Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Atlas
She’s so fucking mouthy, but I like it. I love that she’s not afraid to yell at me and call me out when I’m being an asshole, which I know I was.
There’s no good excuse for how I behaved at the game, besides jealousy.
We had fun until Mr. Hockey passed off his puck and number to her.
It still heats my blood when I think about it, but I push all those thoughts out of my head.
Shoving my car door open, I head up to her porch, prepared to wait as long as it takes. If Cora thinks we’re done, she’s dead fucking wrong. We’re just getting started.
I don’t care who she’s talking to, I’m going to prove I’m the only man she needs. The only man she’s going to have. I’ll get rid of anyone who stands in my way.
The lights cast a yellow glow through her window, and as the wind cuts around me, her words replay in my head.
“Your insides are ugly.” Not wrong. “You’re exhausting.
” Also not wrong, but it was the other thing she said that drew me to her front door.
“You’re exhausting because I spend too much time thinking about you, and I can’t figure out why.
” Now that I know I’m on her mind, I’m done waiting.
Banging on the door, I wait for her to answer or tell me to fuck off. I’m not sure which I deserve more, but I’m not leaving until she opens that door.
“Cora. It’s me,” I shout. I know she’s in there, debating whether or not to answer. “I’m not leaving. Open the door.”
She has no idea how stubborn I am. I’ll sit out here in the fucking cold if I have to.
Resigning myself to waiting all night, I miss the sound of the lock clicking, and the door opening. Cora stands in the doorway, her face contorted with anger.
“Well?” She pins me with a stare, and she’s so beautiful, I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Why are you here? What’s your problem now?
” she demands with a scowl. Gone are her beanie and coat from the game; in their place is Cora in all her glory.
Jeans and a long-sleeved tee, paired with the high tops she hasn’t removed yet.
Her dark brown hair falls at her shoulders in messy waves, and her blue, angry eyes are zeroed in on me.
In that moment, I know I’m well and truly fucked and I don’t even care.
“You are,” I growl as I pull her to me and crash my mouth onto hers.
Tangling a hand in her soft hair, I draw Cora closer, devouring her lips with mine.
She stands frozen at first but then melts under my touch.
Finally. Using the hand not wrapped in her hair, I grab her waist and pull her to me as I move into her house.
She didn’t invite me exactly but fuck if I’m letting her speak yet. It’s my turn.
I nip at her lip, and satisfaction runs through me when she lets out a small whimper. I still taste hints of the snacks we shared at the game, but there’s something else that’s distinctly Cora. Swallowing her whimper, I groan and move us until her back lands against something solid.
Plundering her mouth, my body molds against hers. I don’t drink alcohol ever, but her sounds have me drunk on her, and I’m dying for more. Moving my hand from her hair, I trail it down her body and inhale the gasp she makes.
She raises her hands to my chest as I yank her hips against mine. I’m hard as a fucking rock, desire coursing through me. I need to touch her. I’ve been dying to touch her.
Moving my hands to her ass, Cora yanks on my jacket to pull me closer. Lifting her in my arms, I push her back against the wall, legs wrapped around my waist.
If I died right now, my hands on her ass, lips on mine, she could have my last breath.
Tearing my lips from hers, I dip my head, tasting her neck and the skin around her shoulder where her shirt has slid down. Fuck me, she has on a blue bra, almost the same shade as her eyes.
She’s pinned to the wall, one hand in my hair, the other around my neck cradling me closer. Squeezing her ass with my hands, I admire the flushed color of her skin and her swollen lips. Her chest rises and falls as she tries to suck in a breath.
I’m so hard for her, I nearly crumble when she sighs my name.
“Atlas,” she breathes. “We can’t do this. It’s—”
I cut her off with another kiss. It’s not as hard as before, but it’s no less intoxicating. Her lips are soft, and her silky skin has me wanting to touch more. I wrap her arms around my neck and press my body closer to hers, groaning when her fingers slide into my hair, holding me back in place.
