Epilogue
A Lifetime with Her Valentine
Maya rolled over and wrapped an arm around Apollo as she buried her face into his chest. His hand moved up and down her back as he leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.
“I think we need to slip out and make sure we are where we should be when Cosmo and Naomi exit their rooms.”
A groan escaped Maya, and she pressed her face further into his chest. “Do we have to?”
His hand moved to her hip, gently stroking it and making her feel aroused. “If we want to avoid a time paradox, I think it’s necessary.”
Maya looked up at him. “Then why are you turning me on?”
“Because my memories of last night are so vivid, I am ready to relive them.” As if to prove his point, Apollo lifted one of her legs, setting it on his hip. His erection brushed against her lips, teasing her and making sleep all but impossible.
“You have a bit of a sadistic streak in you, Mr. Hart.”
He smiled at her. “I like to call it being effective. You were trying to go back to sleep. Now, you are ready to get moving.”
She reached down and stroked him, taking some satisfaction in the way his eyes closed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “As long as we are both being tortured.”
“Your pain is mine.” Leaning forward, he kissed her lips, then in one motion, he rolled out of bed. He grabbed his pants and started pulling them on. “I suppose you’ll need to actually find some clothing for our return.”
“Now that you have me, I doubt that there will be a problem with my clothing staying in place.”
Apollo’s eyes took in her body. “If you don’t mind, I don’t want to risk anyone else seeing your perfect body again. As much as I don’t want to be jealous, I know that seeing you naked will be hard for nearly anyone to resist.”
Maya’s eyebrows rose. She wanted to say that no one had ever acted on their desire toward her, at least not advances that she couldn’t easily shut down.
However, she found Apollo’s desire to keep this part of her for just him to be appealing.
Especially when she considered how she never wanted another woman to see him naked again.
“Okay,” she said. When she moved to get out of bed, Maya found that her legs were a little sore.
She looked up at Apollo. “Why do my legs hurt?”
He looked at her for a moment, then he sat on the bed next to her. “Because you haven’t used some of those muscles before. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gone on for so long.”
“Don’t you dare,” Maya frowned. “If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I would have wanted to keep going. And I want to do it again. I just … will walking be difficult?”
“I’ll hold you.”
As he helped her stand, Apollo clearly had a difficult time focusing as he leaned over and sucked on her nipple as his hand stroked her inner thigh. Maya stopped him by whispering, “If we are going to get off this island, we need to go run into our friends. Then I am all yours when we get home.”
She felt him swallow as he nodded. Pulling away a little, he helped her over to the dresser.
Unlike her drink, Maya had no trouble finding the clothing she wanted.
It wasn’t long after she finished dressing that the couple arrived at the bed and breakfast. They opened the door, and standing on the other end of the hallway were Cosmo and Naomi.
Between them were some people Maya didn’t know.
All too cheerfully, Cosmo let Maya and Apollo know what he had figured out about the couple and other meddlers. “Good morning, you two crazy love birds. Haven’t seen you since these old folks tried to force the wrong mate on me.”
The people realized what he meant, and they quickly scurried away, as if they feared what Maya and Apollo might do.
Maya was ready to go after them, realizing that she and Cosmo had been pawns in an effort to get a footing in his kingdom.
It was exactly the kind of thing that she had been actively avoiding for most of her life—everyone wanted to use her.
Now they had used a place that brought the right people together to manipulate the situation.
Before she could do anything, though, Maya looked up at Cosmo and Naomi, and the anger seeped out of her.
The happiness on their faces mirrored the way she felt as Apollo gently made circles with his thumb on her hip.
Unlike the dread she had felt when she first learned of the scene, Maya knew that she and Apollo were not acting.
And she couldn’t think of anyone better to share her happiness with than Naomi.
“Good morning, Naomi. You look very well rested.”
Naomi smiled and looked up at Cosmo. “I haven’t slept that soundly in my life. But I dare say, you seem to have already gotten a bit of exercise this morning. You are positively glowing.”
