Chapter Eleven
L aughing, Jost leaned into Apollo’s side, then smiled up at him. “You screamed so loud. I think they heard you in the next state.”
“I’m surprised you heard me screaming with all the noise you were making.” Apollo poked Jost in the side, who giggled and danced away. Jost shook his head at him. “Yes, you were. You were screaming at the top of your lungs.” Apollo coughed, then mimicked Jost, “Oh God! Aaarrgghhh. Apollo! Save me!”
Jost spluttered, then pushed Apollo, who barely moved. “I so did not.”
“You so did. I thought I was going to have to take you to the little boy’s room to make sure you hadn’t wet yourself.” Apollo grinned, then burst out laughing as Jost glared at him.
“I don’t think I like you very much right now.”
“So, no waffles then?”
“Well,” Jost tapped his lips with his finger. “Maybe one with ice cream and chocolate might make me like you again. Might.”
Apollo took his hand and pulled him toward the waffle shop. “I’ll buy you two, then.”
Jost bit his lip and stared down at their joined hands. It had seemed so natural for Apollo to take hold of his hand, and Jost didn’t want to let go because it made him feel good inside. Jenrick hadn’t held his hand. He’d told Jost he wasn’t into all that stuff, like holding hands or kissing in public, and because Jost had loved him, he’d gone along with it to keep Jenrick happy. Inside it had hurt because he was an affectionate shifter and loved showing the person he was with how much he cared for them.
Apollo squeezed his hand, then released it. “Sorry about that.”
Jost reached for his hand and gave Apollo a slight smile. “It’s nice, but if you—”
“I want to as long—”
“Yes. Let’s hold hands.” Jost grinned when Apollo chuckled. “I like to hold hands.”
“So, do I. It’s been a while for me. My last relationship didn’t last, and I decided to take a break. Similar to you, but for vastly different reasons.” Apollo slowed and turned to face Jost. “If I do anything—”
“I know. I’ll tell you, but you’re so considerate of my feelings that I don’t think I’ll need to say anything.” Jost licked his lips, then gave in to the urge to kiss Apollo. It was a barely there kiss and over as soon as it began, but he’d done it. Ducking his head, Jost could feel his cheeks heat up. “Two waffles,” he whispered.
“I think I can splurge for two waffles, and Jost?” Jost looked up at Apollo, who leaned close to his ear. “You can kiss me whenever you want. I won’t say no to a kiss from you.” A quick peck to Jost’s cheek and then Apollo was tugging him along to the waffle shop. Jost sighed softly, smiling as he walked next to Apollo. “So, two waffles with chocolate and ice cream? Do you want any of that stuff sprinkled on top?”
“Yes.” Jost nodded, then grinned when Apollo laughed. “I like all of it.”
“You have a sweet tooth?” Apollo tugged Jost inside the waffle shop and found an empty booth for them to sit at. Picking up the menu, he passed it to Jost. “I’m glad we’ve done all the big rides. I wouldn’t want to be sitting next to you in case you throw up.”
Jost gasped. “I would never throw up after eating waffles.” Just the thought had Jost shocked. Why eat all that sugary goodness and then throw up? Sacrilege!
“That’s good to know,” Apollo chuckled. “I’m having caramel sauce on mine with fudge pieces and ice cream as well.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I might have one of those, then one with chocolate chunks.” Jost scanned the menu and nodded. He knew what he wanted.
“What do you want to drink?” The waiter turned and Apollo gave their orders, then a soda for him. Jost bit his lip, then asked for water. When the waiter left, Apollo asked, “What next? We’ve done the Fruits on a Loop, Gravity, and Tsunami. What should we do when we’ve finished eating?”
“I’d like to try to win a teddy.” Jost could feel his cheeks flush again, and he sighed when Apollo chuckled softly.
“I’d like to win you one. I’m not bad at shooting things.” Apollo gave Jost a shy smile that was strangely endearing to him. This big alpha looking shy and uncertain, and Jost reached across the table to hold his hand. Apollo looked up at him and Jost breathed in, seeing the way his pupils expanded. He felt his body react, and he licked his lips before letting go of Apollo’s hand. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t. I want to… I’m…” Jost inhaled and whispered, “He hurt me that way. I never told my parents. They think he only hit me.” Jost stared at the table, seeing the white veneer shining brightly shimmer as tears flooded his eyes. He blinked them away, then choked back a soft cry. “Sorry.”
“If I ever get my hands on him…”
“No, please. Don’t do anything. He isn’t worth it.” Jost looked up, gasping at the anger in Apollo’s eyes. Taking his hand in his own, Jost murmured, “He’s gone and I’m here now. I want to get to know you. I just need to go slow.”
“I’m good with slow. I’m good with whatever speed you want to go at.” Apollo turned his hand over and threaded their fingers together. “If I go too fast, you let me know.”
“I want to… with you, but…” Jost exhaled and shook his head. “I’m stuck.”
“I understand. It takes time to overcome what happened. I’m here if you ever want to talk about it. I might harbor thoughts of ripping his head from his body,” Apollo flashed a quick smile at Jost that made Jost’s lips twitch in response. “But I know when to shut up and listen.”
