“An inventory mix-up with the warehouses. And we need certain pieces for the gallery exhibit tomorrow.” He grips the counter and roars out another curse.
“Can I help?” I offer, though I’m not sure he would trust me with his business yet.
“I don’t wanna go.” Atlas’s tortured stance makes it painfully clear how much he doesn’t want to leave. He pushes himself off the counter and pulls me into his arms.
“But you have to. Take care of the problem, and I’ll see you later.”
“The event is tomorrow night. Do you have something to wear to that?” He cups my cheeks.
“Are you asking me on a date?”
He’s fucking asking me on a date!
“I don’t like the wordask. It implies you have the option to say no, when in reality, you don’t.”
“Your manners have not improved much.”
“Part of my charm.”
“Let’s agree to disagree on that.”
“If you don’t have anything to wear, I can leave you a card, and you can get yourself whatever you like.”
“I’ll borrow a dress.”
“Is ‘borrow’ a code for ‘steal’?”
“Borrow, steal... tomato, tomahto. Sounds the same to me.” He cackles. I love it when I make him laugh. “You have more important stuff to worry about than this. I can handle myself.”
“That’s the thing... I know you can. Better than anyone, for that matter. Still, anything concerning you is my priority.”
“Leave before I kiss you with unbrushed teeth!”
“I love it when you threaten me. No one does it like you do.”
He plasters another kiss on my lips, luring me into relinquishing power, feeling like gelato on a hot day in his arms. When he pulls away, he cups my face once more.
“Breakfast?”
“What?” Isn’t he supposed to handle the problem with the gallery as soon as possible?
“What do you want for breakfast, love? The gallery will have to wait.”
I’m biting my lip, but I won’t hold back my response.
“You.”
I smile.
He growls.
“I don’t do quickies. And once I’m inside you, I’m not stopping until you beg me to or my dick falls off.”
“Iced caramel latte,” I blurt out, before I’ve spread my legs like a quarter to three so I could tempt him to reconsider.
“Do you want me to make it a salted caramel for you?” He spins me and slaps my ass to get me out of the bathroom along with him. “Something sweet or salty with the latte?”
“Surprise me.”
