CHAPTER 89: KISSING, TOUCHING, STRIPPING... FUCKING.

"Stay out of my head, Atlas Bennet!"

Lola panted, feeling a phantom hand around her neck. Her hand rested on the open door, her eyes falling on the empty bed.

"Huh?" She furrowed her brows, her anger subsiding. "He’s not here."

Looking around, the corners of her mouth curved down in dismay. For all the time Atlas had been living in her home, she hadn’t really confronted him. She had just let him do whatever he wanted, simply because she didn’t want to deal with him. It was a cowardly approach, but a situation she hadn’t anticipated. She was carefully assessing the situation first, after all, there were children involved—children she adored.

Now that she had finally lost it, he was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it," she clicked her tongue. "If this is what fate wants, then so be it."

Frustrated, she reached for the doorknob. She believed in signs, and if the universe was telling her no, she had to take it seriously. With the thought that this might be a mistake, she closed the door and turned to leave.

Much to her dismay, the moment she spun, she stopped inches from a firm body.

"I told you, I don’t lock my door," Atlas said, gazing down at her. "You didn’t have to kick it open."

"Right."

"What do you need?" he asked, taking a step closer. She intuitively stepped back, a creeping nervousness crawling into her chest as she touched her nape.

"Well..." she looked away, clearing her throat. "I’m just, I’m just thinking about what you said earlier. And honestly, I just want to say that—"

She paused as he took another step, forcing her to step back again. The small gap between her and the door vanished as her back hit the surface.

"Want to say what?" he repeated her words, taking another step until his breath could touch her skin.

Their toes almost touched; her body pressed against the door. Lola kept her head turned, eyes averted, feeling his warm breath caress her cheek and jaw.

"Aren’t you too close?" She raised a finger and pressed it on his chest, but he didn’t budge. "Wait, how can we talk like this?"

"Like what?"

Lola peeked up at him, her breath hitching at their proximity. This was even closer than when she fell on his lap. She pursed her lips, her finger still pressed to his chest.

"I’m just saying, stay out of my head," she forced out, her voice now quiet and more contained than her initial outburst. "Sure, I have my guard down, but it’s been like that for years. I’m not about to justify it, but I don’t really appreciate it when people speak like they have a deep understanding of me and why I decide on some things."

She gulped to moisten her throat, keeping her eyes away. "That’s all. I’m quite the overthinker. Although I know your intentions, and I fully agree with you, I’m not joking when I said I hurt people when I have my guards up."

"It’s not just hurt, but like..." she trailed off, looking back at him, only to see him staring at her lips. Lola pursed her lips on instinct, watching him lift his gaze to her eyes.

"But like...?" His voice was low, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she stared at him, secretly biting her inner lip.

"I’m not stupid, Atlas." Her voice quieted as she breathed out heavily. "I ignore things and justify them for a reason, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make me want to think about some things. You are being intrusive; you’re not just invading my place, but my life, and I don’t like it."

She pressed her finger on his chest to move him away, but even when her finger turned white, he didn’t budge. Giving up, she huffed.

"If you think you know me so well, then I assume you’re already aware of what I just said," she continued, her shoulders relaxing as she finally spoke her mind. "Yet, you ignore it and act like you didn’t know. So..."

Again, she paused, swallowing the building tension in her throat. "...so, I should be the one asking: what do you want from me, Atlas Bennet?"

"You."

Her breath hitched at the same time her heart pounded against her chest. "What?"

"Isn’t it obvious?" he asked, closing the little gap between them. This time, he pinched her chin to lift her head, leaning in until his minty breath, which felt strangely hot, brushed her upper lip.

"Why do you think I would live in someone else’s home?" His voice was still calm, with a tinge of hunger in it. "To play house? Does that make any sense to you, Lola?"

No, it never made sense to her. But then again, she had simply ignored things and blocked any thought of it, as it was safer that way. But now that he was saying it out loud, how could she ignore it?

"My door’s unlocked," he leaned closer until his lips were right beside her ear. He slid his eyes to the side and added under his breath, "The children will not look for you if they didn’t find you in bed with them."

Lola gulped as she watched him draw his head back, just enough for their eyes to meet. Her breathing was slow and heavy as her heart pounded in her ears. Her fingers at her sides curled into fists while the one pressing on his chest pinched the fabric of his shirt.

She said nothing, didn’t even react. She just stared at him motionless, lowering her head slightly as his face came closer. This was not what she expected when she came to him, fuming. But Lola closed her eyes as she anticipated his lips.

And they came.

Those strangely firm yet soft lips pressed gently on hers, making her pinch his clothes tighter. His hand trailed to her waist, his other hand pushing the doorknob. The moment she felt the surface behind her leave her back, she intuitively wrapped her arms around his neck.

With his arm firm around her waist, she took careful steps back until she felt herself bounce on the soft mattress. Yet, neither of them let go.

One thing led to another—kissing, touching, stripping... fucking.

***

"Are you there?" Atlas snapped a finger at her, watching her eyes light up with life once more. He tilted his head to the side, confused. "Are you alright? You’re zoning out."

Slowly, Lola came back to her senses, only to realize the two of them were still standing outside his bedroom.