Page 57 of Alpha Claimed

She grabbed the soda, cracked it open, and sucked it down. Then she rooted around and fished out a sandwich and a bag of chips.

"What? No prime rib in this place?" she joked.

"I will happily cook you one myself if that's what you want."

She looked at him skeptically. "You cook?"

He shrugged. "Technically, I like to grill and smoke better than cook, but yes, I can."

River bit into the sandwich, not even bothering to see what it was. She shook her head.

"What?"

"I never would have thought the King of the Lycans was a grill master."

"Not all of us like to rely on others to do everything for them."

She looked at him, and he held up his hands.

"Sorry. I know you don't like it when I disparage my brother."

"It's not that I don't like it as much as it's unnecessary. I see both of you how I see you, and talking bad about each other only makes you look bad, not him."

Apollo nodded. "Agreed."

His agreement should have surprised her, but it didn't. Apollo seemed to want to win her over the old-fashioned way. Not with trying to make Ares look worse, so he looked better. But old habits died slow as did old hurts. She couldn't expect him to change overnight.

"So what's been happening out there?"

Apollo shrugged. "Not much. Ares took to pacing in front of your door for about an hour until your mom came out. She chased him away, yelling the whole time. Bianca and Zeke tried to calm them both when they got into a yelling match in the dining room. At which point Strider stepped in and got everyone to back off."

"And you did nothing, I suppose."

"Oh no. I stood in the doorway and watched the whole thing. It was quite entertaining until your mom spotted me. I'm smarter than-" he paused. "I'm pretty smart though, and I offered her a beer instead of arguing with her. I'm not sure if she appreciated it or if I just caught her off guard because she took it from me, downed it, and then walked away."

River chuckled. "Wow. You are smart."

He shrugged. "I try."

Silence fell between them as River finished her sandwich.

"I'm sorry," Apollo finally said.

"Not again."

"No. I'm sorry for everything. All of this. But most of all, I'm sorry I'm too selfish to let you go. I just… I can't. You've become everything to me in the few days I've known you. No matter how happy that might make you, I can't give you to Ares."

River set down her can of soda and scooted closer to Apollo. "I am sorry that my indecision is hurting you both. But you have to understand. That feeling you feel for me, I feel that too. I feel it for both of you. I can't explain how or why, but I can, and I do. Which is why I… I can't choose. I can't. I need you both."

She moved until her knees touched his. He looked into her eyes.

"I need you, Apollo. Don't make me choose between you. Please don't." Without thinking, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

Apollo hesitated only a moment before he returned her kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, and she climbed onto his lap and wrapped her good arm around his neck.

Apollo skimmed his hands under the back of her t-shirt, and goosebumps raised on her skin.

She deepened the kiss and moaned as she rocked her hips into his. The contact with her core made her wolf howl. She needed him. All of him. She needed to feel him inside her. Make love to him. Claim him.