Chapter 239 I Feel Something For You

Chapter 239 I Feel Something For You
Apollo's POV

Victoria's eyes, soft and trusting, locked onto mine as I held her gaze with the practiced affection I'd perfected over months.

It was easy to play the part.

She leaned in, her lips brushing mine, warm and eager. "Let's go to our room," she whispered, a shy smile curling her lips.

I nodded, my mind cold and calculating. Victoria's gentle nature made her the perfect fiancée—pliable, devoted, a trophy to parade.

I scooped her up in a princess carry, her light frame nestling against me as we moved through the corridor. Whispers and excited glances followed us.

"Look at them! So romantic," I heard someone whisper.

"Two engagements in one night—what are the odds?" another voice murmured.

Victoria's cheeks flushed a deep pink, and she buried her face in my chest, her warmth a stark contrast to the emptiness inside me.

"Don't be shy," I whispered against her hair. "You're going to have to get used to the attention, future Luna."

"I know," she mumbled against my chest. "It's just... overwhelming. Everyone's looking at us."

I tightened my hold on her, feeling her heart racing against mine. "Don't be afraid," I said, my lips brushing her forehead in a calculated display of affection. "I've got you. Always."

She looked up at me then, her eyes filled with such trust it was almost laughable.

"Promise?" she asked softly.

"Promise," I replied without hesitation, the lie flowing as naturally as breath.

In our room, I set her down gently, the plush carpet muffling our steps. "Why don't you take a shower first?" I suggested.

Victoria tilted her head, her eyes searching mine. "What'll you do while I'm in there?" Her tone carried a hint of longing, a need for closeness I had no intention of fulfilling.

"I'll wait for you," I said, offering a reassuring smile while my mind churned.

She hesitated, then nodded, her shyness endearing in a way that almost annoyed me.

As she slipped into the bathroom, the sound of running water filled the air. I leaned against the wall, listening to the soft splashes, my body betraying me with a faint stir of arousal I refused to acknowledge.

Thirty minutes later, Victoria emerged, wrapped in a white towel that clung to her damp skin. Her hair fell in wet tendrils, framing her delicate face.

"You look beautiful," I said.

She blushed, murmuring a soft, "Thank you," her trust in me absolute.

I stepped closer, my fingers grazing the edge of her towel. With a gentle tug, I let it fall, revealing her bare form. Last night, I didn't think much of it, but after seeing Thalia's full butt, I can't help feeling Victoria's are just too small. Her hips were narrower than I'd imagined, her body less curvaceous than I preferred.

She gasped, arms crossing instinctively to cover herself, her face flaming red.

"Hey, it's okay," I soothed. "We're engaged, Victoria. I'd never push you into anything you're not ready for."

Her eyes flickered with nervousness. "I… I've never been with anyone, Apollo. Can we wait? Until we're married?"

Annoyance flared beneath my calm exterior, but I buried it. "Of course," I said, kissing her forehead with a tenderness I didn't feel. "Go get some rest. I'll shower and join you."

She bit her lip, worry creasing her brow. "I don't want to disappoint you."

"You could never," I lied. "Your heart means more to me than anything physical."

She smiled, reassured, and climbed into bed. I turned away, the mask slipping as I headed for the bathroom.

Under the hot spray of the shower, I let my thoughts drift to Thalia—the way her curves filled my fantasies.

My hand moved instinctively, stroking myself as I imagined her beneath me, her resistance melting under my touch. The release was quick, unsatisfying, a hollow echo of the desire burning in my gut.

Victoria's boundaries, her insistence on waiting, grated on me. She was mine by promise, yet she held back, denying me what I craved.

When I returned to the bedroom, Victoria was asleep, her breathing soft and even. A small lamp glowed on my side of the bed, a thoughtful gesture that only fueled my frustration.

I switched it off and slid under the covers, staring at her through the moonlight filtering through the window. Unable to stand it, I slipped out of bed, dressing quietly and leaving the room behind.

Before I knew it, I found myself standing at the entrance to Emma's laboratory.

"I asked you if it's just one person? Don't you sometimes have two people?" I leaned against the doorframe, trying to sound casual.

Emma's head snapped up, her brow furrowing. "How do you know that?" Suspicion colored her voice.

"I've seen her," I shrugged with feigned indifference. "That girl is quite hardworking." My eyes wandered around the cluttered lab, avoiding Emma's piercing gaze.

Emma looked at me thoughtfully, her fingers pausing over her keyboard. A moment of tense silence hung between us.

"Don't misunderstand," I quickly added, feeling heat rise to my face. "I'm just making an objective observation. I was passing by your lab and saw her working diligently. I wondered if she might be able to look after my Victoria for me." My words tumbled out faster than intended.

Emma's expression softened slightly, but wariness remained in her eyes. "Her name is Thalia. Well, anyway she's not here. She left an hour ago." Her shoulders tensed slightly as she hunched back over her computer, effectively ending the conversation.

Disappointment gnawed at me. "Thanks," I muttered, turning away. I needed air, needed to clear my head. Anything to avoid returning to Victoria's side.

The riverbank was quiet, save for the soft sobbing of a woman seated on a bench. I almost walked past, uninterested, until the moonlight caught her silhouette—Thalia's unmistakable curves.

My pulse quickened. I approached, softening my voice. "Hey, what's wrong?"

She startled, wiping her eyes. "It's nothing," she said, but her voice cracked. "Just… the war. It took my parents. I hate them—Madison, Dylan, Jason. All of them."

I sat beside her, close enough to feel her warmth. "War takes too much. It leaves us picking up the pieces, wondering what's left."

She looked at me, her eyes glistening with new interest. I pressed on, weaving a tale of sacrifice and peace, each word designed to draw her in.

"Who are you, really?" Thalia asked, her voice soft but curious.

"Apollo," I said, letting my name hang in the air. Her eyes widened, recognition sparking.

"You're… you were there yesterday," she said, awe creeping into her tone. "I've heard about you."

I leaned closer, brushing a tear from her cheek, my touch lingering. "I'm just a guy who sees you, Thalia."

She smiled, genuine and unguarded. "Thank you. For being here."

"I feel something for you," I said.

Her expression shifted, confusion flickering as I closed the distance between us. My lips crashed against hers, hard and unyielding. She froze, too shocked to pull away at first.

I deepened the kiss, my hands roaming, fingers grazing her waist, then lower, ignoring the way her body tensed.

"Apollo, stop," she whispered, pushing against me.

"You don't get to choose," I murmured, my voice low, my grip tightening.

Her protests grew sharper, but I pressed on, my desire drowning out her words.