For The Love of a Friend: Dante and Apollo by Noah Harris

Author:Noah Harris [Harris, Noah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9 – Dante

~~*~~

Lying out on a patch of nice ground, Dante let out a low groan. His entire body felt like one huge muscle that refused to do anything but ache. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d worked himself until they started making the trek back through the forest headed toward The Grove. In all honesty, he was surprised they’d managed to make it the half mile Dante had suggested before their weariness got the better of them.

“Going to make it?” Apollo asked

Dante looked up from where he’d planted his face in the grass. “I’d tell you to go fuck yourself, but I don’t have the energy for that much anger.”

Apollo slumped against a rock, planting his butt firmly on the ground. “I think I’ll wait for someone else to do it instead, it’s more fun that way.”

Dante blinked at him, a tremor of excitement and fear running through him. He knew a casual flirt when he heard one, and part of him crowed in victory that Apollo was aiming it his way. In all his years of dreaming and pining, he had never thought he’d actually hear Apollo come onto him, even in an offhand way.

Clamping down on his emotions, Dante grunted. “We probably should make a fire before it gets too dark to see anything without flashlights.”

Apollo groaned. “You want me to move?”

Ignoring the shiver that ran through him at the low noise from Apollo’s lips, Dante pushed himself off the ground. In truth, Apollo had done most of the heavy lifting during the excavating process and deserved more of a rest than Dante did. Plus, it gave him a chance to clear his head of any wayward thoughts and feelings. Ignoring the desire to crawl over to Apollo and kiss him soundly, Dante made his way into the forest to begin scavenging firewood.

Apollo was all Dante had ever wanted in both a friend and a partner. He was faithful and true, he took Dante in his stride and even appreciated him for who he was, no matter how grumpy or surly he could be. When push came to shove, Dante knew Apollo always had his back, watching carefully for any sign of danger. Apollo’s heart was always in the right place, and he would give life and limb to keep others safe. He was honest, forthright, and thoughtful, all the things Dante never was and never would be.

And Apollo deserved better.

Apollo had taken the first step in kissing Dante, daring to do something he had never dared risk doing himself. Dante couldn’t help but envy the boldness Apollo had shown in that one moment. If only he could pay Apollo’s bravery back in a way that was befitting of the man. Instead, he would have to settle for giving Apollo the real truth, and how impossible anything more between them really was.

By the time he returned to their camp, Dante’s feet felt as heavy as his heart. Apollo was wide awake, lounging comfortably against the rock still, his eyes locked on Dante as he approached.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.