Chapter 10 #2
“Hello, Fiona Katz. It is a pleasure to meet you in person. I have long awaited this. What seems to be causing you and Sentinel Keir such sorrow?”
Fiona shakily bowed her head and kept it there. “You honor me, Wisest One, the Great Healer and father of us all.”
“Please, raise yourself. You are the intended of Sentinel Keir. You do not need to glorify me. Tell me how I may be of service.”
Fiona stood straight and exchanged a worried glance with me.
I took the lead. “Apollo, I was stupid and said things in anger that I didn’t mean to her.
She rightly took exception. I’m trying to convince her that I want to be her mate and that I will treat her with care, love, respect, and will be faithful to her.
She’s uncertain I’m telling the truth. I made the vow that if I turned out to be a liar, you would strike me dead on the spot. ”
I summarized it, even though I knew he could easily read our minds and knew the entire story. But when it came to our God, he would rather hear us tell him.
“A very serious claim, but a good one. Yes, if you were to betray your mate bond with your fated mate, I would do as you asked.
To betray your love is unacceptable. My Sentinels are honorable and keep their word.
Fiona, I can see into the heart and mind of all my creations, and I know that Sentinel Keir is telling the truth.
He will not betray you. He will love, protect, and deeply cherish you and your children together.
And I can see that you will do the same to him.
“You two are fated mates, the most revered and desirable mating among my children. Your mating has been written long before you were born, Fiona. The day you entered this world, I saw the bond to Sentinel Keir light up. However, if it makes you feel more secure, know that I will strike him dead if he betrays you.”
As Apollo finished, he placed his hand on my chest where his mark was. It grew hot. Then, he touched Fiona over her heart. She gasped. Apollo smiled and nodded.
“It is as it should be. Be not afraid of this. Rejoice and embrace it. There is danger all around us. A war has just begun. We need all shifters and supernaturals to be strong and carry on the next generation. You are stronger together than apart. You will help lead others in fighting and protecting. Your bond is already strong. You only must recognize it and let it grow without impediment. I bless your union.”
As his last word registered, his hand lifted, and another flash of bright light followed, then he was gone.
As he disappeared, the sounds surrounding us came back.
It was as if someone had turned them off while Apollo was here, and then turned them back on as he left.
A quick scan showed none of the people several yards away were paying us any attention.
“Keir, did that just happen? Did I meet, talk to, get blessed and touched by the god Apollo? Or do I have a brain tumor and I’m hallucinating?” Fiona’s voice was strained and shaky.
Unable to stop myself, I closed the distance between us. I pulled her into my arms. She came willingly. Our arms wrapped around each other.
“You don’t have a tumor. Apollo was really here. It’s startling and hard to believe at first. But after a while, other than the blinding light show when he arrives and leaves, it becomes more commonplace. We always show him deference, but with us, he’s much less formal.”
“He said we’re fated mates. To trust each other and know you won’t hurt me,” she whispered. I wasn’t sure if she was saying it to me or to herself.
“He did. And I want that more than anything. I know I messed up. I’ll make up for that. But I need you to say yes to me. Yes, to becoming my mate. And to make sure I don’t screw things up, I need to know something.” I paused to see what she’d say.
Her head tilted back so she could look up at me.
“What do you need to know?”
“Your past boyfriends, what did they do that made you break up? I don’t want to make those mistakes.”
Her expression was hesitant. I wondered why. She took a few moments to answer.
“Keir, I can’t tell you that…because I’ve never had a boyfriend or a lover.”
I stood there absorbing what she said. Her look of apprehension forced me to say something.
“You’ve never had a boyfriend or lover.” Now I was the one repeating myself. “That means you’ve never…”
“Never had sex. Yes, that’s what it means. I know for an experienced man that has to be awful. You’re used to lovers who know what they’re doing. Those who can tell you what they need and want. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Why the hell would you be sorry?” I asked gruffly.
“Because it’ll make things not as…good for you. I’ve thought about that over the years, the inexperience being a disappointment to my future mate. But no matter who I tried to let myself have sex with, just to learn, I couldn’t do it.”
Without a word, I sank onto the bench, and I took her with me. She ended up right where I wanted her—on my lap. I cupped her chin, holding her head so she had to remain staring up at me.
“I need you to listen carefully. I don’t know what other men would prefer, and I don’t care.
As for me, I love that you have never been with anyone.
That you couldn’t give yourself to someone for the mere sake of learning.
I can promise you, Fiona, that when we’re together, in that way, I’ll be more than satisfied.
The prospect of teaching you not only what I like, but showing you what you want and need is fucking exciting and so damn hot,” I growled.
Her gasp sounded when she felt my cock hardening beneath her ass. I waited for her to ask me to let her stand. Instead, she shocked me by wiggling her bottom on it, causing me to grow larger and groan. Desire exploded throughout my body, but I resisted taking any action about it.
“Can I kiss you?” I asked.
“Please do,” she replied.
I lowered my head and captured her mouth, which she was raising as far as she could while remaining seated.
That taste of hers made me think of strawberries, honey, and warm spices like cardamom and cinnamon every time.
I pleasured her lips with mine and my teeth.
As I nibbled, she opened and let me slide my tongue inside her mouth, where hers met it.
Fiona twined her tongue around mine, sucking.
The same flavors were more intense inside. I hungrily consumed her.
It was something hitting my leg that made me reluctantly break contact. I glanced down to find a soccer ball there. Then I heard a kid’s shout.
A boy around six came charging up to us. His dad, I assume, was coming behind him. The boy snatched up the ball and then said, “Sorry, mister. You can keep kissing the pretty lady.” He grinned.
I grinned back. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Have fun with your ball.”
His dad had stopped about five feet away. He gave me a nod of acknowledgment and then ushered his son away. I looked back at Fiona.
“I want to kiss you for hours, but it might be best if we go where it’s safe. We’re out in the open with no one to guard our backs. Kissing you makes me forget everything.”
“Yes, you’re right. I forgot where we were.” As she tried to pull away, I held her. She gave me a puzzled look.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Does that kiss mean that you’ll forgive me and work with me to make us a true bonded pair? Will you be my mate, Fiona Katz?”
“I’m still a little miffed at you, but it’ll go away. But don’t ever act that way again, Keir. I won’t tolerate it. As for accepting our mate bond, the answer is yes, but I need time for us to get to know each other better before we become…intimate.”
“I can give you that, but I hope it doesn’t mean we can’t kiss. That was fantastic,” I told her.
She blushed, then gave me a satisfied smirk. “No, kissing is allowed. Now, let’s get out of here before we shock more little kids.”
I chuckled. I stood holding her, then let her feet touch the ground. “Are you ready to head home? Galen and Gal have been anxious to see you.”
“Oh Lord, I forgot. I’ll have to tell them what happened,” she groaned.
“You don’t need to give specifics. Only assure them we’ve worked things out, are proceeding as mates, and that we have the assurance of Apollo that this is meant to be.”
“They’ll lose it when they find out I saw and spoke to Apollo. Let’s go. I’ve got to tell them!”
Her enthusiasm ignited mine. We walked hand in hand to where we left the cars.
I gave her a short, though intense, kiss before settling her into her car.
She drove ahead of me so I could keep watch over her.
As we traveled the distance to her house, I kept giving thanks that I hadn’t destroyed us. Apollo sure knew when to show himself.