Page 5 of Charmed By Apollo

“What rumors?”

“That he can revive the dead.”

“What?” Sarah gasped. “No.”

“Oh yeah, there were some whispers going around. I was interested in knowing more when I first arrived here—I mean, who wouldn’t be in our situation? But then, you know, after a while, I came to love it here. and like, why would I even want to go back to the land of the living?” She snorted.

“Yeah, true.” Sarah giggled. “Maybe Apollo can revive my dead sex life, though.”

As the two women went into fits of laughter, Geri tuned her ears out and mentally rolled her eyes. But she supposed she wasn’t any better, objectifying him like that.

Yeah, I should really stop that.

“Hey, Geri, I’m all done cleaning up the leaves and stuff.” Apollo popped up behind her. “What’s next?”

Geri turned around and groaned inwardly. He was much closer than she thought, and she got a whiff of his scent, mixed with sweat. It was masculine, potent, and sent a deep primal stirring in her. His shirt now had a V of perspiration from the neckline all the way down to his stomach, pointing down like a big arrowhead straight to his crotch.

And she wanted to follow it.

Shit.

She cleared her throat. “Um, we should move the furniture back.” When they first began working on the courtyard, she and Apollo had placed all the lounge chairs and benches to the side so they wouldn’t be in the way.

“Alright, I can definitely do that.” The slow grin that spread across his face made her insides all warm.

“Great.” Swallowing a gulp, she marched over to the heavy stone bench she had propped up against the wall. She bent down to grab the bottom part.

“Whoa, what are you doing? You’re going to hurt yourself.” Apollo rushed over to her side. “Here, let me?—”

Picking it up with one hand, she lifted it with a short grunt and hoisted it over her shoulder. “Let you what?” she asked, nonchalant.

Blue orbs turned into the size of saucers. “You’re…you’re…”

“Strong?”

His mouth hung open. “A shifter.”

“Yeah.” Sidestepping him, she walked over to a large tree and placed the bench there.

“What kind?”

Placing the stone bench on the ground, she planted her hands on her hips and turned back to him. She hesitated, then said, “Wolf. Do you have a problem with that?” She was, of course, used to the casual and sometimes not-so-casual misogyny she encountered over the years when people discovered she wasn’t a helpless, damsel-in-distress type.

“Problem?” His blond brows knitted together. “Why would I have a problem with that?” His expression was something she had never seen before—pure awe. “I think it’s amazing you’re a shifter and that you’re strong.” He flashed her a brilliant smile. “You’re a cool chick, Geri.”

Her stomach did a little flip-flop, and for some reason, she couldn’t stop looking at the deep dimple on the left side of his cheek. It marred the symmetry of his classically handsome face, but for some reason, she thought it made him look even more striking.

Damn it! Stop thinking of him that way!

“I should ah, go and get something from the linen closet.” She wasn’t sure what, but she just had to get away from him.

Quickly, she scampered into the castle, toward the entryway leading in from the courtyard. Persephone had told her where the other supplies were located—first door on the right after the—“There it is.” She spied the lone wooden door in the hallway and hurried inside.

“Why do they call this a linen closet? It looks more like a storage room.”

“What the—” She spun around, nearly colliding into Apollo. “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”

“Well, I am supposed to keep an eye on you and help.” He scratched his head. “Besides, you didn’t tell me what to do.”