7. Atlas
I waitfor my heart rate to come back down again. I feel boneless, like I did after the first time I ran a marathon. The only difference is the afterglow wasn’t nearly as good as this.
Tucked against Eric’s chest is the best feeling in the world. I fight to keep from telling myself that I belong here. In his arms. With his giant cock still nestled deep between my thighs.
After a long moment, he pulls out of me. He disappears to the bathroom only to return a few seconds later with a warm washcloth.
“Eric.” Having him between my thighs when he was giving me pleasure was one thing, but this is embarrassing.
“Part of being mine tonight is accepting the care I give you,” he says. “Now spread those legs.”
I do as he instructs.
He drops to his knees and once again, he’s eye-level with my intimate area. He takes his time spreading my folds, cleaning me thoroughly and seeming to enjoy this.
When he’s done, he tugs on the hotel blankets and pulls me into his arms. We snuggle together naked under the covers.
Eric never struck me as a cuddler, and I’m surprised by how much I like this feeling.
“We should get back,” I say the words I don’t really mean. I want to stay here with Eric and forget that there’s a world outside of this room.
“We should.”
I don’t make a move to get dressed. Instead, I trace the Semper Fi tattoo on his arm. Maybe it’s not the right time to bring this up. But I have to know. I need to understand this. “Why can’t we be together? Are you scared of my dad?”
Eric chuckles. “No, I’m not afraid of Michael.”
I wait and hope he’ll tell me more. When he doesn’t, I ask another question. “Then what would happen if…if…”
“You mean, if you were my girlfriend and I was fucking you every night the way you deserve to be?”
I blush as dirty fantasies of all the ways that Eric could take me fill my mind. “Yeah, if I were yours for more than tonight.”
“I’ll lose my job, both my current one and the one in New York. Then Michael will blackball me from the industry and probably ensure that I never work cyber security again.”
That doesn’t sound like the man that ate a side salad with fat free dressing yesterday. “He has that much power? Is he mafia?”
Eric tweaks my nose. “You are the cutest thing.”
My heart pounds as I realize he didn’t answer the question. “Is that a yes?”
“No, your father is not mafia.” He doesn’t bother hiding the amusement from his tone.
And you want to keep your job and my father’s favor more than you want me?It’s the question I want to ask, but I’m afraid I already know the answer. He wouldn’t be running to New York if he thought he had a fighting chance.
“What if I followed you to New York? I graduate next spring. We could build a life away from him.” I like where I live but I could start over for Eric.
“OK, let’s go with that little fantasy for a minute.” He sighs. “Time passes and I get down on one knee. Who gives you away at the wedding? Even better, I breed you the way I want to and put a baby in your womb. Do you want your kid growing up never knowing their grandfather?”
I think about his words, the future he’s painting. I like the idea of Eric proposing and the thought of carrying his babies. “You’re saying I’d have to choose between you two.”
“Atlas, I was a foster kid. I’ve always been alone in the world. I don’t have a family to give you other than a half-sister I just met and barely know. There will be no grandparents or aunts or uncles. No one to welcome you into the Holt name.”
If he asked me to choose, I’d pick him. As soon as I think it, I feel guilty. I promised my mom that I would do everything I could to make my dad happy. Now, I wish I’d never said those words to her.
He brushes the hair from my face. “I’m not asking you for anything more than what we just shared, and I’m telling you to stay by your father’s side.”
“And if I say no?” In my mind, I see the dark circles under my mom’s eyes, feel her bald head, and the way she got too weak to do more than whisper that she loved me. How could I let her down?
“I spent my life searching for what you already have. Don’t throw that away just because you’re in the afterglow of really good sex.”
“That’s not what this is.” Why can’t he see that my feelings run so much deeper? Why won’t he acknowledge that much at least?
He grins. “It wasn’t really good sex? Then I didn’t try hard enough.” He reaches for me, ghosting his fingers along my side where I’m ticklish.
I giggle and roll out of the bed, landing on my feet. “Fine. It was great sex.”
He groans. “You better cover that ass right now or you’re gonna end up wearing my handprint for the rest of the night.”
“You wouldn’t.”
He starts from the bed.
I squeal and grab for my clothes, quickly changing into my bra and panties. “See? All covered. No need for a spanking.”
“Yet.” He puts on his boxers and slacks.
I slip into my pink dress. I don’t know if it would be weird to thank him for a really fun first time.
“You should go downstairs first,” Eric says. “People will talk if we appear together.”
I nod, fighting a wave of disappointment that it’s over. Without a word, I gather my things and head to the door.
I’ve just stepped out into the hall when Eric calls my name. He leaves the room, unconcerned that he’s still shirtless. He gestures for me to turn around. He quickly zips my dress before he spins me to face him.
“This was the best night of my life,” he murmurs then kisses me on the forehead.
I smile, feeling suddenly shy around him. “I had fun, too.” I lean up and press one last, lingering kiss to his lips. “Can we meet one more time before you go to New York?”
He hesitates but nods. “Yeah, I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
The words make me feel warm even as my heart aches. There are so many things I want to say to Eric and so much I want him to say to me. But maybe if I give it a few days, I can figure out how to convince him to fight for this. For us.
* * *
Eric
I watch Atlas leave,unable to keep the smile from my face. This will sting like hell come tomorrow morning. For right now, I can still smell her perfume on my skin, still taste her lips against mine, still remember the noise she made when I put my cock deep inside her tight body.
I turn toward my hotel room when I catch a flash of movement. My heart sinks as I lift my gaze. Standing at the opposite end of the hall is Michael.
He looks like one pissed off bull and I’m the dumb ass matador.
I head back into the room, leaving the door open behind me as I change into my button-down shirt.
Michael charges in and surveys the place, taking in the rumpled bed sheets. “You son of a bitch.”
I don’t bother ducking the punch. I never have, not even when my foster father would get drunk.
“How long ago did this start?” He massages his knuckles and eyes me like he’s considering a second punch. “Did you get off on this, Eric? Sitting across from me in meetings knowing that you were fucking my daughter?”
“I love her,” I say, tasting the blood from my split lip. The words won’t make a damn bit of difference. But I still say them out loud since I’ll never say them to Atlas.
He shakes his head. “I thought you were my friend. This is not what a friend does, asshole.”
“It was a shitty move and I’m a dick. Do you think I’m happy, Michael? Do you think I wanted to feel the way I do about your daughter? Do you think I haven’t been walking around every day for two years, hating myself?”
His nostrils flare. “You’re done. Don’t bother coming into work tomorrow. Don’t reach out to me and you sure as hell better avoid Atlas.”
I nod, having expected this. There was no possibility I was ever going to be with Atlas for real. It’s better this way.