“Bad idea, Lily.”
She thought the opposite.A good, responsible idea.“You have a concussion, Atlas.”
“So do you, Lily.That happens when we both get knocked out.”
Hers had not been as bad as his.She knew how to assess her own condition.Besides, imaging had been performed on them both at the hospital.“I am fine.There is no need to be concerned about my welfare.”
“Yeah, whatever.A concussion is a concussion, so don’t bullshit me.”
“There are levels of trauma.All blows to the head are certainly not the same.”Her lips tightened.He was cranky and clearly aware.No confusion from Atlas.“So…you’re okay?”
“No, I am not okay.I’m horny as hell, and I’m about to pounce on you.Go back to your room.”
A sniff.“You don’t have to be rude about it.I was simply trying to look after you.”
“And I’m trying not to fuck you.Go back to your room.”
She turned on her heel.“Remember how you said to scream if I needed you?”
“Lily…”
“Scream if you need me.”She took another step toward the open bedroom door.
“If you’re really worried, you could always just climb into bed with me.”
A shiver skated down her body.“Not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Ah…” The covers shifted.A faint rustle of sound.“Don’t trust yourself with me, hmm?”
Actually, she wasn’t quite sure that she did.“Any blurry vision?Dizziness?Confusion?”A checklist she should have gone over before.But she’d been distracted by the break-in at her place.Her own exhaustion had swept over her and…hell, she’d just been a crappy caregiver for him.Case closed.
“I only see one of you.Granted, you’re cloaked in shadows, but that’s because it’s dark in here.I’m not the least bit dizzy, though I am damn sleepy.As to the confusion, I am perfectly aware.I know what I want.I know what I will have.”
His words seemed to wrap around her.“Sorry I woke you.Just, um, doing my due diligence.”She began to dart through the open doorway.
“I was dreaming about you.”
And just like that, her feet rooted to the spot.“Dreams or nightmares?”
“A dream.The sweetest one.Want to know what you were doing in the dream?”
“I think I can guess.”Fucking you.Coming for you.Making you come.He was such a dangerous man.More dangerous to her than Lily had ever anticipated.She squared her shoulders.“Sorry to disturb you.I’ll see you again in a few hours?—”
“You were marrying me.”
Nothing could have shocked her more.
“I hope you have sweet dreams, too, Lily.”
She fled his room.She did leave the door open, though, the better to hear him if he should call out for her.Lily raced back to her guest room and practically jumped into the bed.She still wore her sweatshirt and the sweat pants, her underwear and bra, even her socks.She…
He dreamed about marrying me?
She did not know what in the world to think in response to his dream.Her eyes closed.Her fingers clenched around the covers.Tension held her in a tight, desperate grip even as the darkness of the room settled around her like a lover.
Lover.Atlas would be her lover.She understood that, deep inside.The awareness between them was too absolute.Too consuming.If she didn’t discover what it was like to be with him—fully with him, at least once—well, then she’d be regretting that choice for the rest of her life.
She already had enough regrets.No sense adding another one to the pile.
