“Raven?”

I frown at the sound of Grandma Anne’s voice behind me and instinctively snuggle closer, not wanting to wake up.

“Ares?”

My muddled thoughts slowly begin to clear, and I freeze the moment I realize there’s a strong arm wrapped around me.

Fragments of last night flash through my mind, and my stomach drops.

Oh no.

I twist in Ares’s arms, accidentally waking him up.

He blinks slowly, his eyes finding mine as a lazy smile spreads across his face.

“Morning, drunkard.”

The smile disappears instantly when he looks past me.

I let my eyes fall shut in shame.

“Grandma,” he says, horror creeping into his voice.

His grip on me loosens slightly.

“What are you doing here?”

Ares sits up and pulls me upright with him, still keeping one arm wrapped around me protectively.

I raise my face hesitantly, painfully aware of how this looks.

My dress is lying on the floor.

Ares is shirtless, wearing nothing but gray sweatpants.

And I’m wearing his T-shirt.

Grandma Anne’s expression remains perfectly unreadable.

“Big night?” she asks mildly.

I nod immediately.

“Sierra and I, um… we drank way too much, and Ares ended up taking care of us.”

I can’t even look at him.

Not after last night.

The way I threw myself at him was humiliating.

I have no doubt he’s furious with me, and I’ve probably damaged our friendship beyond repair.

And for what?

“Where’s Sierra?”

Ares clears his throat.

Does he even realize he still has his arm around me?

“She’s in my bed. Probably best to let her sleep a little longer. She was really drunk.”

Grandma nods thoughtfully.

“Why don’t you two get some more rest too? You both look… disheveled.”

A faint smile crosses her lips.

“I’ll have breakfast sent over later for the three of you. You can warm it up once Sierra wakes up.”

Ares and I stay tense until Grandma Anne finally walks away, her smile far too knowing for my comfort.

“I should go too,” I blurt out the second the front door closes behind her.

I scramble to my feet and grab my clothes off the floor, humiliation washing over me.

“Hold on,” Ares says quietly.

I freeze and slowly turn back toward him, my heart pounding wildly.

“Come here, Raven.”

The command in his voice makes me hesitate, but I walk back toward him anyway, stopping between his spread legs.

He leans back against the sofa, his arms stretched across the backrest, his bare chest fully on display.

I haven’t seen him like this in years.

Shirtless.

Relaxed.

Dangerously attractive.

Does he have any idea what kind of image he’s painting right now?

“How are you feeling, Rave?” he asks carefully. “I’ve never seen you that drunk before. Do you even remember half the shit you did last night?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and nod miserably.

“Ares,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. Nothing I say can make up for how I acted last night. I’m honestly mortified. 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… God, I can’t believe I…”

He grabs my hand and tugs me a little closer.

“Not so confident this morning, huh? Last night you seemed perfectly happy sitting in my lap and demanding my T-shirt while stripping naked in the process.”

I groan softly and sit down beside him, wrapping my arms tightly around myself.

“Do you really need to remind me of that?” I ask weakly.

He chuckles quietly.

“It’s okay, Rave. I’m not mad. I’m just confused. You’ve never acted like that before, especially not around me.”

Ares runs a hand through his hair before looking away.

“I mean, I understand being drunk and wanting someone. Wanting the thrill, the release. But that doesn’t sound like you.”

A humorless laugh slips past my lips.

“You don’t know me as well as you think you do, Ares.”

I latch onto the excuse he’s unknowingly offering me.

“It’s just been a long time since I got laid, and I wanted it badly. Honestly, anyone would’ve done.”

His eyes narrow immediately as he studies me.

“Do you do this often? Getting drunk? One-night stands?”

I purse my lips, unable to meet his eyes.

“Does it matter? I’m an adult, Ares. I know what I’m doing. I don’t need a lecture.”

“Raven, you need to be careful.”

His tone sharpens instantly.

