Free APOLLO RISING (The Apollo Saga, Book 1) by Sage Arroway Page A

get an education just like all the other kids. But it’s important in our family to know how to do things, you know? I know people – like my roommate, for example – who I think really believe that food comes from the grocery store.”
    They both laughed briefly at that.
    “For me, I guess it’s the connection that makes a difference. You have to know where everything comes from, or else it never matters to you.”
    Tyler seemed to weigh this, as if it had never really occurred to him. “I’ve never really thought about it like that, but….yeah, you’re right. And if everything is connected…”
    She completed his thought. “Then everything matters.”
    After a moment, the smile returned to his face. “Is that why you stayed with me last night?”
    She looked down at the section of meat she was cutting, avoiding his gaze. “Something like that.”
    Her eyes locked in on the annoying strand of hair. Tyler reached out and brushed it back from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
    “Careful,” she warned, “I’ve got a knife.”
    She let the smile on her lips betray the casual flirtation behind her words.
    Feigning surrender, he raised his hands and took a step forward, “You wouldn’t hurt an unarmed man…would you?”
    “Maybe,” she lied, holding the knife between them. She was positive her grin was a dead giveaway.
    “ Maybe? ” he repeated. “I think you already did.” He was moving closer still, his voice velvety smooth. “But I don’t think you’d do it again.”
    His words were so convincing—enough that she almost forgot that he was the more dangerous of the two of them—and he was close enough now that his magnetism was already pulling her in.
    “Back up,” she teased, taking a step backward herself, “I’m warning you.”
    He stepped forward twice, the blade now pressed against his shirt. “I’m not afraid of getting a little dirty,” he admitted, all too seductively.
    Allie needed to catch her breath. Tyler’s flirtatious tone was making her more nervous than ever. She swallowed hard, trying to take her eyes off the last word still hanging from his lower lip. Dirty .
    Yes he was, she reminded herself—the deliciously handsome kind—and the next words barely made it out of her mouth as she locked into his stare, “Oh really?”
    “Really.”
    He was too close.
    “I don’t wanna be dirty,” she whispered, shaking her head.
    Tyler lowered his hands and wrapped them around her waist. His fingers grazed her curves as they made their way to the small of her back. “I know,” he agreed, “but you are really dirty.”
    A brief moment lingered where she thought he might kiss her. She lowered the knife instinctively, closed her eyes and held her breath.
    “So dirty,” she surrendered, but his lips never met hers.
    “Settle down, tiger,” he chuckled, tugging on her apron strings, “I was talking about the blood on your clothes.”
    Flustered, Allie opened her eyes and looked down at herself. She was a mess.
    Trying to laugh off her embarrassment, “Oh yeah— that. ”
    “I think it’s your turn to get cleaned up now.” After a long pause, he broke his stare and the tension, and continued, “Besides, we should have some hot water soon.”
    “Oh thank god ,” she praised under her breath; although, she wasn’t entirely sure whether she was more relieved by the convenience of warm water, or the conclusion of her momentary lapse in judgment.
    “I could draw you a bath,” he offered, leaning in close enough to whisper in her ear, “unless you think you might still need that cold shower?”
    Allie laughed at that, and felt the redness return to her cheeks. Pushing her hair back from her sweating brow with her forearm, she waved him away with a smile, “Fine,” she agreed, “just go!”
    “Going,” he retorted, raising his hands again in surrender as he stepped backward out of the kitchen. “I’ll get that bath ready. Hot right?”
    Allie regarded him with an