She grinned, her smile lighting up the dim room.
"I can't wait to do much more. I'm looking forward to more kink with you."
I put the cream away, then lay beside the woman who stole my black heart, pulling her to my chest.
"You're the only woman who can hurt me, Kitten. You own me. I would die for you. I hope you know that."
She lifted her head to look at me, smiling.
"I know you would. I'm all yours."
My voice turned serious as I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I need you to know something, Kitlyn." My thumb traced the curve of her cheek. "I'm sorry for stalking you, for taking you when I had no right. You were terrified of me, and the memory of that, after all that's happened, eats me from the inside out."
She stroked my hand, smiling.
"Yes, kidnapping me was wrong,butif you hadn't, we wouldn't be together right now." She laughed. "I admit,it wasn't very conventional, and I believe you are still a psychopath, but my psychopath."
She winked, making my heart skip.
"Let's just forget about all of that, Atlas. If we cling to all the shitty things that we did, or the rotten crap that happened to us, we'll both end up in the nuthouse."
I smirked, pulling her in closer.
"You're right, Ms. Menard." I pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Time for bed, Kitten." With a flick, I shut off the lamp on the nightstand, and pulled her tight against my chest.
"Good night, Atlas," she whispered.
I stroked her hair until her breathing softened into sleep.
Only then did I let my own eyes close, surrendering to a peaceful slumber.
Chapter 34
Life is good
Kitlyn
The smell of charcoal and sizzling meat drifted across the backyard, mingling with the sweetness of freshly cut grass. July was always a hot month in Rhode Island. The weather today was warm and bright, the kind of day that almost made me forget how heavy life had been just over four months ago. It was a great day to have a cookout with the people we loved.
Atlas stood by the grill, tongs in hand, towering over everyone like some kind of six-foot-six barbecue god. He was focused, flipping those burgers like a pro. Joey sat nearby with a beer in his hand, teasing him unmercifully.
"Don't burn them this time, big brother," Joey called out with a grin. "Remember the last cookout you had?Charcoal patties, so burnt we had to soak them in beer just to chew the damn things."
Atlas glanced at him, his expression flat, but amused.
"Eat something else then."
Zach snorted from his lawn chair, laptop balanced on his knees even at a friggan barbecue.
"He's not kidding, Joey. He'll serve yours raw, so if I were you, I'd zip it."
I laughed, handing Becca a glass of iced tea before settling next to her at the picnic table. She looked so fucking good. Healthier and happier. Her eyes sparkled in the sun's glow. She was still quiet, but not nearly as much as in the last couple of months.
When Jacob held her hand, she didn't flinch or pull away. She's made a ton of progress, and I was so happy to see it.
"This is so nice," she murmured, her eyes sweeping the yard. "I didn't think I'd ever….you know, just sit in the sun and not feel like the world was ending."
Jacob moved closer, teasing, "That's because the world did end. Now you're stuck with me in the afterlife."
