Page 36 of Until You Came Along

“That’s what we’ll be, I don’t see why we should say anything else. My family is clear about what I think about relationships, they won’t imagine anything else.”

I took a moment to reflect. He watched me expectantly.

“Hermes, it’s clear that I desire you too, but what you’re proposing is something I’ve never done before and it’s obvious that it’s something you do regularly, I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable because...”

“But I’ll be only with you until we decide it’s over, and I assure you that’s something I’ve never done before,” he clarified.

“Yes, you made that clear. Nevertheless, I also understand that I’m the one who loses the most with this arrangement.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to be very honest.”

“Please do,” he said, as if giving me permission to begin my explanation.

“You told me your heart is completely sealed off when it comes to feelings, right?” I asked, and he nodded, so I continued, “That’s not the case with me and, even though you’re arrogant, controlling, authoritarian, and stalkerish, I’d be running the risk of falling in love with you and ending up destroyed.”

“Doesn’t that happen every time you date someone?”

“Yes, but the big difference is that in my previous relationships, we both were invested in commitment, in building a solid relationship. It’s true that like in any new relationship, feelings might not develop, but we both played by the same rules. In your case, it’s not like that. You’re offering passion and lust, but without any kind of commitment or intimacy.”

“So?”

“I’ll think about it,” I stated.

“I really want you to accept. Can you stay with me tonight?”

“If I stay, I’d be cheating myself. It’s not the best idea.”

“For tonight, forget everything we talked about and let’s just enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow we’ll see what you decide, and I won’t pressure you.”

“It’s just that...”

He didn’t let me finish, lunging toward me and claiming my mouth without restraint. It was a different kiss from the previous ones; this one had something like... feelings? I couldn’t say for sure, but that kiss made my heart pound like never before. Hermes explored my mouth with his tongue and my body with his hands.

“My God, Delfina, you have no idea how much I want to be inside you.”

“Hermes...”

He got up from the couch and pulled me to do the same. Then he dragged me up the stairs to the upper floor. We entered a bedroom with a large king-sized bed and a big window with a balcony. The walls were painted beige, and the decor was in light blue and brown tones. I was trembling so much that I feared I might collapse at any moment. Hermes looked at me and began caressing my face before kissing me again.

“You’re so beautiful that when I look at you and can’t touch you, my hands shake with desperation.”

He kissed me again, and I felt him start to lower the zipper located on the back of the jumpsuit I was wearing.

“Turn around,” he ordered, but this time he did it with gentleness.

I did, and he finished lowering the zipper and slid the garment down my body, leaving me wearing only the sexy thong I had on at that moment.

“My God, you’re a sublime vision!” he exclaimed, pressing against my back, kissing my neck and caressing my spine all the way down to my buttocks, which he devoted several caresses to. After a few minutes, he turned me around and assaulted my mouth again.

I began unbuttoning his shirt while he struggled with his pants, which seconds later ended up on the floor along with his underwear. I looked at him completely dazzled; this man had been sculpted by gods. He was a feast for the eyes. Without realizing it, I was staring at him and biting my lip with the need to have him.

“Do you like what you see?” he asked, smiling.

“I think I can make do with it,” I joked, though I don’t know where that sense of humor came from because I was too nervous.

Hermes laughed, very sure of himself. He approached slowly, looking me up and down with shining eyes.