Always Down

Chapter 23 ? Il calore

"About that-" I trailed. "I think that won't be necessary."

Before the butterflies in my stomach could flutter again at his words, I quickly returned to the aisle and focused on selecting the books-a max of five. Everytime I'd choose a book, I'd read the title for him. He didn't seem to care, although he did appear to listen and occasionally throw a dirty look if he didn't like the title. We'd been in this library for more than half an hour with my four chosen books on the side and one more to go.

"How about this one?" I held the book up to my face, flaunting the cover which featured a half naked male.

I already knew his answer considering he had been rejecting every book with naked men on the cover. Once, I showed him a book with a man holding chains around his neck with ripples of water falling down his bare chest. He didn't say anything and instead, he picked the book and tossed it across the aisle.

"No, pick a different one." He demanded.

I sighed and lowered the book down. "Why? The plot is so good."

"I'm sure you'll find something better if you actually keep your eyes off these shit ones." He retorted, pointing a finger to the book in my hand.

"You didn't even read the prologue, how would you know?"

"I just do Mia, now choose another one." He held firmly onto his words.

With a defeated groan, I set the book down on the aisle and began shuffling through the massive stacks of volumes. In a haste, my arm knocked the book over, causing it to fall to the floor. I bent over and was about to pick it up when I felt familiar hands wrap around my thighs and pull the hems of my dress down.

"What the hell—" I let out a gasp.

He then slid his palm around my waist and spun me to face him. Holding me back against the shelf, he directed his pissed glare towards the boys standing behind him. They looked in their early twenties.

"Look at her one more time and I swear, I'll blow your fucking brains out." Hades shouted, almost making me flinch.

I heard rushed footsteps echoing in the silence before the sound dimmed, indicating the only presence here being us. His pissed look was deeply focused onto me as he tightened his grip on my waist and dipped his head to my face, keeping the smallest possible distance between us.

"Where's your head at? Those fuckers were staring right at your ass." He gritted, his jaw clinched in anger.

"In my defense, I messed up but if you actually think about it, I must have a solid pretty ass for them to stare at."

"For fucks sake Mia, shut up."

I pressed my lips together and nodded but a second after, I opened them again. "No but seriously, it makes total sense."

"Jesus shut up, you frustrate me."

"Like sexually or mentally?" I blurted.

For a moment, he seemed to study my eyes for something and at times, his stare darting to my lips. His inked hand then reached for my neck, the other one holding my waist.

"Fuck it." He cursed under his breath before smashing his lips against mine into a flaming kiss.

I closed my eyes as he pulled me in by the waist, kissing me harder and taking my mouth in a rush of warmth and delight. He entwined his tongue with mine, his hold around my jaw tightening with roughness. The kiss wasn't sweet— it was demanding and hard, making me feel all sorts of raging emotions in this one kiss. Euphoric fireworks exploding, the warmth filled the pit of my stomach.

Somehow, I let my hands weave through his smooth hair, running my fingertips to his roots and roughly tugging them back to deepen the burning bliss. He grunted into my mouth, his pleasurable sounds etching deep into my mind before he abruptly broke away, our breathing tampered and low.

The taste of mint lingered on my lips and it only made me want to forget about everything around and focus on us. I noticed the discomfort on his face. His body language had hardened and his once gentle eyes had become cold and distant. It scared me, knowing the words coming of his mouth would be nothing but hurtful.

"Hades—" I called out.

"It was a mistake." He breathed out, his twisted words ringing in my ears over and over again as if hoping that was a lie. I wasn't going to lie but it hurted so bad and I'd never show him that. I'd never let him know how much his words affected me. If everything between us was a pretence, then why did it hurt so bad?

"What—" My voice was barely above a strained whisper.

He stepped back and raked a hand into his hair. He appeared frustrated, indecisive. "It was a mistake Mia, I didn't mean to kiss you. I don't know what came over me, so just forget what happened."

A constricted pain held my chest though the next words that flew out of my mouth were a complete surprise. "You can't kiss me whenever you feel like it. I'm not one of your goddamn hoes."

He looked down, refusing to look me in the eyes. "Can we leave if you're done?"

Without a word, I slammed the books down the aisle and walked past him, shoving his shoulder and headed towards the exit. Silence was better than words, especially when both of ours seemed to be wounding. I slammed the door of the car and waited for a moment before he walked in with a paper bag. He leaned back in his seat and shifted his stare over to me before offering me the bag but when I didn't make a move, he sighed in frustration and placed it in the backseat.

He tightened his hold around the wheel, his tone on edge. "I never meant to hurt you."

I bit the insides of my cheek and turned to face him. Hatred lingered on the tip of my tongue and that reveled out. "You disgust me, Hades."