“I figured we needed to talk before we return to the bed and breakfast.”
Maya nodded. Apollo set her down, then started walking toward the cabin, but this time he did not take her hand. It stung, but Maya was determined to keep herself in check. When they entered, she noticed wet blood on the kitchen floor. Surprised, she asked, “How long has passed?”
Apollo’s voice was more serious than she was accustomed to hearing, almost guarded. “Since we have no idea about time here, I simply wished to be here seconds after Miss Madison took us away from here.” He walked over to the blood, then with a sweep of his hand, he removed the blood.
“That has to be useful,” Maya said, trying to loosen the knot in her chest.
He looked back at her. “My magic isn’t normally so effective for cleanup, so perhaps it’s your influence.”
A small grin flitted across her face as Maya said, “If some good could come from knowing me, I will be happy to hear it.”
Apollo nodded, then headed to the table. Maya noticed the dishes he had cleaned, still sitting out, now mostly dry.
No. The thought was sharp in her mind.I don’t want this. Not anymore.
Ignoring all of the objections she had accumulated over the years, Maya walked over to Apollo. However, when he pulled out the chair, she placed a hand over his. When he turned to look at her, Maya placed a hand on the side of his face. Before she could think better of it, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
Apollo’s gorgeous yellow eyes looked at her, searching her face. When he did not pull away, she leaned forward a little more and kissed him beside his mouth. Slowly, he rose and stepped toward her. Maya’s heart was pounding as he looked down at her. His gnarled hand reached up, but as soon as he realized how it looked, Apollo began to pull it away. Maya quickly grabbed it. Keeping her eyes on his, she raised it to her lips and kissed the knuckles.
Straightening it as much as he could, Apollo brought his hand up to the side of her face. His fingers brought a familiar warmth to her skin, and Maya’s eyes fluttered under his touch. When she was able to open them, she watched as he hesitantly lowered his face. Her breathing became shallow as his lips brushed against hers. Maya brought a hand up and gently touched the side of his face as she pressed her lips against his. Apollo’s hand stroked through her hair, stopping at the base of her head as his lips moved a little against hers. Maya brought her other hand up and placed it on his chest as her body moved closer to his. Apollo slid his other hand behind her lower back and pulled her body against his.
Maya let out a low moan as she opened her mouth a little. Apollo seemed to take this as a sign, and his tongue slippedbetween her parted lips. Momentarily startled, Maya pulled back.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, pulling away from her.
Maya reached up with both hands, holding his face and pressing her mouth against his. She opened her mouth again, and he slowly ran his tongue along her lips. Not entirely sure what to do, she flicked her tongue against his.
That seemed to be enough for him as Apollo pulled her body against his. Reveling in the feel of his lips against hers, Maya’s hand began to move to his chest. He responded by holding her tighter to him.
When they finally stopped to catch their breath, Maya looked at him, unsure what to say. His eyes shone like the sun as he stared at her.
Then his eyes traveled down, and they opened wide. Turning his head, he started apologizing. With no idea what had happened, Maya looked down, realizing a little late that the clothing she had applied had disappeared.
Although her face was flushed, Maya said, “I don’t mind—I want you to see me, Apollo.”
Keeping his eyes cast away from her, he said, “I already want you, Maya. Seeing you naked—I can’t.”
She placed a hand on the side of his face and turned his head so that he was looking directly into her eyes. “I want you too, Apollo.”
“If we do that here, that will be it. We will be mates. The physical act bonds people, and it cannot be undone without a lot of harm to one or both of us.”
She looked down. “I can understand if you don’t want to be my mate. I’m difficult and damaged.” Maya took a step away from him. “But just so you know, I wouldn't have told you no. Not now. Not after knowing you. After seeing you—”
Apollo’s mouth covered hers before she could finish, his hands sliding down her back and cupping her butt. His chest pressed against hers as his tongue moved gently into her mouth. There was an urgency to his actions, but his touch was gentle, stoking a fire in Maya she had never felt before.
Taking a step back, she grabbed the front of his shirt, keeping his face just a few inches from her. She walked back toward the bedroom. Apollo removed his shirt, throwing it onto the floor. Next, he began to undo his zipper as they neared the bed. However, he stopped before letting his pants fall to the floor. “Are you sure, Maya? Do you really want to be trapped with someone for the rest of your life?”
A sweet smile spread across her face as she felt an unfamiliar happiness growing in her chest. “I’ve never been more certain, Apollo. Over the last week, you quietly challenged everything I knew and thought. And now the thought of returning to life before you, it doesn’t seem worth living.”
He finally let go of his pants, and his erection sprang clear of it as he murmured, “Oh, thank the gods. I feel exactly the same way about you.”
Lifting her off of the floor, Apollo gingerly placed her on the bed, then he moved to the foot of the bed. Maya watched him, her gaze inquisitive. He placed his hands on her feet, creating a different kind of warmth that made Maya’s breath hitch. Her breast heaved and bounced a little as he watched her reaction. She could feel his groan through the bed as his hands slowly moved up her ankles, then caressed her calves. Bringing his face down, he began to kiss her skin, and Maya closed her eyes and moaned as his body moved slowly up her own.
When he reached her stomach, Apollo kissed the scar. Opening his mouth, his eyes flicked up as his tongue touched her skin. She swallowed hard as he ran his tongue slowly all the wayto the other end. His hand then followed, sending a pulse of heat through her body, and Maya bucked her hips in response.
Next, Apollo kissed the underside of her breast while his gnarled hand cupped the other. His tongue moved over her breast, then he brought his mouth down to her nipple. Closing his eyes, Apollo began to suck, occasionally running his tongue over it. Maya gasped with each suckle. Wrapping a leg around his hip, she tried to pull him closer. Instead of continuing up her body, Apollo moved over and repeated the action with her other breast until she opened her other leg and wrapped both of them around his lower back.
With a smile, he lightened his touch until it was barely on her skin as he moved his hands down her rib cage, and he moved his body up so that he could kiss her. Maya’s hands moved into his hair, working her fingers against his scalp as she felt him positioning himself between her legs.
