Harlow raised a brow and gave me anAre you serious?look.
Right, that’s blood.
Atlas lurched toward us, each step a precarious balancing act. His massive wings knocked against passersby, and his clawed feet made a distinct click-click-click that somehow cut through the music. I couldn't tear my eyes away; he was nothing like the sleek, humanoid Mothman of my imagination.
As he twisted to hold on to a nearby table, I saw his butt, and it was far larger than I imagined. It had to be his thorax, that third section that most insects have, but instead it made him look like he had a juicy ass.
Which I was totally down with, by the way.
The jeans didn’t fit, so his juicy bum was just hanging out like a poorly made pair of chaps.
Harlow opened her mouth to say something, but I covered it with my hand. “Not a word. Not one word.”
Atlas finally made it to us. He loomed overhead, his insect-like head blocking the party lights. Where a human mouth would be, there was only a harder surface, while two enormous red eyes dominated his face. I could just make out the pair of tiny holes that must serve as his nose. His antennae swayed above him like feathery question marks, and I had to clench my fists to keep from reaching up to stroke them. Not yet, I told myself. Not here.
He then crouched down lower to the ground so he could be at eye level with me. I watched in wonder, seeing the two tiny little fangs that sat just right out of his mouth and a tongue that uncoiled from it.
He flapped his wings several times, their beautiful dark patterns rippling like shadows on water. I couldn't look away.Something primal stirred inside me—the same instinct that might have led ancient women to follow strange lights into the woods, knowing danger awaited but unable to resist the call.
Atlas was going to have to call me Kronos because I was going to swallow our children.
But instead, I said, “Atlas,” I breathed. “Those wings are beautiful.”
And they make me so unbelievably horny.
Atlas' eyes glowed brighter, like twin red moons pulling me into their orbit. The party around us dissolved into a blur of meaningless shapes and sounds. All that remained clear was the hypnotic rhythm of his wings unfurling and folding, each movement revealing intricate patterns I'd never noticed before.
I sighed. I was going to have to rest my feet on his shoulders soon.
My nipples hardened, and I leaned forward, waiting for him to say something. Anything. He was a guy of few words, but he was staring at me so intensely he had to say something important.
But instead he said, “I love lamp!”
I snapped out of my daze, blinking rapidly as reality crashed back. Atlas had transformed into a whirlwind of motion—bouncing on his feet, wings beating so frantically they created actual gusts of wind. He pranced around me in circles, dipping into exaggerated bows, while the hurricane from his wings sent empty chairs toppling and cocktails sloshing out of glasses all around us.
Atlas grabbed my leg. He was on his knees, hugging me, staring up at me with wide eyes. His wings fluttered faster, like a hummingbird’s. He rubbed his face all over my leg, his antennae tickling my waist.
People were staring. My heart pounded in my chest. I did not want all the attention on me, and I really doubted Atlas wanted this either.
What was wrong with him?
“Atlas?” I hissed. “What are you doing?”
He slumped to the floor and slowly moved up my body, his face staying close and taking every opportunity to rub up against me. Worst of all, my body liked it too much.
“Mmm, Ilovelamp. Kassie is the light.”
I touched the lampshade that was on top of my head and found the switch to turn off the light. That would get him to stop, right? When it clicked off, the crowd had been pushed back, and Mayor Hollow and Lucien were standing close to us.
“What is going on?” The mayor hissed and grabbed onto Atlas’ arm.
I narrowed my eyes at the Slenderman and pulled Atlas back to me. Atlas let out a high-pitched scream and grabbed hold of me. His face went right into my breasts, and he rubbed furiously into my breasts.
Em, okay?
“Mmm, my Kassie. My match,” he mumbled.
The Slenderman's mouth twitched once, then vanished completely. He looked down at Lucien, who stood rigid with what I could only assume was shock. Hard to tell with Mothmen. Their insect faces weren't exactly built for expressing surprise, or much of anything beyond "terrifying insect creature."
