The Greek Titan lumbers around the corner toward us, bringing with him a cloud of cologne and a whiff of vulnerability. He seems terrified to approach me.
“I think Ayan wanted to talk to you in his office.” His voice is rugged. Deep. As I expected.
I open my mouth to respond, but…
There she is.
From down the hall, a half-dressed and flushed Lakshmi stumbles through the doorway. Cheeks pink from whatever she was doing with my boyfriend. Ayan trips in behind her, looking as guilty as I suspected he would. As soon as his gaze flicks to mine, he quickly changes his expression to one…ofpride.
All the terror I was feeling before quickly morphs into fury.
Before I can think or speak, heat surrounds me. Apollo leans down and crushes his lips to mine with searing strength. Goosebumps rise along my skin. I feel everything. Including the thickness inside Apollo’s trousers pressing into me.
He tastes like rich plums with a hint of brandy. Lips soft and soothing, in contrast to the danger behind every powerful movement of his jaw. Firm, but not forceful. As if I could stop this if I wanted to, and he’d nod apologetically.
I step into him as he gathers me up. Closer. Our bodiesare tight, and I relax into him as if that’s where I’m meant to be. For a long moment, I forget everything else exists.Finally, my brain shuts off.
Oh…yeah.
Ayan.
Apollo pulls back, and we study one another. Both of us shocked and breathless. Trying to figure out what happened. I can’t even ask the question. Words won’t form.
Fortunately, he announces loudly, “You ready to go, tulip?”
“Yes…” I hear myself sigh. My head feels dizzy. Vision unclear.
Is this what it feels like toswoon?
“Are you twotogether?” Ayan snaps, his jaw dropping, making his skinny neck look even smaller.
But those cavernous obsidian eyes won’t leave my face. Apollo simply nods. “Yeah.” When he straightens, he tosses his arm over my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “Since last year, why?”
My cheeks flush even hotter. The lie passes so smoothly, I almost believe it.
Ayan’s still staring at me, eyes blazing, like I owe him an explanation. Like he’s waiting for me to crumble and beg for him. If he wants a scene, I’ll give him one his ego won’t recover from.
Ellis grins like a proud mother, bouncing on her toes in her purple strappy heels. Snickering behind her cup of liquored juice. She points toward the door, then nods at it encouragingly.
“You’vegotto be kidding me!” Ayan yells as he waves hishand frantically between me and the giant at my side. “Youcheatedon me?”
A crowd ofBetasstarts congregating behind him.
I crawl my fingers up Apollo’s huge chest and smile like I’ve done it a thousand times. Slow and deliberate. Just to watch Ayan’s face turn dark. “I’m ready to go. I need my coat.”
“I’ll grab it for you,” he says, ignoring Ayan.
“Ellis?” I ask, but she’s already meandering toward the other girls.
“Have a great time!” she calls out.
It’s the alcohol mixed with the tinge of emotional shock. Walking over here, I should have known. I’ve needed an out from Ayan—and the man leading me toward the exit, hand hovering at my lower back, is the first door that opened for me. A broad escape route. Timely. Convenient.
Enough that I can stab Ayan straight through the gut with it.
I let Apollo slide my downy parka over my shoulders and gather my hand in his. We can’t lace our fingers together because his are too thick. Or mine are too small. So he wraps his hand around my fist, his palm damp against my skin.
“Have a great night, Ellis.” Apollo says it like he knows her intimately.
