Tears well in my eyes, and I don’t know what to say. He talks about me as if I’m everything to him. It’s almost too much.
“Come on, we can go to my place for the night. It’s not as homey as yours, but it’s mine for now.” He pulls my dress gently over my head, careful of my shoulder.
Cleaning up his station, he grabs an extra container of ointment. “You’ll need this, baby, but don’t worry. I’ll help you put it on every day.”
“How much do I owe you for the tattoo?”
Atlas briefly scowls at me, and it reminds me of when we first met. “You’re not paying for that. It’s my gift.”
“Well, yeah, but I bought you a gift already.”
“I know that, and I appreciate it, but your trust is a big gift, Cora. Trust is something offered up freely, even though it’s easily broken. I won’t ever abuse that gift,” he promises me with a tight hug.
Chapter Forty-One
Atlas
The morning light cuts through the blinds I never got around to putting curtains over. Cora lies in bed next to me, and even though we had a late night, I know we have to get up soon. Cora has the whole day planned out with Noah and though she offered to let me join in on their fun, I want her to enjoy their day together. There will be plenty of birthdays for us all to be together, but I can tell Cora feels bad about missing out on time with him lately.
Twisting my body, I lean up on my elbow and watch her sleep. Is it creepy? Maybe. Do I care? Not a damn bit. She’s sleeping on her stomach, and the sheet has pooled down around her waist, her tattoo entirely on display.
Seeing the tattoo I created for her, and knowing I’ll be the only one to see it, sends a jolt of arousal through me. My dick has been hard since I woke up, but seeing her sleeping in my bed and wearing my mark makes me throb. I wonder if I could tattoo her again while inside her. Maybe a little mark on her forearm.
While fantasizing about the possibilities, I miss her eyes opening. “Do you make it a habit to stare at people when they sleep?” she asks with a squint of her eyes.
“Of course not.”
“Mhmm,” she mumbles into her pillow.
“I only stare atyouwhile you sleep, and it’s not really staring. That’s such a dirty word,” I whisper. “I prefer admiring. Appreciating. Cherishing. Enjoying. Adoring. Take your pick; one of them might fit.”
She smiles and pushes her face back into the pillow. Sliding my hand down her naked body, I grip her hip and pull her closer to me. “Too much space.”
Laughing, she slings one of her legs over my waist and sits on my lap. Fuck, she’s beautiful. Her dark hair falls in waves past her shoulders, while her blue eyes are so light they shimmer in the morning sun. But it’s her expression that steals the breath from my chest.
Cora smiles down at me, with a look of genuine happiness, and knowing that my presence put it there makes me feel like a king. I’ll do anything to keep that look on her face, including being the man she needs every day. Putting her above everything else is not going to be a hardship.
Leaning down, she softly takes my lips in a kiss. “Is this better?” she teases.
“Almost.” I pull her down against my hard cock, and cup her ass. She’s so soft everywhere. I want to freeze this moment, but I know time is not on our side. Grinding her pussy against my dick, I can feel how wet she is already.
“What more do you need?” she asks, pulling back from my lips.
“You.” I grab her waist and flip her back onto her stomach. As much as I want to see her face when I take her, I don’t want to add to the soreness of her shoulder. Pulling her up to her knees, I keep one hand on her hip and slide the other one between her legs. “I bet this pussy would look really pretty with a little piercing,” I muse as I slide afinger into her.
“There’s no way.” She laughs, then lets out a moan when I insert a second finger and curl them.
“Never say never, baby.” I remove my fingers and slam into her. Taking a moment to savor the feel of her, I remind myself to slow down. I don’t want this to be over too soon. “You feel so fucking good. So hot, so wet, so fucking tight.”
Slowly pulling back, I thrust shallowly into her. Reaching around, I grab one of her breasts and roll a nipple between my fingers. “Do you feel what you do to me?” I pick up the pace of my thrusts.
I watch her ass bounce with every thrust of my hips, my balls hitting against her. Fuck me, she feels so good. I know there will never be a time when I won’t want her. Can I convince her to let me move in yet? I’ll give this place up in a heartbeat. I want to wake up like this every day.
“How’s it look?” she asks, tossing a look at me over her shoulder.
Holding her waist in one hand, and moving my other up her spine, I take in how her body moves against mine. When I pull back, she follows, like she can’t bear to lose our connection.
“It looks really fucking good,” I answer honestly, squeezing her ass. I can’t wait to take her there one day. Snaking my hand around, I swirl my finger around her clit, gathering some of the wetness coating us.
