She settled in his arms, feeling peaceful in the afternoon quiet. And then she started feeling overly hot as he trailed his fingers down her arm slowly. Over and over.
He laid a kiss on her cheek. “Your heartbeat. Hmm . . .”
“Hmm indeed.” Anna smiled, pressing her face to his chest. Did she want him? Yes. With every fiber. “It’s been six weeks . . .”
Atlas’s hand paused a minute, then resumed tracing her arm. The touch made heat flood her, head to toe.
“That feels so good,” she whispered. Desire pooled in her core. Her voice was low. “I read in the book what can happen after six weeks.”
There was a chuckle in Atlas’s voice. “Oh?”
“Do you know too?”
“Well, Anna. You’re right.” He reached around, pulling her even closer. He extended his arm down her side to tease above her pubic bone. “This is healed.”
Her legs parted as she squirmed, and her body felt like it was on fire from his touch.Yes. She sat up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Nora offered to watch Rose tonight.”
Without saying anything more, Atlas pressed his mouth to hers. Gently, slowly, in a way that was very familiar now butleft a maddening ache in its wake. He traced her face with his fingers. “We should take her up on that offer.”
Anna pressed her forehead to his, looking deep into his eyes, watching them focus on her. “We should.” She kissed him again, then pulled back. Her heart raced.
This was real. After everything with Paul, the chip, and nearly losing Rose . . . she was ready. Nervous butterflies gathered in her stomach, but she was not afraid. Not of Atlas.
“Alright,” she whispered, “I’ll let her know.”
Soon Rose woke up, and Anna took her to Nora, who was all too happy to watch her for the evening. Anticipation pooled in her gut the entire walk back. She wanted him. She nervously smoothed down her shirt, her heart pounding.This is happening.The house was quiet when she opened the door.
There would be no interruptions. No responsibilities.
Atlas was waiting, illuminated by the lantern light. The lowered light matched the softness in his eyes. “I’ve been waiting.”
Anna searched his eyes. “So have I.”
He crossed the room, shyly grinning, every movement measured. Then he reached for her hand, slowly, as if giving her time to pull back.
But Anna didn’t. She pressed into him, angling her head up. And he kissed her, slow and tender. The kiss deepened, then moved down her neck. Then his fingers spoke for him, trailing down her side, deliberate, teasing. Carefully, he pulled up her shirt.
Anna shuddered at the feeling of his hands on her. She pulled the shirt off the rest of the way while he watched, eyes luminous.
He kissed down her neck, avoiding her breasts, which were sore from being postpartum, but resumed kissing underneath. Then he traced the still-red stretch marks. The lines crossed her stomach, softer now than when she was carrying Rose. But hetraced them all with reverence until she relaxed. Goosebumps rose in the wake of his fingers.
Then he put his hand over her heartbeat, which was now racing fast. He gave a mischievous smile. “My favorite part.”
Heat pooled in her core. She kissed him on the neck. “Good.”
With his eyes on her, she tugged on his sweater, a dark purple one instead of the usual blue. His artificial heartbeat remained steady. He pulled off his pants, then stood in front of her, bare and cupping her cheek. “Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes fixated on her.
Her breath caught. She’d seen him before in passing, but this was different. This was for her. Desire flooded through her nerves. Anna pressed into him, feeling his arms come around her. Strong and sure. She breathed, “Yes. You?”
His hands slid down her frame, pulling her pants down. “I’ve been ready for a long while.”
Anna surprised herself by reaching forward. No more hiding. No more waiting. Her hand cupped him, bold. A low hum from him followed, and he nudged her back toward the bed.
Carefully, his hands roamed over her, vibrating and making her squirm. The vibrations traveled through her, making her weak in the knees. It was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. His fingers dropped lower, trailing down until they vibrated over her clit, making everything in her clench.
“Oh.” Her legs parted, and she panted. “That’s . . .”
“I’ve waited a long time.” He darkly chuckled, “Not only the six weeks. I bet the moisture content is optimal. Just right.”
