Page 25 of Charmed By Apollo

“Oh, are you jealous?”

Geri wanted to slap herself. “No. I mean, if that was your plan, I’m sad to say it didn’t work.

He sent her a sly smile. “First of all, you were the one who wanted my help.”

“I wanted your contacts,” she pointed out. “It was you who insisted on coming and you who wouldn’t let me go on my own.”

“I only want to help,” he countered. “Which is why we’re here. Why the hell would I want to make you jealous in the first place?”

Her anger wavered at the sincerity in his words, her frustration mingling with a pang of guilt. She knew she had lashed out unfairly, but she still felt so angry. She sighed and started to walk away from him.

He quickly caught up to her and then blocked her way. “I’ve lived for thousands of years and had just about as many lovers.”

The anger simmering underneath threatened to burst. “I told you, I’m not?—”

“Jealous, right.” He flashed her another irritatingly bright grin. “If you were—and I’m not saying you are—but if you were, being jealous won’t make you feel any better. Despite what you may think of me or what my reputation may be, I haven’t been with anyone else since Hades and Persephone’s wedding. I’ve been thinking of you all this time. Wondering when you’d call me.”

Why was he telling her this?

And why did his confession send a pang in her chest?

“I meant what I said then, and I still mean it. I want to explore what’s going on between us.”

“Oh, so that’s it? That’s why you inserted yourself into my search? If you think I’m going to sleep with you so I can?—”

“Stop.” He held up a hand. “Do you really think I’m that kind of person, Geri?”

She recoiled at his outburst, stung by the disgust in his words. The weight of his existence bore down upon her, a stark reminder of the vast gulf that separated them. “I’m sorry,” she retorted, her voice trembling with indignation. “I’m scared…scared of losing my grandmother, scared of what’s to come. Can’t you see that?”

“Geri, please,” he implored, his voice soft yet earnest.

With a sigh of resignation, she relented, knowing they would need their strength for the challenges ahead. “Fine, I’m exhausted,” she conceded grudgingly. “But at first light, we’re going to talk to Lola Conching.”

After dinner in the town’s lone eatery, Apollo had somehow secured lodgings for the evening—a simple hut not far from Lola Conching’s street. There was only one room with a mattress on the floor, but before Geri could protest, Apollo said he had some business to take care of and disappeared. Exhausted, Geri lay down on the mattress and closed her eyes, allowing her fatigue to take over.

Still, being in a strange place, she drifted into the hazy realm between sleep and wakefulness. As a wolf shifter, her heightened senses also brought with them an enhanced sense of danger, so she was always aware of her surroundings as if her instinct was telling her: stay alert, this is not our den.

At some point in the night, however, she was nestled in a sense of warmth and comfort, unlike anything she had felt in a long time. She snuggled deeper into the sensation, relishing in the feeling of security and contentment that washed over her. But as she shifted slightly, her hand rested on something warm and solid, and her eyes fluttered open in confusion. Despite the lack of illumination, she could see clearly, her vision sharp and keen in the dimness of her room.

She snuggled into her pillow and then realized with a start that the warmth she felt emanated from a figure beside her. His masculine scent tickled her nose, and before she could stop herself, she took in a big whiff. Big mistake—that damned, delicious masculine scent of his had somehow imprinted in her brain and sent all kinds of pleasurable signals to the rest of her. That primal tug—the same one she felt the last time they had been this close—returned.

With a quickening pulse, she turned her head and her eyes were met with the amused gaze of Apollo.

In the dim light, his features were illuminated by a soft glow, his eyes twinkling as he regarded her. Her heart skipped a beat as she took him in, the warmth of his body a stark contrast to the coolness of the night air. They simply looked at each other for a moment, the air between them heavy with unspoken questions and desires.

She felt confusion and intrigue swirling within her. Summoning her courage, she asked him outright, “What the fuck? Why are you wrapped around me in my bed?”

His lips twitched into a playful grin as he replied, “Actually, it’s the other way around. You’re wrapped around me.”

Standing her ground, she squared her shoulders and demanded, “Explain.”

With a chuckle, he shifted slightly on the bed. “I came to check on you and sat on this side of the mattress,” he began, his voice calm and unruffled. “And then you turned and snuggled against me.”

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. But as she met his gaze once more, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her. She hated to admit it, but having his warmth near her was nice.

Oh, fuck it.

She tore her eyes from his and lay against him. She felt his fingers comb through her hair and relaxed into his embrace even further. His chuckle was like music to her ears, a soothing melody that washed away the remnants of her confusion and uncertainty.

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