Forbidden Mate- A Step-brother Romance - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

~LANA~
I can't stop looking through the window and listening to the sound of Apollo's loud truck. It bothers me that he just disappeared after dropping me home from the night party.
Ever since that day, I've been waiting impatiently for his return.
I couldn't understand how he could kiss me and remove himself thoroughly afterward. I expected him to come inside after leaving the vehicle, but he surprised me when he drove off. Since then, I've been waiting for his return.
Yesterday, I asked my stepfather if he knew Apollo's whereabouts, but he didn't even have a clue. I think he also found it strange that I was asking about Apollo when I've never shown any interest in him in the past. However, I could not help myself.
Something about his kiss made me believe he wasn't telling me the truth about his feelings. I knew it was stupid of me to think that he actually cared when he'd said from his own mouth that he didn't want to be with me.
I was acting like one of those crazy girls who followed him around wherever he went, hoping for a chance to be with him.
I groan and bury my face in my hands.
You need to get a grip on yourself, Lana. It was just one kiss! Except that it wasn't just one kiss. It was my first kiss. . . Ever. And it was my first kiss with my mate. The man I've been waiting for all these years.
Why couldn't Apollo like me back? Why did he have to be such an asshole?
My heart skips a beat when I hear a familiar sound. I quickly look out the window once more. I watch as his truck pulls up into the driveway.
Finally, he was back home. I want to rush out of the house and ask where he's been during the past couple of days, but I stay completely put, waiting for him to exit the vehicle.
Then, I saw something I honestly did not want to see.
My heart dropped at the sight in front of me.
I couldn't believe it. A woman was wrapped around his arms, stringing to him like some sort of leech.
I frown in disgust.
I was hoping he would return without a woman. I wanted to talk to him about what happened between us. But it seemed as though he wasn't even thinking about that night.
Our kiss truly meant absolutely nothing to him. He was back to his playboy ways, a different woman every day.
He lifts his gaze to the window, and this time, it feels like he is expecting me to be here, watching him. I narrow my eyes, and his gaze darkens before he guides his new woman for the day into the house.
Usually, I would lock myself in the room whenever he had them over unless I truly had something to do.
Today would be different.
I did not want him to think that I was bothered by his actions even though my blood was boiling.
I've never felt this level of jealousy before.
If he thinks he can play this game with me and get away with it, he has another thing in store.
I've never had a man over at the house, but I was willing to do it to anger him. I wanted to treat him the same way that he was treating me.
I walked over to Isabella's room and pulled something out of her closet. I was sure that she wouldn't mind me taking one of her designs; she always begged me to wear them.
After getting dressed in a short skirt and crop top, I descend the stairs.
I pass Apollo and the random girl on my way to the kitchen. I feel satisfied when he stops walking to turn and get a better look at me. I'm sure he's surprised to see me in this outfit, especially at home. He must be wondering where I'm heading out dressed like this.
I open the fridge door and jump when it slams shut. I turn around to see Apollo fuming in front of me.
Did he forget all about the girl?
Why was he suddenly following me around?
"Why are you wearing that around the house?" he asks me.
I frown. " Excuse me?" I demand. “I'm walking around in my home in what I'm comfortable wearing. Why is that bothering you?"
He growls low and hard as he leans forward, "When you wear things like that, my fucking dick stirs in my pants."
My mouth drops open at his words.
He didn't just say that to me.
"W-what?"
He leans closer to me, "I know what I said about us being mates, but I'm still a fucking man at the end of the day. If you wear things around me like that, I will look, and I may be unable to control myself from doing something about it."
My body reacts to his words, and his nostrils flare.
My cheeks turn red at that observation. This wasn't the first time my body had reacted to his words, and he immediately realized it. He knows when I want him; he knows when I'm aroused.
Oh no.
I didn't want to seem that vulnerable in front of him. I didn't want him to know that my body responded so easily to him.
"Well, I'm not wearing this to bother you." I lie. "Not everything is about you."
He pretends to be hurt by my words, "So why did your wardrobe change suddenly?"
I shrug, "I met someone at the beach party."
The lie came to me naturally. Apollo was with me for the majority of the night at that party. He knew before he spotted me men were already throwing themselves at me. This meant that my lie wasn't so far-fetched.
His mood immediately shifts now that I've mentioned this to him.
I can sense the tension in the air.
"You met someone?" he asks.
I nod, "he's really nice, and I wore this for him. I want to look pretty for him."
Apollo's jaw clenched, "look pretty for him? Have you seen yourself?"
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"Do you think I'm ugly?"
He narrows his eyes, "I meant you never needed to change your wardrobe to look pretty." He growls.
I can't stop myself from blushing. I did not expect him to admit something like that to me.
"Are you ready?" Isabella asks as she walks into the kitchen. She pauses when she sees the tension between Apollo and me.
My sister and I already had plans to go somewhere. Apollo didn't need to know the truth.
"Did I walk into something?" she asks. "Are the two of you still clashing because of that beach party? Can't we just get over that?"
I shoot her a glare. I was still upset she left me behind.
"Wait—" she gasps when she notices my outfit. "You're wearing one of my designs again! It looks amazing on you!"
My cheeks turn red at her observation. I was hoping she wouldn't make a big deal about it again, but, of course, Isabella would react this way.
"Where are the two of you heading?" Apollo asks her, ignoring her comment about my outfit.
I grab her by her arm and pull her out of the kitchen before she can answer him. I did not want Apollo to know where our location would be.
The last thing I needed was for him to show up and realize I had lied about the entire thing.
"What was that about?" she asks me. "And how are you wearing one of my designs without me needing to beg you to?"
"Ugh—" I pause. "I needed something to wear, and I knew wearing your design would make you happy."
She narrows her eyes, "All of a sudden, you're wearing my designs just to make me happy?"
I shrug, "What can I say? I love doing things to make you happy."
She rolls her eyes, "now more than ever, I know that you are lying to me. Besides, why would you want to make me happy after being so pissed that I left you at the party?"
I grab her by the ear, "Do not remind me of what you did."
"Ouch!" She complains as I pull her towards my car.
I could feel Apollo's eyes on me and could tell that he was watching me leave.
Good.
That was exactly what I wanted.