Through My Window (Hidalgos #1)(85)

I walk up to her and pinch her cheeks.

“Now smile, pretty kitty.”

Ares sends me a message telling me he’s outside with Marco, and I ask him to give us a few minutes.

I’m really nervous. I don’t know how he’ll react when he sees me in my costume, and I want to surprise him. The past two weeks have been great for both of us. We’ve gone out several times, finally having normal dates. However, the sexual tension between us has grown to otherworldly levels. To be honest, I don’t know how I have put up with so much.

We get out of the house, and the chilly night air hits me. The first one I see is Marco in a cop costume, and I can’t deny that he looks great. Ares comes around the car, and I stop breathing for two reasons: one, he looks ridiculously sexy, and two, his costume is a Greek god. He’s wearing some sort of white robe that reveals his defined arms, with a golden ribbon across his chest and a crown over his messy black hair. It’s too much for my poor soul.

Virgin of Abdominals, I entrust my being to you tonight.

Ares looks at me, and his eyes travel down my body slowly, each spot burning, smoldering under the intensity of his gaze, as a crooked smile appears on his lips.

“I knew it.”

“I knew it too.” I point to his costume.

“Come here.” He gestures for me to move toward him and I do. Up close, his face looks even more beautiful with that crown on his head. He could easily have been a god; the beauty is there. His hand caresses my arm. “Hello, Witch.”

“Hello, Greek God.” My hands are restless, so I place them on his chest, lowering them a little to feel that defined abdomen through the thin fabric of his costume. Who could blame me for touching him like that?

“Touching me so early?” he says, as if reading my thoughts. I bite my lip.

“Oops, it’s just that the costume suits you so well.”

“Oh yeah?” Ares leans toward me. “But I think you’d enjoy touching me without it more.”

“Are you proposing something indecent?”

“Very, very indecent, Witch.”

I push him away and laugh to ease the tension between us, because if I don’t, I’m going to end up under him moaning his name before I even leave the house. I run away from Ares and find Marco talking to Dani.

“Hey, Marco,” I call.

“Hi, Raquel. Are we ready?”

“Yes,” I answer, feeling Ares’s gaze on the back of my head. “Where’s Apolo?” Marco shrugs his shoulders.

“He’s waiting in the car.”

I frown at that. It seems odd that he’s not out here greeting us. What’s wrong with Apolo lately? He’s changed. I haven’t even talked to him much at school.

“Let’s go,” Ares says, opening the driver’s door and getting into the car. I do the same. Dani hesitates as Marco opens the door for her to get in. She’s going to be in the middle seat, right next to Apolo, who’s wearing a sailor costume with a little white hat that makes him look even cuter than usual. I can see the distinct expression of discomfort on Dani’s face, and I give her a comforting look.

“The place is packed,” Marco comments, checking his cell phone. “I’m so glad we have VIP access.”

“What did you expect?” Ares replies. “It’s Halloween after all.”

“Next year we should dress up as a group.” Apolo finally speaks, surprising us. “Something like all of us as Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles, or characters from a series like Game of Thrones, that would be really cool.”

“How old are you?” Marco laughs. “Twelve?”

I feel the urge to defend him.

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with dressing up in a group! I like your idea, Apolo.”

I give him a smile, and he returns the gesture, but it appears that Marco has no intention of staying quiet.

“You say that when you two didn’t even dress up as a couple.” He points to Ares and me.

“Of course we did, witch and Greek god,” I explain, but Marco snorts. “It’s something between us you’d never understand.”

Ares laughs. “She’s right, Marco. You’d never understand, the longest relationship you’ve ever had was with the cigarette you just smoked, and now it’s over.”

We all join in the laughter, and Marco grunts.

“All against me, huh?”

When we get to the bar, I realize that Marco wasn’t exaggerating when he said it was packed. There’s a line of people outside the place, and a sign over the door indicating that it’s already full, and that they can’t guarantee entry even if you wait outside for hours. The guard doesn’t even blink as he lets us in.

The decor is mind-blowing. Everything is black and orange, with fake skulls and bodies hanging from the ceiling, and spider webs and fake blood on the pillars. The bartenders are dressed as pirates, serving disgusting-looking colored drinks. There are several smoke machines, making it look like the room is full of fog. Everyone is in costume, and my eyes roam all over the place, trying to see them all. The atmosphere is perfect, and it’s no wonder so many people want to come in. Artemis knows how to run his business and take advantage of these occasions.

We climb the stairs to the VIP area, where a table awaits us, with Samantha, Gregory, Luis, and Andrea. No Natalie tonight? How lovely.