Lifting her gaze, she gave one subtle nod.
He stroked her hair. “Well, I can’t guarantee much, Mol. I can’t say everything will go as planned today, nor can I say I won’t get injured.”
His fingers fell from her strands to land at the small of her back. “But I can say I like you a lot. I want to get to know you more.” His smile turned smoldering. “If you want to, that is.”
Emotions zipped through her. Excitement. Happiness. Others she couldn’t name. Atlas wasn’t the type to feed her bullshit lines. Besides, he’d already slept with her. If he weren’t interested, he probably wouldn’t even be standing here right now.
“I’d like that.”
“Good.” He rubbed her back. “Now here’s what’s going to happen. I need to be in the field today. I’ve lain low since we found you, and even though this is where I want to be—with you—I’ve got to pull my weight with my team.”
She studied the tattoo climbing out from beneath his neckline. “I understand.”
“Once Rex is taken care of, I’ll have a bit more work to do in the city. Probably another week tops to tie shit up. Then I’ll have a few weeks off, maybe even a month, depending on what Rogue has lined up.”
Her eyes widened and her heart strummed. “Then what?”
“Then . . . whatever you want. Would you like to go somewhere? A beach? Back home? You name it.”
“Okay,” she drawled cautiously.
“We can decide after we’ve got Rex handled. In the meantime, who would you feel most comfortable staying with while I’m gone?”
She folded her arms in front of her chest, pursing her mouth teasingly. “You mean I get to pick my babysitter?”
He snorted. “If they hear you call them that, they’re going to be pissed.”
“Well, that’s what they’ll be doing. Not that I’m not grateful,” she added with a shrug. “I’m fine with whoever. When will you leave?”
“We’ll need to get some intel on the warehouse first, so I’d say a couple of hours.”
“Can I use that phone you gave me to call friends? I know you need to discuss your plans in private, anyway.”
“Of course. Don’t feel like you have to hide out in here, though.”
She smiled. “I won’t. It just gives me a chance to let people know I’m okay.”
He kissed her head. Before leaving the room, he paused at the door, his hand loose on the handle. “And Mol, I plan to get to know you a lot better tonight.”
Desire thumped in her belly.
He slipped out and closed the door.
Chapter
Twelve
“Me? Why me?” Wraith said, his wide jaw twisted with indignation.
“’Cause you’re the most annoying one to listen to,” Havoc said.
Reaper, Rogue, and Viper laughed.
Atlas hid a smirk. “Hey, consider it a compliment that I’m trusting you with her.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he gave himself a mental kick in the ass.
“Awe, he’s in low-ve.”
“Eat a dick, Wraith,” Atlas snarled.