This was not something that the couple had mentioned, and the mention of making love to Apollo caught Maya off guard. She felt the blush in her cheeks as she tried to shrink from under their gaze. “I, um …”
Apollo pulled her to him, then whispered in her ear, “She’s right, you are positively glowing. And I look forward to ensuring you keep that glow. Happy Valentine’s Day, Maya.”
Maya looked into his eyes, and they shone like the sun on a spring day. Leaning forward, she kissed him, then whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Apollo.”
They were broken from their happy little world when Cosmo cried out, “Oh, good grief, man! Get a room for that stuff.”
Apollo looked toward his friend, then rolled his eyes. “You apple.” It was the first time Maya could remember hearing him curse, but it had come out as anything but a bad word. She hid her smile while Apollo and Cosmo bantered.
“That’s why you adore me,” Cosmo said with a smugness that indicated he knew he was right.
Apollo quickly retorted, “Keep telling yourself that, Cosmo. Maybe it’ll come true one day.”
With a dramatic sigh, Cosmo gave Naomi a hurt look. “Did you hear what he said to me? He says he doesn’t love me.”
Maya couldn’t quite make out what Naomi said, but Cosmo made sure that everyone in hearing distance knew when he turned and looked at Apollo.
Apollo finally broke and laughed while shaking his head. “You are absolutely out of control.”
“Diamond straight. If you want, we can take you to a cute little cafe nearby before we head home.”
The other couple seemed to get caught up in their own little world, although they did extend the invitation to Apollo and Maya.
Apollo leaned down and said softly, “You know, we could actually stay here a bit longer. There’s no reason to leave right away, knowing that we’ll get back around a week later.
What do you say we do what we never thought we would want to do? ”
She smiled up at him. “Are you saying that we should give in to fate and allow ourselves to be manipulated? On Valentine’s Day?”
He nuzzled his nose against the shell of her ear, a low rumbling coming from his chest and moving through her body.
A shiver rippled through Maya as she realized how he planned to spend their time together.
Taking his hand and putting it over her heart, she said, “I guess we can be hypocrites for a little while.”
“I wouldn’t say we are hypocrites, just two people who didn’t think we could find love, learning that we don’t know everything.”
Maya placed her head on his shoulder, enjoying his vanilla scent mixed with a muskiness that made her think of the night before. “Oh, I know I’m a hypocrite. My original name was Robin Mortensen, and my family were killers, among other things. And I very nearly went down that path myself.”
He tilted her chin up so that she looked right into his eyes. “But you didn’t, Maya. That name died with your family, and you have a new life. And if you would like, I would be honored if you would take my last name.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean … you want to marry me?”
He nodded.
“Even though I can’t give you children?” She held her breath, wondering if she had perhaps brought that up too soon.
Someone like Apollo, who had money, respect, and a large original family, would surely want more than just a daughter.
Perhaps she had just destroyed her own chance at happiness by bringing it up.
His hand moved over her stomach. “I would be honored to have such an intelligent,” he kissed her ear, “talented,” he kissed her temple, “stubborn shifter to be my wife.” He gently kissed her lips.
Then he stroked her hair, his eyes drinking her in.
“But if you want, I think I can undo enough of the damage, helping to make it possible for you to bear children.” He kissed her but kept his eyes closed as he pulled back and whispered, “But only if you want me to.” Then he opened his eyes, trying to gauge her reaction.
Maya’s heart raced as something she had long resigned herself to accepting was suddenly removed. “How?”
“He used old magic to do it, magic that most healers don’t learn about because they follow different paths that are more interesting and exciting.
However, my focus has always been on traditional magic.
It has deep roots that offer solutions if you know where to look.
” He placed his forehead against hers. “It would take me a few months, but I am willing to work every night to restore your ability to bear children.”
Maya couldn’t help but smile as her mind immediately went to making love. “If you mean taking me every night—”
He chuckled, “Oh, I would love to do that every night. And several times a day if you are willing. However, that would be for pleasure, not healing. I’m afraid healing is much more boring.
Although, it will mean you won’t have any more nightmares as it helps restore your mind, as well as your body. ”
“Ye gods, but I love you, Apollo.” She kissed him. Cosmo and Naomi headed toward the stairs, reminding Maya that they were still present.
“Shall we slip off on our own?” Apollo held out his arm.