Page 131 of Savage Empire

Apollo steps closer, prowling slowly. “I believe what I said was that if you wanted to engage in premarital debauchery, you only needed to ask,darling.”

“It seems like you want me to ask,” I rasp, looking up at him as he towers over me. “There’s a house full of people expecting us to come downstairs soon.”

“They can wait.”

His hands surround my neck, resting at the base of my collar. And in an instant, he closes the distance between us. Our lips meet in a fierce press, my knees going weak on contact. Eyes slammed shut, my hands blindly reach for him, clutching the front of his shirt into tight fists.

I didn’t expect a kiss, let alone one as heated as this. But then again, I had no idea what to expect from Apollo. We didn’t discuss our dynamic shifting, or how we would act around one another from now on. We talked about logistics, but neither of us brought up when we would continue physical contact. I suppose I don’t need to ask now.

A whimper works its way up my throat, and my thighs squeeze tight together. He still tastes faintly like the pizza from lunch, and I don’t even care. Pleasure rolls from my lips down my neck and eventually into my core, growing heavy and demanding more.

Time slows as Apollo continues to devour my mouth, dominating the kiss with expert precision. It’s like nothing and no one matters, my only thoughts are consumed by how good he feels. I don’t want to stop.

But eventually, he pulls back, dropping his forehead to mine.

“Why are you so good at that?” I rasp.

“Not sure,” Apollo rumbles. “You’re the first one I’ve tried it with.”

Sparks shock my system. “I’m your first kiss?”

He nods, hands rising up my neck to cup the sides of my face. “I had no desire to put my mouth on another woman. Not until I knew I’d marry her.”

“But…” I frown, mind racing. “You kissed me in the hospital, before you suggested we get married.”

“I did,” he agrees, pressing another kiss to my lips. “I knew then.”

Voice low, I murmur, “You couldn’t have known I would agree.”

“I knew I would have you,” he disagrees. “I would have worked for it, had you refused. I can be quite persuasive, love.”

“Apparently.” I breathe out shakily. “Because here we are.”

“Mhmm,” he hums, thumb drawing over my bottom lip.

“Here.”

Kiss.

“We.”

Kiss.

“Are.”

Kiss.

“How long do you think we have?” I ask, seconds away from pulling him into bed and testing out the mattress as he suggested.

Three short slaps on the door answer my question before he can.

“Uncle Pollo!” Leo’s little voice bellows. “Papa here!”

“No time at all, it seems,” he grumbles, releasing me with a groan. He rolls his shoulders, composing himself before he answers the door.

Dante is standing at the entrance with Leo on his hip. “I hope we’re not interrupting?—”

“You are,” Apollo deadpans.