Playlist - De Una Vez by Selena Gomez

Luna

I'd reached a point in my life where it was necessary I maintained my sensible life strategies, yet somehow I always failed. This time I'd shoved all my restraint to a corner and accepted Gabriella's party invitation.

The knowledge that Ares Torrance will be there--the person I'd spent my days avoiding--played the part of convincing me to attend the party. His presence, his close proximity was unquestionably going to test me.

I had never trusted a man, confided in a man, and given myself to a man and yet that was exactly Ares was making me do, unbeknownst to me. It's astonishing how much master manipulator Ares was. He still is.

I don't know what I will achieve by showing myself at an unwanted place. Parties are not typically my scene. Last time I went to a party my fate collided with Ares. Since then, his forest eyes, overpowering presence remained a constant in my life.

A lot has happened since then. I don't want to recall everything, but the only good thing about it was, Ares.

I had stupidly fallen in love with him, I wholeheartedly wish I hadn't. I could have continued to be with him without letting emotions interfere with a great thing going on. Still, the Being frightened that he would eventually leave me with a scarred heart was like a nagging constant in the back of my mind.

It would be selfish of me to sacrifice my permanent happiness for his momentary bliss. Yet in the deep pit of my heart I wanted to be wrong about him, wished that he would do the unexpected and say those magical words to me.

The humiliation of being proved wrong is being drowned out by the hurt. I felt nothing but crippling hurt. It's been the longest three days without him. It also took a lot of restraint to block his calls and messages.

I didn't know what he needed from me. Maybe to rub the fact that I was missing out on a great thing by bringing girly feelings into it. Fuck him!

This was my chance at retribution. He broke my heart by discarding my feelings and now I will play with his strings by displaying even I can be indifferent to the act of intimacy.

I felt brash and brave, probably because of the glass of wine that I drank from my aunt's collection before leaving my place.

I was at the address that Gabriella gave me. I didn't ride my bicycle, obviously. Thanks to Uber, I was able to get to her home without any hurdle. Gabriella shared the same neighbourhood as Chase, Ares, it was ten times classier than the one I lived in.

Not that my neighbourhood was anything bad. There were beautiful houses, parks, greenery, children could freely ride their bicycle and play late in the evening. It was a jovial place. But nothing compared to theirs.

My uber car stood at the sixteen foot elegant metal gate, I entered the code and the gate hummed as it swung open, and my car slowly descended the street.

After a few houses, my uber car turned into Gabriella's driveway and curved around the loop in front of his door. Before hopping out, I checked my reflection in the mirror.

I combed my fingers through my hair allowing them to look stylishly messy, applying a little lip balm on my red coated lips, righting my silver turtle neck blouse and black faux leather mini skirt.

Calming my nerves, I managed to get out of the car. I clenched my hands, trying to get psyched up. I still wasn't sure what my plan here was, but as usual, I dove head first and acted like I knew what I was doing.

Get a grip, Luna.

A cool edm track greeted my ears as I strutted inside the house. There was a doorman who kept track of people entering, stopping people who appeared suspicious to him.

I guess rich people kept tight security even at their house parties. This place looked more like a club than a place where people lived. They must have revamped it a little.

I don't spot any familiar faces on the way. I was hoping to run into Axel for a change, but nobody was there from school. Strange. Was I at the right place?

I found a spiral staircase that went down into an abyss. I contemplated whether I should take those stairs, but a huge muscled guard entered my line of vision.

"Where do you think you're going, miss?"

I instinctively took my step back. I glanced up at the tall hefty looking man, unsure of what to say.

"Is there a restriction here?" I asked.

"Yes," he affirmed. "Only Miss Potter' guests are allowed at the lower level. Your name needs to be on the list."

"Well, check it, then. For Luna West." I crossed my arms. I would look like a fool if my name isn't on his list, but Gabriella did invite me so...

He fished out his phone and tapped on it repeatedly, scrolling.

"Yes, there it is," he said, raising his hands up in surrender. "My bad. You may go." He then disappears from my view.

I trudged down the stairs. Blood pounded in my ears, competing with the rhythmic, and visceral beat of the bass coming from ice blue lit space.

I immediately spot a few familiar faces and shove others from line of sight. The music is chill and I finally spot Gabriella at the bar. I made my way over to hers.

"Luna, you made it." She enveloped me in a tight hug. "I thought you might not come."

"Yet here I am." I smiled.

"Take a seat, come." She gestured to the barstool. "I've taken liberty to order a drink for you. It's not heavy, just very good champagne."

