The Girl Who Always Wins (Soulless 13)

“Guess I didn’t update my calendar because I had no idea it was 1803.”

He gave a smirk as he walked into the kitchen and pulled out everything he would make for dinner. “Come on, it’s not like that.”

“Just on principle, I don’t like it. It’s archaic.”

“But it would mean a lot to him, and knowing he accepts me into his family means a lot to me too.”

“He already does accept you.”

“Not in the same way. And it’s not a male thing. I’d ask your mom too.”

“Still…”

He washed the veggies then started cooking, working a couple pans at once.

I hopped on the counter and watched him. “So, I’m surprised you didn’t mention Mason.”

“Because I forgot about him the moment he left.” He uncorked a bottle of wine and handed me a glass, even though he was the one slaving away in the kitchen while I just watched.

It was as if Mason had never happened, as if he didn’t show up at my office, which would piss off anyone more than it seemed to piss Atlas off.

He changed the subject. “So, when are you moving in?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have much to move.”

“Then how about this weekend? We can get a couple boxes and rent a U-Haul.”

“Sounds good to me.” My dad’s suggestion came into my head, that Atlas should know what we were working on before we actually started that process. I didn’t want to provoke Atlas with the topic because I knew he’d be upset about it, and after telling me about his family and then Mason showing up today…I just wanted to be happy.

So, I decided not to say anything.

We had a routine after dinner.

I did the dishes, and then we worked on paperwork in front of the TV. We both always had stuff to do, so it was nice to be in a relationship where I didn’t have to worry about neglecting the other person.

The guy was busier than I was.

When we went to bed, I washed my face and used his toothbrush.

He never once complained about it.

Whether I wore makeup or I washed it off, his desire was exactly the same, his dick rock hard and throbbing inside me.

My life was pretty perfect.

I sat beside him on the couch, my mind too fatigued to continue my focus. I shut my laptop and called it a night. “What are you looking forward to the most? About me moving in?”

He finished reading the sentence on the screen of his laptop before he looked at me. “The fact that you’ll have your own toothbrush.”

I couldn’t control the grin that came on to my face. I couldn’t control the smack I gave to his arm either.

He chuckled at the hit.

“I thought you didn’t care.”

“I don’t care. But now I don’t have to wait around until you’re finished to brush my teeth.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

“What are you looking forward to?”

“Oh, that’s easy.”

“The home-cooked meals.”

“No…but it’s definitely a close second.”

“Then what?” he asked. “Watching me in the shower?”

“Very nice,” I said. “But getting dick every night—that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

He wore a slight smirk as he returned his laptop and papers to his bag. “You’re a simple person. All you care about is food and sex.”

“And watching you in the shower.”

“Very easy woman to please.”

“Oh, I’m definitely not easy. But you make it easy.” I organized my things and put them in my bag too.

He finished off the rest of his beer and left the empty bottle on the table.

Was it too soon to move in with him? Probably. But it sure didn’t feel that way. I looked forward to doing this every night for the rest of my life. It was like being with a best friend, not just the best sex I’d ever had. I could literally tell him anything, and he’d understand. I guess my dad had been right the whole time…that I needed a man like Atlas. “So…I have this idea I wanted to run by you.”

He settled back into the couch, one arm over the back, his head turned to look at me. He was in his black sweatpants without a shirt, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. “Shoot.”

“Well…I know this is kind of weird…but I want you to hear me out.”

An invisible wall rose in front of his body, the mood around him different.

“Doctors are wrong about reproduction all the time, and Dad and I agreed that we would bring in Dex and basically form a team—”

“Is this a joke?” Ice. That was what his voice sounded like.

“I asked you to hear me out.”

“I’m hearing you—and I’m not liking it.”

“My dad knows two really great specialists, one for reproduction and another for your blood disorder. Dad said we can use one of his free labs, and we can—”

“Oh Jesus.” He immediately leaned forward and pressed his face into his palms, his entire body tight with anger.