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“I know you’re not happy either, but you don’t know how or what to do to find that happiness that you deserve. Let me help you find it. Let me be that man for you.”
My breath caught, the back of my eyes pricking with unshed tears. “I won’t let you break my heart again.”
“I don’t plan on breaking your heart, baby,” he said, his voice low. He closed the final space between us, pushing his pelvis into my mine and wrapping his arms around me. He leaned down, brushing his face into the crook of my neck and held me as tight as he could without hurting me.
My arms reached up of their own accord, wrapping around his broad shoulders and tugged him against me. Any closer and he would be inside me. But I found I wanted him there. Always and forever. He was mine. He was finally mine. He said it. I thought it. No, I had hoped for it.
Reaching up, I pushed my fingers through his hair and tilted my head back.
He gave me a small smile, looking down at me through hooded eyes.
“Can we do this?” I murmured, my heart pounding in my ears. “Can we be together even though we live worlds apart?”
“We’re not that far apart, baby.” He kissed my forehead and then my nose before placing an even harder one on my mouth.
When he went to pull away, I tugged him closer. Slipping my tongue into his mouth, I controlled the kiss for just a moment when a deep growl rumbled from somewhere deep inside his chest.
Atlas ran a hand down my back, cupped my ass and lifted me in his arms.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, broke the kiss and leaned back against the wall. “Tell me again.”
“I love you,” he said, his voice rough. He leaned forward to kiss me when I covered his mouth.
“I’m not committing to anything, Atlas. But I will go on a date with you. And another if that first one goes well. We’ll start slow because I need to know that you’re serious. I also don’t want you hating me.”
He took my hand covering his mouth and gave my palm a gentle nip. “I could never hate you. No matter what you’re thinking, you are mine and I am yours, baby. I promise you that. And I also promise to make you happy. I agree to this date, but I know for a fact that you will enjoy yourself and want more.”
“Cocky much?” I laughed lightly.
He smirked, placing me on my feet and kissing the side of my neck. “You have no idea, Marley. You have no idea at fucking all.”
“What do you want from me?” I asked, searching his face. For an answer. For a hint. For something. But all I found was that I couldn’t read him. I could never read him and that was one of the things that I liked even though it frustrated me at times. He was a mystery and I was the only one he would ever let solve it.
“I want you to be mine. I want to make you happy. But what I want most of all is for you to give me a second chance.” He cupped my cheek, brushing his thumb along my bottom lip. “Can you do that? Can you give me another shot at being the man you deserve?”
“You were gone for a long time, Atlas.” My breath hitched. “A really long time. Things have changed. I’ve changed. You’ve changed.”
“Maybe so but we haven’t changed so much where we don’t belong together, Marley.” He grabbed my hands, holding them in his. His palms engulfed mine. “I love you. And I will spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness. Please let me do that.”
Much to my surprise, he dropped to his knees in front of me. “Atlas, stand up.”
“No.” He circled his arms around my waist and leaned his forehead against my stomach. “I’ll stay on my knees forever. I’ll beg. I’ll fucking plead. But I’m not standing until you give me an answer. Any answer. I just want your words, baby. I want you. I want your laughs. Your smiles. Your moans. Everything. I want to learn what’s changed about you. I want to get to know you all over again. But no matter what you say, I’ll always be here. Forever.”
My heart raced. Dropping to my knees in front of him, I cupped his face. “You mean that? You mean all of that?”
“Yes.” His jaw ticked beneath my palm. “I mean every damn word, Marley.”
“I can’t just up and move though. I have my business. I need time. But I’m willing to give you a second chance, Atlas.”
A smile grew on his handsome face. “Yeah? Really, baby?”
I laughed. “Yeah, really.”
“Fuck I love you.” He moved to kiss me when I leaned back. “What?” He frowned. “Please don’t tell me you’re changing your mind already. It’s been less than two seconds. Marley, you’re killing me. You can’t—”
My laugh deepened. “Will you stop. I was going to tell you that I love…that I love you too.” God it felt so good to say that finally.
“Really? You love me?” His voice cracked.
