“You don’t?”
“Nope, instead you write something down on a piece of paper and give it to me after the flight.”
“Something—as in my number?”
“You hand me the paper and say, ‘If you have some time while you’re here, this place has a fun cooking class. And that is my number if you want company.’ Then you wink and walk away.”
“I wink?”
“Yup.”
“Man, your imagination is something,” Atlas muttered. “So would you call me?”
I laughed and turned into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing him lightly.
“Absolutely. I’d do more than that.”
Atlas raised his eyebrows, his lips sliding up in a smile. “Oh?”
In answer, I took his left hand and slipped a gold band onto his finger. His eyes lit up with excitement and he smirked as I slowly sank down onto one knee.
“I can’t imagine a reality where we don’t meet each other,” I said. “I think my soul would find a way to be with yours no matter what. Whenever I wish the shit with Vetticus didn’t happen, I think about how even in hell, I found you.” I ran my thumb over the ring while I gripped his hand. “I feel like I’ve known you over many lifetimes,” I said, my voice catching in my throat. “Atlas—my viking—will you marry me?”
His green eyes clouded with emotion and his fingers entwined with mine, yanking me back to my feet.
“There is nowhere you can go that I wouldn’t be able to find you, my dark one,” Atlas said gruffly. “I love you and I will never stop—”
“Promise?”
His laugh was a little breathless and he pulled me into him.
“I’ll love you across worlds and until every last star has died. But even then—I doubt I could stop.”
“Every last star?”
“To the last one, baby. Forever.”
Atlas closed what little space there was left between us and kissed me. His lips moved over mine and my tongue tangled with his. My fingers slid through his hair, holding him tight to me as the kiss deepened. We drank in the gasps of the other and I couldn’t help but shift my hips against his, not even bothering to hide my growing arousal.
“So, that’s a yes right?”
Atlas laughed. “Yes, of course it is!”
“Good—cause I have one more surprise for you.”
I pulled him into the elevator and hit the button for the roof. We emerged from the door and after taking a few stairs, stepped out the door and onto the rooftop terrace. Twinkle lights glowed overhead and the space had been turned into a beautiful garden with comfortable seating and even a place to grill. But that wasn’t what had our attention.
“Congratulations!” A chorus of voices shouted.
North, Lachlan, West and Knight stood with whiskey glasses raised and smiles on all of their faces. North stepped forward. He grinned and embraced us both.
“Congrats you two,” he said.
Knight approached with two glasses that he handed to us.
“It’s about time,” he said with a wink at me. “Saw this coming from a mile away.”
“Me too,” Lachlan said.
