Atlas swiped the screen of his phone open with one hand and brought the bottle of amber liquid to his mouth with the other. He’d need some liquid courage for this call. The purchase of the inn was not going to happen, and that probably meant the CEO position wasn’t either.
He tapped his contacts. Should he call his grandfather with the news? Go straight to the decision-maker? Or his mother and father?
He checked the time. His grandfather was surely asleep by now. The old man’s schedule was like clockwork. In bed by ten, up at five.
“Mother dearest it is,” he grumbled and clicked her name.
It rang twice before she answered. “Hello? Hold on. Let me put you on speaker phone.”
“Mother.”
“Atlas, Veronica called and said—”
“Why did you send her here? Veronica and I will never happen despite what you and Dad wish. She’s a snake. I’ll never be with someone I can’t trust.”
His mother huffed. “Oh, come on now. What happened years ago has no bearing on who she is now.”
He gritted his teeth. She knew about the affair. The floor creaked outside his door before the one across the hall opened and closed. Jasmine.
“Look, Mother, I called to tell you the deal won’t go through here. We’d be better off finding another spot for the resort farther down the coast.”
“I told you that place was a waste of time. Oliver already tried.” His father’s voice came through.
He bunched his fist at his side. Of course. If their favorite son couldn’t do something, that deemed it impossible.
His mother huffed. “It’s just as well. Oliver already secured an old hotel near the Hamptons that would be perfect. And it only took him two days.”
He cringed.
“Really, Atlas. I don’t know why you’d waste so much of your time over there. It was clear from the beginning it was a dead end,” his mother added.
“I wanted to show you that I deserve the CEO position. I thought it was worth one last effort.” He tried.
“Son, we’ve made a decision,” his father said, sounding hesitant.
No.
“Oliver will run the company as acting CEO, and you will work directly under him.” His father delivered the final blow. The air was sucked from his lungs as he dropped to his knees. Blood rushed to his ears, making them ring.
“Come back home and we’ll talk about the next steps for you at the company. Oliver said he wanted you by his side, and we agree that it’s for the best—oh, I have another call coming through. Talk to you soon,” his mother said before she hung up.
The phone slipped from his hand onto the floor. Defeat weighed his shoulders down. He trembled with anger. “They fucking chose him again.” Why did I ever assume I had a chance?
He’d failed. Just like they’d all said he would. The whole reason he came here was to buy the inn and earn the position. He should pack up and leave. It was all over anyways.
He grabbed the bottle of whiskey and took another gulp of the burning liquid. He wasn’t used to this cheap stuff.
Why couldn’t he be good enough? Why did he always have to be second fiddle when it came to his family? His phone buzzed from the floor, Oliver’s name glowing on the screen.
His brother didn’t deserve his anger. He was a good man, a good friend, and a good brother. But I need some space.
He hit ignore.
Warmth flooded his body; it buzzed from alcohol. He wasn’t drunk yet, but relaxed. He stared at the door. If there was one person who he couldn’t bear to think less of him right now, it was Jasmine. He’d thought they had something. Those steel walls of hers had begun to fall. But then Veronica had come and ruined everything. Maybe he had one more shot at happiness before he had to go back to reality.
Shaking his head, he got to his feet. He left his room and held his hand out to her door. Atlas drew in a deep breath and knocked lightly.
Her footsteps padded closer, halting on the other side. Their tension wound thick despite the door separating them.
“Please,” he whispered his prayer into the dark hallway. Begging was something he’d never done before. He could blame it on the whiskey, but the truth was Jasmine made him willing to do things he’d never once considered—like stay.
The door handle creaked as she opened it. Light spilled out from behind her, casting her in a glow. His eyes roamed across the threadbare T-shirt with the Seacoast Construction logo across the chest and down her sexy, naked legs.
“Atlas?” Her voice was a whisper.
His gaze snapped back to hers. Primal urges, carnal lust, and something more powerful than both of them wove together and imbedded itself deep inside his soul.
“Where’s Zoey?”
“She’s having a sleepover at my brother’s.”
He took a step forward, into her space. She stayed her ground. Her chin tipped up, need and conflict highlighting in those green orbs.
“Do you know how goddamned irresistible you are?”
She shook her head.
“I look at you and I want . . . I want things I shouldn’t.”
She swallowed, her throat bobbing delicately with the motion.
He reached out his hand and traced his finger over her collarbone. She shivered.
