17

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.”

Niceis 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.”

She sighs dramatically. “You’ve being very responsible right now and I don’t like it.”

“I like this.” I give her a squeeze and kiss her bare shoulder. “Be very good today and I’ll reward you tonight.” The Minotaur’s appearance last night all but ensured midnight wanderings are off the table. We needed the cameras to go, but without any recordings to hold people accountable, there’s no guarantee that someone wandering the halls at night won’t suffer an unfortunate “accident.” It’s not worth the risk.

We’ll have to find a different way. I try very hard not to be pleased with the fact that Cassandra and I will be essentially trapped in our room from nightcap to breakfast.

“I’m never good. You should reward me anyway.” She gives one last wiggle against me and then disentangles herself from my arms. I almost tug her back, but I’m the one who put a stop to things and I can’t very well walk back on it now.

Except, as she climbs out of bed and pads to the bathroom door, my mouth actually waters. Gods, this woman. I trace every curve, drinking in the sight of her. She’s perfect. Utterly perfect. I want to map her skin with my hands and mouth, to learn exactly what she likes and what drives her wild. Last night was only the beginning.

As I watch, her skin blushes a charming pink. “You’re staring.”

“I said I wanted to look my fill.” Gods help me, I actually lick my lips. “This is a good start.”

Cassandra blushes harder. “Order me to go take a shower and get ready, or I’m going to come back to bed and—”

“Go take a shower and get ready.” I inject a bit of snap into my voice and am rewarded when she blushes even more. “No playing with that greedy little clit, either. While we’re here, your orgasms are mine and mine alone.”

Her mouth works as if she wants to argue, but she gives a jerky nod instead. “Better keep me satisfied, then.”

“Oh, Cassandra.” I rake my gaze over her. “I plan on it.”

She hesitates one moment more and then turns, giving me another spectacular view of her ass, and goes into the bathroom. I slump down onto the bed and curse myself for my timing. My responsibility to Olympus has to outweigh any personal pleasure or happiness I might try to seek. Especially considering that it will be short-lived with this woman.

I cannot allow myself to be derailed.

I need to get up and moving, but as the shower turns on, I can’t stop myself from stroking my cock. I don’t tease the way Cassandra did last night. No, I jack myself almost harshly, a slideshow of her flashing behind my eyes.

The way it felt to be cradled between her thighs, sinking into her wet heat.

Her sweet little moans that she didn’t try to hide.

Her taste.

I yank my hand away from my cock before I can come. I’m not normally a masochist, but if I’m denying her orgasms, it’s incredibly unfair to not hold myself to the same rule.

My phone rings and the moment I see the name flashing across my screen, the desire leaves my body. I still take a few seconds to compose myself before answering. “Apollo here.”

“Can you talk freely?”

I eye the bathroom door. The shower is still running. Judging from yesterday’s timetable, it will be a good hour before Cassandra emerges. “Yes.”

“Update me.” It’s not surprising that Zeus wants to be kept in the loop, but he could have given me at least twenty-four hours before he started calling.

“I haven’t had much time to gather information.”

“Indulge me.” His tone brooks no argument.

I bite down a sigh. “All I have are theories and the guest list. Minos and his people are here, of course. Six members of the Thirteen, including myself, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysus, and Aphrodite. Then there’s Pan, Adonis, Charon, Eurydice, and Atalanta. Information seems conflicting on if Hermes brought a plus-one or not, but if she did, I haven’t seen them.”

“Godsdamn it, Eris.” He speaks so softly, I choose not to respond. That statement wasn’t meant for me, after all, but for Zeus’s sister—formerly Eris, before she took the title of Aphrodite. Zeus doesn’t let Aphrodite’s presence here distract him for long. “And your theories?”

“Cassandra thinks it might be a matchmaking attempt. Everyone invited is publicly single—or was until recently.” I don’t know what’s going on with Aphrodite and Adonis. They seem to be in one of those on-again, off-again relationships, but they’re never messy in public. Sometimes they’re pictured together for weeks or months at a time and then they seem to be moving in different circles, only to gravitate back toward each other. Even before she took the title of Aphrodite, though, she had to know her brother would never agree to her marrying Adonis. He comes from a legacy family, but they’re far enough down the food chain that they won’t see a new member of the Thirteen in this generation at least, if ever again.

“I didn’t ask what Cassandra thinks. I ask what you think.”

I have to fight not to bristle at how dismissive of her theories he is. I might think there’s another component to this party, but that doesn’t mean Cassandra is wrong. Minos seems far too smart to only have one plan. He arrived in Olympus supposedly so his sons could compete to become Ares but didn’t miss a beat when they failed to do so, pivoting to leverage his information about a supposed enemy to ensure his place in the city.

Something he didn’t speak a word of until they lost.

“I suspect that the matchmaking might be a feint, the same way the Ares tournament was a feint.” I hesitate, but ultimately there’s no reason to keep it secret. “There’s one other thing.” I quickly recap my conversation with Minos in his office. “There’s something else going on here. He’s strangely focused on Cassandra and all but threatened her explicitly. And again last night, the Minotaur did the same. I don’t see how that fits in with the information we already know.”

