CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ATLAS

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Dinner is a huge affair. The mansion is abuzz with dozens of members of our families who've arrived in the Hamptons for tomorrow's wedding.

Payton and Knox have disappeared for a few hours and will be back to join everyone for dessert.

I like how they're doing things their way.

The rest of their wedding celebrations will be shared with hundreds of people, so taking this moment together is special and romantic.

Even a guy can acknowledge that.

"Wow," Molly says, curling her feet underneath her on the cushion.

The event team has done an amazing job. There's one big marquee and a few other pop-up tents filled with different cuisines.

And a ton of patio heaters.

The festival-type vibe is relaxed, warm, and fun.

The opposite of the formal wedding we're all expecting tomorrow.

I like that also. It has me thinking what I'd like for my own wedding.

Jesus.

Do guys usually think about this stuff? I haven't before but I guess it's because my big brother is getting married. I never did when Bella was tying the knot.

Maybe it's a guy thing.

"Wow good? Or wow not good?" I ask, admiring the cream jumpsuit Molly wears. It has gold buttons and long sleeves and almost screams at me to undress her.

I know it's not designer, but I don't care. She looks beautiful with her hair softly curled around one shoulder, her barely-there makeup, and high gloss lips.

Ones I want wrapped around my cock.

"There're a lot of people here. I can't believe it's only family." She leans forward on the low table and bites into her taco. "But the fwood wis amawzing."

"Don't speak with your mouth full." I poke her in the hip. "Unless you're full of me."

She jumps.

"Atlas," she says but it comes out Wawtwus .

"Hey dicks," Levi says, sitting down, killing my game.

I was just about to advise Molly she would be full of me later tonight, and that I intended to wrap that ponytail of hers around my wrist while she was swallowing my come.

I'm a planner.

But what I really wanted to do was ask her about the dark look she'd given me earlier.

She seems to have defrosted but is a little standoffish.

Levi opens his phone and starts watching NFL reruns. He's hyper focused on being drafted.

I glance down at my phone while sipping my glass of beer. There was a small chance Harlow could have spoken to Donald, but my messages are empty.

I send her a silly emoji.

She sends the eye roll one back.

I laugh, then put my phone back in my pocket.

Patience is not my strong suit and as Monday grows closer, I'm eager to find out if there is any inside information.

Losing just isn't an option.

When I glance up, Molly's glare is back.

"Excuse me, I need to go phone Greg." She wipes her mouth and climbs to her feet and takes off.

The fuck?

"Who's this Greg guy?" Levi asks, only half interested.

I grind my teeth.

What the hell is her problem?

I've been very clear I am more than interested and she does this shit?

What the hell kind of game is she playing? It was barely more than ninety minutes since I was balls deep inside her.

And I wasn't rough.

Which...that means something.

I took it slow—ish, we only had so much time— and felt us connect on a level we hadn't yet. I watched the surprise on her face as our fingers threaded together and our eyes blazed with desire but so much more.

You are mine.

Something is going on in that beautiful mind of hers and she's not telling me.

I let out a silent curse, toss my napkin on the table, and tell Levi, "He's just some cock."

Then as I climb to my feet to go in search of her, Payton and Knox walk into the room to the sound of applause.

Crap.

Dad stands and walks over to them and begins to make a speech.

Goddamn it. Isn't that what the fucking wedding is for? Do they have to do all this tonight?

We know what we are here for.

This isn't an airplane.

We don't need safety instructions.

Sit down!

My eyes dart around for Molly.

Knox thanks everyone for coming and shares their gratitude to Jacob and Leilani for letting them use their incredible home.

Then Payton reaches out her free arm and Molly dances over announcing she's taking the bride for the rest of the night.

Fuck!

She doesn't look my way as the two girls, arm in arm, disappear.

God fucking damn it.

––––––––

TWO LONG HOURS later, when I'm completely over all the small talk and pleasantries and the crowd has thinned, I find the groom.

Knox looks like he needs sleep, so I nod at Levi, and we say goodnight to everyone.

"Thank god," Knox growls. He mostly growls instead of speaking normally. It's just his thing.

"What do you need?"

"My bride. In my bed. But she's with Molly."

"I thought you two were spending the night together?" Levi asks the question I was also wondering.

Knox rubs his face as we walk through the kitchen. "Payton got all superstitious and said we should not tempt fucking fate or something."

We stare at him.

He stares back.

"Fuck this!" He suddenly says and stomps up the stairs. "I'm going to get her."

That's more like it.

I can't help the selfish smile hitting my lips.

"Okay well if they get divorced then I want to note for the record that I never told him he should go get her." Levi announces.

I laugh and rub the top of his head.

"They won't. And hey, don't stay up all night watching reruns. You need to sleep." I tell him.

"Yes coach." He rolls his eyes, grinning.

We all want to see him be drafted. At the level he's playing, he has to take care of his body. That includes what he eats and how much he sleeps.

Levi has the best coach and manager, so I don't really need to tell him, but that's what brothers are for.

He pulls out his phone and starts showing me a play one of the top teams made a few months ago.

I love football but was never interested in making the team in high school or college. But as Levi Montgomery's brother, I know way more than the average guy.

I lean over the phone and watch.

Then my patience runs out.

I need to speak to Molly.

"Come on. Let's hit the sack and make sure we get our brother married tomorrow." I slap him on the back, and we follow the same path Knox took up the stairs.

When Levi closes his bedroom door I hover outside Molly's room for a little too long, hoping like hell Payton decided to sleep with Knox. Otherwise I'm going to need a really good excuse for being here.

Which I don't.

Molly is mine. Not Greg's. I've already decided. And she needs to fucking explain that move earlier and what has her riled up.

When I left her up here earlier, she was glowing from another orgasm.

You are mine, baby, you just don't know it yet.

I knock on the door.

And cross my fingers I find her alone.