Without another word, Lily eased away and began heading for the stairs.Because they were linked, he had no choice but to follow right behind her.
Now that he was upright, Atlas towered over her.He clocked out around six-foot-three, but she stood at five-foot-four.Yes, he knew her exact height.Atlas knew a great deal about Lily.He’d made it a point to know.
A quick scan showed she wore white sneakers, a white sweater, and faded jeans—jeans that fit her curves and her delectable ass very, very well.
Probably shouldn’t be noticing her ass right now.
But he was injured, not dead, and she had one helluva fine ass.
As much as he liked that ass…Atlas stilled and tugged on the cuffs.
Lily stopped and looked back over her shoulder at him.
“I’m bigger than you,” he rumbled.
“Uh, yes, I noticed.You’re quite big.”
“Stronger than you.”
“Probably so, yes, that would go along with beingbigger.Your muscle mass is greater so you’re stronger.”
“So I’m going be the one who goes through the door first and faces the asshole waiting upstairs.”He’d just become aware of something wet sliding into his right eye.He brushed away the wetness.
“That’s blood,” Lily helpfully told him.“Because you’re bigger, you’re stronger, and you’re alsoinjured.As in, you were unconscious two minutes ago, and I’m worried you’ll pass out on me again at any moment.”
Atlas locked his teeth even as he wiped the blood on the thousand-dollar pair of pants that he wore.“I won’t.”Hopefully.Maybe not.
Lily sighed.“Fine.Lead the way.You take the knife to the heart when the door opens and the attacker lunges at us.Then, when I’m cuffed to your dead body, please know how incredibly unhappy I am going to be because you insisted on goingfirst.”
He stepped closer to her.She’d actually climbed up two stairs already, so he was a bit more on eye level with her.Their bodies brushed.“A knife to the heart,” he repeated, voice low.He and Lily were both keeping their voices hushed.
As he stared at her, Atlas’s gaze was drawn to her mouth.He really liked her mouth.Again, he shouldn’t be noticing her ass or her mouth—not under these circumstances—but, he did.Maybe it was because of the blow—blows?—to the head.The concussion he probably had.But Atlas was finding that he noticed and liked far too much about Lily.“Sounds like a killer idea.”Then he bent low, and he pulled out the knife that had been strapped to his ankle.A press of a small button, and the blade extended.Wickedly sharp.
Instead of a sigh, this time, Lily inhaled sharply.He waited for her fear.
Instead, a delighted smile spread across her lips.“I wish I’d known about your knife sooner!Great, now we have a fighting chance.You won’t hesitate to use it, will you?”
“I never hesitate.”
She swallowed.“I’ll file that away in myPoints to Know About Atlasbook.”
“You have a whole book on me?Ah, Lily, now I’m flattered.I had no idea you were such a fan.”Though he knew thatfanwasn’t the right word.
Lily was convinced he was evil.Straight to his marrow.
“You’re a work in progress for me.”Her confession.Lily wet her lips.“Hold on a sec.”Then she shimmied around him and grabbed for the lantern.“Not a knife, but it’s better than nothing.In a pinch, I can slam it into the jerk’s head.”
Yes, he supposed that she could.“So you’re bloodthirsty, too.I’ll file that away in myPoints to Know About Lilybook.”
“You don’t have a book on me.”
“Um, you’re right.I have a file.A very thick one.”True story.He always researched his adversaries.
Her free hand clutched the lantern as she straightened.“After you.”
The stairway was incredibly narrow.When he began to climb up those stairs, she had to practically paste her body against his back because of the cuffs.
“If we fall, you’re going to crush me,” she warned.
