Page 42 of These Wicked Hearts

His eyes open. “I mean, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, it was great. So great.” I think about how I want to say this. “And the thing is, I’d really like it to keep being great.” His dark brows knit together. “So, this is what I’m thinking. When we’re both here, we can keep doing whatever this is⁠—”

“Atlas—”

“No, listen. Shit, I wish I had my whiteboard.” He rolls his eyes. “I know this is supposed to be one night only, but clearly we’re having too much fun to stop. So why stop? You said it yourself; you haven’t stopped thinking about it. I may irritate you, but I turn you on. Maybe I turn you on because I irritate you. I don’t know how your brain works.” I think I see his lips quirk. “I’m not saying this needs to turn into anything. We’re both too busy for anything else. But if we’re both home, we bang. Easy.”

He’s quiet for a moment then his eyes open and he stares up at the ceiling. Anticipation churns in my gut. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want it to stop. Maybe this will be good for me. Casual sex with a stranger, exploring things I’ve only ever thought about, is a better alternative to drinking, I think.

“Atlas, I don’t⁠—”

“Just think about it. Never did the yes sir thing before either. That was fun.” Aside from how hot it all was, there was something else. There was some part of me that wanted to be good for him. I don’t know what’s happening inside my brain, but man, that scratched an itch I didn’t know existed.

I want to do it again.

“I don’t want a relationship,” he says firmly. No arguments from me. I’m in no way ready for all that. I can barely keep myself together let alone care for someone else that way.

“Neither do I.” I take a chance and climb over his body, watching his eyes go wide as I lie on top of him, sinking my weight down onto him. He must be about six feet tall himself, but I do have some mass on him.

“Atlas, get off, you weigh like a thousand pounds.”

“Two twenty.” I lay my head on his chest. “Listen, last night was . . . fuck, Gage. That was something I’ve never felt before. I never thought I would⁠—”

“Obey? Melt for me? Come with no hands.” He grins wider. “You’re such a good boy, Atlas.” He pats my head and I know he’s teasing, but yeah, I like that.

“See, there.” I roll off him. “My dick really likes that.”

“And we’re back to ridiculousness.”

“I’m just saying we don’t need to get to know each other. You clearly have a lot going on. I’m rarely home for⁠—”

“The work you won’t tell me about.” His dark eyes roam over my face, and damn, I like him.

Which is bad, but I’m all about bad decisions it seems. “This coming Friday I’ll be gone for nearly ten days. When I get back, I think we should try again. Wait. Do you have more shows? Or like, recording? I have no idea how that works.”

Something in his eyes hits me in the stomach and I don’t know what it is or if I should ask about it. “That was the last show on our tour. At home. We have three months off and then we need to start recording a new album.” His voice seems hollow. “I plan on being here most of the time if I can help it.”

“Well, when I get back, then. If you’re here, if you want.” Something’s going on with him, but I don’t want to ask. No personal information, I guess.

His head lolls to face me. He’s got really pretty eyes. “I want to say no,” he says softly. “But I can’t.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” He swallows. “You definitely turn me on and irritate me equally.”

“How do you feel about morning breath?”

His brow cocks.

“I want to kiss you.”

With a heavy roll of his eyes, he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. This is a terrible idea, but I can’t stop it. I’ve never felt like this before. I want to lie in bed all day today and touch him.

“I have to get ready.”

“Want me to walk you down to your apartment?”

“Aw, what a gentleman.”