38. Thirty-Eight
”There”s nothing left to say,” she snarls at me, crossing her arms over her chest. ”I think you made yourself abundantly clear back there.”
”Do you want to see me beg? Because I will. Do you want me to lose all sense of control and snap the necks of any man who comes within an arm”s length of you? If that”s what you want, I”ll fucking do it.” I stalk toward her, and to her credit, she doesn”t back down. ”At the end of the day, you have to make the decision that”s best for you. I won”t be the one to dictate your fate. I”m not Bastian. I”m not your parents. I”ll accept whatever choice you make. It doesn”t mean I have to like it.”
Her face softens, but in a flash her mask is firmly back in place.
”What?” I challenge. ”Tell me what you”re thinking.”
”I never said you were like Bastian or my parents, but would it kill you to show me you”re worth giving all this up for?”
”When have I not shown you how much I care?” I take another heavy step toward her. ”Tell me. What else do I need to do to prove to you that you”re all that consumes my thoughts? You”re the reason I even wake up in the morning. I”ve broken all my rules for you. Torn down all my walls and confessed you”re the only woman I want. What else do I need to say?”
When she doesn”t say anything, I throw my hands up, at my wits end. ”You are without a doubt the most infuriating woman!”
”Me!?” she shouts.
”Yes, you!”
She stomps toward me, pointing an accusatory finger into my chest. ”I can”t believe out of all the men in the Six Kingdoms of Dalerin, I had to fall in love with you!”
My breath is stolen, and words suddenly fail me. I stare at her in bewilderment, but she doesn”t seem to realize what she”s just confessed.
”Why are you staring at me like that?” She slams her hands on her hips, furrowing her brow.
”What did you just say?” My voice is hoarse, as if I”ve been screaming for hours.
It”s then she seems to register what she said. Fear and embarrassment flickers in her eyes and she opens her mouth, only to immediately slam it shut. By the look on her face, it”s apparent she”s uttered a phrase she didn”t intend to, though I know she means it. Every bit of me is on fire. Her eyes are glued to mine and all I see is hopeful expectation, but before I can say anything, she beelines for the door. She doesn”t make it, because I grab her forearm and spin her around, pinning her back against the wall.
”Say it again,” I whisper.
Our faces are so close I can smell the jasmine in her hair and the wine on her tongue.
”Shaye?” I plead, like a dying man begging for a sip of water. ”Say it again.”
My heart feels as if its lodged inside of my throat and I can see her vacillating with telling me the truth or making something up.
”Atlas,” she says softly as I plant my hands against the wall I pinned her to, inching closer.
”Say it, Shaye.” I press my forehead against hers. ”I like how it sounds.”
”I love you,” she admits, her cheeks blushing. That”s all I need to hear before I slams my lips against hers, a dam broken.
Tongue, teeth, hands. We”re tangled together, two pieces to a puzzle that had finally found one another. My hands slide down her arms, down her waist, until I cup her ass and lift her up, keeping her firmly held against the wall. She tugs my hair, bites my lip, and earns a wicked moan from me. I want more, more, more. Suddenly I feel like there is too much space between us even though our bodies are pressed so tightly together I can feel the rapid beating of her heart against my chest.
”Say it again,” I murmur against her mouth.
”I love you, Atlas.” She moans, meeting my hungry gaze with one of her own.
”I”ve been in love with you since I kissed you in Bava,” I admit.
”All this time?”
I nod and she crashes her lips against mine, tightening her legs around my torso.
I drag her away from the wall and carry her to the bed. Gently, I set her down and rip my jacket off before unbuttoning my dress shirt. I toss it on the floor, my eyes not leaving hers for a moment. I bare myself, scars and all, to her and she doesn”t shy away. When she bites her bottom lip, something within me snaps and I”m ready to claim her as mine.
She sits up and reaches behind her back to unfasten her dress, but I”m not letting her do what I”ve been itching to do all night. I snatch her ankle and drag her to the edge of the mattress. Hovering above her, I drag my fingers down her legs until I reach the heels she”s wearing. One after the other, I untie the ankle straps and flick the shoes over my shoulder. Her hands wander across my chest, down my shoulders and my arms. When she reaches for my pants, I pull back just out of her reach.
”Ah, ah, ah,” I bend forward, leaving a trail of kisses from her neck down to her breastbone. ”Don”t be impatient.”
”What?” she teases breathlessly, arching into my touch. ”You don”t want to see me naked?”
”I”ve waited a long time for this moment.” My violet eyes meet hers as my shadows slip around her wrists, rooting her to the mattress. ”I won”t be rushed. I”m going to take my time with you, Strenlys.” I kneel before her, pressing her legs apart.
”I thought you only bent the knee to your king.” She smirks as my hungry eyes meet hers. To my delight, she involuntarily shudders as my fingers skim up her smooth legs.
”I”ll kneel, crawl, do whatever it is you ask of me, so long as you”re mine.” I kiss her inner thigh and she moans lightly.
”Get me out of this dress,” she curls her legs around my torso and squeezes. ”Now.”
”Impatient and demanding,” I tease and slide above her.
”I want to feel you.”
”You will,” I promise, a wicked smile plays across my lips. ”After I”ve had a taste.”
