Jasmine held on to Atlas as he carried her up the stairs to his room. His lips fused to hers, and she trusted him to get her safely to his bed in the dark. A tremble rocked through her. She trusted Atlas. She loved him. He made her feel safe. And beautiful. And worthy. For once, she wasn’t worried about tomorrow because he’d be there when the sun rose. Even once she told him the women weren’t lying, once she told him the truth about Zoey, she was certain he would stay. Their love was bigger than the past.
He set her to her feet and opened the door before pulling her inside. It shut with a click as she removed the baby monitor from her waist and set it on the dresser. The only light from the room came from the bright moon. Nature’s spotlight on his bed. His gaze was dark and consuming, his face cast in shadows. Each rise and fall of his naked, muscular chest sent a pulse of need throbbing in her sex.
Atlas was so perfect it was hard to believe he was real. And nothing like her. Could he love all the versions of her? Even the ones she kept hidden?
Their tension swirled, the air between them carrying a powerful energy like the wind before a storm. Anticipation sparked like a live wire.
“Take it all off,” he commanded, his voice gravelly.
Her limbs trembled and knees knocked. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. Her flesh burned with the heated grip of his gaze. Next, she slipped the sleep shorts down her legs and kicked them off. She stood exposed and vulnerable, waiting.
He clenched his fists at his side. “You’re so beautiful.”
She looked down.
His finger lifted her chin, his grey orbs serious. “You’re so stunning, you take my breath away. I always thought that was some cheesy line, but you make it hard to breathe. You’re the most beautiful person in here.” He pointed to her heart. “And here.” He tucked her hair behind her ear and tapped her forehead. “Your body is fucking paradise.”
She swallowed the emotion that rose, her every molecule burning with a wildfire of swirling want, need, and pure unadulterated love for this man. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.
He cupped her face, searching the windows to her soul. “If you need me to stop at any time, tell me.”
She closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. Would this man ever cease blowing her away with his tender kindness? There was no pity in his eyes or disgust. Only concern. He still wanted her. And he cared enough about her to go at her pace.
She nodded. “Okay.”
His thumb traced her bottom lip before his mouth descended upon hers. His kiss was soft, melting her insides and setting her body ablaze. His hands pulled her close, strong and reliable. She slipped her tongue inside his mouth and he groaned, deepening the kiss.
He spun her around, backing her to the bed. The soft mattress was cool to the back of her knees. She climbed on top, kneeling. He tugged his sweatpants off, leaving him bare. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him over her. His weight settled on her. Burning skin against hot flesh. Soft planes against steel ridges. Wide dips against smooth curves. The past and the present woven together.
He kissed her neck, making gooseflesh flood over her. She curled her spine.
Jasmine gasped. “Atlas.”
He trailed kisses over her throat, and shoulders, and down farther still.
“Let me do the work. Let me show you how you deserve to be worshipped.” His deep voice reverberated through her.
She’d never done this. She’d fucked many men. But he was the first she’d made love with. And hopefully, he will be the last.
His mouth swiped over her breast, sucking, nipping, while his hand kneaded the other. She ran her hands over his shoulders, needing to feel all of him, but settling for what she could get.
He took his time, stoking the fire within her, arousing her with patient devotion. His hands slipped over her hips. His finger dipped inside.
“Oh, God!” She sucked in a breath, using her arms to sit up halfway.
He inhaled her sex. “You smell so delicious. Let me taste you. Can I do that?” Atlas’s gaze snapped to hers for her consent, and just the knowledge that he was waiting on her permission sent her a rush of excitement.
She was empowered and safe.
Jasmine nodded. “I want you to taste me. Make me feel good, Atlas.”
He grinned wolfishly before his large hands pressed her legs farther apart. She stayed sitting up, as his head lowered to her pussy. He kissed her thighs, then her lower lips. She gripped the sheets in her hand, her body tensing in anticipation. His tongue lashed out over her clit and she gasped, panting for breath as he licked and stroked, savoring her like she was his last meal. His head bobbed up and down between her thighs. The sight was erotic and powerful. She reached over and gripped his dark hair. His fingers dug into her hip on one side as he slipped another digit inside her with his other hand. The pressure built, throbbing and burning. She writhed, rocking her hips, seeking her release.
He sucked her clit into his mouth. Throwing her head back in reckless abandon, she bit down until she tasted blood to keep from crying out. Desire puddled and pooled within her. Her legs itched with the impending icy-hot sensations of her release. “I’m . . . I’m going to . . .”
“That’s it, baby. Come! Come for me.” He sucked harder—fucked her deeper.
His fingers hit the most miraculous spot inside her as she came apart. Flashing, blinding light flooded her vision.
“Atlas!” Every muscle tensed as her orgasm ripped through her.
He crawled over her body before tucking her against him, holding her in a viselike grip. His heart thudded against hers, matching it beat for beat.
“You’re fucking perfection,” he growled, nipping her ear.
“I need you inside me. Right now.”
He climbed off her and grabbed his sweatpants. Her arm shot out and grabbed his. “I wanna feel you. I promise I’m clean and I have an IUD.”
He hesitated.
Shit. “It’s—you don’t have to—”
He dropped the pants and crawled back onto the bed. “Okay. I’m clean. And I’ve never gone bare before.” He trusted her too.
“Me either.”
He nodded, leaning down to kiss her again. She wrapped her legs around him, running her hand down his hard shaft. His whole body tensed, the muscles on his back bunching under her other hand.
“You want my cock inside you?”
“Yes. I want you. Every inch.”
He lined up at her entrance and gently, inch by delicious inch, slid to her womb. Slowly, he was stretching her. She kept her gaze on him. She didn’t want to miss a moment of this. He buried himself to the hilt, filling her up in more ways than one, before he began to rock her back and forth. She pulled him closer, kissed him harder, and held on to him as tightly as she could. His lips locked with hers as they spun and writhed, slammed and gasped. Nails raked, pressure built. This connection was unstable and intense. Possession stirred. Passion blurred. Every sense was sharpened. Time slowed. The world fell away until all that was left was his soul merging with hers—a beautiful rhapsody known only to them.
His arm tightened around her, his forehead dipping to hers, their eyes locked.
“Come with me,” she commanded.
“Jasmine!” he roared, pulsing and filling her a moment later.
She soared off the edge of the cliff, flying, weightless, basking in the light. There were sparks and shimmers and then a warm wave of euphoria crashed over her. And she floated back to earth, light as a feather, descending in a cloud of bliss.
He pulled out and rolled next to her on the bed, tucking her against him. For the longest time, there was only the sound of their breaths. She turned around, memorizing his face. His closed eyes, relaxed body. Watching him sleep, joy and hope burst inside her. For once she hadn’t screwed up. Atlas was the best man in the world she could have asked to be her daughter’s father and share her bed. He was someone Zoey could be proud to call daddy. She let the tears fall.
“I love you.”
Her only answer was his light snores. She slipped out of bed and covered him with the comforter before going back to her room. Tomorrow, she’d have Remy pick up Zoey for a few hours. She’d sit him down and tell him everything. He’d understand why she hadn’t told him right away. Her stomach flipped. If anyone would understand, it would be Atlas. The man had won her love and her trust, both of which she’d thought impossible.