Through You (The Hidalgo Brothers Book 2)

CLAUDIA

Anthony Hidalgo is stable.

The results from the MRI show that he sustained minimal damage, which is a relief. However, the doctor said something about having to keep him sedated and resting until the swelling in his brain comes down. After a couple of days of keeping vigil at the hospital, we were all sent home with the promise that they would contact us the moment he’s conscious. I feel like I can finally breathe, though I won’t be completely at ease until I’m able to speak with him. But at least now I know he’ll be okay. Life at the house has almost returned to normal.

I bring my mother her supper after I’m done tending to Ares and his guests, which include Raquel, a boy with an infectious smile, and a girl who resembles Daniel. When I go back to the rec room with the refreshments Ares requested, I find it empty.

Where did they go?

I go up to Ares’s room and knock on his door.

“Come in.”

Inside, I find that he’s not alone—Apolo is with him, and I can tell something is going on by their expressions.

“I brought the drinks you asked for but your guests aren’t there.”

The disappointment on Ares’s face is clear as the light of day.

“Have they all gone?” He knows I’m asking if Raquel has left.

“Yes. Everyone,” he confirms, with a sigh. A flash of sadness appears in Ares’s eyes, though he tries to hide it. Apolo smiles at him and leaves.

I gently rub my tense shoulders and make my way down the stairs. I have one last task to complete before turning in: I have to collect the dirty towels from the gym and put them in the washer.

Now that Artemis is living in this house, I have to do it more often since he works out every day.

I slide open the door to the gymnasium and walk past the exercise machines, making my way to the entrance of the washroom located at the end of the hallway. I yawn as I pick up the used towels from the basket placed right outside the shower stall, and check inside the stall to see if there are any towels in there.

The stall is huge and long, and the shower is right at the end. I fantasize about Artemis having a shower, and suddenly I feel hot.

I should not be thinking about that idiot.

In the laundry room, I place half the towels in the machine and start it up, putting the rest on the floor. I’m exhausted. I slide down until I come to rest on the pile of fluffy towels.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, I wake from a scorching wet dream. I couldn’t make out the face of the man in my dream, but he was giving me the best fuck I’ve had in my entire life. My frustration grows when I realize I’m drenched. Damn it.

Come to think of it, when was the last time I had sex? I can’t even recall. No wonder my hormones are in overdrive. I can’t even remember the last time I helped myself ease some of this tension. I open my legs and push up my skirt, and my eager hand slides inside my stockings. I shouldn’t be doing this here, but I can’t take care of it in the room I share with my mother.

I’m completely soaked and my fingers easily slide inside my most intimate place. A moan escapes my lips; I had forgotten how good this feels. I shift my stocking to one side so I can have better access. I know exactly what I like and my fingers move accordingly, deep inside. I close my eyes, drowning in a flurry of sensations.

I bite my lower lip and let out a few whimpers, which become louder as my fingers increase their tempo. I open my eyes and instead of finding the door closed, I see Apolo standing across from me.

I jump to my feet, roll my skirt back down into place, and try to stand, but my legs are shaky.

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry!”

I lower my gaze, mortified beyond belief. I wait for him to leave but he doesn’t. Instead, I hear him close the door behind him and move farther into this small space. I look up to watch him but remain speechless. My breathing is in complete shambles. In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen this expression on Apolo’s face. It’s neither innocent nor childish. It’s pure lust. His eyes are shining bright, and show the determination of a man. He approaches slowly, as if he knows a sudden move could scare me.

Once he’s standing in front of me, he extends his hand to hold my chin and his thumb gently rubs my lips.

I’m trembling as I open my mouth. “What are you doing?”

My voice is barely audible and the words come out in a whisper.

Apolo doesn’t reply. Without taking his gaze off me, he leans in closer.

“Apolo . . .”

“Just feel,” he answers hoarsely.

He is aroused and his breathing, like mine, is in shambles.

My mind is clouded by the sexual haze spreading between us.

He wets his mouth and leans in to kiss me. And I know I shouldn’t, but when he moves his lips against mine at a slow, sensual pace, I lose all control.

He increases the pace of his kiss and presses me against the wall with his body. I release my mouth from his kiss to let out a groan.

I can’t stop myself from gripping his shirt tightly, while my legs are a quivering mess. I close my eyes—he’s a great kisser.

I need to stop this before it gets more out of hand, so I break the kiss, resting my forehead against his. The sound of our combined rapid breathing echoes in the small room. We’re both panting. As the moments pass, I become more clearheaded and the realization of what I’ve done grows. I need to get out immediately.

I pull back from Apolo and step around him, exiting the laundry room, and when I walk into the living room, I run straight into Artemis.

He still has his suit on, and probably just came home from work. Artemis looks at me intently, without saying a word. I bet I look flustered, and my face is red.

