Page 74 of Dirty Temptation

My mouth parts.

The audacity.

“Don’t you dare turn this around.” I whisper yell because it feels grittier than talking softly to keep this argument private.

He does have a point though. I haven’t told him about Greg. Neither of us have talked about whether we are single, we just dove into bed.

It was only meant to be a one-night stand.

Then we did it a few more times.

Atlas uncrosses his arms and plants them on his hips. “Admit it, Molly. You’ve been looking for an excuse to not like me since we met.”

“Says the man who regretted touching me.” I shake my head and turn away.

Sadness floods me.

Why can’t he just tell me that he’s single and Harlow is no one important. God, for all I know he’s going to marry her.

Why aren’t you saying the same thing about Greg?

Because he’s a safety net.

Behind me Atlas is silent, and I’m not sure if he’s about to leave or stay to argue more. I feel myself deflate in relief when I feel his hands on my shoulders.

Before I can dissect what that means, I turn and press my face into his chest as tears leak onto his shirt.

Atlas wraps me in his arms. “Forget everyone else. Just be here with me.”

I close my eyes.

I want to trust him.

And I realize that I want to be the woman in this man’s life. I don’twantto want him, but I do. I’m falling for this sexy and beautiful man and apparently there’s not a lot I can do about it.

I know Atlas wants me, and all this talk just sounds like I’m a challenge.

I am not a prize.

I want to be loved and cherished. I want someone who is committed and loyal.

God I’m scared.

But I can’t seem to tell him to leave.

Before I start on the self-loathing, I take a second to reflect on what happened between Greg and me back in England.

I agreed to go out for dinner with him. We ended up going out on three dates. All of them were wonderful. But as I felt him push me to open up and get intimate, my anxiety flared.

We kissed and I let him touch me. The passion was there but nothing compared to the inferno I feel with Atlas.

Then again, don’t they say lust burns away but the slow and steady type is forever?

Greg is the man you marry.

Atlas is the man you have a fling with.

Right?

---