Page 13 of Never Gone

I was going to be sore as hell tomorrow, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything but the man currently inside of me.

Marley

Making my way outonto the small balcony, I pulled the white robe closed as a draft of cool wind whipped around me. Every inch of me hurt but at the same time, I felt at peace. It was like years of pent up frustration and tension had built up since Atlas and I saw each other last and now, when we were finally able to take it out on each other, all was right in the world.

I smiled when a warm body came up behind me.

Atlas brushed the hair off the back of my neck and placed a soft peck just below my ear. “You smell good.”

A shiver trembled through me. “When do you have to leave?” I asked, not wanting to ruin this moment with him but also realizing that this would eventually come to an end. Might as well get used to the fact that he wasn’t sticking around before my heart got broken. Again.

He sighed, pushing away from me and sat in a chair to the left. He patted his lap, his dark eyes meeting mine.

I moved to the spot between his knees, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not going to ask you to stay, Atlas. I’m not that girl anymore. We’re both adults but you also have to know, I can’t wait for you anymore.” I spent seven years doing that, it was time I moved on. Tonight, proved how much I needed to do just that.

He leaned forward, resting his forehead against my chest. “Come to the city with me.”

“What?” I laughed, stepping away from him. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why the fuck can’t I?” He pointed at me. “There’s nothing here for you. Your parents will miss you, I’m sure, but I also know that they would understand.”

“I have my business, Atlas. I told you that I opened my bookstore finally. Besides, you can’t sit there and tell me that after all of this time, you’re wanting to pick things back up again? What we had was a long time ago. And you only came back here because your grandfather died. You never contacted me before now.” I lifted my hand when he went to speak. “I know you were finding yourself and making yourself be a better man, but you can’t expect me to believe that you waited all this time for me.”

“A year. I told you that it’s been a year since I’ve had sex. Probably even longer. And no, I’m not going to sit here and deny the fact that I haven’t had sex with other women. I’m human. Just like I know you’ve had sex with other men, Marley.”

I looked away, guilt resonating on my shoulders even though he didn’t deserve it.

“Hey.” Atlas came toward me, cupping my face and turned my head to meet his stare. “I’m not mad that you’ve had other men besides me. I’m not like that and I could never expect that of you. Do I wish I was the only one you felt inside of you? Sure. Yes, I won’t lie and say different but that’s not reasonable of me.” He tilted my head back. “I’m not asking for marriage or anything. I just want you to come to the city and try it out with me. You will always have a home here if it doesn’t work out. But…” He gave me a cocky grin. “I have a feeling that won’t happen.”

“I can’t. This is my home. I have my store. I’m not you. I never needed to leave.”

“I left because of my father.”

I snorted. “Sure, Atlas. He may have been the main reason, but I know you weren’t happy here either. You kept going on about how you were going to go to university across the damn country. Remember when you said that? Remember when you told me that you were going to leave but I didn’t believe you…I…I…”

“Marley.” Atlas leaned his forehead against mine, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for hurting you and for not contacting you. But I’m not sorry for loving you.”

My breath hitched. “I can’t do this. I can’t be with you and worry that you’re going to leave again.”

“That won’t happen.” He leaned back, brushing his thumbs across my cheeks to wipe the tears away. “Not after everything. I should have come back sooner. I know I should have but…”

“You were trying to become a hot shot lawyer.” I pushed away from him, rubbing the back of my neck. “I should go.”

“Marley, please.”

I lifted my hand when he took a step toward me. “I need time to think. You will give me time. You will go to your grandfather’s funeral. I will also go out of support for you. But other than that, I don’t want to talk about this again until I’ve had a few days.” My mind was racing with all of the possibilities that Atlas just threw at me. I needed time. And I needed another fucking drink.

***

(Atlas)

I didn’t want her to leave. Hell, I didn’t even want to go to my grandfather’s funeral. I just wanted to take Marley away, head back to the city and prove to her how serious I was. But she was right. She had her store. How could I ever expect her to leave when she finally had the business she wanted since we were kids?

As I sat in the chair in the corner of the motel room, I watched Marley flutter around. She grabbed her clothes, got dressed and gathered up the rest of her things. My gaze flicked to the messy bed, my body stirring at what we had done. And the many times we had done it. I was surprised that she was able to move around so quickly. My muscles ached like I had just run a marathon.

But even though they hurt, they hurt so damn good. It was a pain that I never wanted to go away. No matter how much time had passed between Marley and I, I knew she was it for me. I just had to show her how right we were together and how serious I was.

Marley

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