"It's amazing here," she said, eyes still closed. "Not exactly something I get in the city."
He looked back out at the land that was somehow now home. The idea of not being able to see this made his heart hurt.
When he turned back, she was staring at him so hard that it made his neck burn. "Rachel wants to talk to you about the chips," he said.
Val wrinkled her brow and seemed even more confused.
He sighed and sat down next to her.
"Most of us had them, and we think it means something," he said and pointed to his head. "Mine is here."
Her soft fingers reached out and stroked the tender bump.
"Does it hurt?" she asked. Her breath stirred his hair, and it was only then that he realized how close she was.
Apollo shook his head to pull himself away from the close intimate touch.
Despite what he wanted, his head turned and there she was, filling everything in his vision.
Her breath came out short, and for a moment, he wondered if she wanted him to close the distance between them. His body certainly wanted him to.
He still keenly remembered the first kiss they shared. It had been hot. He ran a tongue over his tender lip and frowned. The kiss last night hadn't been near as hot, but still, it felt more like a love bite than anything. She had kissed him back at the start, and that was all that really mattered.
Something about her touched him, filled him with all the need that he so rarely expressed. As much as he didn't want to admit it, there was a piece of her that filled the void in his life. But he didn't want to be like the others, love sick and with no control over what happened to him. He didn't survive everything he had just to risk it all for someone else. The enemy was still out there. He wanted love, but he didn't want it to destroy him.
Abruptly, she pulled away and stood.
"Just let me gather my things," she said, refusing to look at him.
Something ached inside as she slipped away, and he had to clamp his fist to keep from pulling her back.
* * *
Val couldn't help it. Despite the risk, she wanted nothing more than to go back to touching his head. But she could feel it, the rising tension coming from him. Despite how Apollo might act, he was very attracted to her. She could almost taste it in the air. But there were issues. Family issues. It almost thrilled her just to think it, but family complicated things.
She'd never even thought about it, but maybe Sol didn't want a relationship with her, didn't need a sister. All this time, she'd just wanted to meet her little niece. Now here she was but not able to get more than a few minutes. And she'd also learned that she didn't just have a niece, but a nephew as well.
She felt pulled in two directions.
Her eyes sought Apollo from across the room, sitting on the exam table and looking far more innocent than she'd ever known him to be.
"He's afraid I'm going to tell you about his chip," Rachel said to her as she passed by on her way to the table.
Apollo huffed and turned his head away from them both.
Val swallowed as she remembered the small bump under the skin.
"The one by his eye?" she asked.
Rachel raised a brow as she turned to look at Apollo.
"That would be the one," she said and gave a sly smile. "Interesting."
"What's it for?" Val asked.
Rachel turned back to her and opened her palm.
Val moved closer to see what she was holding. A tiny little microchip sat in the middle.
Without waiting to be told, she reached out and picked up the chip.
"A program?"
She held it up and examined it in the light. The little green chip was just like something you might find in any small device.
"Why would they have these inside?"
Rachel looked to Apollo and then back to Val. "We're not completely sure, but this one was found in a hybrid and blocked out certain smells."
"Sol?" she asked.
Apollo frowned at the mention of her brother.
"No," Rachel said. "The men are very secretive about their abilities, so I won't reveal his name. But that's not really important. What is important is what they are capable of doing."
Val looked between the two. "And you want me to find out?"
Apollo didn't say anything, so she waited for Rachel.
"If you can," Rachel said.
Val looked over to the angry hybrid and felt the irritation well up inside her as he refused to look at her.
"Why does he still have his?" she asked.
She raised her hand to touch it again. The skin was completely smooth aside from the hard bump. His rich spicy scent filled the air around her, and she leaned in closer. Something about his warmth drew her in.