Page 38 of Hexmate

Chapter 15

Caden

Somehow Wild and Silver managed to separate Atlas and I, taking us to our respective dorms to rest. I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms again, but Wild was right. If Atlas was around, I wasn’t going to sleep. Not after everything that had happened.

My whole world felt like it had been turned upside down in a single night. I’d almost completely forgotten the cruel intentions of Rowan and the other witches in my class. My mind was so bent on Atlas and our intimate, albeit innocent, night together.

He was unlike anyone I’d ever met since joining the supernatural world. Everyone, thus far, had been downright mean to me because of my lack of power. But Atlas was just the opposite. He respected me, he treated me kindly, and he never pushed his own wants and desires to the forefront like everyone else. He put me first… and I just plain wasn’t used to that.

In fact, the only thing he’d been insistent about was that I was his mate. Of course, that created a huge number of problems all on its own, but that didn’t stop it from feeling good. Who cared if no one would accept us? I certainly didn’t. Nobody accepted me anyway. But Atlas had a lot more to lose, and that worried me. He was so happy to give up everything for me and…honestly… I wasn’t sure he should. I wasn’t special or powerful or well connected. As far as I knew, my life had an expiration date thanks to my father’s threats. And now that Rowan was most likely plotting both of our deaths, the clock was ticking louder than ever before.

I tossed and turned in my bed, unable to shake the gnawing worry in my gut. Still, I somehow managed to sleep most of the day away. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Rowan’s sneering face, heard his taunting words. He was keeping silent for now, not letting anyone know it was Atlas that had disfigured him. What was he planning? How far would he go? And his family… they would most certainly get involved. Once they did, so would Atlas’s pack.

Had we accidentally started a silent war?

As if summoned by my anxious thoughts, a soft tap came at my window. My heart leapt into my throat. I crept to the glass, peering out into the darkness.

There, illuminated by moonlight, stood Atlas. His golden eyes gleamed as he motioned for me to open the window. I hesitated for a moment, remembering how insistent Wild had been that I rest. However, he was gone and I had the room to myself. And the pull towards Atlas was too strong to resist.

I lifted the sash, and he gracefully climbed inside. Before I could speak, he gathered me into his arms, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply.

“I couldn’t stay away,” he murmured against my skin. “I needed to make sure you were safe.”

His touch sent shivers down my spine, igniting a fire low in my belly. I knew I should push him away, tell him to leave. But instead, I found myself melting into his embrace.

“Atlas,” I whispered, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “We shouldn’t...”

But even as the words left my lips, I knew I didn’t mean them. His presence filled a void I hadn’t realized was there, soothing the restless anxiety that had plagued me all day.

He pulled back slightly, his golden eyes searching mine. “Do you want me to go?”

I shook my head, unable to voice the desperate need I felt. Atlas’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because I don’t think I could leave if I tried.”

His hands slid down my sides, coming to rest on my hips. The heat of his touch seeped through my thin pajamas, making my skin tingle. I found myself arching into him, craving more contact.

Atlas growled low in his throat, a sound that sent a jolt of electricity through my body. In one fluid motion, he lifted me off my feet and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently, then crawled up beside me, his powerful body caging mine.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his arms holding me tight against his chest.

I glanced up at him, nodding, all too aware of his thick cock pressing against my thigh. My own, of course, was pulsing against belly. I felt a flush of embarrassment, my cheeks burning.

“Don’t worry about it,” he smiled as if he could read my mind. “I like that you’re excited by me.”

“I-I like it too,” I stuttered. “That you’re… you know…” Again, my cheeks burned, but I held his gaze. “I think you and I m-might need to talk about a couple of things b-before we go much further.”

It was hard to concentrate on my words as he pulsed against me, the heat of his body filling me to the brim. I wanted so badly to buck my hips, to seek out the friction I craved. Images ranthrough my mind of what he could do to me with his hands, his mouth, and that massive cock of his. And would I even survive it if I just told him to take me like I wanted to?

“I think you’re right,” he nodded. “This is a lot to process, even for me.”

“You said I’m your mate, fated by the gods or whatever, right?” I asked.

“That’s right.”

“So, we’re just meant to be together?”

He shrugged. “More or less. That’s how it was explained to me.”

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