I pull her dress up to her waist, dip my head between her legs, push her panties aside and thrust my tongue inside of her. She cries out, letting her head fall back. I lick her again and again and again. My cock hardens with each and every moan she whimpers.
”Atlas,” she gasps, arching her back.
Although she”s still pinned to the bed, my shadows split off to finger through her hair and caress her neck before slipping beneath the front of her dress and circling her pebbled nipples. She hisses and her eyes roll back. I lift her hips up, so I have a better angle and allow myself to feast on her. I haven”t been able to shake the taste of her since our encounter in the cabin. I”ve thought of little else, craving her. She”s mine. This woman is mine.
I slip two fingers inside as I stroke her with my tongue. Her legs tremble and I know she”s close.
”Come for me,” I command, her breathing fragmented.
”Atlas,” she groans quietly, but I want more than whispers. I want this whole damn castle to know who she belongs to.
”Scream for me,” I flick my tongue against her. ”Scream my name and I”ll let you come.”
Her eyes shoot open and meet mine. ”People will hear us,” she says, her cheeks turning rosy.
”I know,” I suck on her and enjoy how she shivers. ”Scream for me, love, and I”ll make you come.”
I pump my fingers in and out of her faster, her slickness dripping down my hand and spilling onto the sheets. Her moans increase as my pace quickens. She grows louder as I flick my tongue over the right spot, and she throws her head back when my shadows pinch her nipples.
”Atlas,” she gasps, ”You”re about to make me…”
”That”s right,” I bite her inner thigh. ”Let everyone know that you”re mine.”
As she spills over the edge, she screams, and I don”t make any effort to muffle her ecstasy. She clenches around my fingers, and I let her ride out her wave of pleasure before slipping my wet hand in my mouth for one last taste of her.
I get up from my knees and crawl over her, kissing her lips. ”I love how you taste,” I whisper in her ear. ”Now take my cock like a good girl.”
Something primal flares in her eyes and she pushes me off of her and stands in front of me. She reaches for the ties in the back of her dress, but I whip her around and allow myself the pleasure of undressing her. The tips of my fingers graze across her hot skin and my breath tickles the nape of her neck as I allow the gown to slip down to the floor. I shudder when I realize she”s not wearing a bra and press my lips down on her left shoulder. I reach around front and cup her breasts, relishing the moan that escapes her. Her head falls back against my chest and her cheeks redden when I put my mouth to her ear.
”Tell me if you want me to stop.”
She shimmies her panties over her hips, allowing them to slip down to the floor joining her dress pooled at her feet. ”Does it look like I want you to stop?”
”Shit,” I groan, my hardened length pressing against her bare backside.
”I”m yours, Atlas,” she says softly. ”And you”re mine.”
I turn her around to face me, allowing myself a moment to examine every inch of her glorious, naked body. Her nipples harden under my hungry gaze.
”You”re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”
”Why am I the only one naked?” She reaches for my pants and this time, I don”t attempt to stop her.
Her fingers work quickly and within seconds, she”s pulled my pants down. I pump my length twice and her desire for me is clear. She backpedals until the back of her knees hit the mattress. She scoots back and spreads her legs wide, beckoning me to claim her with my cock.
”Fuck me like it means something,” she says, and that”s all the motivation I need to kick the rest of my clothing off and get on top of her.
I put my tip against her opening and with a reaffirming nod from her, I push myself inside of her. She”s tight and warm and takes all of me like she was made for me. She hisses softly, but when I attempt to pull out, she digs her fingertips into my back, holding me in place.
”I want you,” she whispers. ”I need you,” she pleads.
”I don”t want to hurt you,” I kiss her forehead.
She places her hands on either side of my face and smiles. ”You won”t.”
Gently, I pull in and out, in and out, until she loosens up. When she thrusts up to meet me, I know it”s alright to quicken my pace. Not wanting to come alone, I circle her clit with my thumb. She moans loudly, spurring me to slam into her harder.
”You. Are. Mine.” I say between thrusts. ”Say it.”
”I am yours,” she cries out. ”Atlas!”
She arches her back and shudders when she comes for a second time, clenching down on my cock. The feeling of her pulsing around me propels me over the edge, and I groan as I fill her. For a moment, we ride out our pleasure together, letting our ragged breathing come back to a sense of normalcy. I pull out of her and plop down beside her, tucking her against me. I could stay here with her like this for the rest of my life and die a happy man.
As she lazily swirls her fingers across my chest, I”m worried about what is running through her mind, especially since she”s remained silent since we finished. Even though I”m scared of what she might say, I muster the courage to ask, ”What are you thinking right now?” I finger through her long hair, hoping her answer won”t shatter me into a million pieces.
She takes a minute, but finally says, ”I would give all of this up for you and not regret it for a moment.”
I hold her tighter, letting loose a breath I had been holding, and kiss her temple. ”No matter what you decide,” I whisper, ”my heart will always belong to you.”
She props herself up on an elbow, glancing down at me with a seriousness that makes my heart stop. ”I choose you, Atlas Harland. From now until the day I take my last breath, I choose you.”
I drag my thumb across her bottom lip and smile up at her. ”From now until the end of my days, I am yours, and you are mine.”
She places her hand against my cheek and asks, ”Will you stay the night with me?”
”I would burn this entire world for you, if you asked it of me.”
And for the first time in my life, I don”t feel alone.