Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Molly snapped open her eyes. Her breath came out rapidly as she scanned the dark bedroom. The door closed and the air shifted.
Her heart leapt to her throat. Fight-or-flight rooted her to the bed. She opened her mouth to scream for Wraith just as a hand settled on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s me. Sorry I woke you.”
Atlas.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, crawling onto her knees and throwing her arms around his neck. “You’re here.” You’re alive.
His large forearms locked around her waist as he bent to kiss her neck. “Yeah. Missed you.” Exhaustion riddled his words.
She glanced over his shoulder at the clock on the nightstand. It was 7:29 a.m.
He’d been gone all night. She’d finally fallen asleep around three o’clock, but she’d tossed and turned after that, periodically checking her phone for word from him. She leaned out of his embrace, then flung back the covers and pulled him into the sheets.
Curling against his side, she rested her head on his shoulder and stroked his bristly jaw.
“You feel damn good around me, woman.” He kissed her hair, hugging her tight. “Let’s get some sleep.”
She smiled. He was so close. So rough. So warm. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried.”
He kissed her head. “Shhh. Rest, babe.”
Molly batted open her eyes. Sunlight streamed into the hotel room. Part of the blackout curtain wasn’t properly sealed. She lifted her head from Atlas’s chest, where she’d slept for—she glanced at the clock—six hours.
His breath hissed evenly through his nose, but his jaw was firm and his brow lined with intent even while at rest. She wanted to touch him, to make sure this handsome angel wasn’t just real but also here with her.
Only she didn’t want to wake him.
The need to pee drew her out of bed. After scooting away carefully, she tucked the blanket around him.
She drifted out of the bedroom and checked the living room—empty.
Wraith must have gone to his own room when Atlas got in.
She used the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then went to the window.
The crystalline ocean shimmered beyond the cityscape.
So serene and picturesque, it seemed impossible that she’d almost been drowned in her apartment the night before last.
A cruise ship sailed in the distance. She’d kill for a day at the beach. Lying in the sun while sipping something cold and sweet sounded like a slice of heaven she wouldn’t taste for a long time.
And when she did, would she be alone? The thought of parting from Atlas struck her again, making her heart ache. She just had to accept that there were uncertainties in any new relationship. He was a good, honest man, and she’d make things work if he was willing.
“Whatchya thinking?” Atlas’s rough, cozy voice feathered over her ear just before his front touched her back.
She jumped, clapping her hand to her chest. “I didn’t even hear you get up.”
His whiskers abraded her cheek. “That tells me that either you’re exhausted or you were deep in thought. Which is it?”
She bit her bottom lip. Now wasn’t the time to be elusive. “I was thinking how nice it’d be to lie on the beach.” She smiled at the thought. “And I wondered if you’d be there the next time I get to do that.”
“Hmm.” His low rumble vibrated her shoulder. “Well, for starters, I want to be wherever you are. I don’t prefer to sweat my bag off, but if I get to see you in a bikini while I do that, then I’m game.”
She giggled. “Such a sexy image.”
“You in a bikini or me sweating my bag off?”
“Both,” she said, then laughed.
He nuzzled her ear. “One for sure.”
She closed her eyes and rested her head back against his chest. He kissed her cheek, then dipped down to her neck. He’d made it clear when they spoke last night that he wanted sex when he returned. And she had no complaints about that.
His hand slid around her hip and found the waistband of her pants. Need throbbed between her legs. He pushed his hand down the front of her panties, touching her sex.
“I take it you got all the sleep you needed?” she asked.
“All the sleep I care to have right now. Damn, you’re so smooth.” He swept his fingers over her hood and her insides clenched.
“Atlas, you’re—”
He plunged two fingers inside her.
“Ohmigod.” Staring out the window while his hand was down her pants was the most erotic, sexy thing she’d ever done.
He turned her head so she faced him and captured her lips with his mouth. Her breath came out hot and heavy, and his warm, masculine taste filled her to the brim. He nudged the insides of her knees open with his thigh, and she almost came as his fingers went deeper.
Heat singed her face, and she glanced frantically at the glass. “Umm.” Could someone see them? They were on the thirtieth floor, and all the buildings around them were lower—but she felt so naked even though she was fully clothed.
His gruff laugh brought her attention back to his face. “I don’t think anyone can see us. And if they can, I doubt they see where my hand is.”
