A soap-covered Lachlan was staring at him through the steam. He took Apollo's other hand and pulled him under the spray. He had told Lachlan that he was his mate.
"You remember something," Lachlan grumbled, squeezing out more soap into his hand and rubbing it over Apollo in slow circles. "I need to know if you are going to spew."
"I-I'm not," Apollo replied as his eyes closed. Fuck. He had told Lachlan he was his mate. He was sure of it.
"Are you hurting anywhere?" Lachlan demanded, and he shook his head. "Good."
Lachlan's mouth crashed down on his, and he wrapped his arms around him. Apollo rallied and pulled him closer, his nails digging into his back. Lachlan pulled back but held him firm.
"Now, you're going to tell me the truth, Apollonius," he growled.
"I am?"
Apollo was still a little dazed from the kiss. He opened his eyes. Lachlan looked pissed. He wriggled, but Lachlan only tightened his grip.
"Nope. No running for you. Am I your mate?" he demanded.
Apollo swallowed hard. "Maybe?"
"I said the fucking truth," Lachlan said, and there was hurt in his blue eyes now.
"Yes. You...are," Apollo replied.
Lachlan let him go and stepped back a little from him, a hand on his chest. Shit. Shit. Shit. Lachlan was going to leave him if he didn't find a way to fix it.
"I mean, if you want to? I won't ever force you to accept it, Lachie. I know you don't do relationships, and you're probably not?—"
Lachlan put a hand over Apollo's mouth. "Stop. Talking."
Fuck, he was so mad. Apollo stood patiently, fighting the urge to talk or bolt.
"Nod if you have known for a while," Lachlan said finally.
Apollo nodded.
"And just about everyone else knows too?"
Apollo shrugged and nodded. He wasn't sure who had figured it out other than his family, Killian, Taranis, Arawan, and Imogen…maybe they did all know?
"Fuck, Apollo. Did you really hate the idea of being mated to me that much that I had to be the last to know?" Lachlan asked, his voice cracking just enough to break Apollo's heart. He pulled Lachlan's hand off his mouth.
"That's not it at all, Lachie. Come on. I could never hate you. I just... You've always been keen on random hookups and not relationships, and I don't know... I couldn't just walk up and be like, 'Hey handsome, you're my mate, which means you're going to be stuck with me forever and ever' because you have neverbeen with anyone longer than a night. Sorry if I didn't want to be rejected, okay? Fuck!" Apollo exclaimed in one long breath.
Lachlan covered his face with his hands, and a helpless little laugh escaped him. "You really are so fucking clueless. I was only hooking up with people because I was trying to get you out of my system and even that stopped a year ago because I only want you. I've only ever wanted you, you maniac. Fuck me, I think I'm actually having a heart attack right now."
Apollo growled and put his hand on Lachlan's chest. His heart was beating fast, but he wasn't in any danger. "Maybe just a panic attack? I'm serious, Lachlan. If you don't want to mate with me, I kind of need to know soon because I feel like it's already started, and it's going to be really hard for me to walk away from you."
Understatement of the fucking year. He would have to be sedated and carried off to Faerie or further.
"Don't you fucking dare walk away from me." Lachlan cupped Apollo's cheeks with his shaking hands. "Don't you dare, Apollo."
"Okay, I won't. I just... I don't know if you will want me forever. Because that's what mating is. You get that, right?" he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Yeah, baby, I get that." Lachlan kissed him on the lips, his tongue teasing just a little. "How could I not want you forever? Have you seen you?"
Relief rushed through Apollo, lighting him from the inside out. A rumbling purr echoed from his chest. "Yeah, I have. I've also seen you, and you're fucking perfect. Especially your ass."
Lachlan laughed and rested his forehead against his. "It's yours whenever you want it if you mate with me."
