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Shaking his head, he got to his feet. He left his room and held his hand out to her door. Atlas drew in a deep breath and knocked lightly.
Her footsteps padded closer, halting on the other side. Their tension wound thick despite the door separating them.
“Please,” he whispered his prayer into the dark hallway. Begging was something he’d never done before. He could blame it on the whiskey, but the truth was Jasmine made him willing to do things he’d never once considered—like stay.
The door handle creaked as she opened it. Light spilled out from behind her, casting her in a glow. His eyes roamed across the threadbare T-shirt with the Seacoast Construction logo across the chest and down her sexy, naked legs.
“Atlas?” Her voice was a whisper.
His gaze snapped back to hers. Primal urges, carnal lust, and something more powerful than both of them wove together and imbedded itself deep inside his soul.
“Where’s Zoey?”
“She’s having a sleepover at my brother’s.”
He took a step forward, into her space. She stayed her ground. Her chin tipped up, need and conflict highlighting in those green orbs.
“Do you know how goddamned irresistible you are?”
She shook her head.
“I look at you and I want . . . I want things I shouldn’t.”
She swallowed, her throat bobbing delicately with the motion.
He reached out his hand and traced his finger over her collarbone. She shivered.
“You are so beautiful. And strong. And everything I never knew I wanted. Never knew I needed.”
His cock pressed against his zipper. Desire splintered through him. His body quaked with warning. He was about to make a choice at this fork in the road that would change his life forever. He knew it, like a premonition. This woman would suck him into this dangerous cyclone brewing between them. And he must be insane, because he’d gladly drown in her.
“I want to dive into you and just forget.” His heart hammered. Blood rushed in his ears like a furious wind whipping. The air was so thick with anticipation he could reach out and touch it.
Jasmine’s eyes fluttered, darkening. She licked her lips and gazed up at him. “Forget what?”
He threw her own word back at her. “Everything.”
She sucked in a tiny gasp. Every one of his senses was in rapt attention of her tiniest movements. He was depraved, lost in this powerful lust. The room was silent, but inside each cell screamed like a hurricane roiling.
“I want you too,” she whispered.
“I can’t commit to more than this. But I’d like to make good on my promise to make love to you.” He’d be honest even though it killed him. Because she needed to know as much as he wanted this—wanted her—this could only ever be temporary. His family would never let him go, and the last thing she needed was them interfering in her and her daughter’s life.
Her gaze locked on him, hesitating as if warring inside. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was no trace of the conflict.
“Okay.” Her voice trembled.
“Yes?” he clarified, clenching his fists at his sides. There was no way he could touch her and remain in control.
“But there’s something I need to tell you first.”
“Will it change things between us?”
She nodded.
“Then I don’t want to know. Don’t tell me yet.” He crashed his mouth over hers, swallowing whatever she was going to say. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he picked her up, shutting the door behind him with his foot. He carried her over to her bed and laid her down gently.
He began to lift her shirt, but she held his hand in place. “Atlas, the last time—”