"You didn't had to--"

"Please, you're my guest."

The bartender gave us our drinks. I ignored the strawberry in my flute and sipped while gazing around the area, expecting Ares to appear from somewhere, but he didn't.

"Scanning the crowd for someone?" Gabriella whispered in my ear. "I'll assure he can see you. He knew the moment you stepped inside my foyer."

"Ares isn't omnipresent."

Gabriella chuckled, inching closer. "Take a closer look at your surroundings, honey." Oh, shit.

It should not be a surprise to find that this place is thoroughly under heavy surveillance. I can see cameras everywhere. No doubt there were cameras in every corner of this house. I should know this stuff. Damn it.

"And also, provoking him won't be that easy. You've ignored him for too long."

"So what do you suggest?"

Gabriella sipped on her cocktail, eyeing me up and down. "You look breathtaking and there are a lot of options for you. I think you should dance your sorrows off."

"And put on a great show for the man behind the cameras."

Gabriella clapped, excitedly. "Exactly."

This was a dangerous position for me to be in, for the combination of alcohol and my determination to heal my broken heart and provoke Ares would surely get me landed in trouble.

I can also see men watching me, my eyes like a hawk's trying to attract the attention that I'm usually so uncomfortable receiving. I take a deep breath, push all thoughts of disgrace to the very back of my mind, and lose myself in the rhythmic atmosphere.

I don't hesitate from warm smiles thrown on my way and neither do I shy away from my cheeks getting kissed plenty of times. I laugh and dance with different men. All of them pulled me closer to their bodies, their hands travelling to the curves of my waist.

Nothing I do results in the reaction I want from Ares. He still isn't showing himself. I know he's probably wondering how far I can keep up with my charade. Still, an unease is maintained in the back of mind, wondering whether he really doesn't care, maybe he's not even watching me.

I try to calm my overactive brain and shrug off the thought.

I'm feeling cruel and this is the only way I know how to hurt him. He should've stormed in here and claimed me with his passionate possessiveness. Yet I was met with nothing. I didn't want to continue to torment myself by wanting Ares's love.

I really don't fit in among these social elitists. There nothing like me and I am sure these men* were nothing more than temperamental toddlers who loved getting their way in everything.

I still dance with so many people. Feeling a little dehydrated, I went back to the bar and ordered another flute of champagne.

"You look tense." A male voice startles me. I place a hand on my chest, calming my breath. "Oops... didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me. I was caught off guard."

"That explains why you appear the way you do."

I narrow my eyes at this stranger. "What do you mean?" I asked, sharply.

He touched my temple. "I mean to say that stop over thinking."

"Why would you presume such a thing?"

He leaned in closer so that our faces were inches apart. "Because the only thing you should wear is a beautiful smile instead of that frown." He holds my gaze, boldly. "And I know you're depriving me of your beautiful smile."

I blushed at his words and my lips curled into a smile. "You're a smooth talker."

"It worked on you, didn't it?" He flashed me his charming smile, but unlike Ares's his wasn't the one that made my butterflies flutter in my stomach.

I nodded, taking a sip from my flute.

"Are you new here?" I ask him.

"No, but I've been away from home because of college."

"Wow. You're a university student. That's so cool."

"Is it?" He asked, incredulously. "I can't help but miss my high school days. My semesters are really challenging me this time." He leaned back, propping his leather jacket covered elbows on the bar counter.

"So you've come here to unwind?"

"Nah," I eyed him suspiciously. "Okay, maybe a little. I miss going to parties and I was here to meet my grandfather so I decided to let loose a little."

"Oh!" I sipped my champagne again. He was perfect for me tonight. I can let my guard down with him and maybe forget about Ares.

"Good that I dropped by." I heard him say.

"I am James, by the way." He extended his hand to shake mine.

"Luna." I shook his hand, but he didn't let me withdraw it from his hold.

"You look like a dream tonight, Luna." I blushed and pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Whoever broke your heart is a fucking fool." My eyes shot in surprise. "It's written all over your face." He pulled me closer to him and whispered in my ear. "Do you want me to help you forget about him? Even if it's just for a moment."

"Yes," I exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding.

James pulled me towards the dance floor. I let him take me, and I peered over my shoulder as I was escorted away, looking right through the camera before forgetting all about it.

He grinned and took me in his hold. He twirled me out on a spin. 'Move your body for me."

