“She’s a good friend,” I tell her. As I finish speaking, the door opens and in walks Tina. She smiles when she sees me sitting next to Theadora and takes one of the opposite seats.
“You got food already,” Tina asks, tucking her feet underneath her. “Good, saves me ordering.”
“Eat, I brought plenty,” I say, nodding to the food laid out on the table. Theadora nods encouragingly, and Tina does just that, helping herself.
“I saw your sister today,” I say, looking at Theadora. She pauses and looks to Tina, then back to me.
“How was she?”
“Nope. No, you do not care. Her husband beat you up, and she stood there as if you weren’t hurting at all. Fuck Lucy, I say.”
Yep, she’s a good friend, that one. Theadora chose right, Lucy is fucked-up in every way possible.
“She just stood there?” I ask Tina.
Tina nods before replying with, “Yep. That’s one hell of a bitch—”
“I survived, that’s the main thing,” Theadora interrupts before picking up another piece of chicken and placing it in her mouth.
“So, Atlas, tell me your intentions with my girl.” Tina smiles mischievously, then wiggles her brows.
I turn to look to Theadora to see she’s already watching me. “What intentions do you want?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Theadora replies.
“Okay, one step at a time.”
We eat, we laugh, and when I walk Tina out, she threatens me with bodily harm if I upset or hurt Theadora.
I definitely like Tina, and I don’t like many people.
When I walk back to Theadora, I lean down and pick her up. She goes to wrap her arms around my neck, but flinches when she does so.
“I thought you weren’t one of those guys who does this?” she teases as I get to her bedroom and lay her on the bed as carefully as possible.
“It seems I make exceptions for you.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“I will do nothing but break your heart, Theadora. They called me ‘the heartbreak’ for a reason growing up.”
“Heartbreak me, and I will heartbreak you, Atlas Hyde. I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime, and the next time someone hurts me, I won’t sit by idly and just let them.”
“Unless it’s your sister, right?” I get undressed and slide into bed next to her.
She groans at my words. “You’re starting to sound like Tina,” she mumbles.
“Tina is a smart woman.”
“I’ll tell her you said that. I’m sure it will make her head big, though.”
“Tell me where I can touch you,” I ask, whispering in her ear.
She pauses and looks at my hovering hand above her, her soft fingers grip hold and pull it down so it touches her stomach, and then she covers it with her own fingers.
“No higher,” she says.
“And no lower?” I ask.
“Gentle,” she speaks, answering me.
I push myself closer to her, so my front is on her back while my hand skims down her stomach to her panties. Pushing them to the side, my finger touches her folds. A soft moan leaves her lips, and she attempts to move.
“Stay still, or I’ll stop,” I tell her.
Theadora shakes her head, but she listens.
I push a finger in and kiss behind her neck until I get to her ear, biting it. “I like you, Theadora Fitzgerald.” When I kiss around to her jaw, I see her eyes are shut as she answers me, “I like you to, Atlas Hyde.” She whispers like it’s a truth she never wanted out in the open. “But you are still an ass.”
I chuckle at her words and push my finger in hard. She moans as my thumb presses on her clit, circling it slowly. Pressing in and out, I insert another finger, and she moans louder.
I feel her come not long after, when her sweet pussy tightens around my fingers, and she tries hard to stay as still as she can while moans leave her mouth. Pulling my fingers out, I resume where I was next to her.
“Have you thought maybe it’s just about the sex,” she whispers.
“It can’t be,” I tell her honestly. “I have sex with different women, and none make me come back like you do.”
“That isn’t very encouraging, knowing you are fucking other women.”
“None since you.” I watch her breathing stop at my words.
“I’ve had enough hurt to last me a lifetime, Atlas.” I don’t say a word, because that’s not something I can guarantee her. “So, walk away if you think you will break my heart before it’s too late,” she whispers.
But that’s impossible to do.
To walk away from her.
I’ve tried and failed.
Chapter Thirty
Theadora
Atlas goes to work and comes back every night that week, and every time, he brings me food. Tina stops after the second night, knowing he’s doing it, and she smiles as she leaves. They like each other, and I like that they do. Atlas doesn’t like many people, but, for some reason, he seems to like Tina.