Page 56 of Westward

“I don’t want to cry anymore.”

As he set me down on the bed and pushed my hair back from my face, I stared up at that chiseled jaw, at the scar on his eyebrow, and those light and piercing eyes that saw too much.

“Whatever you need. I’m here.”

And with that, I tugged off my shirt and tossed it on the ground. His eyes widened, his mouth dropping open. “Oh. That?”

“I mean. If you don’t want to. I just… please?”

The vulnerability felt like a kick to the chest. Because if he said no at that moment, I would break down even further.

Atlas cursed under his breath, and I went to cover myself up, but then he was on me, his mouth on mine, his hands cupping me.

“You never have to ask. I just didn’t want to take advantage.”

“I want you. Please.”

“I always want you, Lizzie. I love you.”

And with that, I melted into him, letting him take control.

I tugged on his shirt, and we moved quickly, awkwardly at first as we stripped one another, and then it was as if no time had passed. He slid his hand between my legs, readying me, but I was already slick from the touch of him. When his thumb flicked over my clit, I came, arching into him as he latched onto one nipple with his soft lips. He continued to pleasure me until I found myself on my stomach, with Atlas hovering over me.

My fingers dug into the bedspread as he licked and bit down my spine, gentle at first, then slightly harder. When he moved farther, my eyes widened. He spread me then, licking me from behind, and I buried my face into the pillow, wondering how this man could find new and interesting ways to make me come. He speared me with his tongue, his face between my cheeks, and I should have blushed, but I couldn’t. Not when it was Atlas. But when I came again, I arched up, pressing my ass to his face. He bit one globe and then pulled away. Before I could say anything, or even catch my breath, the blunt tip of his cock was at my entrance, and he was sliding into me in one quick thrust.

We both groaned, shaking, and as he leaned over me, sliding his hand underneath me to cup my breasts, he began to move. I met him thrust for thrust, tilting my head so I could look back at him and take his mouth with mine. He hovered over me, making it easier, as he pounded into me, hard and fast and everything that I needed. And when he finally came, filling me, I pushed back, knowing that I was never going to feel like this again.

Because no matter what he said, no matter what we promised, things would change.

He held me close, both of us trying to catch our breaths, and the sadness crept in once again.

Because he was leaving soon. And I wasn’t going with him. And it was like it was as if nothing had changed.

And yet my world had irrevocably altered.

So I let him hold me, and I basked in the oblivion of this moment. And tried not to think of the next.

Chapter 12

ATLAS

I rubbed my hand on the back of my neck, annoyed, but not with the person on the other line.

“Lydia. I don’t know what to tell you. We have the contract, and I know we’re figuring out what to do next, but I don’t have any answers for you.”

My longtime agent, who had been with me since before I was drafted, and had helped me navigate this world of professional hockey, sighed. But it wasn’t a disappointed sigh. Not in me. She knew better than anyone the timetables and pressures it took to make a contract work. Not just for my career in playing, but in all of the other endorsement deals and the nitty-gritty things that came with it. She knew what she was doing and was damn good at it. But the pressure on her had to be insurmountable at this point. And here I was, making things even more difficult for her, because I didn’t have any answers. Oh, I could have them if I let myself be honest, but everything had been a whirlwind since I had come back to town, and no amount of pretending to relax was going to help.

“I know that, Atlas.” Her voice was soft and soothing, as if she were trying to calm down a raging kitten.

I wasn’t quite sure I liked comparing myself to a kitten at that moment, but I had a headache.

I needed to be training and working on getting ready for the next season. No amount of talk of retirement, careers after hockey, or an endorsement deal was going to get me ready for being back on the ice and actually working out.

“The management team is having a field day, and it’s not on your shoulders. I’m going to handle it, but there’s been some talk.”

I froze, worried.

“What kind of talk?”