He studied her, like he wasn’t sure what she said was true. But she wouldn’t break. The accident had proved she was too stubborn, and too strong, to shatter.
He leaned forward, and this time, he kissed her for real. His tongue touched her lips, pushing past them to glide against hers. The back of his hand grazed her neck as he wrapped his strong fingers around her, and she felt him grin even as he kissed her.
Slowly, he dragged his hand from her neck down her arm. She wanted to feel his skin against her, and she shrugged out of her sweater, letting it drop in a heap at her feet.
“You’re mine.” Apollo suddenly stopped and pulled away. He stared down at her, as serious as she’d ever seen him. “No more bullshit. No more doubts. You were mine the moment you walked through our door, and I’m never letting you go.” One of his hands came up to cup her head, pulling her against his chest while his other hand held her body against him. “I’m never letting you go.”
“I love you, Apollo. I’m going to love you forever.” Against her, his body shook, and she held on tighter. “You’re the person for me. Everything you are is perfect to me. For me.”
“Baby girl…” his voice was raspy, and he pulled away. His hands went to her hips, fingers digging into her skin as he pushed her away just enough to be able to see her face.
Nora reached for him again, and he came to her. Their kisses were different now. They were the start of the story. The beginning of a fairytale—a once upon a time that was guaranteed to end in a happily ever after.
She reached for his waist. He held her up, giving her the balance she needed so she didn’t have to hold onto her cane. She went to the front of his jeans, undoing the button there so she could snake her fingers between the cotton of his briefs and his skin.
“God damn.” He was hard and hot against her fingertips. She gripped him, skimming her fist down to the root of his cock before dragging it back up.
Hissing out a breath, he pressed his hand against hers. “You don’t have to.”
She shook her head. “Apollo. What makes you think I don’t want to?”
His hand was on her hip, and she took it. Eyes on his, she pressed it under her shirt, guiding his fingertips below the band on her skirt.
The moment his fingers delved between her slippery folds, he swore. “Baby girl…”
“I’ve been dying for this,” she said. “Are you going to make me beg?”
Apollo moved fast. He gathered her in his arms and laid her down on the bed. “I’ll never make you beg.” He made short work of her clothes. Shirt. Bra. Skirt. Panties. In less time than it took her to blink, they were in a pile.
He studied her body before he touched her. Nora held her breath, waiting. When he finally, finally did, goosebumps trailed in the wake of his hand.
He was rapt, gaze on her skin. The only time he glanced at her face was when she made a sound. It was like he was committing everything she did to memory and storing it away for later.
She was so entranced by him, by the emotions flitting across his face, that she just lay there. It wasn’t until he moved her good leg to one side, opening her up to him, that she moved.
“Clothes,” she said, tugging at his shirt. His skin was so, so smooth. And rock hard.
With one hand, he pulled his shirt over his head. He moved only enough to kick his jeans and underwear off, and then he was back.
They stayed there, gazing at each other for long minutes. Apollo was beautiful, his body a study in athleticism. She traced the muscles in his shoulders and along his stomach.
She turned her hand, reaching for him again. His eyes closed as she gripped him, and he took in a ragged breath. “I dreamed about this.”
“I want us to be together,” she said, stroking him firmly. She went from tip to root, exploring the way his skin slid over the hardness beneath it.
He ran the back of his fingers along her hip, inward, until he could dip between her legs. He played with her, fingertip circling the tight bundle of nerves over and over until she was thrusting against his hand.
But he was moving, too, chasing her retreat. Then he groaned. “Fuck, baby girl. I don’t have a condom.”
She blinked at him, trying to process what he’d said. Condoms.
Her face heated, and she pushed her face against his neck. She licked the cord in his neck until she reached his ear. Biting lightly, she breathed against his wet skin. “I bought some,” she said. “They’re in the drawer.”
She wasn’t sure how he’d react to that, but he only smiled. “Thank God. I never thought… best birthday present ever.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “This isn’t because I felt guilty, Apollo!”
He got serious. “I know,” he said. He grabbed a condom from the bedside table and rolled it on. Then he was back, the tip of him held right at her entrance. “I know this isn’t because of guilt. This is love. Always love between us.”
She nodded. He watched her as he pushed inside her. Her muscles stretched to accommodate him, but it was the best tightness she’d ever felt.
Apollo’s face tensed, the muscles in his neck standing out as he took deep, gulping breaths.
He held himself to one side, careful of her broken leg. It left one of his hands free, and he went back between her legs to rub her clit.
She was going to come apart. Nora wanted this to last. She wanted it to take hours, but it had been so long since anyone touched her, and the way Apollo knew her body…
He withdrew before driving back inside her again. His fingers circling her bud accompanied each deep thrust.
Sweat dripped from her forehead toward her temple and onto the pillow beneath her. Apollo kissed her, tongue exploring her mouth. He seemed to harden inside her, and he swiveled his hips.
She was gone.
