drunk as you were last night. Can you even
remember half the shit you did?”
I let my eyes fall closed and nod. “Ares,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. Nothing I can say will make up
for how I treated you last night. I’m so ashamed of my actions, and I can’t even imagine how angry
you must be. I’m so sorry, truly. I don’t know what I was thinking. I never should’ve… I can’t
believe…”
He grabs my hand and pulls me closer. “Not so confident today, are you? Last night you were all
too happy to sit in my lap and demand to wear my t-shirt, getting naked in the process.”
I sit down next to him and wrap my arms around myself. “Do you really need to remind me of
that?” I ask, mortified.
He chuckles. “It’s okay, Rave. I’m not mad, I’m just confused. You’ve never acted that way
before, and definitely never around me. What’s going on with you?” Ares runs a hand through his hair
and looks away. “I mean, I get being drunk and wanting to go home with someone, wanting that thrill,
the release. But that isn’t you.”
I chuckle humorlessly. “You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Ares,” I say, taking the
excuse he’s handing me. “It’s just been a while since I got laid, and I wanted it badly. Anyone
would’ve done.”
He narrows his eyes at me and looks me over. “Do you do this often? Get drunk? One-nightstands?”
I purse my lips, unable to look at him. “Does it matter? I’m an adult, Ares. I know what I’m doing.
I don’t need you to lecture me.”
“Raven, you need to be careful. You can’t just give anyone access to you. Don’t even dream of
ever going home with someone you don’t know, you hear me? It’s hardly safe for a regular girl, but
you? You’re the object of so many men’s desires. Who knows what those fucked up perverts are
fantasizing about as they collect photos of you. I’ve seen the comments on all your posts. It isn’t safe.”
I wrap my arms around myself, unsure what to say. “Are you going to tell Hannah about this?”
He sighs and falls back on the sofa, his eyes on the ceiling. “How am I supposed to tell her I had
her sister naked in my lap? I know you didn’t have any bad intentions and that you were just drunk,
but Hannah wouldn’t see it that way. It’s best not to tell her anything at all. I’ve had my fair share of
drunken, embarrassing moments. You’re entitled to yours. I just want you to promise me you won’t do
this again.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I won’t ever look at you that way again. I won’t come near you. I’ll keep
my distance.”
“No,” he snaps, panic flashing through his eyes. “That’s not what I meant. I need you to promise
me you won’t get so drunk that you aren’t in control of what you’re doing or saying. Do you know
how easy it would’ve been for me to take advantage of you last night? I had you naked in my arms,
Rave. Do you know how easy it would’ve been to push my sweatpants aside and slide deep inside
you? I could’ve pinned you down on this sofa and fucked you raw, and there’s nothing you would’ve
been able to do about it. Don’t find yourself alone with a man that won’t respect you, someone who
would take advantage of you when you aren’t thinking clearly.”
A blush stains my cheeks as his words resound in my mind. Was he tempted, for even a moment?