Page 76 of Heir of the Beast

“You are so beautiful, I can barely think when I’m around you,” he whispers into my skin. A part of me is unsure if I am mentally ready to hear Apollo speak this way. It messes me up.

“I feel like you have infected me with something that I cannot purge. As much as I try to fight it, I can’t. It’s driving me mad. I don’t even recognize myself.”

I swallow.

Is he being serious? Or just telling me what I want to hear?

“Cancel the engagement then.”

“Done.”

I whip around and back up, staring up at his handsome face. “Done?”

“Done.”

I take a breath. “You’re canceling the engagement?”

“I want you, and if that’s how I get you, then I will,” he admits, taking a step forward. “I’ll be damned if I let my cousin have what’s mine. I want to be selfish for once.”

“But I’m not yours.”

Should I pull a princess Jasmine? ~I am not a prize to be won!~

“Not yet, Angel, but you will be.”

A thrill shoots up my spine, and my skin ignites. Somehow, I can’t disagree with him, and my brain is doing a sexy tango right now with the image of Apollo. Should I trust him?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time?

He must be really hot, and it’s not your fault.

~There, there.~

Chapter 17

“You call off the wedding, and then what?” I glance behind me, shivering as his fingertips feather across my neck.

“Then I am a free man to do whatever I want,” he says, and continues to unbutton my dress.

I turn around fully, feeling the cool air on my neck and back. “That will cause an incredible backlash.” I am ensuring he is sane of mind before I trust him.

Apollo runs a hand through his curly hair and takes a deep breath. He looks distant like his mind is in another place. “I am aware of that.”

I frown. “And you are okay with this?”

He glances back to me, and I can see an inner battle going on, like the moments before someone jumps off a cliff into a deep pool of water.

“I find that I don’t give a shit anymore.” He smiles at me and tilts his head.

“God’s teeth, that dress you are wearing is just stunning, I find myself completely mesmerized. I know our dressmakers have never done something so remarkable. Your maid did this?”

I swallow. “Yes, quite the talent she has.”

He nods, his dark gaze seeing too much.

I am nervous all of a sudden. It seems like he is still wary of me.

Which I guess I do not blame him for—the gown really looks like it’s made from magic, let’s be honest. I might have to tell Pierce to tone it down a bit.

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