Chapter Eight
“Will you get into any trouble if I don’t wear my seat belt?
I believe they’re expected of passengers, but I find them really confining and uncomfortable.
” Apollo flicked Titus a smile that would have him agreeing to anything.
“I’m immortal, so it’s not like I would die in a crash or anything, but I don’t want you getting into trouble for something I didn’t do. ”
The fact that Apollo even thought to ask was something Titus didn’t expect.
But then just by climbing into the cab of his truck, Titus had found the first major flaw in his road-trip plan.
Yes, taking the time to talk to Apollo and get to know him, in Titus’s opinion, was the fastest way for them to build rapport so the claim could happen.
What he hadn’t counted on, or realized would be such a problem, was that his wolf was already panting for the claim, and Titus’s baser instincts were keen on getting to the fun stuff, too.
Apollo’s scent was filling the confines of the cab – thoroughly was the word that came to mind.
Titus could barely think with his larger brain when his smaller one – the one tucked in his pants – was being demanding.
“There are federal laws about wearing seatbelts in commercial vehicles, but I don’t wear one myself,” he said, more gruffly than he’d like, but Titus was desperately trying to focus.
I’ve got this. I can do this. “Like you, my wolf hates being restrained. If we got pulled over, we might get a fine, but it’s not usually a lot, and for me, getting a fine is easier than driving long hours with a disgruntled wolf. ”
“Ooh, I can understand that.” Apollo curled one of his legs under the other one, apparently making himself comfortable.
“Well, actually, I can’t understand because I’m fairly sure I haven’t been a wolf before, but for any animal, I imagine it would be uncomfortable being strapped to a seat.
Betsy, my driver, always complains if I don’t wear a seatbelt, even if I’m in the backseat.
This is much nicer.” He looked around with a half-smile.
“You can see a lot more from this height than in a regular car, too.”
“You seriously don’t drive yourself?” Titus forced himself to focus, starting the engine, checking his gauges, making a note of the time in his logbook, and ensuring he had the right destination in mind for the pickup.
The goods were at a warehouse about five minutes away, and from there it would be easy to get out onto the highway.
“I have trouble staying focused at times. My mind can wander off onto other things when I’m supposed to be paying attention. I decided when cars were first invented that I would be a definite road hazard if I tried driving one myself.”
Titus had to take a second look at his mate.
Apollo genuinely didn’t seem bothered by his confession, which a lot of men would be reluctant to confess.
Driving, for an adult male, was a rite of passage in a lot of ways.
Although Titus reminded himself, it was not as if Apollo went to school, or grew up with peers he might need to impress… or did he?
That was a question for another day. Putting the truck into gear, Titus checked to make sure he had full visibility with his mirrors and cameras, then got the truck moving. “I thought gods were all-seeing and all-knowing,” he said, hoping Apollo would understand he was teasing.
“Can you imagine what a headache that would be?” Apollo chuckled as he tapped his head. “As gods, we can see anything we focus on, and I hear a lot of my colleagues use the Paulie app to find out things they don’t know.”
“The Paulie app?” Titus steered the truck into traffic. “Ancient gods have an app now? Can you download it from the Google store?”
“I doubt it. That would be truly chaotic.” Apollo’s chuckle turned into laughter. “Can you imagine it? An all-knowing, all-seeing app that could greet you by name, and knew your life history and the histories of anyone else? Sometimes people need a bit of mystery in their lives.”
Titus guessed that by “people,” Apollo was referring to mortals like himself. “Having an app suggests that gods have kept up with modern technologies, which is not something I’d ever considered before.”
“Some of them do, some of them refuse to even walk on Earth anymore. There are numerous pantheons and thousands of gods.” Apollo smiled widely.
“I’m just one of many. As for the Paulie app, it was created by my father, Zeus, Father of All, according to the Greek pantheon.
He named the app after his mate, Paulie.
Zeus runs his own computer network on Olympus – not on Earth.
“Gossip claims that’s how he first spotted Paulie in the first place, through one of his screens.
My father was one of those gods not keen on walking on Earth – I don’t think he’d been down here for about a hundred years until Paulie came along.
But yes, after he and Paulie claimed each other, they moved to Montana, Zeus created the Paulie app, and you can ask it anything. ”
“Montana?” Titus thought that was a strange place for an ancient god to live, but then he met Apollo in Buffalo, so anything was possible.
“Paulie found a ranch house where he could see the sunrise every morning.” Apollo was chuckling again. “You might think that sounds silly, or even whimsical, but to me it was a huge indication of how much Zeus changed, all thanks to Paulie. Gods will do a lot for their mates if asked.”
That’s handy to know, I guess. Although Titus was quite capable of looking after himself and his mate. “So this app just goes on your phone?” Titus slowed, flicking on his indicators, waiting for some cars to pass before pulling into the warehouse parking lot. “I haven’t seen you with a phone.”
“Hmm. That’s a good point.” Apollo was looking around as Titus took the truck around to the back of a large warehouse and backed up to a large roller door. “I should probably have one, seeing as you insist we’re in a relationship, and you use yours.”
“Insist we’re in a relationship?” Titus chuckled and shook his head as he pulled on the brake and turned off the engine.
“Apollo, beloved, according to you, you’ve been in love with me for months, and while you might have loved a million people before me, I can assure you, babe, I will be your only forever.
A mating’s not a relationship, it’s a solid vow, and I take that sort of shit seriously. ”
Apollo’s eyes widened, just a fraction, and a dash of pink grazed across the sharp line of his cheeks. “I’d better get that phone then.”
“With you being a god and all, I’m guessing that’s not a cue to divert this truck to the nearest appliance store.
I’ll let you organize a phone while I go and get this order loaded.
Will you be okay here for the next ten minutes?
” Please don’t disappear on me. I really don’t want to wolf out in front of a client, but I will.
Maybe something of Titus’s concern showed on his face.
“I won’t go anywhere,” Apollo said. His voice was low and full of promise.
“But tell me, wolf, seeing as this is something I don’t want to ask Paulie.
How long does it take a man with dual spirits to love their mate?
Are we talking hours, days, weeks, months…
you know, just so I can have a rough idea of when feelings might be reciprocated. ”
“We’ll be making our first stop in Cleveland – just for a break and a chance to stretch our legs. It’ll take about three hours to get there, provided traffic’s in our favor,” Titus said with a grin. “I’m guessing falling for you won’t take that long. Now sit tight, be back shortly.”
You’re getting a bit generous with the love terminology, aren’t you?
he thought as he grabbed his clipboard and opened the door.
And yet, Titus could see where that would make sense.
His wolf was already committed, and while Titus had never believed himself in love with anyone outside of family, before that morning at least…
Apollo was worth making an exception for.
Just don’t fall into bad habits, he reminded himself.
Mates are going to want breakfast in the morning.