Reaching my hand between us, I rotate my fingers on my clit. The need to come is overpowering. I can feel the pressure rising in my stomach, and I know I’m close.
“No.” He shoves my hand out of the way. “It’s my birthday, and I get to make you come.”
Atlas moves his thumb around my clit as I grind down on his cock. I feel so full, and I’m almost there.
“Give me my gift, baby. I’ve been a good boy.” He hums, latching onto my neck, scraping the skin with his teeth. It’s enough to send me over. White-hot pleasure bursts from me, making my eyes roll back. He feels so good. Clamping down, I lean forward and whimper against his neck.
“Fuck. That’s it, Cora.” He thrusts back into me once, twice more, and I feel him before I hear his groan. The heat of his release floods into me, and I pull my mouth from his neck to find his lips.
“Atlas.” I breathe out his name like it’s my own personal prayer. Kissing him deeply, I lean into his touch as he puts his arms around my waist, hugging me to his body.
His hand skates up my arm and slides around to my back. Careful in how he touches my shoulder, he moves his fingers to the other flower. Trying not to wince at the twinge I feel there, I see his eyes on mine in the mirror. Our chests are heaving, but the way he looks at me stops my heart.
“Do you see it now?” he asks.
Confusion mars my face, but he offers me a small, sad smile. Pushing a lock of hair behind my ear, he stares into my eyes. “You’re mine, Firefly. I wished for you, and I won’t give you back. I’m taking you and keeping you forever. There’s nothing anyone can do to stop me, and I pity any poor bastard who tries.”
Pulling his lips back to mine, I put into the kiss what I can’t say with words yet. My heart is screaming, ‘I’m all in,’but my head won’t quite catch up. I kiss him softly, then pull back only when I can’t breathe anymore.
Sitting on his lap, I take in my destroyed tights and his shirt across the room. “We should um, probably get cleaned up.” I laugh.
Looking around the room, he shrugs. “I’m good where I’m at.” I feel the twitch of his dick inside me.
Shaking my head, I give him a look. “As nice as that sentiment is, I can feel you running down my thighs.” I stand as elegantly as possible,and wince when I turn around. My shoulder is still sore, but I want a closer look at it in the mirror.
I’m looking at the two flowers when Atlas comes up behind me with a box of tissues. His jeans are buttoned at his waist, where he’s still shirtless. I gawk at the lines of black ink that swirl around his body and the V at his hips.Damn, I’m lucky.
The vines from his back and shoulders make their way around his arms, and there’s a mix of other, smaller pieces in between. I notice a willow tree, a compass, and what appears to be a pair of wings supporting a circular object.
Quirking a brow at me, he hands me the box. “Hold this real quick, baby,” he says as he kneels to clean between my legs. I fight the blush that spreads across my face. Yeah, sex is intimate, but caring for someone after is another level of intimacy in itself.
“Atlas?” I ask. “Why are there two flowers?”
Standing to his height, he throws the tissues away and turns back to me. Pulling me to the side, he angles my position so I can see better. “It’s a marigold.” He points at the other flower in explanation.
“Okay?”
He looks at me with a soft expression. “Marigolds are the flower for Noah’s birth month. Well, his and mine, I guess. Now you’ll have a piece of the two most important men in your life.” He kisses the side of my head. “But don’t worry, there’s enough space that we can add to the bouquet when we have our own kids.”
My head whips in his direction.Kids? I misheard that, right?I’m about to question him when something else catches my attention.Oh my God.
“No, you didn’t mishear me, Firefly. One day, we’re going to have the most beautiful babies. They’ll have your dark hair and blue eyes and maybe get my height.” He smirks.
“Atlas.” I raise my hand to his chest. “What’s this?”
Smiling, he looks down at me, pausing briefly to kiss my temple. There’s never a time when he isn’t trying to touch me.
In between the dark vines, branches, and broken pieces thatcover his body, there’s a burst of color on his chest that somehow, I missed.
“That’s for you.”
“I don’t understand.” I can tell it’s new because it’s still healing. “When did you do this? And why?” Amidst all the darkness is a blue dahlia with fine lines and intricate details, accompanied by script underneath. The words ‘Lux in tenebris mea’ are written along with my name. “What does that mean?”
Cupping my face with his hand, he strokes my cheek tenderly. “It means my light in the darkness.”
“Atlas—”
“Shhh,” he whispers. “You are my light, Cora. I would live for an eternity in darkness, just for a minute with you. You could be in the deepest parts of the ocean, and I would swim to you still. There is no way I would never be able to see you. Your light is a beacon to me. It calls me home.”
