9. To Burn and Ache
Being carried upside down over Atlas’s shoulder wasn’t exactly my idea of fun, but at least now I knew where the destination was, although I wasn’t sure that made it any easier.
Knowing where we were going seemed to be making me even more aware of it. Every step he took only reminded me that he had very deliberately announced he was taking me to his bedchamber. And let’s just say that judging by the pace he was setting, he appeared just as eager to get there as I was.
His long strides devoured the distance between corridors, leaving me bouncing gently against his shoulder while the palace blurred past. I still hadn’t actually seen much of where he lived, yet somehow, we were already halfway there.
This, despite the fact that I was being transported like some stolen treasure, gave me full license to tease him about it.
“Do you think we’ll actually get there before sunrise?”
The growl that answered me was entirely playful and also made me shiver against him.
“Behave, my unruly little bird.”
“You know, I feel at this point I should remind you that my legs work just fine.”
“So do my muscles,” he stated, making me scoff.
“Yes, yes, very impressive, macho man, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that I could be making this journey right next to you.” I pointed out, which was, unsurprisingly, ineffective.
“Yes,” Atlas replied without missing a beat. “But they are so little and therefore don’t walk as fast as mine.”
I narrowed my eyes, but from my current angle, the gesture was largely wasted, although the floor got a really dirty look.
“Well, I would suggest we run there, but I think that might look strange, and you’ve probably frightened enough of your staff for one evening,” I said dryly, and his chest shook with a chuckle, which meant so did my legs, which were still pinned to his torso.
“Impatient?” he asked in a smug tone that made me scoff.
“You would be too if you felt like a sack of potatoes,” I grumbled with a huff.
“I think you’re being rather harsh on yourself,” he stated, making me frown before falling into his trap by asking,
“How so?”
“I can think of a better vegetable.” His reply was met with a roll of my eyes, which, once again, was entirely wasted, especially since I was still staring at the floor.
“You’re comparing me to vegetables now? What am I then, a damn turnip?!” I snapped without any heat, and the laugh that escaped him made me bounce slightly over his shoulder.
“Stop laughing. You’re gonna make me pee myself, you brute!”
“Then I suggest you stop making me laugh by saying ridiculous things,” he answered to this predicament.
Not, ‘here sweetheart, let me help you with that and put you down on the perfectly useful feet you own…’ Oh no, it was to stop making him laugh.
Yeah, well, I wasn’t about to do that anytime soon… not when I was addicted to the sound.
“And I suggest you get there quicker.” Was my own witty response.
“Would you like me to jog?” he asked. “Because I don’t think that would help with your bladder.”
I considered it and then admitted, “Perhaps not.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” The insufferable man sounded entirely too pleased with himself.
A few moments later, we rounded another corner and came upon an enormous set of double doors.
Even from upside down, I could tell they were impressive.
Dark wood carved with intricate patterns stretched from floor to ceiling, framed by polished stone and decorated with enough gold detailing to remind anyone approaching exactly who lived beyond them.
The King.
Atlas didn’t break stride as the doors swung open as if on their own accord. Of course, he could have just kicked them open, and I didn’t see… either way, it looked impressive.
And then we stepped inside, and suddenly I forgot all about the conversation.
“Wow.” The word slipped out before I could stop it as I put my palms to his lower back and pushed myself up so that I could take in the room.
If it could even be called that, as it was enormous, easily several times larger than my own bedroom I had been shown to earlier.
It also somehow managed to feel both regal and unmistakably masculine at the same time.
A massive stone fireplace dominated one wall, its carved mantel depicting ancient battles and crowned warriors, while rich tapestries hung between towering windows overlooking the mountains beyond the palace.
The colors of the sunset spilled across polished floors and dark furnishings.
A warm glow illuminating a seating area large enough to host an entire gathering, complete with deep armchairs, carved tables, and shelves lined with books and maps.
My attention continued traveling. Then, traveling some more. Then stopped entirely.
The bed.
Christ almighty… What the hell was that thing, a small island?
The thing was less a bed and more a small kingdom. Jesus, it needed its own zip code. It even made me wonder if the man was a secret orgy fan.
