Apollo was quiet for a moment, and then he said, “Accepted, but it would help if I knew what the apology was about.”
Yeah, it’s never just simple enough as saying you’re sorry, is it, you thoughtless idiot.“I’m sorry that I didn’t make an effort to talk with you when you asked me to. I’m sorry I got defensive when you asked me about who I was. I don’t know why, but I felt like it was a trick question. I am who I am. That’s who I am. The person you see standing here beside you. All those things you said. A businessman. A wolf shifter. That’s who I am.”
“Clearly there’s a lot more to you than that. I’m known as the god of a half a dozen things, but that doesn’t speak to who I am as an individual and as a man.”
Titus was having another issue – he couldn’t tell from Apollo’s tone if his mate was angry, upset with what the app had told him, or if Apollo was just happy watching the clouds move across the sky and the grass move with the breeze.Maybe he’s not upsetat all,and that would be a bonus because Titus had expelled enough angst for both of them.
“I’m always wary about sharing details about my private life,” he said. “Not just with you, with anybody, and I know you’re not just anybody,” he added quickly, in case Apollo got the wrong idea. “I know we’re mates, but I thought those conversations - particularly about my past relationships, and Lorna and the child - I thought they would come after we were claimed. Once we knew each other a little more.”
To Titus’s surprise, Apollo chuckled. “That’s why I was asking you to talk about yourself, so I could get some idea of who you were, so we could work toward claiming each other. Incidentally, your thoughts were right before. There are a number of children attributed to me in mythology – I didn’t raise any of them, or have much to do with them. In many cases, they were born and became fully grown almost instantly. Gods can be weird that way. The last time a scholar ascribed children to me was the fifth century, I believe, so as you can see, nothing to worry about now.”
Fifth century?It was mind-boggling just thinking back that far.
“One thing that I am struggling with, if you wanted to hear about it…”
“I do. I definitely do.”My mate is talking to me. I’ll turn cartwheels naked if that’s what it takes for him to keep doing that.
“I find it really fascinating that you were able to go out night after night, or day after day - I’m not sure that Paulie has the exact time stamps of when you were having your intimate relations four to five times a week, but that’s probably not relevant for what’s going on in my head.”
Damn it.Titus had no idea if Apollo was teasing him or not. There was no change in his tone of voice at all.
“It fascinates me that you can share your body so freely with so many people, random strangers I’m assuming.”
“For the most part,” Titus agreed. He wasn’t sure he liked where this conversation was going either, but he had to keep going. “I wouldn’t say that I was sharing my body as such – well, I was, at least the cock side of things. But those people didn’t touch my heart, they didn’t touch my soul. They were only there for as long as it took for me to get off. I’m not sure what that says about me, but once claimed, mates don’t ever stray, and what I used to do is just part of who I am.”
“Hmm.” Apollo was at least thinking about things. At least Titus assumed he was. “I’ve been around from almost the beginning of time, and in that time I’ve had sex with numerous partners of all sexes. The difference with me is that I would only share my body with someone I loved and cared for. I couldn’t dream of sharing my body with somebody who was only going through the necessary motions to achieve an orgasm.”
Apollo paused and then added, “Doing that seems like such a waste of energy – it’s pointless. Sharing your body along with the feelings behind it makes the whole experience more intense. You get so much from the act – communicating your feelings, sharing that love through intimacy. From my experience, it’s what makes the act of sex an act of love. I’m sure that’s where the phrase ‘love making’ came from. And yet, in all that time, and in all your encounters, it doesn’t seem that was what you wanted to do at all. Would that be right?”
“That’s what I was like in my past, yes.” Titus thought quickly. “It would be completely different with a mate.”Surely it would be.My wolf certainly thinks so.“You told your sister you love me, and I know my wolf loves you already.”
“I have loved you for months – that’s who I am - but can you love me back?” Apollo turned, and Titus was struck by the intensity of his mate’s bright blue eyes. “I thought I’d have the problem because every time I fell in love, it was as if bad things would happen and I’d be left brokenhearted. But at least I felt something. Do you? Can you ever feel anything for me, with your whole heart and soul, or will you just lie with me to achieve that orgasm you seem to believe is so important to your daily routine?”
I do not have the words. Anything I say is just going to complicate the shit out of this.Titus listened to his wolf, stepping forward into Apollo’s personal space, ignoring the sounds of traffic, and that happy fucking bird singing in the tree. He gently cupped Apollo’s face in both hands, and leaned in, closing his eyes as their lips touched.
It is so damn different.Kissing Apollo was like touching someone intimately for the very first time. Titus was definitely feeling things, not only in his over-eager cock, but all over his body. He wanted so much more, and Titus could only hope those feelings were being received as he deepened the kiss. It couldn’t go on for too long. They were standing on the side of the I-90, and the honks and horns from trucks and cars going past made it clear that his first embrace with his mate was in a very public location.
Pulling away reluctantly, Titus managed a rueful smile. There were streaks of pink on Apollo’s cheeks, and his full lips were puffy. “We can have a late lunch in ten minutes. I know a place,” he said, his voice coming out deeper than he expected. Inside, he was awash with emotions. He needed another minute to sort himself out.
Apollo just nodded and then looked up in the tree. “Have a happy life, little bird,” he called out, as Titus took his elbow and led him back to the truck.
Chapter Eleven
Apollo glanced around as Titus pulled into what was clearly labeled a truck stop. There were trucks, RVs, and cars - some queuing for gas, others for food, and Apollo could see signs for showers and another one for a laundry outlet. “Busy place,” he said, turning to smile at Titus, who was pulling into a parking space around the back of the buildings.
“We’re not staying here.” Titus pulled out his phone and quickly called an Uber. “When I said I knew a place, I wasn’t referring to a truck stop.”
“A truck stop’s a place.” Apollo chuckled.
“My mate deserves a comfortable ambience for a meal,” Titus said with a twitch of his lips. “Here is quick, fast food – good food, but still… Trust me when I say the place I want to take you is better. I know that it’s still early in terms of dinner hour, but if we get a solid meal, then we can drive through for a few more hours before we find a place to stay for the night.”
“I won’t say no to food.” Apollo inhaled and stretched. “I can forget to eat at times. If I’m playing music or dreaming of creative things, time can pass, and I don’t really notice. Being in this real world with you will be a good way to help keep me more aware of those basic things.”
“I’ll remember that, but that’s another reason why we’re going somewhere else. I’d like to be somewhere private with you, where we can talk about things like your creativity or music, or anything else you want to discuss from earlier. It’s far too noisy here, but the place I’m thinking of will be perfect.” Titus opened his driver’s door, so Apollo got out too. There was a car waiting on the edge of the parking lot, and Apollo figured that it must’ve been the car Titus had ordered.
“You know, we could’ve just gone to my place,” Apollo said quietly as Titus opened the back door of the car, and indicated that Apollo was to get in.
“We’ll do this for now.”
