Chapter Sixteen
“I don’t want to burden you with it.”
Jost frowned at him. “You listened to me, so I’m here for you and I might be able to give you a different perspective. “
Apollo hadn’t considered that. “Okay. I have a family in my dazzle who aren’t happy I’m not doing things the way they want me to. They weren’t happy when I became dazzle leader, and there are rumors they want to merge our pack with another one that they have friends or family in. It would push them up the hierarchy.”
“The Helmers.”
“How did you know?” Apollo clasped Jost’s hand between his. “Have they said something to you?” Apollo would rip them a new one if they’d said something mean to his mate.
“Not to me, but they haven’t been nice to some of the pride. They’ve made it known they don’t want us being here, but the rest of you have been so nice and welcoming.”
“They’re causing me some issues.” Apollo sat back in his seat and stared out of the window. “If it carries on, they’ll leave me no choice.”
“How is the rest of the dazzle? Do they support you?”
“Yes. We had a vote recently and only two voted against me.” He gave Jost a quick smile.
Jost returned his smile. “I wonder who they were.”
“Hmm. Who knows? The others have spoken to me privately and said they have no issue with how I’m running the dazzle.”
“That’s good to know. Do you know what you’re going to do about them?”
Apollo sighed and shook his head, briefly closing his eyes. “Fuck, no.” He opened his eyes and blew out his breath. “I want to give them another chance, but that will be on top of the chances they’ve had. It’s never a huge issue, you know. It’s always minor, but done in a way to undermine me as leader. Little digs and quiet words about how I’m performing. I want to expand the dazzle. A member told me about another dazzle that has too many elders and the leader wants to step down. But can I invite them in with the Helmers?”
“You want to be able to offer them a place to stay and live their lives without having the Helmers undermining your every decision. It wouldn’t be a good dazzle, would it, if they joined and had to witness them?”
“You get it.” Apollo exhaled heavily, then rubbed his forehead with his fingers, a headache developing. “I have no reason to force them out. Not right now.”
“But they may give you one if the rumors you heard are true. Whatever you decide, I’m here with you.”
“Have I told you how lucky I am to have you as my mate?” Apollo smiled when Jost ducked his head, his blond hair falling forward. “I am, because you are my gorgeous, kind, sexy, intelligent mate and I am so lucky to have found you. I hope to make you happy, too.”
“I am happy.” Jost lifted his head, his light green eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “You think I’m sexy?”
“I don’t go around sending photos to just any omega.”
Jost blushed so prettily. “I’ve never done it before.”
“Yeah? I’d like more until I see you naked.” Jost blinked, his lips parting. “Too honest?”
“Nervous.” He shrugged, and Apollo wanted to hold him tight and chase all his fears away.
“I think we’ve already established the ex was a dick.” Apollo held Jost’s hands in his, his fingers stroking Jost’s soft skin. “But if he hadn’t been an abusive bastard, I probably wouldn’t be here with you now,” he added softly. “You’d probably be with him, living a great life with someone who loved you. I hate that you went through that and if I ever got my hands on him…”
“We’re here now because he is the way he is. I wish he could have seen me the way you do.”
Apollo reached across the table and stroked his fingers over Jost’s cheek. “I won’t ever hurt you like that. We’ll argue at some point and maybe upset each other, but I will never ever lay a hand on you that way.” Apollo winked. “Unless you’re naughty. I may put you over my knee and spank you.” He wriggled his eyebrows, then grinned when Jost blushed.
“Don’t say things like that.” Jost tugged his hands free and rubbed his cheeks, then whispered, “People like that, you know.”
“I do know.”
Jost blinked at him, his lips parting. “Really?” he breathed. “How?”
“I had an ex who was into it. He liked to be spanked.” Apollo shrugged but kept a careful eye on Jost, whose wide eyes were focused on Apollo’s. “Have you ever thought about it?”
“Did you, you know, spank him?”
Apollo licked his lips and titled his head, trying to read Jost. So far all he could tell was that Jost was interested in this, but for what reason? Was he curious because he thought it was strange or curious because he might want to try? “I did.”
“And?” Jost stared intently at him and Apollo leaned on the table, watching him. “Apollo?”
“What are you asking me? Did I enjoy it?” Jost nodded. “Why do you want to know?”
“Just because…” Jost mumbled, ducking his head.
“I did enjoy it. Would you want me to do that to you, given your past?”
Shrugging, Jost sighed and lifted his head. “Probably not, but…” he licked his lips and looked away. “I always wondered what it would feel like.”
“Maybe one day in the future when you trust me, we can try.”
“I trust you now.” Jost’s eyes widened, and he blinked rapidly. “Oh, I… well. I guess I do.”
“That surprised you?” The shocked looked on Jost’s face at his own admission made Apollo smile and want to kiss his mate, but they had to go home soon because they both had work in the morning.
“It did. I hadn’t realized. I do trust you. We’ve not known each other long.”
“We’re mates. And I want you to trust me like I trust you. I want you to know I’d never do anything to cause you pain, and I’ll always be there when you need me.”
“I know.” Jost rubbed his chest, then glanced at the clock on the wall. Sighing, he murmured, “I should go.”
“Me too, but I don’t want to.”
