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“Then why did you do that thing?!”

“What thing? Aphrodite, I don’t understand what is going through that head of yours. Talk to me. Please.”

“You did that thing,” I said and gestured to my face.

He just stared at me.

“That...last thing you did,” I said.

“What?”

“To hide my face.”

“To hide...what? I have no idea what you’re talking about. The blindfold? I was doing that so you’d picture him.”

“Kinky,” Liam said and then he laughed. “Wait.” He laughed again. “Are you talking about...” He shook his head. “I think I know what happened.” He kept shaking his very high head. “Are you being serious right now, Soph? We almost killed the guy.” He slapped Adonis on the back. “You shouldn’t have cum on her face man, she’s real sensitive about that.”

“She told me to...”

“I didn’t tell you to do that!” My voice cracked.

“Yes, you...”

“Just stop. I get it, okay? I’m hideous. I just don’t understand why you had to kick me when I was down. Why not just ignore me? Go be with the Triple Gs if that’s what you like.”

Adonis looked so confused. “I don’t want them. I only want you.”

“Stop lying. It’s fine. I already knew it. I knew all of it. God. I’m so bad at sex that I can’t make anyone cum. You’re just like him. You had to make yourself cum with your own hand. And then you covered my face so you wouldn’t have to see it.”

“What the fuck? Who told you that?”

“It’s just what happened.”

Adonis exhaled slowly. “No. That’s not what happened. I did it because I thought you wanted me to recreate that night. And he did that because he wanted you to be his. But he’s gone, Aphrodite. Hephaestus isn’t here. He left. Screw that guy. You’re not his, you’re mine.”

Each word out of his mouth made my heart race faster.

“Soph, he was claiming you,” Liam said. “Just like I told you weeks ago. Like we all told you weeks ago.”

“I thought he hurt you, Soph,” RJ said.

Jacob just shook his head.

“I for one still think that’s very disrespectful to do,” Axel said.

Scarlett hit his arm.

Adonis closed the distance between us, and this time no one stopped him.

“You are perfection.” He cupped my face in his hands. “I’m sorry that Hephaestus messed with your head. I’m sorry he hurt you. I wish I could take away all that pain. But I need you to listen to me when I tell you that you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of obsessed with you.”

He didn’t think I was hideous? Really? He looked so sincere. And this information was a lot different coming from him than my friends.

“You swear?” I asked.

“I fucking swear.”

“And I wasn’t...bad?”