Page 69 of Alpha Claimed

She moved even closer until her face was inches from his ever-growing erection.

"River-"

She looked up at him and grinned. "Told you I didn't need to touch you to make your heart beat faster. You just heated up by a couple of degrees, too."

She jumped to her feet and laughed at the expression on his face. He looked like he wanted to kiss her and eat her at the same time.

His hands clenched and unclenched rapidly, and then he shook his head.

"I take it my surprise is in that barn." She motioned with her head.

Apollo didn't speak, only nodded.

"Great. Bring my sugar buffet."

She turned and walked toward the barn. Her wolf grumbled.

What's your problem?

Games. Don't like it.

River rolled her eyes.Please. It's no different than when you ran with his wolf in the woods.

She neared the barn and realized Apollo still stood where she'd left him, staring at the sky.

"Hey, you coming?" she called.

"Almost," he replied without looking at her.

She laughed. "Hurry up. I want my surprise!"

River jogged forward to the door and threw it open just as Apollo said, "Wait."

She took in the space, and her jaw dropped.

Apollo came to a stop beside her. "Do you ever listen?"

She stared into the open space, and her chest squeezed. On one wall hung every tool she could think of for carving wood. It had to be thousands, tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of tools. The piece of wood she'd been carving with Walt stood in the middle.

"I thought you could use this half of the bottom floor for woodworking and the other side for your metalwork. Upstairs-"

River didn't let him finish. Instead, she grabbed him and pulled his lips to hers. He dropped the bag of sugary goodies and threaded his hands into her hair.

She lost time kissing him. And pulled away because her stomach growled.

He chuckled. "Sugar over sexy stuff. Noted."

She looked at him thoughtfully. "Thank you, Apollo. I… thank you."

He brushed a hair from her eyes and kissed her again. "You are very welcome, Kitten."

She reached up on her toes, rubbed her nose on his, and then backed up. The look that crossed his face made her think he might cry. He pulled her to him and pressed her into his chest.

She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. This. This is what she wanted, what she'd hoped for in a mate. After a minute, he let go of her, and she looked up at him.

"Can I?"

"Why do you think I brought you out here?"