“I really like you.” Jost’s lips parted, then he looked away. “Can’t believe I said that.”
“And I’m not letting you take it back. You said it, and I heard it, and I’m keeping it.”
Jost chuckled, then let go of Apollo’s hand when their waffles and drinks arrived. Jost’s eyes widened when he saw the size of his waffles, then he grinned up at Apollo, who laughed. “These are so big!” Jost exclaimed.
Apollo paused, his eyes darkening as he watched Jost scoop up some ice cream and suck it off the spoon. Jost may have done it on purpose, and he let his tongue slide over the spoon, then licked his lips. Apollo fidgeted on the bench and then coughed. “Naughty,” he murmured.
“I want to be with you,” Jost whispered, then quickly looked away. The way Apollo watched him had him heating up inside, and he liked the feeling, but was scared at the same time. Poor Apollo. He must be all over the place because of the way Jost behaved. “Sorry. I’m confusing.”
“No. You feel as you should, but those feelings probably make you back away as well.” Apollo sucked some ice cream off his spoon, making Jost gasp. “I like being teased as long as I can tease back.”
“If that’s… okay?” Jost watched Apollo suck more ice cream off his spoon and whimpered. “That’s so bad.”
“But it feels good to tease you like this, my mate.”
Jost raised his eyes to Apollo’s, seeing how dark his green eyes were. “Mate,” he murmured.
“Yes, so we can tease each other all we want. Eat your waffles, Jost, because the ice cream melts.” Apollo licked his lips and leaned across the table. “Tease me.”
Jost’s heart hammered in his chest, and he scooped up some ice cream and let his tongue slide over it before licking the spoon clean. Apollo moaned and his hand disappeared beneath the table. “Are you…” Jost waved a hand at him. “You know.”
“Hard, Jost. Am I hard for you?” Jost whimpered and nodded. “Why yes, I am. You are gorgeous and I’m lucky you’re my mate.”
“Have you seen you?” Jost blurted out.
Apollo shrugged. “I’m more interested in seeing you.” Jost inhaled swiftly, aware of how hard he’d become. So hard it hurt, and he wanted Apollo to do things he wasn’t ready for. “I can scent you,” Apollo growled. He blinked, sat back, and took several deep breaths. Jost watched his chest move and realized he need to calm down as well. This wasn’t the time or the place to be getting aroused the way he was doing. He wanted Apollo. Wanted to feel his perfect lips on his own, feel Apollo’s hands on his body. It made him tight with need, but his stomach dropped at the same time. He wasn’t ready just yet, but he knew he would be.
“Soon,” he mumbled, and ate some of his waffle, looking anywhere but at Apollo.
“Soon. Eat your waffles. I have a teddy to win. My mate wants one and as a good mate, I have to try.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Jost sucked his lips in at the smouldering look Apollo gave him. “Okay.” What he was saying okay to he wasn’t sure, but he knew for certain he would be claiming a kiss when the night was over.
The rest of their dessert passed quickly, and soon Jost stood next to Apollo as he picked up the gun and fired at the rabbits. He knocked them down with ease and Jost stared at him as he handed him the fat purple dragon Jost had wanted. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
“This is America, and as a prey shifter, it’s always a good idea to have other ways to defend yourself. Trust me. A predator shifter will stop when you shift and point a gun at their head.”
“Have you had that happen to you? A shifter hunt you?”
“Once when I was younger. Have a scar on my knee because of it. I managed to run back to my things, shift and point a gun at the tiger. It skidded to a halt and shifted.” Apollo smiled. “We may have spent the rest of the night together.”
“Really? That’s… wow. Really?” Apollo’s experience brought home to Jost the lack of his own.
“Yeah. She was pretty.”
“I’ve kissed girls, but I’ve only ever been with him.” Jost bit the corner of his lip and took a step away from Apollo. What could he possibly have to offer Apollo? He was younger and had no experience compared to—
“I’m older than you, so I’m going to have been with other people.” Jost felt Apollo’s finger under his chin, lifting his head up, and he blinked up at him, seeing his beautiful dark green eyes flicker over his face, then settle on his lips. “You are gorgeous, mate. There is no one I see but you.”
“Apollo,” Jost gasped, then gasped again when Apollo’s lips briefly slid over his own.
“Want another teddy?”
Jost stared at him, licked his lips, then nodded. “Please.”
Taking hold of Jost’s hand, Apollo tugged him over to another stall and proceeded to win him a teddy bear. Giggling, Jost carried them both, then yawned. “Time to go home.”
“I’ve had a really good night.”
“Yeah? Where would you like to go next time? I would suggest not ice skating. Maybe one of those adventure parks where we can spend the day climbing things and go zip lining.”
“I’d love to do that. Can we?”
“How about Sunday if I can get us both tickets?” Apollo slung his arm over Jost’s shoulder and Jost snuggled close, holding his teddies to his chest. “We could spend the day there and get something to eat, too.”
“I’d like that. We should get there early too, so we have more time.”
“Then we will.” Apollo kissed the top of Jost’s head. “I’m looking forward to spending the day with you.”
“So am I.” Jost smiled and hugged Apollo. He couldn’t wait to see his mate again.