“Find out what it is.”

I clench my jaw for three beats in an attempt to stuff my frustration down deep. It’s not Zeus’s fault. He’s difficult and abrupt to the point of rudeness, but he’s doing the best he can with the given situation. Knowing that doesn’t make dealing with him any easier, though. “That is what I’m here to do.”

“I’m aware.” He curses. “You know how important this is. We can’t afford to misstep.”

“I will call with any updates.”

“Apollo…” He hesitates. “Be careful.”

“I always am.” I hang up and drag my hand over my face. As frustrating as I often find my conversations with Zeus, this one was timely to remind me of what I’m really here for.

Unfortunately, continuing my seduction of Cassandra will have to wait.

The shower is still going, so I pull on some clothes and head downstairs in search of breakfast. Eating in our room will give us a chance to come up with a game plan for the day beyond make Cassandra come as many times as possible.

I bet there is another entrance to Minos’s office. This place used to belong to Hermes, after all. But that also means it will be cleverly hidden, and with the Minotaur roaming the halls, we’re likely to get caught searching. No, our best bet is going through the door itself, though we don’t have a good excuse to be in there, borderline exhibitionism or no.

We’ll have to try for the office today during one of the downtimes.

There are few people about. I catch sight of Aphrodite and Adonis through the window that looks out over the grounds. They walk down the path in the direction of the maze with their arms linked. She’s laughing at something he said. They make quite the striking couple, but they aren’t my problem right now.

As promised, there’s a breakfast spread waiting in the same room we dined in last night. I consider my options and then grab two plates. Cassandra doesn’t seem to eat heavy breakfasts, but I’m not entirely certain what she likes. I put a little bit of everything on her plate and then get to work on my own.

I’m just finishing up when Hephaestus and Artemis stride into the room. They give me nearly identical long looks and then veer around to the other side of the table, pointedly continuing their conversation and ignoring me.

I bite back a sigh. It’s naive in the extreme to want all members of the Thirteen to get along and work toward a common goal. I think the titles themselves were designed to ensure that never happened—or at least that’s what it feels like most days. Too many of them have specialties that overlap, which incites rivalries even in the most level-headed of people. Athena and Ares with their military forces. Me and Hermes with information. Demeter and Poseidon with their trade agreements and resource gathering.

Even without that factor in play, the fractures run deep in our current Thirteen. How can they not when most of us are members of legacy families who have long Olympian histories filled with alliances, feuds, and the kind of political backbiting that ensures there is no trust to be found?

“Oh, Apollo.” Artemis turns to me with false cheer. “I forgot to congratulate you on that girlfriend of yours.” She laughs, the sound edged. “Though, honestly, if I knew you were so hard up as to date the help, I would have set you up with one of my sisters.”

Hephaestus doesn’t give me a chance to respond. His laughter joins his cousin’s. “It wouldn’t be more than slightly scandalous if she was just an employee, but a member of the Gataki family?” He shakes his head. “You must really like living on the edge. You’re liable to wake up with a knife between your ribs.”

I grip the plates so tightly, I have the distant thought that I might shatter them. The desire to defend Cassandra wars with the need to continue my easygoing public persona. “Cassandra is not the same as her parents,” I finally say.

“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

I refuse to continue this line of conversation. “Where’s Atalanta this morning?”

They exchange a look I can’t quite decipher. I frown, but Artemis speaks before I can question further. She waves an idle hand through the air. “Oh, I sent her on a task last night. She must be sleeping late, as I haven’t seen her since.”

“You sent her on a task…in the middle of the night…at a house party hosted by someone who’s essentially an enemy to Olympus.” The Minotaur’s rough voice echoes through my mind. Your safety isn’t guaranteed. Did he happen upon Atalanta in the halls?

I don’t like to think about that. Like everyone else in Olympus, I watched their confrontation at the end of the second trial in the Ares competition. She fought hard and lost, and for a moment, I’d been certain he would kill her right then and there. “The Minotaur—”

“Thank you for your concern about one of my people, but I can assure you, it’s not needed.” Artemis smirks and strides out of the room before I can come up with a suitable response.

Hephaestus, of course, lingers. He eyes the two plates in my hands. “You’re playing this wrong. Throw your lot in with the loser and you’ll go down with them.”

I hold his gaze. “Is Atalanta okay, Hephaestus? Why isn’t Artemis worried that she hasn’t reported back?”

“She’s not one of mine. It’s not my business.” He shrugs. “She knows the cost of loyalty and she’s willing to pay it if it’s asked of her. A lesson you should take to heart. Minos means fresh blood. A chance to disrupt some of the old way of doing things.”

I hold his gaze. “Your family comes from the old way of doing things. Mine does, too.”

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “But we’re the Thirteen. Nothing can touch us now.”

“Hephaestus—”

“You may have this Zeus’s ear, but we all know how quickly the winds can change. Who knows what kinds of opportunities and connections Minos can bring us from outside the city? If you miss out because you’re too busy playing with a failed assassin’s daughter, then I don’t know what to say to you. Good luck, I guess.” He follows his cousin out of the room.

Nothing can touch us now.

The words have the ring of a false prophecy. I truly hope I’m wrong about that.