Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 76780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
He makes me want things that seem too good to be true.
I drift back to sleep but wake with Atlas’s scruff scratching along my chest as he seeks out my nipple with his mouth. My fingers slide into his hair. He latches his teeth around my nipple, teasing the skin with his tongue.
“Atlas,” I growl. “Fuck.”
His laughter is soft and hot against my nipple. “You’re so responsive. It kills me.”
I can’t help but smile because he’s happy, just like me.
“You sore?” he asks, trailing kisses down my abs. “Too sore to ride my dick?”
Truth is, I am sore. But I also totally want to ride his dick, too.
I open my mouth to answer when we’re interrupted by a pounding at the door. My heart leaps in my chest. Atlas, though he stiffens at the sound, doesn’t immediately start to panic like me.
“Probably Brie,” he grunts before sliding off the bed. “I’ll get rid of her.”
He stops to yank a pair of sweats out of his dresser. After he pulls them on, hiding his glorious ass from me, he saunters out of the room, talking to Sparkles, who starts meowing at him. I relax in bed, willing my boner to subside until Atlas returns.
“Dante,” Atlas booms. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here this early.”
“It’s one in the afternoon,” Dante replies, his voice agitated and carrying toward the back of the house.
Fuck.
I slide out of bed and grab another pair of sweats from the same drawer Atlas pulled some from. Quickly, I yank them on and tie the drawstrings tight so they’ll stay on since Atlas is quite a bit bigger than me.
My footsteps make the floorboards creak, drawing Dante’s eyes to me when I enter the living room. His hazel eyes are sharp and assessing. He sweeps his gaze over my half-dressed form, then darts his attention to Atlas.
“Were you both sleeping?” Dante’s words are clipped and cool. He crosses his arms over his chest. The material of his suit strains over his biceps.
“Yeah. I was up late studying,” I tell him, mimicking his stance.
“And I work the overnight shift.” Atlas shrugs. “Did you need something?”
Dante ignores Atlas, boring his stare into me. “Just came to check on you, Callan. Make sure you don’t need anything.”
I have access to my trust fund and inheritance. Money isn’t an issue, and he knows it. No, Dante doesn’t think I can do something as simple as being someone’s roommate and figure out life on my own.
“I’m fine. You could have called,” I tell him with a frown.
“I did. Multiple times. You didn’t answer.” His jaw clenches. “Want to show me your room?”
“It’s messy.”
His eyes narrow. “So?”
“Jesus, Dante, what the fuck?”
“You’re being fucking weird right now. That’s what the fuck.”
We stare each other down for a long minute.
“I’m going to make some coffee,” Atlas grunts. “Dante, you want any?”
“I’m good, man.”
As soon as Atlas leaves the living room, Dante steps closer.
“What do you want?” I demand.
“I just missed you.”
Guilt seeps its way inside me. “I’ve barely been gone.”
“It still sucks.”
Not for me.
“Listen,” he grits out. “I know you’re an adult. I know you’re not my son. You’re my brother. So, not having you around is killing me. I understand you want to be left alone, but can we at least have dinner one day together?”
“I’d like that,” I admit. “As long as you’re not cooking.”
He grins, wide and just enough like Dad did that it makes my chest ache. I’m not a total jerk. I miss my siblings. They’re everything to me. I just hate that we’re not three against the world. Lately, it’s two against me.
“Come on,” Dante chirps. “Show me your room, and I’ll get out of your hair.”
I try not to wince, biting the bullet instead. “It’s this way.”
He follows me down the hall to the bedroom where I’ve begun to pile my stuff in. No furniture yet. Just clothes and books and art supplies.
“Where’s the bed?” Dante hisses from behind me.
“He slept in mine.” Atlas appears behind Dante.
I gape at him, shocked he’d blurt that out to Dante. My brother whirls around, his shoulders tense.
“What?” Dante growls.
“Calm your ass down,” Atlas says with a taunting grin. “I’ve been sleeping on the couch until his furniture arrives.”
It’s such bullshit. Of course, Dante sees right through it, but since no one really knows Atlas is gay, I don’t think he knows what to say. He’s on thin ice with me. If he starts bitching me out, it won’t end well.
“I see.” Dante’s voice is chilly as he cracks his neck. “What a hospitable host you are.”
Atlas grabs the top of the door frame, making his biceps bulge. His blue eyes dance with amusement. I can tell he wants to taunt my brother because it’s Atlas’s idea of a fun time.
Not mine.
I just want Dante to leave so Atlas and I can get back to what we were doing before he arrived.