“You cannot give random men access to you. Don’t ever go home with someone you barely know, do you hear me? It’s already dangerous for normal women, but you? You’re the object of millions of men’s fantasies. God knows what kind of sick shit some of them are thinking while obsessively collecting your photos. I’ve seen the comments on your posts, Rave. It isn’t safe.”

I tighten my arms around myself, unsure how to respond.

“Are you going to tell Hannah about this?”

Ares sighs heavily and leans back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

“How exactly am I supposed to tell her I had her naked sister in my lap?”

Heat floods my face instantly.

“I know you didn’t mean anything by it and that you were drunk, but Hannah wouldn’t see it that way. It’s better if she never hears about any of this. I’ve had my fair share of embarrassing drunken moments too. You’re allowed to have yours.”

He looks back at me seriously.

“I just need you to promise me this will never happen again.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper immediately. “I won’t ever look at you that way again. I’ll stay away from you. I’ll keep my distance.”

“No.”

The panic in his voice catches me off guard.

“That’s not what I meant. I need you to promise me you won’t ever get so drunk that you lose control over what you’re saying and doing.”

His jaw tightens.

“Do you realize how easy it would’ve been for me to take advantage of you last night? I had you naked in my arms, Rave.”

My breath catches.

“Do you realize how easy it would’ve been to shove my sweatpants down and slide inside you?”

My cheeks burn violently.

“I could’ve pinned you down on that sofa and fucked you raw, and there would’ve been absolutely nothing you could’ve done to stop me. Don’t ever put yourself in a situation where you’re alone with a man who doesn’t respect you. Someone who would take advantage of you while you aren’t thinking clearly.”

His words echo loudly in my head.

Was he tempted?

Even for a second?

“I understand,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, Ares. This won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” he mutters darkly. “Not with me, and definitely not with anyone else.”

I nod quickly.

“It won’t.”

God.

I can’t believe I acted the way I did.

For years, I managed to keep my feelings hidden.

Until last night.

At least he seems convinced it was nothing more than drunken stupidity, because the truth could’ve destroyed our friendship completely.

“I really am sorry,” I whisper again. “I don’t even know what to say except that I’m ashamed and genuinely remorseful.”

His expression softens.

“It’s okay, Rave.”

He reaches over and gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Let’s just forget last night happened, okay?”

I nod and immediately stand up.

“I need to go.”

I desperately need space.

Need time to pull myself together.

His words from last night keep echoing through my mind.

I don’t want you, Raven. I never will.

I always knew that.

Still, some pathetic little part of me believed I could change his mind someday.

Maybe I was arrogant enough to believe he’d eventually give in if I made the first move.

I should’ve known better.

“Who is he?”

I glance back at him in confusion.

“What?”

“The man you were talking about last night.” His eyes stay fixed on mine. “You said you regretted not going after the man you love. And just now too… you looked devastated. Who is he?”

I force a smile onto my face and shake my head lightly.

“Drunken nonsense, Ares. There’s nobody.”

“In vino veritas,” he murmurs quietly.

In wine, there is truth.

Yeah.

That definitely applies to me.

I nearly exposed every secret I’ve spent years hiding because I drank too much.

“Fine,” I admit softly. “There is someone. I just don’t want to talk about it.”

“Whoever he is,” Ares says quietly, “don’t try to fuck him out of your system. That never works. In your case, it’ll backfire spectacularly. You’re too famous, too vulnerable to scandals. Don’t destroy your reputation over some asshole who’s too blind to appreciate what he has.”

A quiet laugh escapes me.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m done. I’m done hoping he’ll ever love me back. It’s time to move on.”

Ares nods slowly, though something uncertain flickers across his face.

And for a moment, I wonder if some small part of him finally realizes the man I’m talking about is him.

After everything I did last night, surely he has to suspect it at least a little.

“Come on,” he says after a moment. “Get dressed. I’ll drive you home.”