“Pardon me.” I turn around and walk away before he can work anything out.

I’d like to tell him that I feel guilty or something along those lines, but I don’t. There is nothing between me and Artemis. I’ve lost all respect for him after he deceived me just to get a kiss.

More so now that I know he has a fiancé. Not just a girlfriend, but someone he’s engaged to.

Apolo, on the other hand, worries me. The last thing I want is to ruin our relationship or make things awkward between us. But we crossed the line the moment we jumped from platonic love to kissing, right? I’d always thought of him as a brother. Well, that changed today. I recall his grunts, and the desire burning in his gaze. I shake my head.

Claudia, you can’t want him that way or you’ll make life complicated. You have to switch back to thinking of him as the boy he is; the boy you have always regarded as a younger brother.

I realize I’m outside Ares’s door when he opens it and finds me standing there.

“Claudia?”

I don’t know what I’m doing here. I suppose I’m running away, though I’m not sure from whom exactly. Apolo is usually the one I seek when I need refuge, but I can’t go to him now, not after what just happened. He must be feeling as confused as I am.

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Ares steps to one side.

His bedroom is partially lit, the only light coming from the table lamps on either side of his bed. Lightning flashes through his window, and it’s soon followed by thunder. Shortly after, rain begins to fall.

“Has something happened to my grandfather?” Ares doesn’t try to hide the concern in his voice.

I shake my head. “No.”

Ares is wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. It’s getting late and I’m surprised he hasn’t changed into pajamas. Maybe he’s going out? He sits down on the reclining chair in one corner of his room.

“What’s going on?”

I’m so embarrassed, and doubt I can tell him what just happened. How could I? Well, Ares, two weeks ago I hooked up with Artemis, but it turned out he was a complete jerk because he was engaged to someone else. And today I hooked up with Apolo. So, what do you think?

“I need to take my mind off things. Can I just stay here a little while?”

He nods, lets out a sigh, and rubs his face with his hand. He doesn’t look well—something is up. Turning my attention to the problems of others always helps me forget about my own issues.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” He grimaces.

“You don’t look like you are.”

I notice he still has his shoes on.

“Are you going somewhere?” He shakes his head, but the look on his face tells a different story. “Do you want to go somewhere?”

He doesn’t answer. I think back to how Raquel and her friends left earlier this afternoon and how sad Ares looked when that happened. It’s obvious that his grandfather’s condition has been distressing to him. I sense he needs to unload how he feels, needs someone to lean on. I could be that support, but he already has someone who is better suited for the job.

“You should go see her.”

Ares looks up. He knows I’m talking about Raquel.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“She’s angry with me.”

I sigh. “Did you tell her what happened to your grandfather?”

He shakes his head for a second time. “Why not?”

“I don’t want her to see me like this.”

“Like this, how? Like a human being with real feelings, who is sad about his grandfather?”

“I don’t want to seem weak.”

This bothers me. “For heaven’s sake. Why do you think that loving someone and leaning on them is a sign of weakness?”

“Because it is.”

“No, Ares, it is not,” I respond, pressing my lips together.

“You consider opening your heart to someone a weakness? It’s the opposite—it’s the most courageous thing a person can do.”

“Ah, don’t start with the lectures. You’re as bad as Apolo.”

“You idiot, I’m just trying to get you to see that being in love is not a weakness.”

Ares raises his voice. “Yes, it is. You and I know that better than anyone.”

He’s referring to his mother.

“You can’t use what happened as a shield and hide behind it all your life,” I tell him.

“I don’t want to be like him!”

“You’re not like him!” I reply and get up. “You are not like your father. And I’m completely certain that Raquel is nothing like your mother.”

He snorts angrily. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you, and you would never get involved with a girl who is anything like your mother. Also, I’ve observed Raquel, and her openness and honesty impress me. And I bet those were the qualities that attracted you to her.”

Ares looks mad, which is what often happens when he doesn’t have a counterargument.

“You’re encouraging this. You . . .” I can already see he’s looking for a way to hurt me. It’s his go-to defense mechanism when he feels cornered. “You, who’s stuck taking care of her mother—someone who put you through hell when you were a kid. You’re telling me that love isn’t a weakness?”

“What my mother did, all the mistakes and bad decisions she made, all the terrible things she put me through—that is her burden, not mine.” I pause. “If I were to let that define the person I am, then I make the choice to carry that myself, and that’s my guilt to endure.”

Ares is speechless.

“Go see her, Ares,” I repeat. “Needing her doesn’t make you weak. On the contrary, admitting that you need someone is the greatest proof of courage. So, go on—find her.”

I watch him hesitate for a moment. Eventually he stands up and leaves his room.

He’s a good guy.