Read Apollo and Val: #5.5 (Luna Lodge Book 0) for Free Online Page B

he tossed the rope high into the tree above them, scaring off several bright red and blue birds with sharp beaks. The rope came sailing down on the other side of the large branch.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    Apollo picked up the rock and untied it. It clattered to the ground against another rock.
    “Getting things set up,” he said absently as he opened his bag and searched the contents.
    She frowned when he pulled out some sort of belt with hooks.
    As he began to fasten them around his body, it all came together.
    “You are crazy if you think I can climb that tree,” she said.
    Apollo looked up after latching the last harness.
    “You aren’t climbing the tree,” he said and adjusted the belt.
    As much as her eyes didn’t want to look, it was hard not to see the well-defined length at the front of his pants.
    Her eyes came back up to his, and he grinned.
    “I’m climbing the tree.” He winked at her. “Maybe you can climb it later.”
    Her cheeks flamed at his innuendo despite their many times together. They had gone nearly all day in silence. She assumed he had given up.
    “What are you going to do up there?” she asked, ignoring the way he was looking at her.
    Apollo sighed and stepped close to her. She gasped when his hand grabbed her pack roughly. He pulled a thick strap between her legs and fastened them on to the front part of her backpack.
    “We are going to sleep up there,” Apollo said and pulled her over to the side of the tree.
    Val tilted her head back to look up at the tree. He was insane. There was no way they’d even make it up there, and if they did, how were they supposed to sleep that high up?
    She started to shake her head but stopped when he looped the rope through a few holes on her belt and then into his own. He snapped a few metal hooks into her pack.
    Without any warning, Apollo pulled on the rope. Their bodies came together. She wrapped her arms around him, so she didn’t lose her balance.
    “You ready?” he rumbled. The feel of his voice excited her more than she remembered. Or maybe it was the way the ropes pulled her.
    He growled loudly and put his mouth next to her ear.
    “Later,” he said.
    And just like that, they were rising through the air. Val closed her eyes and held on to the insanely strong man. She knew hybrids were stronger than normal men but to carry their weight on his own plus their packs was impressive.
    After he’d been pulling for a bit, Val got used to the steady rhythm. She peeked out one eye and then the other. The ground wasn’t that far below them, but if they fell, it wouldn’t go well for either of them. Still, she wasn’t really worried. She was safe in his arms.
    Sweat started to form on his shirt between them. She looked over at his arms, taut and hard from the strain.
    Something was wrong with her. Everything about this experience was totally turning her on, and now was not the time to be getting turned on.
    She felt the rumble in his chest again and knew he could smell her arousal. Waves of frustration hit her, and she mirrored his feelings.
    His movements got faster, and with each pull, she was reminded of the rope between her legs.
    Val leaned forward and placed her head on his chest again. Her nipples rubbed gently between them, and she couldn’t help the sigh that escaped from the feeling.
    “Grab a hold of that branch,” Apollo said gruffly.
    Val opened her eyes and found they were already near the top. She reached out and took a hold of the branch.
    Apollo placed a foot on the lower branch and tested the strength. He nodded to indicate she should follow.
    With his back to the trunk of the tree, Apollo guided her onto the branch. They held on to the branch above them.
    She started to look down.
    “Hey,” he said and her eyes found him. “Just keep looking at me. I’ll keep you safe.”
    She nodded and kept her eyes trained on his face. Beads of sweat trickled down and landed on the shirt between them.
    Still close