Page 86 of The Shadow Gods

It wasn't. "The only person I care about more than you, are the five men I've spent eternity with. I love them like I loved Castor. They're my brothers."

I kissed the top of her head and she seemed to melt into me. "You're not mad."

Not where she was concerned. She was the best thing that had happened to me since I'd been brought back to life. There was nothing—absolutely nothing—she could do that would make me angry.

But Iwasmad. I was spitting fucking nails where the gods were concerned. And I wasn't too bloody pleased with my brother, either. I'd remember those finger-shaped bruises on her arms until I was able to plant my fist in my brother's dead face as retribution.

“No.” I dropped a kiss to her lips.

Leo let out a sigh, and I could smell the tea and honey on her breath. It was sweet and too tempting not to taste.

“I think Achilles was hinting at something.” Her cheeks pinked as I pulled away.

“I know he was,” I answered, and as much as it pained me, I went on, “but we make our own time, Leo. I'm not rushing something just because I have thirty minutes with you.”

“And what if I want to?” Her golden-brown eyes flicked to mine, then back to the buttons on my shirt. She played with them before peering up at me again.

Then that would be the best fucking news I ever got.I couldn't get the words past my lips. Throat closing, all I could do was nod my head and hope I didn't look like a fool.

Leo shifted so she was on my lap. Leaning down, she pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

I was frozen.

She felt so good in my arms. So perfect. And her kiss. Honey and tea and a hint of peppermint.

“Leo.” I kissed her again, slid my tongue across her lower lip, then kissed her upper one, drawing it into my mouth. “You're mine.”

She smiled. “I know.”

It was enough to push me over the edge. Moving fast, I tore her shirt off. She fumbled with my buttons. I wanted us skin to skin, so rather than help her, I ripped it off. I heard buttons hit the wall and ping off the faux paneling but didn't care. I had more shirts.

And then—bliss.

Warm skin. Clutching fingers. Wet lips.

Gods.

I shifted, adjusting her body so I could nuzzle her belly and kiss her hipbones. Leo's hands went into my hair, pushing through the strands. She leaned down to kiss me, and as I reached for her, I realized that utter contentment was possible. Her weight on me, her skin against mine. The sensations flooded me, taking away any ability to speak or reason.

“Off.” Good. That was a word. I pushed her pants over her hips and the curve of her ass. I took the underwear with them, because those were just fucking getting in my way.

Gripping her inner thighs, I spread them apart at the same time I slid beneath her and pulled her right over my face.

She made a sound, something like a gasp and a moan, as I licked a sweet line between her legs, finally,finallytasting her.

I sucked her clit into my mouth, used my lips and tongue, and chased her sounds. Each one told me what I needed to know. It was the sign I needed to speed up or slow down. To change direction.

“Pollux...” My name had never sounded like that.

I turned my head, biting the warm, pale flesh of her inner thigh, then went back between her legs. Her gasps came faster, and her thighs trembled. “I'm close—”

She didn't need to tell me, but I smiled, anyway. This might be our first time together, but I was reading her like my favorite book.

Leo

Pollux lit me on fire. His tongue,holy shit.His fingers dug into my thighs, keeping me in place, and I wanted to die.

This wasn't a position I'd ever considered being comfortable. The thought of it would have worried me. It was too vulnerable. My flaws were on display, but Pollux didn't see them. And if he did, he loved them. The sounds he made...

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