“You are so beautiful. And strong. And everything I never knew I wanted. Never knew I needed.”
His cock pressed against his zipper. Desire splintered through him. His body quaked with warning. He was about to make a choice at this fork in the road that would change his life forever. He knew it, like a premonition. This woman would suck him into this dangerous cyclone brewing between them. And he must be insane, because he’d gladly drown in her.
“I want to dive into you and just forget.” His heart hammered. Blood rushed in his ears like a furious wind whipping. The air was so thick with anticipation he could reach out and touch it.
Jasmine’s eyes fluttered, darkening. She licked her lips and gazed up at him. “Forget what?”
He threw her own word back at her. “Everything.”
She sucked in a tiny gasp. Every one of his senses was in rapt attention of her tiniest movements. He was depraved, lost in this powerful lust. The room was silent, but inside each cell screamed like a hurricane roiling.
“I want you too,” she whispered.
“I can’t commit to more than this. But I’d like to make good on my promise to make love to you.” He’d be honest even though it killed him. Because she needed to know as much as he wanted this—wanted her—this could only ever be temporary. His family would never let him go, and the last thing she needed was them interfering in her and her daughter’s life.
Her gaze locked on him, hesitating as if warring inside. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was no trace of the conflict.
“Okay.” Her voice trembled.
“Yes?” he clarified, clenching his fists at his sides. There was no way he could touch her and remain in control.
“But there’s something I need to tell you first.”
“Will it change things between us?”
She nodded.
“Then I don’t want to know. Don’t tell me yet.” He crashed his mouth over hers, swallowing whatever she was going to say. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he picked her up, shutting the door behind him with his foot. He carried her over to her bed and laid her down gently.
He began to lift her shirt, but she held his hand in place. “Atlas, the last time—”
“Shhh. Let’s just focus on right here and right now. You’re perfect as you are. I don’t care about your past.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. Her eyes grew glassy with emotion as her expression softened. The lines on her forehead disappeared as she nodded.
“Let me unwrap you like the gift you are.” He kissed her once more and pulled back.
Her face flushed pink, and he couldn’t wait to see where else she turned that color. He drew her shirt up over her head and sucked in a breath. She had no bra on—just a scrap of pink silk underwear.
“You’re breathtaking.” His eyes roamed over every exposed inch of her nakedness, from her green eyes to her swollen, plump lips. The curve of her slender neck down her smooth flesh. Her two perfect handfuls of breasts with light brown nipples. Her soft stomach, decorated with silvery lines, marks from carrying that sweet little girl. He gripped the edges of her panties and slipped them off her toned legs, her pussy glistening with her desire.
“Now it’s my turn.” She stood and lifted his shirt off, torturously slow. Her hands skimmed his hot flesh. He shuddered. He’d never been this turned on in his life. What are you doing to me, little siren?
She unclasped the button on his pants, unzipping them and pushing them down. Her eyes widened, and a bolt of pride shot through him.
“You don’t wear underwear?”
“Sometimes.” He smirked. “You don’t wear a bra?”
“Not when my only plan was going to bed.” Her lids were hooded.
“Any regrets?”
She swallowed and shook her head. “None.”
She reached out, but he clasped his hand over hers. “Don’t touch me or this will be finished before it starts.”
She nodded, her eyes dark with lust. He leaned down. Hot lips weaved between his. He dipped his tongue into her mouth, and she tasted like Pandora’s box: forbidden and enticing. Elusive and devastating. Urgency roared within him. He pulled her towards him. Her naked flesh slapped against his. Her soft against his hard. They were made to fit. She held on to him like she was just as afraid that this would disappear as he was, like a dream. He stepped forward. The back of her knees hit the bed. He crawled over her, settling in the middle of the mattress. He rubbed his rough stubble against her neck as she gasped. He sucked and nipped, kissing his way along her throat and between her breasts.
“Oh, God.”
He cupped one breast and lapped the other into his mouth before releasing it with a pop.
She whimpered. “I need you inside me.”
“Not yet, beautiful. There are many more parts of you I want to taste.” He licked her nipple as she squirmed beneath him. Her hand shot out, reaching for his cock. He caught her arm, locking it above her head as he chuckled. “I promise I’m gonna give it to you until you can’t form words anymore. But first, I’m gonna suck on these delicious tits.”
She bit her lip.