Dark carved posts rose toward the ceiling, draped with heavy fabric and surrounded by enough space to comfortably sleep an army.
Ornate carvings wound around the frame, depicting warriors, beasts, and scenes from legends I didn’t recognize, while thick blankets and countless pillows made it look entirely too inviting.
“This place looks impressive even upside down.”
Atlas’s chuckle followed me as he carried me further inside.
“I’m relieved it meets your barracks’ life standards,” he quipped, making me realize how long it had been since sleeping on my one-man cot back at the base.
Before I could continue my inspection, Atlas crossed the room and finally lowered me from his shoulder.
His hands settled around my waist as he lifted me down with surprising care.
But then the moment my feet touched the floor, he immediately changed his mind and tossed me backwards onto the enormous bed.
My cry of shock died the second I bounced.
Actually bounced… twice.
My hair flew everywhere as I landed amongst enough pillows to cushion a small avalanche. For a moment, I lay there staring up at the ceiling. Then I started laughing, my hand going to my chest.
Atlas, meanwhile, looked entirely too satisfied with himself.
Leaning back on my elbows, I watched as he loosened his jacket and shrugged it off before tossing it aside.
The movement was casual, effortless, and somehow made it impossible not to watch.
A moment later, he reached for the edge of his tunic and pulled it over his head.
The action revealing broad shoulders, powerful arms, and the sort of physique that made ancient sculptors dedicate entire careers to carving marble.
I swear my mouth went dry to the point that swallowing felt like I had been forced to drink sand. Honestly, it was deeply inconvenient.
His eyes found mine immediately, and the smirk that followed suggested he’d noticed exactly where I was looking.
“See something you like?”
I forced my gaze away from his chest, which, like I said, was a work of art…
although then there were his abs… Jesus, how many, eight…
Holy Jezebel! Who the fuck had eight abs!
? Okay, so I really was trying to tear my gaze away, but then I swear he flexed them on purpose, and I was lost again.
That was until he cleared his throat, and I quickly made a point of looking around the room instead.
Naturally… I was fooling no one.
“It’s a nice fireplace.”
One dark brow lifted.
The man didn’t believe me for a second. I knew that when he asked, “Is that so?”
“Mm… mm… oh, and the bed, it’s, erm… lovely.”
“Is it? Um… Let me check,” he replied teasingly, before I felt the mattress dip beneath his weight as he began crossing the bed toward me.
Now moving with the slow confidence of a predator that already knew exactly how this encounter would end.
Every inch he advanced seemed to shrink the space between us, and despite myself, my pulse began doing increasingly unhelpful things.
I swallowed hard and,
Atlas noticed.
But of course he did, and the smug look appeared on his face immediately. And entirely unbearable… okay, not entirely, seeing as it was also sexy as hell.
“Why would you need to check? This is your bed.”
“Yes, but it’s never had you in it before, and I must say… it feels so much better.” He practically purred this as his hand started to stroke up my leg, taking the long material of my skirt with him.
“You think you’ve won, don’t you?” I asked, the challenge still lingering in my voice despite the fact that I was currently sprawled across his bed while he looked entirely too pleased with himself.
The corner of his mouth lifted immediately, that infuriating confidence returning as though the argument had never happened at all.
The mattress dipped further beneath his weight as he moved closer, one knee settling either side of my thighs while his hands found my waist, drawing me toward him until there was barely any distance left between us.
The look in his eyes made my pulse stumble.
“Of course, little warrior,” he murmured.
“I never lose.” A laugh escaped me.
The arrogance. The certainty. The fact that even after everything, he still somehow managed to sound annoyingly pleased with himself.
“Oh, is that so?” I replied, running my fingers through his hair before taking hold of it gently enough to draw his attention fully back to me. “If anything, I think you’re about to discover exactly how wrong you are.”
His eyes darkened with amusement.
“Oh, yeah?” he challenged.
“Mm-hmm.” The simple sound I made earned me another smile, but I was no longer thinking about winning arguments or proving points. The anger that had driven me into the throne room was long gone, now tangled with relief, affection, and the overwhelming reality that he was finally here.
Alive. Real. Within reach.
I leaned forward, letting my forehead rest briefly against his as my fingers threaded through his hair once more.