As I'm twirled around the floor, I'm mindful that I let things escalate between us. I wasn't going to hookup with a near stranger. It will make me feel cheap.

I laugh with James and let him swing me about and grind into my waist seductively, but then the music cuts abruptly before the track ends, not even mixing into another. Everyone halts dancing, looking around a little bemused. The only sounds now are of confused chatter.

What's wrong?

I cast my eyes over my surroundings, no one seems to know anything.

"Maybe it's a power cut..." I mumbled, stopping when I realized all of the chill lights were still glowing at every turn.

"This almost never happens unless someone has called the cops on us." James attempted to lighten up the atmosphere.

I gaze around once more, seeing motionless forms everywhere, all looking confused by the sudden quiet. Even Gabriella stormed across the place, confused herself.

"I don't know what's wrong, but I am looking into it." She announced it to her guest, quickly climbing up the spiral staircase with the guard from earlier trailing ahead of her.

Unease fills inside me, a sudden strangeness settled in my gut, and the hairs at the back of my neck rise.

This was done on purpose and I may have an inclination of the person behind this act.

I had successfully provoked Ares. That was the only reasonable explanation I could think of. Ares was indeed here and had been watching my every move. I wanted to feel victorious, but anticipation of what will happen next left me feeling vulnerable.

I carefully yanked my hand from James' hold, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Even if he had noticed a sudden shift in my demeanor, he kept quiet about it.

Then the place is suddenly filled with music again, and everyone seems to forget and recover around me, including James, who starts laughing and pulling me in.

"Talk about strange things, huh." His smile flatters when he registered my blank face and static form. I can't move. I certainly don't want to be in his arms. "Something wrong?"

Flashing him a forced smile, trying my best to appear fine, I leaned in close and mustered up the quickest lie possible. "I need to use the restroom. Will you wait for me?"

His hands caressed the exposed skin of my thighs. "Always, love."

Playfully nudging him aside, I quickly trudged up the stairs, leaving him alone.

I needed fresh air. The haze of alcohol had blurred my sensible insights and now I wanted nothing more than to remain alone for a while.

Taking up another flight of stairs, I marvel my way through the maze of corridors. I cursed myself for not going to the Potters vast garden. I could've found a peaceful place in the open space of their estate, but no, I had to be stupid and take the stairs.

I had a feeling that I was moving towards the danger. I am like a woman possessed as I follow the passageway, taking too many wrong turns.

I come standstill in front of the massive wooden door. I am indecisive of whether I should enter the room or not. I don't want to be locked inside. I hesitate on the threshold for one final beat, Before opening the door and stepping through the archway.

Chills skate over my skin, and my turtleneck does little to stop the shiver working through me.

An unexpected gasp left my throat. My heart seemed to crash against my ribs, set on fighting its way from my chest. He's here. I had managed to walk willingly inside the lion's den.

He stood in the middle of the room, suit adorned and expressionless, just watching me. It was the first time I had seen him in a suit and my subconscious tells me it won't be the last time I see him in a suit.

All moisture had seemed to disappear from my mouth. I suddenly wanted water to relieve my aching throat.

My emotions surged, but I somehow ruthlessly repressed them. I couldn't bear to stand under his impassive gaze. They were taunting my feelings and the hurt from his rejection of feelings washed over me.

No. I won't be someone who can't give me his heart.

Acting on impulse, I headed in the opposite direction at a fast pace until I rounded the corner. I knew I was overreacting yet I had broken into a sprint.

I didn't stop until I came upon an unlit corridor. As I skidded to a stop, the lights flickered on, revealing a massive roman sculpture. I didn't know which part of the mansion I was in, at least I was far away from Ares Torrance.

I placed my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. I wish for once he would leave me alone. He had already broken a piece of my heart so why can't he shove cruel words to my face which would actually make me hate him. Truly.

"What did you accomplish from running away from me, Luna? Am I that scary to you?" His deep voice reverberated in my ears. My ears had yearned to hear his voice again and I hated the way it sent delicious chills to my spine.

"What are you going to do now; Push me away? Hit me? Scream how selfish I had been with you or will you pretend I don't exist?" His words come out as a sneer.

I turned my body towards him. He was standing closer than I had anticipated. I wasn't going to let his dominating aura back me up at the sheer size of him.

For heaven's sake, he was still just a boy, why couldn't he act like one?

My eyes flicked up and collided with his, his stunning darker than forest eyes that had captured my interest from the start. They were hypnotic and had me firm under its spell.

"I didn't expect to see you here." I successfully kept my emotions at bay.

