Radiant Sin(56)

Apollo shifts, pressing a strong thigh between mine, and all thought flees my head. There are only this man and me in the close darkness. We might as well be the only two people left in the world right now, and that suits me just fine.

I go a little soft against him. There’s something about this that I respond to on such a deep level. I’ve spent the last five years convincing myself that this is not what I wanted, and the first opportunity for things to change, it’s as if a dam burst and all my needs and desires came flooding out, overwhelming everything.

I want Apollo. But I can’t pretend it’s just sex. I’ve cared about this blasted man for years, and if there was anyone in this city that would make staying here worthwhile…

I can’t do it.

He hasn’t offered me anything, for one. Even if he had, in that sweet, strong way of his, I can’t accept. He’s Apollo. He’s a member of the very body of powerful people that I hate above all others. No matter what I feel for him, surely my bitterness would poison any chance of a long-term relationship. More than that, eventually he’d resent me. My parents ensured no one would ever trust me enough to allow me to play the games required of a partner of one of the Thirteen.

He needs a full partner, and I can never be that. Not with my history.

What am I thinking?

Apollo hasn’t made any offers. He might want me, which means he cares about me enough to desire me, but he’s hardly tried to convince me to stay in Olympus.

He intends to let me go, and I intend to walk away.





22


Cassandra

For his part, Apollo is not unaffected. His hard cock against my hip is more than evidence of that. His fingers against my mouth move to grip my jaw lightly, and he shifts back just enough for his mouth to brush mine, a light kiss, both a warning and a tease. The things the man does with his kisses should be illegal. How am I supposed to keep my head on straight when he kisses me as if I’m his favorite dessert? It’s just not fair.

He shifts over to speak directly in my ear. “Be silent. We’re going to get caught.”

I have never, ever considered getting caught in an intimate moment as anything other than something to be avoided. In the last twenty-four hours, Apollo has shown me the error of my ways. My breath hitches and I nod shakily.

“Good girl.” He trails his fingers down my arm to my waist. Teasing me, the bastard. I might make a sound of protest, but he ordered me to be silent. I press my lips together hard, and he rewards me by cupping one breast and playing his thumb over my nipple. It’s as if the thin fabric of my dress and bra don’t exist. He’s scorching me.

“You want more, don’t you?” His voice is pitched lower than a whisper. It’s barely an exhale against my ear. He touches me as if he’ll never get another chance. As if I am a piece of artwork that he plans on appreciating at every level. As if we’re not tucked into a closet together. The thought might make me laugh if I had the breath for it, but he’s stolen it all. And how could he not?

This man is everything.

I nod shakily. Of course I want more. I want it all, no matter how ill advised. Apollo is a fire in my blood, and he might burn me alive, but I’ll strike the match happily as long as he doesn’t stop touching me.

He presses his leg higher until he actually lifts me a little. I roll my hips, the delicious friction making me catch my breath. Or, rather, he catches it for me, his mouth claiming mine. This time, the kisses are not teasing, not light, not conveying some hidden message. He’s had his taste and now he wants it all.

I finally remember that I’m able to move and dig my hands into his hair, pulling him closer. In this moment, I don’t care where we are. I don’t care who might overhear or the implications if they do. All I need is Apollo as close to me as possible.

I need everything.

“Cassandra,” he groans against my skin. On his tongue, my name feels like a curse and a promise at the same time. I’ve never felt more intoxicating in my life than I do in this moment. I’ve brought this man, one of the most powerful people in the city, to the breaking point with desire. “Show me where you need me.”

I couldn’t stop now if I wanted to, and I desperately don’t want to. I ease back against the wall and grab the wrist of the hand gripping my chin. I tug his hand up to cover my mouth again. A silent demand for him to keep me quiet because gods know I won’t be able to do it on my own.

Apollo goes perfectly still for a beat, two. On the third, he catches the back of my knee and urges my leg up to curl around his waist. The new position opens me, and he wastes no time taking advantage of it, pressing even closer and hitching me higher against his thigh.

I gasp against his palm, the sound morphing into a muffled moan as he skates his hand up the back of my thigh to grip my ass. “No panties, Cassandra?” He releases a shuddering breath. “You please me. I like knowing I can have you this way at a whim. That you’re wet and ready for me.”

His grip guides me to ride his thigh. The pressure and friction make my thoughts short out. It defies some kind of law that it’s always so good with him. It doesn’t make sense, except it’s Apollo and somehow it was always going to be world-ending with him. I helplessly grind against him, seeking that rising tide inside me. It shouldn’t be this easy, but something about Apollo takes shouldn’t right out of the equation.