Page 32 of These Wicked Hearts

“How did you know?”

He inhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Slow down, fuck, just relax.”

“Relax?”

“You’re a lot right now.” He shoots back. “You’re—” He gestures vaguely at me. “This.”

“Answer me.”

He stares at me a moment. “I didn’t know.”

“What?”

“I didn’t know!” he repeats. “My friend had an extra VIP ticket. Asked me to come, that’s it. I swear.”

Something in my chest shakes loose. Not completely, but enough where I can breathe. “You didn’t recognize me?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “Not until I saw—” His gaze drops and his tongue pokes out, licking his bottom lip. I’m taken back to nights ago when his eyes looked up at me waiting for my command.

“Say it,” I murmur, stepping closer. “Until what, Atlas?”

He swallows. “Your tattoo.”

“The one you licked?” I lean in, my voice dropping and my teeth grazing his ear. “The one you licked before you sucked my cock?”

His breath shudders. “Jesus—” He pushes me back with no real force behind it. “I didn’t know, alright. I’m still processing that you’re—” He gestures again. “You.”

I watch him for a moment, and I almost prefer the ridiculous dork he was back on that rooftop. “Please don’t tell anyone,” I plead softly.

He meets my eyes. “I wouldn’t. I’d never do that.”

Maybe I’m an idiot.

Maybe it’s just that I want to believe him, but I do. A knock breaks the moment. “Everything okay?” Daniel calls.

“Yeah,” I answer quickly, looking right at Atlas. “Just waiting on him. Stomach problems I think.”

“Oh, fuck you,” he whispers, and I grin. I can’t help it.

He’s so fucking beautiful.

I lean in again, slower this time, giving him space to move away, but he doesn’t.

Our lips meet and that feeling is immediate. Electric and dangerous like striking a match in a room full of gas. He lets out this quiet, pathetic sound against my lips. My fingers brush his arm, but he pulls back like it burns.

He places two fingers against his mouth. “Do I have black on my lips?”

I huff a soft laugh and shake my head. “This won’t come off until I wash it off.”

He swallows hard, nodding. “Your um, your voice. It’s really nice. I liked it.”

My brow cocks. “Oh yeah?” While I’ve had screaming fans tell me that for years, it hits somewhere different hearing it from his lips.

“We should go,” he says, a little breathless. I give him space and then another moment to take a breath and relax before I open the door.

Daniel eyes us both suspiciously.

We return, with me trailing behind him, and I hear his friend talking to mine. An idea hits me hard, and I can’t stop myself as I lean into him.