“You can try,” I tease, already brainstorming an escape, because nothing about the way he holds me is on my terms. I need control to keep the game exciting for this man.
In another universe, I would’ve stayed in his arms, let him kiss me, touch me the way he wants to, the way I crave to be touched. But here, my plan is already formed, and it’s one Milo would’ve been proud to see me pull off.
It’s no surprise my attempt to stand up fails when Atlas refuses to let go. His grip secures further, fingers digging into my skin.
“I need to use the restroom, so could you please let go?” My plea goes unheeded, as his hold on me remains inescapable. Time to shift tactics. “Maybe you have a kink for being peed on, but I’m not into that shit.”
Booming laughter echoes inside the theater, him making zero effort to conceal it.
His grasp on me loosens, but he doesn’t fully free me until he gives me a fair warning. One I knew would follow.
“If you don’t get back and finish the movie with me, you’ll make me really fuckin’ furious,” Atlas threatens. But what’s he gonna do? He clearly wants me, so no, his words don’t scare me.
Before I’m off his lap, I turn to face him, unable to hold back the smirk crawling on my lips.
“This place would have to catch fire to make me miss your company.”
His touch lingers while releasing me, palms gliding off my body when I stand. A single step is all I take before his hand takes hold of mine, stopping me and refusing to let go. My gaze flicks down to where we’re joined before lifting to his face, the screen casting enough light to catch that vulnerability again. It’s as fleeting as it is potent—his desperation for me not to leave. What prompts that? But more importantly, how am I going to walk away now after seeing it? The look on his face drops before his hand does, and I’m sure he dreads having let me see how much he wants me to come back.
I keep telling myself it’s nothing personal what I’m about to do, yet it’s all but impersonal when I take those steps out of the theater, intent on walking away. At least I’ll keep my word. The place would have to catch fire to prevent me from coming back to him...and it will.
Chapter 15
Atlas
She’s coming back, right?Right?!
What is she doing to me? Why did I hold my hand out for her? The way her head tilted... it was like she was watching a wounded animal, and I’ll be damned if I ever allow myself to be put in such a position again. I’ll catch her, and once I do, she’ll be the one looking at me that way, dependent on my attention and touch. That’s what she deserves!
A few minutes pass, and I keep repeating to myself there’s no fuckin’ way she won’t return.
My hopes evaporate at the sound of the fire alarm, followed by the movie cutting out and the lights flicking on.
“Fuck!” I shout loud enough for her to hear me, even from outside.
Anger should’ve hit me, but all I get is this fucked-up laugh clawing its way out as I replay her words.
She didn’t lie.
Every step of the way, she surprises me in the most exquisite ways, and the more she tries to outrun me, the more it fuels my desire to own her. I’ll up my game, make her bend to my will one way or another.
I step outside the theater, pulling out my phone to text her, even though what I really want is to open the FindMe app and pinpoint her location so we can finish what we started.
Seriously?!
The dots start dancing on the screen. Will she ask how I got her number?
Summer
I know. I’m gutted! What are the odds?
I should be furious at the way she mocks me, but our back and forth is a delicate dance I’m most excited about. With her, I never know what comes next. It’s like a rollercoaster—one that excites me, but I can’t stop wondering if it’s passed the routine maintenance and whether I’d be getting off alive.
I smile while texting her back. I’ve been doing that exponentially more since I met her.
What are the odds of you being a nutcase?
Summer
