We’ve reached where her dress lays, but she just turns to stare up at me. “And that feeling,” she says, placing her hand on her own chest, “Did it ever stop?”
“Yes, the moment I found you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Are you sure you want to know?” She nods her head slowly, licking her lips.
“I can’t be sure, but I used to hear stories of fated mates and the pull they feel to each other, often during times of great distress.”
She gasps, before whispering, “I knew it!” She already expected we were fated mates? When she sees my expression she continues. “I feel it too, but for me it’s only when I’m near you, and it’s like this constant… hum in my chest, telling me to be closer to you… telling me your mine. I feel it with Ry and Brax and Indy too.” Her eyes are wide as she comes to this conclusion.
“And Silver?”
“I don’t want to talk about him.” I can see the pain in her eyes, so I decide to leave it for now.
“Okay, we won’t. But tell me, are you okay with this, howdoes it make you feel…”about me, are the words I really want to ask.
She rubs at her chest, looking down like she should be able to see what she’s feeling. When she looks back up at me, she’s frowning. “I’m obviously drawn to you, I have been since the beginning. It’s why it hurt so much when you said those things to me.”
“I kn?—”
“Wait, let me finish.” She cuts me off before continuing. “But even when you were saying them, I knew you were just projecting, you knew almost nothing about me. It still hurt, but I knew the man that Indy spoke about was a kind, caring man, not cruel.”
“I made you cry,” I tell her, frowning that she was just brushing off my poor treatment of her so easily. “You can’t just forgive me so easily.”
“Too late, rain man,” she says, placing her hands on her hips, looking up at me expectantly.
“I… I don’t know what to do with you.”
She laughs before taking a small step towards me, whispering, “Whatever you want.”
My body freezes in surprise.Did she really mean that?I clench my fists to stop myself from reaching for her. “Do you not want me, Apollo? Do you not want to be my mate?”
“Fuck, Angel. It’s taking everything in me to restrain myself from fucking you over that rock,” I say, motioning to a large waist high rock that overlooks the pond. “You don’t deserve a man like me, I’m rough and abrasive, full of scars inside and out. You deserve someone kind and charming, like Indy.”
She takes another step towards me and reaches up, placing her hand on my chest. “I was under the impression that I could have you both.”
I study her face for any sign of hesitation, but all I see is heat. “You really want me, Angel? Not just for now, but for always?”
“That’s a terrible proposal, try again.”
I lick my lips, afraid to so much as blink and break the spell I must have unknowingly cast over her.Why else would she want me?I cup her face in my hand. “You are the most amazing person I’ve ever met, your heart must be so big to be able to forgive me so easily. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, by loving you and protecting you, if you’ll let me. Marry me, Angel?”
“Better,” she says with a nod of her head.
“Better? Angel, don’t leave me hanging like this,” I groan.
“Maybe I need a reminder,” she says, tapping her lip in thought.
“Of what?”
“Of what you taste like.”
This time, I don’t hold myself back as I bend down and wrap her in my arms, sealing my mouth to hers. This kiss is so different from the last one. It’s full of passion and heat and I can feel myself getting hard at the feeling of her soft skin.
Finally, she pulls back to look me in the eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Apollo.” You couldn’t stop the smile from filling my face as I squeeze her tight and spin her around, making her laugh.
When I set her back down, she looks at me with heat before she steps back, turning to the pond. “You know, it’s awfully hot out here, and I’m feeling rather… dirty,” she says the last word, shooting me a smirk over her shoulder and she starts to walk around the pond. “We should probably go for a swim, don’t you think?” She wants to go swimming, right now? But when she reaches down and pulls the tunic off, throwing it to the side, I decide a swim is a great idea.
