Free Sol: Luna Lodge #1 by Madison Stevens Page B

part of him ached, and he just wanted to go home and sleep a good ten hours. He turned and caught sight of Apollo as he slipped out the door. Before sleeping, he had to settle things with Apollo.
    He raced from the room into the hall and caught the other man just outside the building.
    “What the fuck was that earlier with Erica?” He rounded on Apollo.
    “The other was asleep and things looked fine.” He shrugged. “Besides, you were there.”
    “She wasn’t supposed to know that.” He stepped forward. The two stood nearly nose to nose. He knew this wasn’t that big a deal, and things had worked out, but the irrational side of him just kept going over what could have happened.
    Apollo stepped back and held his hands up. “I’m sorry that happened to her, but if you were really that concerned, why did you let it go for so long?”
    Sol swayed back from the verbal blow. He poked at the guilt that wracked his chest.
    “You had doubts, I get that, but you can’t get mad if the bait you set out gets manhandled.” Apollo stepped around him, hopped into a jeep and drove off.
    Angry and guilt laden, Sol climbed into his own car and drove home.
    His mood didn’t improve when he entered the house. What he expected, he couldn’t really say, but the scent of her was all over, and yet she was nowhere to be found. Sol climbed the stairs only to find her door shut. The glow of light crept out from under the crack.
    He stomped the last few steps up and into his room. After clicking on the lights, he ripped off his shirts and tossed his boots to the side. Despite their attempts to fit in however they could, he really preferred to be barefoot. Shoes were clunky and slowed him down if anything.
    The plush carpet squished between his toes as he padded over to the bed and plunked down.
    Her scent enveloped him. He could nearly taste her. His hand moved to the front of his pants as he felt himself grow with need. Sol rolled to his side and breathed her in. Slowly, he began to stroke himself through the barrier of his pants. When he breathed in again, faint hints of popcorn hit him. He froze.
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Erica heard him come home and wondered if she should go out to chat, but his heavy steps up the stairs stilled her. She backed away from the door and listened as he banged into his room.
    She rolled her eyes and went back to her bag. When she was packing earlier, Erica had been so nervous with him in the room she just threw a pile of undergarments into the suitcase. She groaned when she realized the only nightgowns she had packed were the ones Kate picked out for her. Totally not practical and not at all what she should be wearing. Not with someone like him around.
    She sighed and tossed off her clothes and bra. The silky green material slipped over her head, and she smiled. Kate could be persistent, but she was usually right when it came to clothes. The way the material fell on her body hid the areas she really didn’t want to show and showcased her breasts. Erica snorted. Not that anyone but her would get the benefit of seeing it.
    She spun in front of the mirror and admired the color on her. Apparently emerald was something she should think about wearing more often.
    Erica looked up when the door across the hall banged open, and Sol stomped into the hall. Within seconds, her door banged open.
    She stared in shock at a very angry Sol. Despite herself, she stared at the solid expanse of his chest. Before, in his arms, she had felt parts of muscles, but here, they were on full display, rippling as he breathed heavily in and out. Her eyes drifted to the trail of hair that stopped at the top of his pants. She licked her lips thinking about what she’d like to do to him if given the chance.
    Multiple times she had been called oblivious, but today she was not. Of course, if she had managed to miss the bulge at the front of his pants, it would have been near miraculous. One thing was certain, the question as to his size