His lips parted.His blue stareblazed.“I woke up fucking horny, and you weren’t there.I slipped into your room to drop off those packages, and you were curled up in the bed, sexy as hell, and all I wanted was to take you.”
Um…
“I didn’t.I walked away like agentleman.When that is not who I am.I’m warning you.Agree or?—”
“We’re done?”She rolled one shoulder.She would not be intimidated.She’d faced off with far worse men, and she was calling his bluff.“I don’t think we’re done, no matter what I say.If I agree or don’t, it won’t change.You brought me into your home because you wanted me here.And we both know a killer is still hunting in this town.”
He growled.
Why on earth was the animalistic sound so sexy?
“You are definitely in a mood today.Maybe you’re just so used to masking your emotions that you don’t know what do when they batter at you so hard.”She raised one hand and placed it against his chest.Over his heart.“Is it racing too fast?Do you feel like you’re about to jump out of your skin?”Because that was certainly how she felt.She tended to feel that way when he was near.
“When you touch me, I want to fuck you.”
Ah, brutal honesty, huh?
But his head tilted as he studied her.“You want to fuck me, too.”
She did.“Our forty-eight hours aren’t up yet.”
“Are you counting down?Because I am.”
She was.And wondering if she’d make it through the full forty-eight.Did she even want to make it that long?
He took a step back.
Her hand fell.
Atlas rolled his shoulders.“Everything I say with you will be off the record.I’m not gonna wind up in one of your books or in one of your journal articles.You can learn about me.About my secrets.But that info is for you alone.”
Hardly a scientific benefit but…
Maybe this wasn’t just about science.
Maybe it had never been.
Cut to the chase.“Do you feel it?”she asked him, suddenly just needing to know and to hell with the consequences.
“Feel what?”
She was just going to tell him and put her soul bare before him.“It surges inside, pushing, pulsing.It grows in your weak moments.When you think about how very easy it would be to stop being good.To let go.To forget the rules that are in place.”
“Lily?”
“Do you feel it?”she asked him again.“Do you fight it every single day?Because I think you do.I think…” A ragged exhale.“I think you might be just like me?—”
His mouth took hers.With a ravenous, consuming need.
She kissed him back with desperation.Because maybe…maybe she was tired of being alone in the dark.Maybe she was tired of fighting the dark.
Maybe it was time to let the darkness consume her.And if it did consume her, then maybe that was just the way it was meant to be?—
“Mr.Bennett?”A man cleared his throat.“Her eggs and toast are ready.”
Dammit.
Atlas pulled back.“Hold the thought, my Lily.”Lust burned in his gaze.“Hold it.We shall revisit.Very, very soon.”
