Chapter 179: It Doesn’t Make Sense I wanted his reason. I wanted to know why this workaholic chose to leave his business, not because I thought about him staying. Why is he right here at my reunion? Why is he standing there in his three-piece suit, like the most handsome man I have ever seen? This wasn’t fair to me. It wasn’t fair that he could do this, and my heart would feel like it was gonna explode. Ares ended the call and shoved the phone in his suit pocket. Then he walked to me, and the closer he got, the faster my heartbeat became until I could hear it in my eardrums. My chin tilted when he stood in front of me. His hand coiled on my waist, my legs moving before I could make note of it. We swayed gently to the beat, our gaze still locked in a strong hold as if looking away wasn’t an option. "You’re suffocating, you know that?" The corner of his lips tipped in a smile. "You already mentioned." "Why?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from breaking. "Why, despite everything you did, I still needed you here...?" His hand freed my waist, slipping to my cheek as my hair brushed over my shoulder. I tried to contain the fire roaring through my veins at the feel of his touch. "Does it make sense?" I asked. "It doesn’t." His nose pressed against mine like he wanted to steal my ability to breathe. I licked my lips, already dying for a taste of his like I was dehydrated. As if Ares could read my mind, he inched closer, his hot breath tickling on my face, and I closed my eyes, awaiting his lips. However, a feeling took over, and in the blink of an eye, I took a step back, freeing myself from him. I didn’t end there; I grabbed my purse, deciding I had had enough for tonight. I was quick on my feet as I walked the empty hallway where the lockers were, my heels click-clacking sharply. "Catherine!" My heart kicked into gear when I heard Ares, but I didn’t stop, increasing my pace like my life depended on it. I knew when I fell into his arms again, my heart would take over, and I’d say things I don’t want to. When I opened the doors, it was pouring. Shit! When did it start raining? I turned, my chest rising and falling heavy. Ares came into view, breathing the same way, and loosening his tie. "Stay right there," he said as he took quick steps towards me. I shook my head and I dashed out. I was careful as I went down the stairs so that I wouldn’t fall and earn myself a more tragic moment. I took off my glasses and shoved them in my purse. I didn’t take up to three more steps to start hiking my way home when a hand grabbed my arm. "Let me go..." I said. He yanked me closer, hand pressing into my throat, not in a threatening way but in a way to show how inevitably attached he was to me. "You’re disgusted with me, aren’t you?" I questioned sharply. "Then why do you keep looking at me with those eyes?" I tore myself away from him, creating as much space as possible. "It wasn’t you..." He came closer. "What are you—" "It wasn’t... you." Ares caught me before I had the chance to move. His jaw tightened, and for once, I saw a struggle as if he was having an internal battle with himself. I freed my hand from his hold, but I didn’t pull away. I cupped his cheek and my gaze softened because I discerned it when the icy exterior cracked. Something was eating him up. ~☆~ I used the towel to dry my hair as I walked up the stairs. I spotted Ares sitting on the worn-out couch. It wasn’t too bad, though. Gramps was gonna put it up for a yard sale, but I used it as my makeshift bed for my spot in the barn. I dropped a towel on Ares’s head. He had changed out of his wet clothes, but his hair was still dripping and he might catch a cold. I saddled him and wiped his hair. When I readjust the towel to see his face, he was looking right at me, but I was still focused on getting the moisture off. "You’ve been still..." I said. He hadn’t said a word either since he drove me back to the farm. "Do you wanna talk about it?" "..." I gently pushed the damp strands off his forehead, brushing it to slip backwards. My hand traced his thick eyebrow, loving the feel of the texture. He hadn’t stopped me yet, so I think this was okay. "You’re silent." That was basically Ares’ personality, but this was different; he was quieter and stiffer. I have never seen him like this, and I could only wonder what was going through his mind right now. I want him to talk to me. My hand moved to his neck, feeling his Adam’s apple going up and down. I dipped my gaze to his shirt glued to his skin, showing the lines of his chest, nipples, and abs. I think he was a little bit wet when he wore the shirt because now this was no different from going bare. However, this sight was more... arousing. I tried to steady my breathing and not pant like an animal in heat. How does he expect me to just keep my hands to myself and not touch him? This was a serious crime, and I’m afraid I was gonna commit it. I shifted my eyes back to his, and Ares just watched me. Was he giving me the go-ahead? I can’t read him, and he won’t talk to me either. For the first time since I’ve known myself, I’m not impulsive and diving headfirst without thinking. God, what am I gonna do?