She was standing in the center of a snowstorm, staring up at the sky and the way the snow twinkled like diamonds.
Apollo came a second after her. He shuddered and twitched, moaning a deep, gravelly sound.
As the world came back into focus, she became aware of him studying her. Like his touch, his gaze trailed along her skin.
“You are worth everything,” he whispered. He kissed her neck, and she lifted her chin to the ceiling. “Every bit of heartache and self-doubt. Every time I felt like I wasn’t enough, it was making me ready for you. My whole life has been leading to you. But I’m ready now. I’m yours.”
“Mine,” she whispered what he’d told her earlier. “You’ll always be mine.”
35
Apollo
Apollo watched Nora as she slept. Her head rested against the window, her casted leg stretched in front of her first-class seat.
He owed Nicole and Guillaume Boudreau more than he could ever repay—if they’d ever even let him repay them—which he knew they wouldn’t.
It had taken another week to arrange everything, but they were going home.
Cai would meet them at the airport in Brownington. He’d drive them home, and they’d keep living.
Apollo had no doubt that more challenges lay in front of them. There had to be. The six of them were embarking on a journey, on a relationship, that would be hard for other people to accept.
He didn’t care.
Like he’d told Nora, everything in his life had toughened him up. He could handle anything the world threw at him, as long as he had Nora and his best friends at his side.
“Hey.” Ryan leaned across the aisle. “You okay?”
“Yes,” he answered. “School on Monday. PT with Nora that afternoon. It’ll be like we never left.”
His friend nodded and then cleared his throat. “I haven’t wanted to ask, but Apollo—what about the fights?”
The fights? God. He’d forgotten all about those. He glanced at the girl who slept. “Not worth it. I’d rather owe a million dollars than miss out on one single second with her.”
Next to Ryan, Matisse smiled and glanced over his shoulder at Seok. “You catch that?�
�
His friend leaned into the aisle as well. “I did. Good decision, Apollo.”
They said it like he’d had a choice, but when he’d considered what the outcome could be, it had been the easiest decision of his life. He’d probably piss some people off, but they’d get over it.
There were a thousand guys, ready to step into whatever hole he left. But there was only one of him—one Apollo who was the exact match for Nora.
Over the intercom, a voice came on, “Beginning our descent into Brownington.”
“You ready for this?” Ryan asked.
He glanced over his shoulder, studying his friends: Matisse. Seok. Ryan. “With you guys and Nora? I’m ready for anything.”
36
Seok
Everyone was asleep. His house, the house he’d bought by himself and never allowed himself to believe would be a place he’d actually feel was home, protected the best people in the world.
Somehow, he’d met people who would become his brothers, and the girl who would become his heart.
He walked down the stairs into the living room and stared out onto the quiet street. It had started snowing earlier, and now everything was blanketed in white, like an added layer of protection against anything that could hurt him.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Nora stood at the top of the stairs, staring down at him.
He moved to stand at the foot. “I just wanted to check everything again.”
“We’re all here,” she said, like she’d read his mind. “We’re all safe. We’re all happy.”
She held out the hand not gripping her cane. “Come to bed?”
He smiled up at her. She was right.
His footsteps were quiet on the stairs. He kept his gaze on hers, a smile coming to his face to answer the one on hers. “You’re right,” he said when they were a breath apart.
She pushed his hair out of his face as she leaned forward enough to kiss him. “About?”
“We’re all good.” This was his family and Seok would do anything to keep them just as Nora said: happy and safe.
We’re almost there
There’s only one more story left in The Searchers and I can tell you, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Of all the guys, Seok’s story was what came to me first. And he’s waited patiently for his chance to find what he was looking for.
Keep an eye out for the final book in The Searcher’s series, coming soon: Finding Unity.
About the Author
Ripley Proserpina spends her days huddled near a fire in the frozen northern wilds of Vermont. She lives with her family, three magnificent cats, and a dog she doesn’t deserve.
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Also by Ripley Proserpina
Midnight’s Crown:
Briar
Shadow of Thorns
Diadem of Blood and Bones
Daylight’s Crown:
Rose
Echoes of Blood and Glory Coming soon!
The Searchers Series:
Finding Honor
Finding Nora
Finding Valor
Finding Truth
Finding Courage
Finding Strength
Finding Unity: Coming Soon!
The Replacement Duet:
Forge and Fire
Iron and Ashes Coming soon!
Wishes and Curses Series:
Wrath and Ruin:
Revolution and Rising
Valos of Sonhadra:
Whirlwind
Standalones:
Just Jayne
The Darkest Fall
The Ice Bride
Missing Linc
While Beauty Sleeps
Co-Written with Rebecca Royce:
The Storm Series:
Lightning Strikes
Thunder Rolls
The Deluge
Coveted:
Eyes in the Desert Coming soon!
Wards and Wands:
Meow, Baby
Finding Strength (The Searchers Book 5) Page 16
