Part 97 (1/2)

I had my time with him. I had my time with elan. And I had my time with both of them.

Chris chose his times to partic.i.p.ate in the last part.

Although things were progressing slowly with Christophe, they were not with elan. As with our last ride, and even before we left Karsvall, she wanted me around all the time.

She wanted me.

She had me.

I'd fallen in love with her father.

It took far less time to fall in love with her.

Things did not progress slowly with Apollo either. For Chris's sake, we had to go back to his nights at the dower house with me, up early to breakfast with his children, and he stayed even later to dine with them and didn't leave until they were in bed.

But Apollo found times to visit me, me to visit him, and we made it work.

No.

It was more than making it work.

It was making both of us happy.

Absolutely, Apollo worried about his son. This was true. We discussed it often.

But I found he told no lies when he said having my heart was enough.

He was just happy to be with me.

Me. As I was.

It was awesome.

After him telling me he loved me, me returning that gesture, and getting all that c.r.a.p out, with nothing eating at me, things changed.

No strings. No doubts. Nothing plaguing me.

Nothing broken.

All healthy, real.

Strong.

Living the life I'd led, it was hard as h.e.l.l to get used to.

I had known happiness, Apollo gave it to me.

I'd known contentedness, Apollo gave me that too.

But both of them together with a settled feeling and elan thrown in to sweeten the pot?

Bliss.

These were my thoughts and I was lost in them, so I jumped when suddenly Tunahn was no longer in my arms.

He was in his father's, a father who was walking away, murmuring to his son in Korwahkian.

I had no clue what he was saying.

Circe did and I knew this when she snapped, ”Lahn!”

He sent her a look that was so severe it made me give an ”eek” face to Finnie.

Finnie witnessed the look too and thus returned my ”eek” face.

Circe didn't see this. She was concentrating on her husband. And she did not have an ”eek” face.

She was snapping something else to him, but in Korwahk.

His reply was, ”Rayloo, kah rahna fauna.”

”Don't tell me rayloo, kah Dax,” she retorted.

Suddenly, he grinned at her and at that, I made no ”eek” face.

Neither did Finnie.

Neither did Circe. She turned away from her husband on a ”humph.”

He moved away with his son.

When he did, she groused, ”It really sucks he's so hot. He gets away with a lot of s.h.i.+t being that hot. Add him calling me his rahna fauna, he can get away with practically anything. Even doing idiot dad things.” Her eyes went to Finnie. ”Do you get me?”

”I so totally do,” Finnie replied and Circe looked to me.

”Beware of that,” she advised.

I nodded my head, unable to speak at the idea of having the opportunity to experience Apollo doing idiot dad things with a child we shared (even though I knew that was something he wouldn't do). At the same time I was thinking my future held a lot of him getting away with a lot of things, being so beautiful and also utilizing that ”my dove” business.

”What did he say to Tunahn?” Finnie asked, taking me out of my thoughts.

Circe leaned in. Finnie and I leaned in. Meeta did not lean in.

When we were in position, on a hissed whisper, Circe shared, ”He told his son he was not to tear at a woman's clothes until he'd learned to use his c.o.c.k.”

I felt my eyes get huge.

”See what I'm saying?” Circe asked, taking in my wide eyes. ”Idiot dad things and he walks away with me not verbally kicking his a.s.s because he's hot.”