“Ribbed tongue, eh? That would be something. I think the incubi over on Eclipse Street have that feature.” He chuckled, and my face heated.
“Not going to comment on the other message?”
“Oaks,” he said, handing me back my phone. I took it, stepping quickly out of his reach, not in the mood for more illusions or trips down memory lane. He averted his gaze, looking at Aspen and tickling his tummy, eliciting giggles that shook his entire tiny body. “What is there to say? You know what I want. And yes, I’ll happily swoop in and play hero any day when it comes to you and Aspen.”
“I—”
“Look, I’m not going to push anything.”
Aspen latched onto his shirt, leaving a messy trail of drool. At least it wasn’t just me that he left his mark on, though I didn’t see any spit-up stains gracing his button-up.
“Here,” I said, taking Aspen and grabbing my nursing pillow with the other hand before sitting on the couch. It hadn’t been that long since he’d last eaten, but maybe he was cluster feeding. I unlocked my home screen and tapped on the app that would tell me about all the developmental milestones to expect right now.Yep. A growth spurt was right on target.
When I pointed to the opposite side of the couch, Atlas moved to join me but then halted, pulling out his phone instead. “Why don’t I get some dinner for us? You still like sushi?”
“Love it.”
“Great. I’ll put in the order.” He tapped into his phone, bringing it to his ear, the faint ringing echoing through the room. Aspen continued to feed as I stroked his little wisps of dark brown hair that were finally coming in. “Hey, I’d like to do a delivery. Send us your ten favorite specialty rolls… Yes, surprise us… 13 Starry Night Lane. Here’s my card info…”
About five minutes later, there was a knock on the door, one of the wonders of UndeadEats and their speedy delivery. Atlas opened it, handing a teenage witch some cash before taking the plastic bags from him.
“Thank you, s-sir,” the boy said, eyes wide. “Y-you’re the…”
“Atlas Thorne.” He flashed a charming smile, the one I remembered all too well from attending numerous events with him.
“Would you mind if I got a picture with you? I’d never think to see you here in our neighborhood. My mom is a huge supporter.”
Atlas was eating this up. He acted humble, but I knew better. He secretly loved the attention his well-earned position of Salem’s Archon, one of the nine districts’ council members, granted him.
“Of course.” He twisted, placing an arm around the young witch’s shoulder, smiling when the flash went off on the phone before turning back to face him. “And what’s your name?”
“Hedley Haycox, sir.”
“Well, Mr. Haycox, it was a pleasure meeting you tonight. Make sure to thank your mom for her support, and I hope you both make it out to the polls in a few years when you’re able.”
“Of course, Archon Thorne.”
I rolled my eyes, settling Aspen on my shoulder to burp him with no success as he pushed to look for his father.
Atlas shut the door and took the bags to the kitchen, arranging them on the counter and pulling out the plastic containers filled with various colorful rolls of sushi. My mouth watered. “That looks amazing.”
Aspen yawned. Perfect timing. Maybe I could actually enjoy a hands-free dinner—a rarity for me.
“Here, let me,” Atlas said, taking him. As he walked him toward the nursery, creamy fluid spurt from Aspen’s mouth all over Atlas’s shoulder.
Oops.
Stifling a chuckle that I’d been the one to dodge that spit-up explosion, I headed over to the cabinets to grab some plates. Then I poured a few glasses of water and set them out, along with the chopsticks that were at the bottom of the bags.
About five minutes later, Atlas crept out of the nursery. “Where’s the baby monitor?”
“My room,” I said. “I can—”
“No worries, I’ve got it.” A minute later he was back, standing the monitor on the counter next to us. Then he unbuttoned his spit-up covered shirt, bunched it up in a ball, and left it on top of the laundry machine. “I’ll grab my overnight bag after dinner.”
Part of me wanted him to go grab it right this damn minute because as I shoved a spicy roll in my mouth, a whole different sort of fiery hunger coursed through me. I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the panes of his tanned chest or the trail of dark curls that led below the waistband of his trousers.
The effect he had on me…it was still there.