"Cut the fucking act." His impassive tone startled me. "You know exactly what you were doing showing your face at my friend's party."

My chest burned with anger, but I banked it under a composed mask. If he wanted to play cool and unaffected, then I would do the same.

"I don't know what you're talking about." It took considerable effort to sound as blasé as him. "Shouldn't you be living a life of your own or have you taken a new job of acting as friend's security personnel, keeping a track on her guests."

"When they're unwanted, then I will."

"Gabriella invited me. I don't have a habit of showing up at places where my presence is not appreciated."

He didn't respond. He just stood there, staring at me. I knew the tactics. He was a master manipulator and now he was trying to bend to his will.

I was in control of my actions, and I could handle him. His presence will not continue to affect me. Not going to happen.

"I'll go back to the party. By all means, please engage in a staring contest with the wall. I'll leave you two be," I said, airily.

I took a step to the side and froze when he shifted with me. I stared at him for a moment before I took another step. Again, he moved to block my way.

"Ares, stop it please." I warned him.

"Baby, do you honestly think you'll get away from me? Do you know how much agony you've put me through?"

His crooning tone raked over my nerves. He was acting as a calm before the storm.

I edged backward. "I'm not playing this game with you." I desperately raked my brain for an exit strategy as he invaded my personal space.

"Do you wanna cry about cruelly I discarded your pretty feelings away? Tell me. I believe you've taken our breakup to your heart. Dressed like this, you really must be enjoying attention."

"Shut up! You have no right to comment on anything I do. And what do you mean 'dressed like this,' huh? I can wear anything I want. To answer your question, yes, I am loving the attention which you never gave me. Now, get out of my way."

"You've a sharp mouth. It's going to get you in trouble."

I ignored him. "Move aside, Ares. I have someone waiting for me and I don't want him to think of me as a tardy person."

He cocked his head to the side, his chuckle sounding manic. "Poor bastard will be dying an early death." Appearing like the predator he was.

"You cannot threaten to kill someone. It's not cool."

"Oh, did that hurt your feelings?" he asked, softly.

My control snapped. "I am not going to be a game to you, Ares. My feelings are my own and you have no right to make fun of it. I hate how lightly you're dealing with our situation. I'm feeling sorry for myself because loving a condescending bastard like you is nothing but a mistake. Keep up with your bullshit and it will make it easier for me to hate you."

I wasn't prepared for the hand that wrapped around my throat or the way he pulled up so I was forced to my tiptoes.

My heart careened into my throat as I gripped his massive wrist with both hands. Fighting to be set free.

"You fucking had to ruin things between us, didn't you? Luna West couldn't keep her feelings to herself. No, she had to announce it when her boyfriend least expected it."

His clinical tone made the hairs on the nape of my neck stand up.He leaned in, so close that our lips were mere inches apart.

"Do you realize strong the emotion love is? You're indeed stupid and naive to think that you can love me."

My temple throbbed at his words.

"If you don't let me go, I'm going to scream."

'Do it," he invited with a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Let's see how many people will come to rescue you." He leaned in and pressed his lips against my ear.

"Are you fucking out of your mind?!"

His proximity, the firm hold on my throat, and the resolve in his expression scrambled my thoughts. I was no match for his strength, and the satisfied gleam in his eyes told me he knew it.

I wracked my brain to think of a way out of this. He was truly scaring me.

"Let go of me, Ares. You're hurting me."

"Not more than you have."

"I didn't do anything to you." My gaze flew back to his.

"Oh, you did plenty already." A muscle clenched in his jaw.

"There are seven dead men at this party. I am going to kill each one of them right in front of you," he said, words laced with menace.

"Your antics are making me sick of you." My nails dug into his wrist. "If I remember I am free to be with whomever I want. You cannot interfere with my life and acting jealous makes you look like a fool."

"Oh, yeah? Is that how quickly your love vanished that you couldn't wait five seconds before letting others taste you?"

"What do you know about love? You just know how to hurt the people who love you." I punched his chest. There wasn't much power behind it, but I still expected some reaction. He didn't give me one. He just watched me with growling intensity.

"You're a fucking bitch." His eyes came to look at my face. "You ruined everything."

He propelled me backward. I landed against the wall hard enough to make me grunt. My mind went blank with shock as he plastered his rock-hard body against my own.

The ferocity of his words didn't register in my head until he dropped his hold on my throat and slid his hand into my hair. His other hand managed to tear the material of the turtleneck, exposing my chest.

