He stopped moving his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer.
She snuggled even deeper.
Then he felt her draw in a deep breath before she murmured, “Just so you know, honey, if your intention in bringing me to this world was to give me better, swordfights and bloodshed notwithstanding, you’re succeeding.”
His chest warmed, his heart squeezed, his arm around her got tight and he felt a rumble roll up his chest.
But instead of howling his elation, Apollo put his other hand to her jaw, tipping it so his mouth could crush down on hers.
He took her open-mouthed and wet. He did it deeply. He did it thoroughly. He drank from her, taking as much as he wanted for as long as he wanted. And as long as he wanted meant he did it a bloody long time.
When he finally released her mouth, she gasped, “And it keeps getting better.”
“Cease talking, Madeleine. The children are expecting me for breakfast, and if you don’t, we’ll both get no sleep tonight, I’ll eventually sleep late and they’ll eat alone.”
He watched her press her lips together.
He shook his head, but he did it quelling a smile, before he rolled to his back, taking her with him so she rolled over him.
He turned out the lamp by the bed.
He rolled them back and arranged them in the exact position they were in.
She cuddled deeper and mumbled, “’Night, baby.”
His arms got tighter and he whispered, “Goodnight, my dove.”
He felt her face move against his chest and he knew it was with a smile
Apollo held her close and within minutes, he felt her sleep.
Just so you know, honey, if your intention is to give me better…you’re succeeding.
And there it was.
It was indeed he she saw when she looked into his eyes while he was taking her, or any other time she did it.
And he was giving her better.
He didn’t quell that smile. He let himself have it before he rolled into her and joined her in sleep.
* * * * *
Three hours later, Apollo opened his eyes to a mostly dark room, the firelight only casting a dim glow.
Maddie’s soft na**d body was pressed to him, her cheek on his shoulder, her arm heavy across his stomach. He felt her warm weight. Her closeness. Her soft breaths against his skin.
But in that moment, having her as he wanted, his mind could finally move to other things.
And when it did, his lips whispered into the dark, “Why did they not use magic?”
Chapter Fifteen
Happier
I pulled the nightgown over my head and let it slide down my body, the hem of sapphire satin swirling around my ankles.
Apollo was in the bedroom undressing for bed. I was in the dressing room off the bedroom, doing the opposite.