Apollo and Val: #5.5 (Luna Lodge Book 0) (8 page)

Apollo sighed loudly.

“We really appreciate that, but there was no need.”

“No, Bochica,” he said quickly. “We must honor you.”

Val frowned. She didn’t sense anything besides honesty and admiration from the man.

“What’s with all this Bochica and Bachue stuff?” Val asked.

The man pressed his lips together. Before he replied, he turned to the people and gestured to the food. As one, the group made their way to the table, filling their plates.

Only after they had started did he turn back to her.

“They are the creators of all.” He smiled. “We honor them in your kindness. You are both special. My daughter saw as much last night,” he said, staring pointedly at Apollo. “You have been blessed by the creators.”

He nodded to them both and walked away.

Not quite sure what to say after that, Val filled her mouth.

They ate in comfortable silence, watching the people of the village move freely around. They laughed and ate. They had a reason to celebrate.

Val glanced over to Apollo as the last of her food disappeared. He sat quietly, watching the crowd with open curiosity.

“They smile so easily after facing men like that last night,” he said in wonder.

Val stared around the group.

“That’s what people do,” she said and absently took hold of his hand that rested near her. “We move forward every day. That’s the only way to live.”

When she realized she was rubbing his hand in comfort, Val blushed and tried to pull it away, but Apollo held firm.

“Is that what we do?” he asked. His eyes flared up and bored into her. The weight from his stare shook her to the core.

They stared at one another intently as the last rays of the sun fell on them before the soft glow of firelight took over.

She felt the shift in him. Something changed within Apollo in those few moments.

Val jumped when a loud thump echoed in her chest. For a moment, she thought maybe her heart had burst from the intensity of his stare and broke the hold had on her.

She scanned the area, landing on several drums and instruments. A lone soft sound came out of one of the small flutes and pulled her in. Several others joined, the pace of the song increasing. People danced around them, their long metal necklaces jangling as they did, only adding to the rhythm.

Val and Apollo watched in awe as the small village turned into something more. One moving body.

Then a voice came out. Singing above all the dancing and pipes.

It was the leader’s daughter. Clear and sweet.

Never had Val felt a group of people with one mind. The joy spread through her all the way to the tips of her fingers.

Spurred by the same feeling, Apollo rubbed her fingers.

Val looked over to him. His eyes firmly fixed on her. Again, the weight of his stare trapped her.

“How does your leg feel?” he asked solemnly.

Val looked down at her dress and frowned. “Not at all,” she said and smiled at him.

“Good.”

Apollo stood and walked around to the front of her chair. With ease he lifted her into his arms, careful with how he moved her leg.

She laughed loudly as he did, drawing the attention of several around them. They only smiled and nodded.

“What are you doing?” she said and looked up from the princess hold he had her in.

He smiled warmly down at her.

“I’m dancing with the most beautiful woman here.”

Her heart thumped as he twirled her around, letting her feel the thrum of the people. Their emotions swept through her. Unified happiness.

Chapter Eleven

Warm and happy, Val smiled up at Apollo. They had been dancing for some time. Maybe calling it dancing was a bit much. Really it just meant that he would twirl her around in his arms. Eventually he set her on her own feet when the music slowed, and they swayed quietly back and forth.

The night was magical.

“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.

Val blushed at his words. He always said that to her, and for some reason, it made her feel like a fake. Beautiful people didn’t work with electronics. They didn’t have short hair or get stains on their clothes.

She looked down and shook her head.

“This dress is beautiful,” she said quietly.

Val yelped as Apollo swept her up in his arms again.

“What are you doing?” she nearly shouted.

Several of the villagers smiled at them. Some of the younger girls giggled at the display.

Apollo grunted and carried her away from the party.

“I’m going to show you just how beautiful you are,” he growled.

The rumble from his chest vibrated through her body and made her slick with need.

He took in a deep breath and picked up the pace. After being together for a month, she would have thought she’d be used to him smelling her excitement, but every time it made her blush.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the hut they would call theirs for the night. Once inside he gently set her back on her feet.

Val backed up as he moved closer to her, his eyes glowing like bright amber moons. “Shouldn’t we be moving on to meet the others?”

Apollo’s growl was the only response he offered.

Val stumbled a little as the back of her legs bumped into the bed. His arms were there for her. Ready to catch her. Protecting her.

“Why are you always trying to get away from me?” he asked.

She stared up at him, his face illuminated by the glow of his eyes. Her hand cupped his cheeks.

“You are more than I could have ever hoped for,” she said sadly. “Knowing I can’t give you the family you need just eats at me.”

Apollo growled loudly and moved his face just inches from her own.

“I have you,” he said loudly. “That’s enough.”

Without another word, his mouth closed on hers.

She wanted him. She always wanted him, but this was different. She was his. Flaws and all, she was his to keep.

Val kissed him back with all the love she could, tangling her hands in his hair. Her nails bit into his scalp as she tried to pull him as close as she could in their embrace.

Apollo pulled back, breathless.

Val raised her arms over her head. He chuckled a little and pulled the lovely dress off her body.

He gently pushed her onto the bed.

She could hear him doing something and gasped in surprise as his naked body slid up her own. With ease, he moved her panties down her legs, careful not to bump the bandage.

His hands glided over her ribs and circled to her back. As if he’d been doing it his whole life, Apollo unsnapped her bra and tossed it across the room.

Now naked, they moved freely over one another, feeling and rubbing their bare skin.

Val pressed light kisses against his neck, feathering them along. He wrapped his arms around her middle and rolled until she sat comfortably on top. Her thighs spread over him, pressing her center against his hard cock.

