Page 29 of Toy No More

Opening my mouth, I’m left momentarily speechless. People tend to be pretty uneducated about this. Sure, anyone can tell Skylerlooksdifferent, but that’s about it.

Apollo’s gaze is soft, understanding. “I grew up in the system. Was around plenty of kids similar to him. It’s pretty common, actually. Usually less noticeable.”

Is he trying to make me feel sympathy for him?

If he does, it’s working. My heart does that overwhelming thing it does when I see a stray dog or a crying baby.

“Look,” I say, joining my palms together, “I’d just like to know your reason for all this. You keep saying you wanted to ensure I’m a good person or find out what kind of man I am—fine. But for what purpose?”

The moment I ask that, something about him shifts. Looking up at me from the bed with a faint smile, he slowly stands and steps closer. “Remember when I told you how Jasper and I have an open relationship? I don’t usually, but I’m free to entertain that when I want to. And lately, I’ve been…craving a little something. Something different.”

Apollo’s movements toward me are slow and controlled, like when a cat creeps up to its prey when playing. Even his eyes, made bigger by his long lashes, look like a cat’s bulging gaze, irises blown and all. All he needs to do is wiggle his butt and arch his back.

I stare at him in disbelief while my heart panics. My cheeks burn up, too.

“You-you’re talking about me?” I mutter breathlessly. He’s inches away from me now, and his pheromones waft out; a sweet temptation.

There is no way he’s serious. That Apollo…No. This must be some kind of test from Jasper.

He chuckles like one does when a child does something cute and blinks slowly. “There’s something intriguing about you. I’m not sure what it is, really. It justis. Clearly, you’re not some deadbeat or a psychopath, and you’ve been strangely good to me, so…” Apollo’s slender fingers hang onto the collar of my jacket while he runs his eyes down my body, kneading the inside of his bottom lip between his teeth.

The moments we shared out at the loading dock flash through my mind. I didn’t think I was being flirty. I only tried to help. To be a decent person.

“It seemed to me you were intrigued too, or have I…read things wrong?” His voice falters at the end, and for the first time, Apollo appears genuinely insecure.

N-No!” I blurt before even thinking about it, making him jerk away because of the intensity. “I’m just surprised.”

Flaring his nostrils with a quiet exhale, Apollo looks relieved by my response.

I never would’ve conceived someone like Apollo being interested in me in that way. He does meansexually, right? Someone like him, who’s with an alpha on the very top of the food chain, and has had sex with an unimaginable number of people who lust for him…wantsme?Why?

“I— What exactly is it you’re proposing?” I ask, my throat closing with the burning heat of anticipation that’s rising through my chest.

Having found his nonchalant confidence again, corners of Apollo’s rosy lips rise. He straightens his back, hooking his hands together over his lap while he shifts his weight from one hip to another. “Nothing more than some mindless, careless, no-strings-attached fun,” he says playfully and leans close, looking somewhere down my body instead of my face. It makes me feel like he’s undressing me. “I get tested every two months, even if us venus don’t really have to worry about STDs. I can show you my medical record and that everything’s negative, if you want.”

My heart is going to burst out of my chest. It’s been a while since I had a mind to think about something physical.

There’s still a sector of my logical brain working, and it lights up with warning alarms. This isn’t just anybody. The person in front of me is Jasper’s omega, whether or not he likes that fact. My touch-starved body might urge me to say yes right now, but what about reality? What about the serious consequences this could have?

“What about Jasper?”

Apollo purses his lips before finally meeting my eyes. “Letmeworry about Jasper. Like I already told you, he and I have an agreement. He’s fine with it. As long as I tell him about us, which I will. It’s just sex, and he knows that. We’re all adults.”

Won’t he?I don’t want to always think about the worst scenarios. I want to believe Apollo. Maybe…I really can have this one nice thing. It’s been a while since I could enjoy myself in this way.

Finally, I relent, giving him the definite answer he’s waiting for. “Alright.”

A charming, bright smile appears on his lips, and his eyes almost seem to sparkle for a second. “Lovely. Now…” He pauses with his brows arched. Confused, I look down to see his open palm reaching out. “Your phone. You’re going to need my number, won’t you?”

I blink, trying to get it together. I must come across as one of his mindless, horny clients right now. “Oh.” I pat my pockets and pass it to him. He’s smiling while typing his number in, making me realize… “You probably already have mine, don’t you? From Jasper’s notebook,” I note in a frustrated undertone.

Apollo finishes putting his info in and hands me my phone. Only instead of placing it in my open hand waiting for it, he slides it into the side pocket of my pants, brushing gently—and definitely not as accidentally as he makes it out to be—against my crotch.

Thankfully, I’m not completely worked up, but the idea of him feeling an outline of my half-rigid cock sends more sizzling blood into my cheeks.

“I’ll be in touch about arranging a meeting,” he says, clearly thrilled with himself and what he did to me, before walking out. “Sorry I interrupted your evening. Enjoy your night,” I hear his voice from the other side of the door, talking to Marci and Skyler. Shortly after, the main door closes with that familiar screech and he’s gone.

Letting out an unsteady breath, I take two more steps back until I hit the wall behind me. I finally relax my body, letting the warm, soft tingling pass through me.

---