DUBAI THE CITY OF DREAMS

Manila, Philippines

Apollo Kian Suarez's hands wandered over Christine Mae's skin, tangled in the hair while his mouth traced the curved line between ear and shoulder.

Christine sighed and melted noticeably at the gentle touch. Her eyes were still closed, her arms wrapped around Apollo's torso, and long fingers felt over the shirt until they pushed the soft fabric aside and could feel smooth skin over hard muscles. "I won't let you go again." The words slowly sank into his consciousness until their meaning made Apollo shiver.

"Christine.." The eyes, shining turquoise in the light of dusk, had opened, finding answers in their darkly glittering counterparts.

Christine finally looked down, buried her face in Apollo's neck, and whispered, almost inaudibly: "Come home with me!"

Apollo Kian whispered back. "There's no home for me, you know that."

"Then let me make it for us."

A sound came that most closely resembled a sob, and when Christine looked up, Apollo Kian's eyes were filled with tears. "You know that's impossible."

Christine's hug tightened as she answered. "I know that's impossible here." She touched Apollo's cheek, brushed his chin, and finally rested her hand tenderly on his neck. "I know it's impossible for me to endure even one more day when I don't know where you are, if you are safe as you are."

His mouth traveled up again, lingering on Christine's earlobe, which he began to nibble gently, a caress that caused noticeable shivers to run through Christine's body.

"Let me help you. I'll find a place for you, a place where I can see you, a place where you can live and a place where we can be together."

"You would be in danger."

The corners of Christine's mouth twitched before she kissed Apollo Kian's mouth. "I can deal with danger."

"And the family?"

His face darkened for a moment. "They won't find out anything. I'll find a solution."

Apollo Kian leaned back into Christine's arms. "Nobody must be hurt."

"I know." Christine held him so tight it almost hurt. "That will not happen. We find a way." He hesitated. "Anything is possible if I can only be with you."

"You really want that," Apollo stated, almost in disbelief. "Christine, that's..." he faltered.

Christine took Apollo's face in both hands and let her gaze wander over the familiar features until she merged with that of her lover.

"Crazy, and at the same time the only way to stay sane." Apollo's eyelids fluttered and he tried to look away, but Christine held him in a relentless grip, refusing to let him go.

"Let's get this straight, Apollo," she continued in a firm voice. "I will not leave this place without you, no matter what you say or do, nothing can change that resolve. No matter how strong you think you are, no matter how strong you are, in this case I'm the stronger one and you know it."

Apollo Kian blinked, and squirmed, uneasiness flashing through his eyes.

"Listen to me! We've both been through so many difficulties, gone through so much together, that I'm no longer willing to let what we share pass by, no matter how much you might fight back or hurt your pride. You will listen to me on this one and probably only point."

Christine stared at him imploringly, almost hypnotically. "I know how important it is to you to be in control, and most of the time it's the wisest thing to let you do it, but..." Unexpectedly he let go, just gently brushing against the soft hair when Jack Apollo bowed his head and looked at the floor.

Christine took a deep breath and then added resolutely: "But in this case it's up to me to make a decision."

She received no answer for a long time, watching Apollo's chest rise and fall in a vain attempt to keep his composure. With a sudden determination, she wrapped both arms around him, pulled him back to her, and whispered in his ear. "You can't, Apollo. I can see what's going on with you. Let me help you, just this once."

The hair on the back of his neck tingled as cool hands traveled up his back and tear-stained cheeks pressed against his neck. "But only this once…"

It was easier than expected. Christine let her instincts guide her, and Apollo Kian didn't give her time to think about what they were doing. Christine's lips lingered in the gentle curve between Apollo's neck and sucked on the skin as Apollo Kian's fingers slid between their bodies and undid the buttons of her shirt.

Christine tried to do the same, but her own hands were unable to make a coordinated movement especially not when Apollo started fumbling with her waistband when he opened the clasp with remarkable speed.

An incomprehensible sound escaped from Christine's mouth when Apollo embraced her clit. She wanted to ask, to make sure the man was okay with it, but his experienced hands drove any clear thought out of Christine's head.

"Damn it." When Christine caught her breath, she looked frustrated at the mess she'd made, then at Apollo, who gave her a cheeky smile, cocked his head, and then gave her a quick kiss on the chin. "I thought it was a while ago," he whispered in Christine's ear. The latter growled in protest, but without putting any real conviction into her protest. She sighed as Apollo snuggled up to her and licked her ear.

"What about you?" Apollo asked hoarsely and suddenly unsettled again.

"Don't worry," Christine whispered. "I'll be fine." And before Christine knew it, he was on his back, his head on the arm of the couch at an awkward angle. But that didn't matter as Apollo Kian lay on top of her until Christine swore they would touch wherever they could. Her back was arched and her head sank lower over the armrest as Apollo began his dance on her, the dance of desires. Christine felt the still denim-covered hardness rubbing against her sensitized skin. She gasped, and yet it was barely a moment before Apollo stiffened and then sank on her, his lips pressed against Christine's neck.

He pulled the younger lady towards him and stifled a giggle. "That's it?" he asked as the dizziness subsided and he felt able to draw circles on Christine's back with his hands. He felt the spine, bones, and shoulder blades, felt the tension release from Christine's muscles, and listened to him breathe evenly against his neck. And he was sure to notice Apollo's lips curl into a smile.

"What did you expect?" Apollo finally whispered, running his fingers through Christine's hair.

Christine exhaled. "I don't know," she mused. "Something that might be less normal... doesn't seem so... so natural to me."

Apollo brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "There is such a thing," he murmured. "Don't worry about that."

Christine shook her head. Then he released Christine and propped himself up on his elbows. Apollo rolled to the side and Christine noticed the unhappy look the man cast at the dark stain that adorned his pants. She sat up and pulled Apollo to her side without bothering to adjust her clothes. She pressed her lips into Apollo's hair, which had lost its neat impression in the meantime, and listened to the man's contented sigh. "We have all the time in the world," she whispered.

Apollo Kian's hand played with Christine's shirt fabric, then wandered higher, stroking his collarbone until it tickled his hair. "We will get married naturally."

"Thank you," she breathed so softly that Christine guessed the word more than heard it.

"God thank you, I will marry you and forever we're together!"