“Then I’m gonna work my way down, making you come in as many ways as I can think of, until your sexy body flushes as red as your cheeks.”
“Fuck,” she whined.
“I take my promises very seriously. Now, can I get back to work?”
“Yes!” She nodded emphatically.
He nipped, and flicked, and scissored his teeth over her nipples as she writhed beneath him in the most ancient rhythm known to man. He’d give her this—worship her body until he lost control.
He ran his hand over her soft belly to the patch of dark curls. She tensed as he touched all around the place she wanted him most, drawing out the anticipation.
She whimpered. “Please, Atlas?”
“Please what?”
“Fuck me with your fingers.”
He ran his finger over her clit. Jasmine’s core pulsed and she arched her back like she was reaching for her orgasm. She gasped, her eyes slamming closed. He swirled his finger around her aching nub as he pinched her nipple and kissed her mouth.
“Atlas!” she cried.
He flew off her before spreading her thighs and diving into her juicy center, licking up her juices.
“Mmm.” He hummed his appreciation.
Her thighs squeezed around him. He forced her knees apart, leaving her wide open for his feasting. “You taste so fucking good.”
He added two fingers inside her. She shot off like a rocket, quaking around him.
“Atlas! Fuck. Yes!” Her hands pressed his head down as she rocked her hips, riding out her orgasm.
He loved a woman confident enough in bed to take what she wanted. His body burned, his cock rock hard and aching.
“That’s it, baby. Come on me.” He rubbed the rough stubble on his chin over her slit. Kissing her thighs, he continued to pump his hands in and out, curving his fingers to reach that spot that would make her—
“Oh, God! Fuck!” she screamed before slapping a hand over her mouth. He’d been all over the world, but seeing that pretty pink spread over her chest as she came undone was probably the sexiest thing he’d ever witnessed. He hurried off the bed and grabbed the wallet from his pants. After pulling out the condom, he made quick work of opening it and sheathing himself. He climbed back over her.
Her hazy gaze focused on him.
“It’s my turn.” She sat and pushed him onto his back. She wrapped her hands around his cock, making it jerk.
“Fuck. Jasmine. Baby. I’m not going to last, and I really want to feel that pussy around me,” he warned.
One side of her mouth quirked up at the side, challenge flashing in her eyes. She lowered herself onto him. He hissed. Her warm, tight channel squeezed him. Bliss. This was pure bliss.
“Don’t move yet.” His fingers dug into her hips.
She leaned down and sucked his nipple into her mouth, giving him the same torture he’d put her through.
“Okay.” He gave her permission.
She rocked against him, agonizingly slowly. Her long hair flowed wildly over her shoulders. Her tits bounced each time she came down on him. He reached out, cupping her breasts. She gripped his wrists, pinning them over his head with a sly smile. “How does it feel to be able to look but not touch?”
He chuckled. “As long as you keep riding my cock like that, I’ll do whatever you want.”
A flicker of something passed through her expression before she lowered her mouth to his. They stayed lip-locked as she rode him in slow motion. It was the most sensual experience he’d ever had. Her touch seared his skin, branding his soul. Her pace increased while she chased her next orgasm. Her whimpers grew louder each time she slammed over him.
“That’s it, baby. Give it all to me,” he commanded. “Take what you need.”
She sat up, releasing his wrists. She rocked her hips faster. Her inner muscles clenched over him like a vise. He reached out and pinched her nipples. She came undone. She threw her head back in ecstasy as her breasts bounced. His spine tingled with his own impending release. She closed her eyes, tensing, her body locked up.
“Open those eyes, baby. Let me watch you come.”
Her eyes flew open, glazed and wild. She peaked. She moaned, vibrating with her own euphoria. There was no turning back. Pleasure gathered. His balls tightened.
“I’m gonna come. Are you ready for that?” he groaned out.
She nodded. “Yes!”
He pulsed inside her. Every nerve ending caught fire.
“Jasmine!” he roared. His stomach muscles contracted as he emptied himself inside her. He came with an unbridled force he’d never known existed. He pulled her against him as they both came down, their chests heaving against one another.
She lay limp in his arms, sated. He’d just had his entire world rocked. Jasmine had destroyed any sense of normalcy.
In another life, he’d be able to make her his. But she didn’t need him complicating her and Zoey’s life.
But how was he supposed to let her go now? She kissed his chest. He ran his hand over her naked back. Reality would come soon enough. Until then, he’d hold her while they waited.