Page 143 of His to Save

Ellis nods and then pulls the door closed behind him.

“So,” I say, now that it is just the two of us, “I need to apologize. Again.”

Nora simply quirks a brow at me, waiting for me to actually make good on my word.

“I'm so damn sorry, Pip. I heard everything you said last night, but I didn't listen.” I scoot closer to her and take her hands in mine. “You deserve better than that. You hit the nail on the head this morning when you said you wanted a partner, not a guard dog. I promise—I fucking vow—to do better. To be the man you deserve.”

“You really mean that?” she asks, her lower lip quivering as she takes me in with damp, wide eyes.

“From the bottom of my heart.” I free one of my hands and draw an X over my chest.

She launches herself at me, peppering my face with sloppy, excited kisses as she climbs into my lap, her legs straddling mine. “I love you so much, Atlas. You may be flawed, but you're absolutely perfect for me.”

“Love you, too,” I bite out between kisses. “Love you?—”

Nora nips at my lips, effectively silencing me. “Take me to bed.”

“Are... are you sure?” Nora tenses in my arms, making me want to kick my own ass. “Never mind. Ignore me. You wouldn't have said it if you didn't mean it.”

“Now you're getting it,” she murmurs, relaxing back into my embrace.

“Hang on tight,” I say as I band my arms beneath her ass and stand, holding her as close to me as her rounded belly will allow.

“So…” she draws out the word. “Would you consider this our first fight?”

“More of a disagreement, really.” I breathe the words against her neck, breathing in her sweet scent as I fumble down the hall.

“Shame.” She sticks out her tongue at me. “I was hoping we could make up.”

“Nora Morgan, are you asking me for makeup sex?”Honest to God, my brain damn near short circuits. I fucking love this bold, playful side of her.

“Maybe.” She tries burying her head in my chest, her cheeks undoubtedly strawberry red, but I'm not having it.

“You know what you need to do, Pip.” I set her down at the foot of our bed. “Look me in the eye and ask for what you want, like a good girl.”

“Yes, Atlas.” A shiver works its way through her as she peers up at me from beneath her lashes, her pupils blown wide. “I am asking you for makeup sex. I want you to show me exactly how sorry you are—preferably with your body.”

“Hot damn, Pip,” I groan, tugging my shirt over my head and tossing it to the floor. “Strip for me?”

“Are you asking or telling?” she asks coyly.The minx knows just what to say to rile me up.

“Asking. Always asking. When it comes to the two of us, you’re always in control, Pip. But you know that already, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know.” She grins and then captures her bottom lip between her teeth. “Sit down.”

My ass hits the bed like there's a magnet in it, my eyes never once leaving her. She starts slow, toeing off her thick socks before letting her hair down and running her fingers through it. Her long, coppery locks remind me of fire with the way the sun’s shining on her through the cracks in the blinds.

Then she pulls off my hoodie, leaving her in only a pair of my sweats. I have to clench my fists at my sides to keep from reaching for her, because while seeing her in my clothes is a sight I'll never grow tired of, seeing Nora naked is a damn near religious experience.

My girl’s pale, freckled perfection, and I can’t fucking wait to worship at her altar.

She hooks her thumbs beneath the waistband, tugging the fabric down ever so slightly, toying with me in the most delicious way.

“Take them off,” I growl, desperate to see how wet she already is for me. Because if I know Nora even a little, she's dripping. Her pregnancy hormones have her libido in hyperdrive, and like the idiot I am, I've been denying her since everything went down with Rand. “Show me that pretty pussy, Pip.”

Her cheeks burn my favorite shade of red as she tugs them down, baring herself to me. All I want is to lean forward and finish stripping her down.

Thankfully, she doesn’t draw out her sweet, teasing torture for long.

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