Athena

39. You're Perfect Here

Once we get home, Cruz and I spend the rest of our evening trying to ignore one another whenever Ron and Aunt Katrina are nearby. Yet, we find ourselves stealing secretive smiling glances at each other every time they aren't looking.

Tension continues to stoke and simmer between us.

During dinner, Cruz's foot "accidentally" grazes my ankle under the table. He does this more than once. I'm delighted, but it also makes me nervous because his dad and my aunt are sitting right next to us. I struggle to not smile.

After dinner, while clearing the table, I move behind Ron and Aunt Katrina to blow an air kiss in Cruz's direction. Right over their clueless heads. Cruz's eyes flicker with anxiety and amusement at my boldness, but, to my guy's credit, he manages to maintain a neutral expression for Ron and Aunt Katrina's sake.

Close to bedtime, I pass him in the hallway, and a stroke of inspiration hits me. A naughty kind of stroke. I smirk and lift up my shirt, quickly flashing Cruz my bra.

His green eyes grow wide at first.

Then, his jaw clenches.

Even while Cruz's gaze darkens at the sight of my cleavage, he reaches over to give my ass a light, disapproving slap.

He growls in low tones, "Behave."

I giggle. "Make me."

"They're downstairs!"

Dancing out of his reach, I chide in equally low tones, "Exactly! They're downstairs, and we're upstairs. Relax, will ya?"

With steady, sure steps, Cruz approaches me, pressing his chest to mine as he slowly walks me towards the wall. I don't fight him. I move with Cruz until my back hits the wall and stare up at him with curiosity. He rests his palms on either side of my face, caging me between his arms.

A devilish look passes across his handsome face.

All of a sudden, his head dips down to kiss me. Deeply. Fully. I gasp before giving into his kiss. My heart hammers with shock and excitement. His lips are gentle as he nibbles on my lower lip and slips in some tongue. I'm enjoying myself so much that it takes a few seconds to wise up and push him away.

"The hell are you doing!" I hiss quietly.

Cruz grins at me with a wicked, knowing grin. "I thought you wanted me to relax?"

I know what he's doing. He's trying to give me a taste of my own medicine.

Jerk.

I grumble, "What if your dad saw us?"

His grin falls away. A grimace appears. "You're right. Sorry. That was stupid of me."

Damn it. Now I feel bad for killing the vibe. I try to undo the damage, "It's okay. I liked it. A lot. But, next time, kiss me when we're alone, okay?"

He nods. "Got it."

I glance at him a bit shyly. "I'll see you later tonight, yeah?"

Cruz smiles. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. It's all I can think about. You've been driving me crazy these past few hours, Athena."

I tease, "A good kind of crazy, I hope?"

"The best kind of crazy," he assures me, admitting, "I hate being so close to you and not being able to talk to you. Or touch you."

I release a sigh of frustration. "I know, right? I hate it, too."

By the time Ron and Aunt Katrina go to bed, it's close to 11 pm when Cruz sneaks into my darkened room.