Thankfully, I was wearing my most fancy bar underneath.

He gripped my hair and forced my head to tip sideways, pulling down my body to his, baring my throat. He trailed small bites on the exposed skin of chest before meet my neck.

One thick thigh pressed between my legs, forcing them to part.

"Ares, please" He bit me.

As my mind processed the pain, my shrill scream echoed down the hallway. She raised my hand to pull at his hair, but he grabbed my wrist and yanked it down as he sucked hard enough to make me buck against him.

My free hand twisted in his suit as my eyes closed and my body went up in flames.

He cupped my ass and dragged me up his thigh, creating a friction that made me hiss. "If you hadn't let your emotions control, you'd still be mine."

The rage and resentment that my head felt for him crumbled beneath a tidal wave of lust. My body shuddered against him. I was waging a war against someone who hated to lose. I was tired of playing games.

"Stop it, Ares," I whispered, my voice thick with tears as emotions got the better of me.

Stress caught up to her, leaving my energy depleted. It was all too much.

"This will bring both of us nothing but pain. I was not built to play this game. I was tired, I feel defeated. Why do you keep doing this to me?"

He went rigid against me and lifted his mouth from my skin.

"Because I am fucking crazy about you."

I was so stunned, I couldn't even answer. I watched turbulent emotions play over his face and saw the flash of something akin to desperation.

Tears poured down my face as I breathed erratically as I stared into his eyes. Nothing is spoken between us but Ares don't need to talk to express what he's feeling. The pain in his eyes tells me everything I need to know.

"I fucking love you. I need you more than I need air itself and it's driving me crazy to watch various fuckers hit on you like they have a chance." His neck veins bulge to bursting point. "I'm miserable without you. Are you fucking happy?"

His thigh between my legs retreated so abruptly, I stumbled like a newborn foal.

My wide eyes are undoubtedly displaying all of the shock I'm feeling. Ares admitted that he loved me.*

"You love me?" I whispered, unable to recognise my own hoarse voice.

"Yes, I fucking do love you."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" I screamed at him and my hands clawed at his face. "You sick asshole. What's wrong with you?"

He grabbed my wrist, a bemused expression dancing on his face. "Calm down, woman. I know I am a sick asshole, but I'm your sick asshole."

He held me in a dead grip yet somehow managed to hand me his suit jacket. "Cover yourself quickly."

I was still fuming, but did what he asked. After all, he did tear my clothes and I wasn't going to parade myself in torn clothes at the party.

Before I could say anything, Ares' hand manacled my wrist and began to drag me back the way I'd come.

"Where are we going?"

"To my place. I am not going to leave you on your own again."

***

next update on 28 jan

I will be posting the first chapter of Axel's book on 30th Jan so please do check it out. It's called possessive rich bully. You've already met his love interest in a previous chapter. Check out its blurb

Possessive Rich Bully

I pulled my elbow from his death grip. "You're ashamed of me. Admit it. You hate the idea of been seen with me." I shot venomous accusations his way.

He didn't look at me. I'd rejected his kiss, pushed him away from and in return he'd turned cold and cruel, again.

He'd shown nothing but hatred for me in public yet held me with aching tenderness when it was just us. I was sick of his games. He needed to decide whether he wanted me or not.

"You parade new girls daily in front of my eyes," a sob escaped my throat. "And don't even deny you don't occasionally screw Charlotte behind my back."

His ice blue eyes pierced my soul with his sharp gaze. He was teetering on the verge of lashing out on me.

"How would you feel if I did the same to you, huh?" I pushed at his stiff chest. "Had several boyfriends, invited them to our home." His eyes cut to me, and a look darker than I've ever seen clouded his features

I gestured to our grandiose home bought by his dizzying wealth. "And fucked them right in front--"

Before I knew it, I was face down and nearly suffocated by the soft material of our couch, I barely noticed my skirt pushed upwards and panties shoved aside.

"You're my goddamn wife, Astoria. I will not tolerate your defiance." The sound of his belt loosening, zipper lowering, he entered me violently taking my breath with him.

"Yet everyone thinks I'm still your charity case because you won't claim me."

"You want to be claimed? Fine. But I am warning you, this lifestyle you're so accustomed to will be gone. I will be dirt poor and your family will be fired."

"Then divorce and set me free. I am done being your dirty secret."

Axel Trent, the spoiled prince always got whatever he wished for, and I was one of the thing he had wished to possess. Our fate were meant to collide in the cruelest way possible. It left me shattered.