Page 86 of Atlas
“I don’t know. It seemed easier to bury that part of me.”
“Don’t.”
My eyes closed, and our breathing slowed as we lay cuddled up on the sectional couch with Jolene wrapped tight in my arms.
“You know what I think?” she said with a big yawn.
“What?”
“I think your sexy wolf likes me.”
My arms tightened around her again. She had called the ugliest part of me sexy. I was happy that we both had our eyes closed, or she would have seen the moisture in my eyes.
“He does like you. I tried to stay away from you, but he wouldn’t let me.”
“Good.” The word was almost inaudible, as she was losing the battle against sleep. A glance at the microwave in the kitchen showed that it was past five o’clock in the morning. Jolene was quiet for so long that I thought she’d fallen asleep, but then she spoke in another low mutter. “Did you know that wolves mate for life?”
“Yes. I know.” I raised my hand to dry my leaking eyes. I hadn’t known a woman like Jolene existed. Her lack of judgment and her willingness to accept me despite my massive flaws and my rotten family tree made me want to weep with gratitude. I didn’t want to indulge and overthink her last comment about mating for life. Right now, I just wanted to hold her in my arms and feel her drift off to sleep, while I thanked the angels who’d placed Jolene in my path.
CHAPTER 20
Interviewing Lumi
Jolene
I woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of laughter. Lifting my head from Atlas’ chest, I looked over to see Charles, Liv, Saffron, Lumi, and Nathan in the kitchen.
My movements woke Atlas, who stretched his long body.
“What time is it?” he muttered as we sat up and rubbed our faces.
“Is something wrong with your beds?” Charles asked with humor in his tone.
Atlas shrugged. “No, we just stayed up to talk.”
Nathan turned his tall swivel chair around and tilted his head with a speculative gaze at me. “Did you two start a book club last night?” He motioned to the book on the floor.
I didn’t get a chance to answer before Saffron came running over and stopped in front of us. “I wanted to wake you, but Mom said I couldn’t. What happened to your neck, Jolene? Does it hurt?”
My hand lifted to cover my neck, which was full of hickeys. “Ehh, no, it doesn’t hurt.”
Nathan went with the truth. “Atlas gave her those because he kissed her too hard.”
Saffron walked closer to see the marks better, and then she frowned at Atlas. “Did you do it so you wouldn’t be the only one?” She pointed to where his black eye was fading but still visible.
“Ehh…” Atlas’ hair was messy and flat on one side, and he had sleep lines from one of the pillows. I suspected I wasn’t looking my best either. He looked at me but offered his little sister no real answer, so she continued with her questions,
“Did you two sex each other?”
“Saffron, sweetie, you can’t ask them that,” Liv exclaimed. “Atlas, I placed your glasses on the table. They were on the floor, and I feared that you might step on them.”
“Thanks, Liv.”
“So did you?” Saffron asked again with a cheeky grin.
“That’s a great question, Saffron,” Nathan said. “I would like to know too.”
Atlas groaned. “The answer is no.”
