Radiant Sin(44)

I catch her chin and kiss her deeply. “You’ve pleased me greatly.”

She grins against my mouth. “Well, with you I actually want to earn the good-girl title. Who knew?”

Me. I knew. I ease off her and take a few minutes to dispose of the condom. Walking back into the room is surreal in the way that dreams are.

Cassandra has crawled beneath the covers and she smiles sleepily at me. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be up for round two.”

What she needs now isn’t another round of sex. It’s a soft easing down into sleep. This week is far from over, and we’ll need all our wits about us for whatever is coming. I don’t know what Minos is planning yet, but one thing is certain: I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Cassandra remains safe and that her trust in me isn’t betrayed.

No matter the cost.





17


Apollo

When Cassandra and I agreed to share the bed, I expected sleepless nights. That was before I knew her taste, knew how devastating she looks on her knees, knew the exact sound she makes when she orgasms.

I tuck us both into bed. Cassandra makes as if to move away from me, but I catch her wrist. “Come here.” When she hesitates, I continue. “You don’t have to stay all night, but you will allow me to hold you for a little while.”

She huffs out a faintly amused breath. “You really are a dom, aren’t you? We didn’t even do anything particularly kinky—”

“Cassandra, you know better.” Kink isn’t defined so acutely and she’s damn well aware of that. She’s protesting for the sake of protesting.

Another huff, but she slides back toward me. “Fine, fine. You’re right. Get your cuddles and aftercare.” For all her snark, she drapes herself over my chest and buries her face in my neck. I run my hand down her spine, urging her a little closer, and she makes a sound perilously close to a purr. Immediately, she tenses. “You heard nothing.”

I smile into the darkness. There will be plenty of time to worry about complicated things tomorrow. In this moment, I am so content, I’m in danger of purring myself. “I like this, too.”

“Are you sure you’re tired? We could…” Her hand starts to wander south.

I catch it and press a kiss to her palm before placing it back across my chest. “No more tonight. Sleep.”

“Bossy.”

I almost retort that I am her boss, but I’m not keen to be reminded of that right now. Instead, I keep up my gentle touch against her back. I want to touch so much more of her, but she’s put her trust in me and I won’t give her reason to regret it. Right now, Cassandra needs sleep more than she needs to have sex again.

I’m proven correct when, a few minutes later, her breathing slows and deepens and the last bit of tension leaves her body. Only then do I allow myself the shaky exhale I’ve been holding for what feels like hours.

I want to keep her.

I already wanted to keep her even before I knew we matched up so well. Cassandra is one of the most confounding and frustrating people I’ve ever met, and she will lash out first to prevent the people around her from sensing anything resembling weakness. She’s downright mean at times.

She’s also incredibly thoughtful and kind when she thinks no one is looking. She’s sacrificed more than anyone could have asked for her sister, has ridden the waves created by her parents’ assassination attempt. Not to mention she’s probably the smartest person in Olympus. She notices things I miss, can make logical jumps that seem to defy the minuscule facts in front of her; she’s very rarely wrong.

And after tonight, I know that she has a playful side in the bedroom. That she’s bold and fearless and comfortable in her desires. That her kinks seem to be a perfect fit for mine.

I close my eyes and will my body to calm. It’s a losing battle. Just like having fallen for Cassandra is. She’s leaving. She was always leaving. She hates it here in Olympus, and I’d never use her trust in me to convince her to stay. More, being with me means inserting herself into the very things about this city that she hates the most. She’ll be targeted. Not even I can protect her from that; I can guard her body, but what about the assaults on her reputation?

On her sister’s reputation?

What would keep the two of them out of the political games that are this city’s beating heart? Every day with me would be a reminder of the price her parents paid for their ambition. Every day would be a chance for my enemies to use Cassandra and her sister against me—to bruise them just to see me suffer.

I can’t ask that of her. I can’t be that selfish.

I refuse to be.

***

I wake up achingly hard. We’ve shifted during the night, though not much. I’m on my side with Cassandra tucked back against me, her perfect ass pressed against my cock. She shifts again, and I wake fully. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

“Who, me?”

It would be so easy to let this spiral out of control. In fact…I check the clock and bite down an unkind statement when I see what time it is. “We can’t.”

“We can’t what?” Cassandra lightly drags her nails down my arms and burrows back tighter against my body. “This feels nice.”

Nice is the understatement of the century. But if we get going, I highly suspect we will miss our chance at breakfast and all the events Minos no doubt has planned today. We can’t afford to allow that to happen, no matter how great the temptation or inevitable pleasure. “Cassandra.”