Not moving that part of her body, she continued her light kisses on his chest. Loving the way he groaned and tried to shift to make her move, she smiled against his skin.

“Val,” he said.

She grinned.

“Yes?”

He groaned as she moved her hips over his, his head centered at her entrance.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

Val leaned down to his ear.

“I thought that’s what I was doing,” she whispered.

She slowly slid down on him, pushing his hard cock deep inside.

Apollo gritted his teeth as she moved her body slowly down his length, pushing him inside a little more with each movement. His hands found her hips, and he rolled with her. Looking down, he stared at her angelic face.

“Making love,” he said and slid himself deep inside, rotating his hips as he did.

Val ran her nails down his arms and moaned loudly.

“I will always make love to you,” he whispered.

She stilled and looked up at him. Her hands around his neck, she pulled him down for a kiss.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Apollo frowned, not quite sure what she meant.

She kissed him again and hugged his body against her own, so they were no longer looking at one another.

“I’ll make love to you always,” she said.

He jumped away to look at her.

She smiled up at him.

“You’ll marry me?” he asked, not quite sure if he really could go through another rejection.

She nibbled her lip and nodded. “You know I can’t give you more than myself, but maybe if I give you everything I have, that will be enough.”

Apollo crushed her with a kiss.

Filled with love, he moved inside her. The moan she let out only showed she’d forgotten the position they were in.

He sped up, thrusting into her again and again. Her inner muscles squeezed him as she neared her release. He could feel his own release mounting.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His control slipping, Apollo slapped wildly against her wet pussy.

His cock swelled inside her, her release only making his own that much more enjoyable.

He twitched inside her as he pumped his release deep inside.

“I love you,” he mumbled into her ear. “Always.”

Apollo rolled over and pulled her tightly against him. Her body was already limp from exhaustion.

“Sleep,” he said when she tried to roll over.

He kissed the back of her head as they both drifted off to sleep.

* * *

It was early when Val woke and patted Apollo’s empty side of the bed. She scanned the room and found the clothes she had been wearing when she arrived had been washed and neatly folded.

Water and medicine had been placed on the table by the bed. She smiled at his consideration. Always thinking of her.

She swallowed the pills and dressed.

Her leg wasn’t nearly as sore as it had been the day before, but she was glad they had something to ride. There was no way she’d be able to make it walking miles through the jungle.

She stepped outside and covered her eyes to fight against the bright sun. Under the shade of her hand, her eyes widened with surprise.

Apollo stood just outside, flowers in hand. She gasped when he thrust them into her hands.

Michua, his daughter and several of the other villagers stood on the sides of the path they had created with their bodies.

“What’s going on?” she said just above a whisper.

Apollo smiled warmly. Waves of love radiated off him.

“We’re getting married,” he said and took her hand to pull her along.

They stood in front of Michua, and she looked around. When she came back to Apollo, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Going to make sure I don’t back out this time?” she asked and raised a brow.

He nodded. “Pretty much.”

His face was smiling, but she could sense the unease resting just below the surface. Despite the display, he was worried she’d try to run. Really, considering her past with him, he wasn’t all that wrong to be worried.

Val placed her hand in his and squeezed to reassure him.

Michua said a few words in his language. The crowd around them mumbled in agreement. Val looked to Apollo, who smiled brightly.

She jumped as the old man’s hand came in front of her face with red on it.

“Relax,” Apollo said. “It’s just paint. It symbolizes our union.”

A few dots on her face and he was gone. Michua repeated the same process for Apollo.

When the hand pulled away, Apollo took her hand in his and slipped on the lovely ring she’d turned down before.

“Always,” he said.

She stared at the glittery ring sparkling in the sun.

Val looked up to him, tears in her eyes.

“Always,” she whispered back.

He bent and placed a sweet kiss to her lips.

She pulled back and grinned at him as the villagers cheered.

“Now let’s go kick some bad guy ass,” she said.

Apollo grinned back at her.

“A woman after my own heart.”

Chapter Twelve

The little motorcycle buzzed through the jungle. Luckily for them, Michua knew a path that would take them where they needed to go. It was just wide enough for the bike, but the bumpy terrain still made it a rough ride.

Val held on tightly to Apollo, rubbing the new ring with her thumb.

Married.

The words sounded weird in her head but comfortable, like she had been waiting for him her whole life.

“We’re almost there,” Apollo shouted to her.

She looked around his massive back at the path ahead. They had only been on the road for a little over an hour, but she would be glad to get off. The little bike wasn’t made for two people or even a single Apollo-sized person.

Not to mention her ass hurt from all the bumps.

He brought the bike to a halt, and she climbed off, glad for the relief.

Apollo pulled out the GPS and stared at the screen. Val leaned in to take a look. They could see the red dot clearly on the screen, not far from where they were.

A faint light flickered on the edge of the map.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the flickering light.

Apollo frowned.

“Don’t know,” he said and slapped the GPS against his hand a few times.

When they looked back at the screen, the light was gone.

“Fixed it,” he said with a smile.

Val snorted loudly. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

His grin only grew. “We can’t all be as computer smart as I am.”

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips before his expression grew serious.

“You ready for this?” he asked, concern lacing his words.

She nodded. It was clear from the start what they would be doing. In the end, she was just getting them inside and hanging back. The hybrids would do all the heavy work.

“I got this,” she said firmly. “Now we better meet up with Sol before he decides to take off pieces of you that I rather like.”

* * *

The rendezvous was easier than Apollo expected. The men were all ready when they arrived, and Sol was going over the plan.

He glared at Apollo several times, and he knew he was in for more ass chewing later. But right now they all had the mission.