My heart twists as he comes close enough for me to feel his breath on my lips. “And I can’t imagine not having met you.”
His lips crush mine.
I have time for a gasp, but then I’m swept under. His commanding lips fight mine, urging me to open and let him in, but I’m so terrified that I’m doing this wrong, that I taste gross, that he’ll stop…
He makes a sound deep in his throat. Somehow, my body takes it as a signal. Resistance flees. My lips part to let him in and it’s like stepping into the middle of a raging river. In an instant, I’m swept under.
Electricity courses over my lips as our kiss slows.
Seconds—centuries—later he pulls away, grabs my ass in both hands, and slowly lowers me to the floor.
I swoon like some corseted lady from the eighteenth century about to succumb to a fainting spell, and lean against the wall before my legs can buckle.
“You two done? Because we gotta go.” Apollo’s standing about a yard away, a deep frown creasing his brow.
Did he see everything?
I press the back of my hands against my hot cheeks. “Sorry,” I murmur, yanking the hem of my dress down my legs and dropping my head as I hurry out of the door.
Behind me, Reuben lets out a throaty chuckle that does sinful things to my insides.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Apollo and I arrive on my floor and I see the hall is empty. The last thing I need is another run-in with Cass.
“Thank you for walking with me,” I say.
“You gonna kiss me too?” Apollo asks dryly.
I stop to frown at him, but he just keeps walking. Is he jealous because I was nice to the only person who’s treated me like a human being?
I push back my shoulders and hurry after him, catching his shirt sleeve. “You make it sound like I go around kissing boys at random.”
“You don’t?”
“Reuben’s been super nice—”
“Super nice?” He glances at me, his face expressionless. “I can be super nice too, you know.”
I stop walking again, my mouth working as I try to find words. “Jealous much?” I call out after him.
He spins around, eyes darting this way and that before narrowing and settling on me. “Would you keep it down?” he says, shaking his head. “We’re trying t’ be circumspect.”
I lick my lips. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, fuck, me too.” He waves at my closed door and then frowns hard at me as he walks past me again, heading back the way he came. “Dinner’s in an hour.” Disapproving eyes scan me. “I’d suggest you wear something less conspicuous.”
Chapter Twelve
Trinity
At the sound of the dinner bell, I swallow down a surprised yelp. I’m in the restroom washing my face after changing into jeans and a sweater. Not because of what Apollo had said, but because every time that dress moved against my skin I would either think about Cass or Reuben. And that would either make my skin crawl, or give me goosebumps. And not always in a logical order.
I must have had a meltdown of epic proportions if I can’t keep straight what’s supposed to feel good, and what definitely should feel bad.
I emerge from the restroom and immediately hang back as students stream into the hall from their rooms.
When the bulk of them have disappeared down the stairs, I merge with the remaining few headed for the dining hall, doing my best to ignore how they keep looking back at me like I’m some creature everyone thought went extinct with the dodo.
Extinction’s starting to look really good.
For the first time since I arrived at Saint Amos, there’s a queue to get into the dining hall. I crane to see past the boys instead of falling in line.
My mistake.
“Follow me.”
I flinch at Apollo’s voice. He’s headed in the opposite direction of the dining room. With a casual glance back in my direction, he beckons me to follow with a cock of his head.
My choice is to follow him or to go stand in a long line while everyone stares at me.
Apollo leads me outside the building and then around the back. We end up at the back door of the laundry. He takes out a set of keys and unlocks the door, ushering me inside with a hand on the small of my back.
Then he unlocks a metal door set in the side of the room beside one of the massive steel basins and leads me into the small courtyard I was in earlier today.
Seems like a century ago.
He closes the door behind us. “See, I can be nice too,” he says right by my ear.
A cluster of candles illuminates the concrete table and the two silver domes on top of it. A jug and two glasses stand to one side of the serving dishes, beads of water condensing on the side.
“Couldn’t risk bringing any wine,” he continues, snagging my wrist as he walks past, tugging me after him. Then he slips something out from behind his belt. “But I got something to keep us warm.”
He flashes me a silver flask, takes a sip, and then hands it over.
I wave it away. “You did this for me?”
“The candles give it away?” he says through a playful smirk.
I smile, but then immediately school my expression into disinterest. I bet he expects a kiss for going to all this effort.
Well…it’s kind of romantic, what with the candles and everything. I push away the thought, ignoring the heat creeping onto my cheeks.
I really am a blasphemous little slut.
“Well? What d’ya think?”
“It’s lovely, thank you.”
There’s a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. Is he planning something, or is it just the candlelight?
Apollo offers me the canteen again. This time I don’t say no.
Despite having invited me out here for what I assume is some kind of date, Apollo doesn’t say another word until our plates are empty. Dinner is accompanied by crickets chirping in the dark corners of the courtyard while cutlery scrapes against crockery.
Apollo grins at me as he collects our empty dishes, and tosses his hair from his eyes with a flick of his head. “I’ll be right back,” he says before disappearing into the kitchen.
I tip the flask against my lips, clearing my throat after the fiery liquid scorches its way into my stomach as I consider my next move. I could use this time alone with Apollo to my advantage. He must know how Zachary and Reuben ended up in the basement. Can I persuade him to tell me?
Apollo comes back with two bowls and sets one down beside me. I snag his jeans before he can move away. He wears them baggy, but thankfully they’re not falling halfway down his ass like some of the boys I’ve seen in the mall.
“Why don’t you come sit here?” I pat the stone stool closest to me. He hesitates, and then sets his bowl next to mine before taking his seat.
He studies me with a small frown.
I have zero experience in seduction, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. I dig my spoon into my chocolate mousse and raise it to his lips.
He just keeps staring at me.
My cheeks grow warmer the longer he leaves me hanging. By the time he moves, I feel like I’m melting. But thankfully he eventually ducks forward and cleans my spoon.