CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MOLLY

––––––––

"What are you doing here?" I ask, tugging Atlas inside.

I'd rather slap him and tell him to get lost, but I don't want anyone seeing him.

"You know exactly what I'm doing here," he says, grabbing my hips and lowering his mouth.

I twist my face away.

"We're having a girl's night." I mutter but clearly Payton has gone.

"Not anymore." He rasps and I see a slither of annoyance in his eyes that isn't usually there.

That might be my fault.

I threw out Greg's name and...well I was angry. He was messaging someone again and snickering.

Right. In. Front. Of. Me.

What an ass.

"She'll probably come back," I say and see the moment he falters.

Silence.

"I'm pretty confident the happy couple is going to be busy all night long," Atlas says, roaming my face for information I'm not going to share.

Our chemistry flares to life and I try to ignore it, but this man has the ability to turn me weak in the knees with one look.

"I don't think—"

"What?"

"I don't think we should do this anymore..." My voice trails off because I like this man a lot. But if he's with someone else then I need him to be honest with me.

His brows shoot up and gaze turns dark. "Is this about Greg?"

I deserved that after how I departed the table earlier. But still, I can't believe he's lying to me.

"Who is Harlow?" I ask and his eyes widen.

"What?"

I shove him away and turn my back.

How fucking typical.

"So you can ask about Greg, but I can't ask about Harlow." I roll my eyes even though he can't see me.

"Who told you about her?" He snaps.

I spin around flabbergasted that he could even say something like that.

Who told me?

Not...oh I'm sorry I lied.

My god.

What an asshole.

"Are you kidding me right now?" My voice goes high, but I forced it back down halfway through my question.

"Who told you?" Atlas demands.

Wow.

I can barely comprehend the audacity of this guy.

"I can't believe you. You fuck me all weekend, then get annoyed when I ask you about a woman I'm led to believe is someone important to you. You can't even answer." I fume.

This is not happening again.

No damn way.

Has everyone been laughing at me, thinking I'm interested in the middle brother while he's got some girl at home who is not here because she's caring for her sick dad.

Playboy Atlas.

The rich Montgomery bags the bridesmaid.

Ugh.

"Get out, Atlas. Just get out." I ground out trying not to yell.

He crosses his arms and refuses to move. Like a damn tree he just stands there glaring at me while I pant furiously.

My chest is heaving as my heart slams noisily.

"First, we haven't been fucking all damn weekend. If we had you wouldn't be walking." Atlas snarls at me. "Second, talk about double standards. You are involved with Greg. So don't go accusing me of whatever you're accusing me of."

My mouth parts.

The audacity.

"Don't you dare turn this around." I whisper yell because it feels grittier than talking softly to keep this argument private.

He does have a point though. I haven't told him about Greg. Neither of us have talked about whether we are single, we just dove into bed.

It was only meant to be a one-night stand.

Then we did it a few more times.

Atlas uncrosses his arms and plants them on his hips. "Admit it, Molly. You've been looking for an excuse to not like me since we met."

"Says the man who regretted touching me." I shake my head and turn away.

Sadness floods me.

Why can't he just tell me that he's single and Harlow is no one important. God, for all I know he's going to marry her.

Why aren't you saying the same thing about Greg?

Because he's a safety net.

Behind me Atlas is silent, and I'm not sure if he's about to leave or stay to argue more. I feel myself deflate in relief when I feel his hands on my shoulders.

Before I can dissect what that means, I turn and press my face into his chest as tears leak onto his shirt.

Atlas wraps me in his arms. "Forget everyone else. Just be here with me."

I close my eyes.

I want to trust him.

And I realize that I want to be the woman in this man's life. I don't want to want him, but I do. I'm falling for this sexy and beautiful man and apparently there's not a lot I can do about it.

I know Atlas wants me, and all this talk just sounds like I'm a challenge.

I am not a prize.

I want to be loved and cherished. I want someone who is committed and loyal.

God I'm scared.

But I can't seem to tell him to leave.