She slapped his shoulder. “That’s not comforting!”
“All right.” He pulled his fingers from her and she mewled with annoyance. Snagging her hips, he turned her back to the window.
She stared up at him. God, he was so sexy. His gray T-shirt fit snugly. His scruff, which was a few shades darker than the hair on his head, was in need of trimming, but this only made him look more rugged.
His blue-green eyes, the colors rivaling the Gulf of Panama, shone playfully.
She held his forearms. “What’s with that devilish look?”
He dragged his palm over his face. “Well, I was debating if I wanted to make you mad or not.”
“Huh?”
He reached for her thighs and hiked her up so her legs wrapped around his waist. She folded her arms around his neck, warmth spreading through every inch of her.
His even white teeth gleamed in the sunlight. “I want to make love to you right here, but I think you’d prefer the bedroom.”
A blush crept its way up her neck. Make love. Those words wound around her heart. She’d cling to them forever—even if he hadn’t meant them. “I can’t say I’ve ever done anything scandalous in front of a window.”
“Mmm. Guess I should rectify that.” He lowered her to her feet, his hands on her ribcage. Lust stained his cheeks red.
Fire ignited inside her. Part of her wanted to tell him to march to the bedroom. The other part of her needed more—right here.
His hands went to her pants, and he slowly lowered them. Next, he caught her lace panties and shoved them down.
The heat of a thousand suns ignited her face. Her backside was exposed to the window in broad daylight. “Atlas. What are you doing?” She placed her palms on her face, hoping to cool the flames but only fanning them.”
He grinned. “Baby, if you think I want anyone getting an eyeful of your perfect ass, you’re dead wrong. That thing’s mine.”
If he kept saying things like that, she’d be a goner. She opened her mouth, but before she could respond, he eased her to sit on the windowsill. The bottom of the ledge sat at his waist level.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Her shirt was still on, and no one could see her naked backside. Atlas threaded his fingers through her hair and bent to kiss her. He placed one palm on the wall next to her head.
“Take this off.” She pushed up his shirt. As her fingers grazed the ripples of his abdomen, she nearly groaned. How did he keep up such a physique? The guy was like carved stone, for god’s sake—it was both infuriating and sexy as hell.
A laugh rolled from his lips. “You mean you want me naked in front of the window? How’s that fair?”
“Well, you look like that,” she said with a scoff. “It’s a shame to hide all that hard work.”
He smirked, reached a hand behind his neck, and pulled the cotton over his head.
She dragged her fingers from his chest to his tanned, stacked abs to his cargos. A thrill turned her nipples hard. She’d never wanted a man more in her life.
He snagged her wrist, stilling her, then brought his free hand to the inside of her thigh and toyed with her flesh. She wiggled away. Bringing both hands to his pants, she undid his belt, then the button, then the zipper.
A thick bulge strained against his boxer briefs. She stroked her fingers lazily over his cock.
He inhaled a deep breath. “Molly—”
“You’ve tasted me, Atlas. I want to taste you.” She pulled down his underwear just enough, and his cock sprang out, thick, hard, and pulsing.
She gripped his length, admiring how satiny he felt. In a few minutes, he’d be inside her. The idea of something so large filling her made need thrum low in her belly.
“Molly, you’re killing me.”
She leaned forward and brushed the head of his cock against her lips. He let out a guttural groan. His free hand went to the nape of her neck and gently rested there. She swirled her tongue over his knob.
His body tensed. Every visible muscle turned rigid. She took his length into her mouth, rubbing her tongue against him as she twisted her hand.
“Christ. Molly.”
“Mmm,” she moaned, letting the sound vibrate his dick.
He jerked, easing out of her mouth. “If you don’t quit, I’m not going to last five fucking seconds.” He dropped to his knees. With his hands braced on the glass behind her, he kissed her lips.
She gripped his shoulders as his hips settled between her knees. He placed his hands on her legs and pushed them wide.
He stared at her for several heartbeats, primal lust dark on his face, jaw locked as if holding back, chest heaving.
Desire branded her cheeks.
He bent and put his mouth on her sex. She cried out. The feel of his silky tongue on her sensitive skin was too much to bear. He licked into her as though he were starving. She placed one hand on the window ledge for support and kept the other on his shoulder.
The back of her head pressed against the glass. The sun beat through the window, warming her neck. She felt suspended hundreds of feet in the air—but safe.