Page 84 of Heat Lightning

I’d die if he saw that video.

“Can we please focus on you not bleeding first?” he asked, grabbing a handful of tissues from the nightstand to wipe off my face.

I glared at him. “It’s a nosebleed, not a mortal wound. Now give me my phone back.”

The command would’ve held more sway if I didn’t sound like Squidward with a cold.

Great. First night with the hot masked man and I’d given myself a nosebleed. How sexy. I supposed my earlier fears that giving in to him would be dangerous were founded; I just didn’t predict the blood would be my fault.

Aaaaand then the audio looped, loud and clear for us both to hear.

Apparently he’d missed it the first time in the scuffle, but it did not escape his notice a second time.

“What are you watching?” he asked, swiping the phone up from where it’d fallen next to me.

“Nothing. Give it back.”

It auto-played again, and Atlas watched, eyebrows creeping higher and higher with each heavy breath and moan until they disappeared above the mask.

I tried to roll away—preferably out the window and into traffic—but he stopped me, still applying gentle pressure to the bridge of my nose.

“Max?”

I ignored him.

“Sweetheart, look at me.”

“No, thanks.”

“I could pretend to snatch your nose to make you laugh, if that would make this easier.”

“Oh my God, never do that,” I said, glaring at him.

The creases around his eyes gave away his grin. “Gotcha.”

Ugh. I tried to roll over again, but he splayed out on top of me, effectively boxing me in.

“So. You’re into this stuff?” he asked, gesturing to his mask.

“No! I was just curious. Plus, I had to make sure you weren’t on there. I’d rather you just kill me than find out I’m one of your many thirsty fans,” I said with a sniff.

“Mmhmm.” He released my nose and turned my head this way and that, inspecting it. “Bleeding’s stopped. I think it’s safe to say you’ll live. No permanent damage.”

“Are you sure? I could go for a lobotomy right about now.”

“Fortunately for me, your sparkling personality and sense of humor remain intact. And so is your adorable nose.”

I sighed and refused to look at him, but my omega couldn’t help but purr at the compliment. No one’s ever called our nose cute before.

Ugh. Stop it.

“So,” he prompted, grinding himself down onto me through our sleep pants. “You like the mask.”

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Did it take you this long to figure that out?”

“Just good to know it’s not a hardship for you.”

I finally looked at him. Of course he was teasing, but there was something in his gaze that softened. Maybe a brick in those big, tall walls of his had crumbled, allowing a glimpse of the man behind them.