Before I start on the self-loathing, I take a second to reflect on what happened between Greg and me back in England.

I agreed to go out for dinner with him. We ended up going out on three dates. All of them were wonderful. But as I felt him push me to open up and get intimate, my anxiety flared.

We kissed and I let him touch me. The passion was there but nothing compared to the inferno I feel with Atlas.

Then again, don't they say lust burns away but the slow and steady type is forever?

Greg is the man you marry.

Atlas is the man you have a fling with.

Right?

Yet, I left England without sleeping with Greg and promised to call him this weekend.

I haven't.

He's messaged but I don't know what to say.

Is Atlas right? Am I being unfaithful to Greg? We've made no promises to each other and as the only other person who knows about Steve except my parents, he knows exactly why I have held back.

Then I arrive home in the United States and fall onto Atlas's cock.

What does that say about me?

Atlas runs his hands down my arms and starts to undresses me. The candles that Payton and I lit flicker shadows around us, and it feels romantic.

I let go and allow this last moment between us.

I shouldn't, but I do.

My pantsuit falls to the ground, and when I turn, he's removing his shirt and trousers.

"Stay with me, baby," Atlas says, taking my chin.

"Tell me you are all mine. Just for tonight," I say, hating myself for it.

"I'm all yours," he says roughly. "I am all yours, Molly. And you are mine."

My eyes dip as his words stab me in the heart. I know they're temporary and they're painfully beautiful.

"On the bed, baby." Atlas lays me down and climbs over me. He threads his fingers through my hair and gently kisses me.

I wrap my arms around his broad and muscular body, momentarily closing my eyes at the feel of his soft yet strong body.

I feel safe.

So safe and protected.

"You make me burn, Molly. When you yell at me. When you look at me. When you fuck me." He rasps again my mouth.

Oh, god.

"I can't get enough of you."

I want to tell him that I feel the same thing, but that I don't have the courage to trust him. Then I remember that this is pretend.

It's just for tonight.

But how does it feel like this if it's not real?

The chemistry and connection between us are like an atomic bomb compared to what I felt when I was with Greg.

He's safe. I should marry him.

He'd be loyal and marry me. We would have kids and live happily without passion forever.

Being with Atlas feels like running out in front of traffic. Crazy. Wild. Dangerous.

His fingers find their way over my buttocks and to my core. "Wet, Molly. Always wet for me."

I moan and lift my hips seeking his erection. Telling him what I want.

"I want you on top of me tonight, Molly."

I'm not sure if I move or if Atlas does. Perhaps we both do. But seconds later I'm straddling his wide body and laying my hands on his sexy golden pecs and pressing down over his hard cock.

"We need protection." I moan.

"Shit." Atlas rectifies that, reminding me that we already did it once without, which I totally forgot about. Then he's back under me and pulling he down hard on him once again.

Then he's embedded deep inside me.

"Fuck." I throw my head back.

Reality snakes it way inside my head for a second. How am I going to forget about this man when I'm back home in Philly on Monday?

His eyes hold mine as he moves within me.

I can't pretend this man hasn't left a mark on me. He's made me wish for things I don't know are possible.

But I want him.

I want to pretend this is forever.

Atlas reaches for my breasts and flicks my nipples as I speed up. Up and down his cock I slide, our bodies slapping.

"That's it, baby. Fuck my cock with your tight cunt." He reaches for my hips and the pain with which he grips me enhances the pleasure.

"My hot cunt," he says. "All mine."

Jesus.

"You understand?" The determined blaze in his eyes almost has me believing him.

"Yes, god. Yes." I cry as he thumbs my clit and my brain short circuits.

Atlas lifts his hips and slams into me with insane speed.

"Fuck, fuck, Molly. Yes. Jesus fucking Christ." He cries, lifting his head off the pillow as we both come simultaneously.

Stars fill my eyes, and the world disappears as pleasure I've never experienced fills every cell in my body.

I can feel him everywhere.

As if he's completely consumed me.

When I collapse on Atlas's chest, I feel our hearts beating as one.

