I’m not sure why that is, but I feel utterly honored that I’m the one he’s chosen to reveal himself to.
Is that…
Is that love?
Apollo tucks me under a blanket on the sofa because there’sno wayI can sleep right now. Everyone in my family bustles about, waiting on me hand and foot.
Cake. Popcorn. Tea.Christmas in Connecticut, one of my favorite movies, plays on the big screen. Apollo slips beside me under the blanket and reaches for my fist.
Even my brothers hover, pace, and act as if they’re ready to scour the campus and hunt down an unknown creature.
Lan tugs at his long hair. “I need to talk to Aiden. He may know something more. Come on.” He pulls Bo with him toward the door. Before they walk out, Bo rushes toward meand hugs me tight without one word spoken. Then they leave.
Mom and Dad lounge on the other side of the long sectional.
“Do you need?—”
“No, Mom. Stop. Just watch the movie with us. Eat some popcorn.”
Dad grabs her when she tries to get up again. “Sins. Stay right here. You’re not moving again.”
He’s the only one who can get her to calm down. Like he’s the Mom-whisperer. They settle in, and Dad promptly falls asleep. Mom half-dozes, snuggled up against him. His snores cut through the sound of the movie, so Apollo turns up the volume.
My husband’s big, warm body comforts me as I curl up next to him. My hand gently strokes his hairy thigh. He’s still in his soccer jersey and shorts. I should’ve asked if he wanted to stop at home first to change, but he was focused solely on me.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. I’m distracted from the film by thoughts of happiness. I’m lucky I got him as my appointed. And suddenly, a thrill surges through my chest. Of being alive. Of beingfreehere with Apollo.
I should be shaking after what just happened. Should still beafraid. But with Apollo next to me…my body chooses something else.
He’s my warden. My sentry of safety.
So much so, being with him, I get to turn my brain off. That seems ridiculous, but it’s not. I don’t have to plan or strategize. I don’t have to beonor try to be nice. Don’t haveto do anything other than show up, and he’ll take care of things...
Being with himisfreedom.
My fingers dance higher on his leg, and he stiffens. Not just his body, but his dick, too.
“Tulip,” he whispers harshly. Like a warning.
I grin mischievously. “What?”
Mom stretches, and I pause the slide of my palm up higher for only a few seconds until she sits back. Then I proceed.
Apollo’s hand rests over mine, but I manage to weasel it out and keep going until I hit the heat of his hardness.
“If you don’t behave? You’ll regret it,” he tells me, low enough so my parents can’t hear over the movie.
I blink at him in the dim light, shadows from the moving screen randomly darkening our faces.
“Make me regret it.”
His jaw clenches.
And that’s when his fingers trail up my thigh, just as high as mine on his…
I hold my breath. My clit pulses hard. Every ache deep inside me longs for more of his touch.
Gently and carefully, keeping one eye on my parents, I pull the waistband of his shorts down under the blanket. I wrap my hand around his length as he lets his head drop back against the cushions. Like I’ve hit something I wasn’t supposed to touch.