“Shhh,” I whisper against her mouth, “Let me in, Cora. You feel so fucking good.” I want everything from her, and I’m done fighting it. She thinks I’m exhausting because of how I make her feel, but she has no idea what she does to me. “You taste even better. You taste like mine.”
“Atlas.” She pulls back. “You have to put me down. Please,” she pleads, looking into my eyes. “I just need a minute.”
“No, you don’t. You wanted to know what my problem was,” I whisper.
“Well, it’s you, Cora. The way I can’t stop thinking about you.
The way I wonder if your hair is as soft as it looks.
” I grab a chunk and use it to tilt her head back.
“My problem is, I didn’t know what you tasted like, and now I do. ”
“That was a problem?” she breathes out. “Sounds like a lot of problems for you.”
“It was.” I nuzzle her neck, savoring the way her body responds to me.
“But it’s not anymore. Now we have a different problem,” I admit as I pull back to stare into her eyes.
Her pupils are wide, and I have zero doubts that she’s mine.
I’ve never wanted a single person the way I want Cora.
I want to touch her everywhere and feel her hands on my body. I need it. I crave it.
“What’s that?” she whispers, her gaze finding mine.
“It’s—”
“Cora! Where are you?” a masculine voice cuts through the room, interrupting me.
Who the fuck is that?
I take in the panicked expression on Cora’s face and want to hit something. Who the hell is walking into my girl’s house?
Wiggling out of my arms, I immediately miss the feeling of Cora’s body on mine. She steps away from me right as the guy from the shop earlier comes around the corner.
“Hey, Matt.” She pushes her hair behind her ear. “What are you doing here?”
He looks from her to me, and I smirk because I know he notices her flushed face and swollen lips. That’s right, fucker.
“I tried calling you.”
“Oh.” She walks toward the table to grab her phone. “I had it on silent after we talked.”
“Yeah. That’s the thing. I couldn’t reach you, and Noah wanted to come home. Wasn’t feeling good again.”
I swing my head toward her. What the hell is going on? Cora’s face no longer holds the flush I put there, but instead something like guilt flashes across it.
“Where is—” Her voice cuts off as a small kid comes around the corner. He looks from Cora to me, and then to Matt.
“I didn’t feel good, Cora. Sorry.” He looks at the floor.
She immediately goes to him and wraps her arms around him. “Hey, it’s fine. You don’t ever have to apologize.” Feeling his forehead, she winces. “You’re feeling warm, bud. Come on, let’s get you up to bed. Thanks, Matt. Sorry I didn’t answer. I’ll text you.”
He nods, giving me one last look before he turns to leave. “Don’t forget to lock up, Cora.”
Watching his retreating form, my gaze flicks between her and the little boy.
“Cora, I…”
“Don’t, Atlas. Not right now. I need you to go too.”
“Can I do anything?” I ask, reluctant to leave. I’m so confused. I don’t understand what’s going on. Cora has a kid?
“No.” She shakes her head. “Just… just go,” she replies, resignation in her voice.
“I can—”
“I said no,” she bites out, avoiding my eyes.
“Fine,” I relent. “You have my number; text me if you need anything at all. Or him.” I gesture to the small boy she has attached to her side. “Goodnight, Cora,” I tell her softly and head for the door.
I take in the picture frames around the room, featuring Cora and the kid at different stages. Did that fucker get her pregnant? He doesn’t seem to live here, but I can’t figure out what’s going on.
Looking back, I watch as she bends down to say something to the boy. He nods and heads up the stairs. I’m surprised when she walks toward me, but instead of stopping, she continues to the door and opens it.
Turning to face me, Cora sighs. “Goodnight, Atlas.”
Taking my cue, I step back out into the cold. I’ve pushed enough for tonight.
“I’ll see you soon, Cora,” I promise as I head to my car.
She doesn’t answer, but the sound of the door and lock engaging is deafening. It doesn’t matter. I’ve had a taste, and I’m never going back. She’d better get ready because I’m coming for her, and I don’t care who the father of that boy is, they’re both about to become mine.