Bang, bang, bang.

I wonder if he feels it?

"I don't think I can let you go, Molly. I need you to know that." He rasps in my ear.

An affair.

That's what he wants.

It would be what Steve said to me if I'd given him a sign I'd be happy being the other woman.

Which, by sleeping with Atlas again, I just did.

He lifts my head and with my chin between his fingers, he says, "I only want you."

I blink.

"Me?" I whisper, hope blooming.

"Yeah, baby. Just you." He smiles and kisses me.

I kiss him back with excitement. I want to trust him and believe this is real.

Little do I know, I'm about to find out the truth.

––––––––

ATLAS WAKES EARLY in the morning, jolting and waking me along with him.

He lets out a curse.

"Shit. I fell deep asleep." He says kissing me on the forehead and leaping out of bed. "It's the wedding day."

I close my eyes, still mostly asleep, as I hear him turn on my shower. A minute later I roll onto my back and stare at the windows where early morning light is seeping through.

Wow.

Our love making last night was different. Erotic and yet intimate in a way I would never have expected from Atlas.

I don't think I can let you go, Molly. I need you to know that.

Is this really happening?

I only want you.

I bite my lip and wonder if he could be the one. Perhaps it's time to stop focusing on how Steve hurt me and deceived me.

Deceived all of us.

No man has ever made me feel like Atlas does. From the moment I met him and he took me on the flirtatious tour of his home, to fucking me like a ravage animal in the restroom at the winery and holding my hand on the beach as we talked about our lives.

I don't think I want him to let me go either. I want to make love to him like we did last night. I want more chats on the beach and walking hand in hand. I want to see where this can go.

What if I did?

What if I trusted him and let another man love me? What if...so many what ifs.

But what if.

Oh god. I think I might be falling in love with Atlas Montgomery.

I'm smiling.

Not terrified as I should be. Or have been. Not even Greg, who I think I should trust, made me smile and consider the possibilities of being in another relationship.

I scramble out of bed to join Atlas in the shower to tell him I don't want him to let me go.

He's going to be so happy.

Beep beep.

My foot almost lands on his phone which is lying on the floor next to his pants.

My chest tightens when I see the name in bold lit up on the screen.

HARLOW.

I pick it up and read the message.

Call me. I have an answer for you...and I think it will make you smile.

My blood turns cold.

"No," I whisper shakily as my heart aches and closes up shop once again.

I don't need to know what the question was. Harlow is someone important to him and she's agreed with whatever he's asked.

Was it to be with him too?

Hearing Ward Montgomery ask about her yesterday made it clear she's someone who is a part of their lives.

I don't belong.

I know that.

Has Atlas been trying to get her back or, as I've assumed, she's been with her unwell father?

Whatever the truth is, she's saying yes and it's making him happy. You don't need to be that smart to work out what the question might be.

They are a couple either way.

I drop my hand, with the phone in it, and stare at the bathroom where he's showering.

Tears prickle my eyes.

I feel betrayed all over again.

If Payton wasn't getting married today, I'd pack my things and catch a fucking bus home if that's what it took.

Instead, I pull on a pair of jeans and a sweater, grab my purse, then run downstairs.

Fuck its cold.

Biting my lips, I glance back at the staircase and decide there's no way I'm going back. I pull open the cupboard in the hallway, finding a white puffer jacket and scarf.

Probably Leilani's.

I'm a tiny bit smaller than her, so I slip into it and race out the door and drag in a deep breath like I've been starving for oxygen.

When I hit the sand, I let my emotions out. I stomp into the sand angrily. "Goddamn liar."

"Stupid ass."

"Cheater. Ish."

"How dare he."

"Double standards."

"Stupid billionaire."

"Beautiful stupid liar."

Tears fall down my cheeks, and matching my mood, the wind picks up and the ocean waves crash noisily against the beach.

What a fool I am.

This is for the best. I don't want a boyfriend. I have my business to run. Atlas would just be a distraction.

He's clearly disloyal.

Harlow can have him.

Good riddance.