“Can we meet again for another coffee?” Jost stood and waited for Apollo, who placed a hand on Jost’s back as they walked outside. Apollo checked the area as they walked toward their cars and smiled at Jost when he repeated the question.
“Sorry. I was making sure the area was safe, and yes, we can meet again for coffee.”
“Safe?” Apollo nodded. “For me. You don’t have to do that, but it does feel nice that you do.” He stood on tiptoe, his face tilted up, and Apollo gave him the kiss he clearly wanted. Sliding his lips over Jost’s, he captured the sigh Jost gave and let his tongue swoop inside to tease Jost’s. Jost’s arms circled his waist, pulling Apollo closer, and when their bodies touched, Apollo could feel Jost’s hardness on his thigh. “Apollo,” Jost gasped.
“Fuck, I can’t wait to see you naked, to worship your body, to taste you again.”
“Please,” Jost moaned before sucking Apollo’s tongue inside his mouth. Apollo shuddered and slid his hands down over Jost’s ass, grabbing the mounds and pulling him closer still. He could feel the thick length of Jost’s dick, and he wanted to drop to his knees and worship it.
“Let me taste you again, Jost. Please,” he begged in between kisses.
“Yes.” Jost pulled back and grabbed Apollo’s hand, dragging him over to his car. “Front or back?”
“Back will be easier, I think.”
Jost giggled, then opened the rear door and got inside, moving over to make space for Apollo. He bit his lip as he popped the button on his jeans and lowered the zipper, the sound loud in the quiet car. Apollo watched, transfixed, his mouth watering, and when Jost pulled his dick out, Apollo groaned and moved so he could lean over it and lick up the long, thick length. It wasn’t an easy position to be in, but it was worth it when Jost gave a long, loud moan.
Jost’s fingers tugged on Apollo’s hair and Apollo sucked the head into his mouth, letting his tongue swirl around it before swallowing him down. The long thick length stretched his mouth and throat, and he hummed, then groaned when Jost’s hips bucked, pushing more of his dick down Apollo’s throat.
Apollo pulled up, then flicked the head with his tongue before holding it up and bobbing his head up and down. Jost cried out, his body in constant motion until his fingers tightened on Apollo’s hair. “Apollo!”
Apollo moaned when come spurted into his mouth and he swallowed as much as he could, then proceeded to lick Jost clean when he’d finished orgasming. He moved up Jost’s body and softly kissed him. “Hey.”
Jost sighed and pulled him down into a long, wet kiss, then murmured, “Let me do that to you.”
“You can when we find a more comfortable position, because next time we do something like this, I want there to be nothing in the way.”
Jost shuddered. “Yes. I want to touch you, too.”
“God, you are so fucking sexy.” Apollo kissed Jost again and lay over him as best he could, savoring every sound his mate made. Jost arched up and sighed when Apollo finally pulled back. “When are you free?”
“Tomorrow?” Jost gave him a small shy smile and Apollo couldn’t resist kissing him again.
“Can you stay for longer?”
Jost pushed at Apollo, so he moved back, letting Jost sit up. “You mean stay over?”
“I’d love for you to stay over, but if it’s too much for you, then it doesn’t happen, and me wanting you to stay over doesn’t mean I want to have sex with you. Well, I do, but I can wait. I’m a grown shifter capable of resisting my sexy as sin mate.”
“Me? Sexy as sin? Look at you all tall and broad and hunky. You make me ache.” Jost slapped his hand over his mouth.
“Do I? That’s good to know. I want to make you ache. I want you so desperate you rip my clothes off and take me any way you want.”
“Apollo,” Jost gasped. “You can’t say things like that.”
“Why not? I mean it. I can’t wait to see you naked and taste you all over. Of course, I want to have sex with you, but there is so much we can do before then. Fuck, I want to feast on your body. Taste you everywhere.”
Jost whimpered, his breathing speeding up. “Apollo.”
“Say you’ll stay over. Let me pleasure you in ways you’ve probably never experienced.”
“I want to…” Jost swallowed, then nodded. “If I want to go, you’ll let me.”
“I won’t be offended by what you just said, given your history. You only have to ask, and I’ll ensure it happens.”
“I didn’t mean—” Apollo cut Jost off by placing a finger over his lips. He smiled, then pulled his finger back when Jost bit it. “I love how you always put me first, but don’t stop me from speaking.”
Apollo’s eyes flicked between Jost’s, and he nodded. “I won’t, and I apologize for doing so.”
“You didn’t know.” Jost shrugged. “And now that you know, I know you won’t do it again because that’s not who you are.” Jost leaned forward and pecked Apollo’s lips. “I like you, Apollo Jadeson. I’m really happy to have you as my mate.”
“I guess that makes us both happy. Say, about this weekend. Want to go somewhere and shift, then we can run in our animal forms?”
“What if I attack you?” Jost waggled his eyebrows.
“I think I’d like being attacked by you as long as it ended up with me being able to kiss you.”
“I think I can manage that.” Jost suddenly yawned, and Apollo knew it was time for his mate to go home. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s getting late and we both need to be at work early tomorrow.” Apollo kissed his mate slowly but thoroughly, leaving Jost breathless when he pulled back. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
Jost beamed up at him, then returned his kiss. Okay, they could leave in ten minutes.