Imitate the Dawn by M.A. Grant

Author:M.A. Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2022-07-02T20:33:23+00:00

Chapter Eleven

At some point, Atlas pulled off of him. Cristian groaned, hating the loss of Atlas’s body and the hot clench of his muscles. There was no point sticking around in bed alone, so Cristian tried to rouse himself, mumbling his displeasure with the cruel interruption of such an afterglow. Atlas leaned down to hush him. He kissed the protests from Cristian’s lips, and reminded him, “I’m taking care of you, remember?”

Hard to argue with that logic.

Cristian let the warm, lazy haze of satisfaction and pleasure return. He didn’t allow himself to track Atlas’s comings and goings as the man cleaned them both up. Instead, he smiled and listened to Atlas’s heartbeat slowing back down. He didn’t know how much time had passed when Atlas returned to the bed, but it was long enough for his body to struggle to move when Atlas urged him underneath the covers. Once they were situated, Atlas curled up at his back, one arm wrapped around his waist while his other hand brushed idly through his hair.

“Thank you,” Atlas whispered, kissing the nape of his neck.

“For?” Cristian asked, groggy and well fucked and ready to let the world go to hell if it meant he could fall asleep in Atlas’s arms again.

“For trusting me,” Atlas said. “After everything—”

“Not another word,” Cristian ordered, turning so they were facing each other. He reached up and traced his fingers along Atlas’s hairline, following the curve of his jaw down to those lips, now pressed together in a serious frown. “You are not allowed to ruin this moment.”

Atlas didn’t argue. He closed his eyes instead and turned so he could press a kiss to Cristian’s palm. It was a sweet gesture, but not fast enough to hide the darkness that had crept into his eyes. Cristian hummed and nuzzled against Atlas’s cheek. “What’s wrong? I thought we had a fairly enjoyable, life-affirming moment just now.”

“Bea and I might not have found you,” Atlas said, low and rough. “I could have lost you.”

“And if you weren’t well trained and competent with your knife, I could have lost you to one of those traitors,” Cristian threw back at him, though he tried to keep his words gentle. “We’re both in danger at all times, Atlas. This is what my world is like.”

“I hate it.”

The growled words made Cristian’s skin prickle, as if there were something more underneath them. But isn’t that how Atlas always seemed to him? More? More than he expected, more than he deserved, more than he could ever imagine as being possible in this whole damn world?

“You hate my world, or the constant danger in it?” Cristian asked. He didn’t fear asking the question, not like he once would have. He knew Atlas well enough now to know this anger wasn’t directed at him, but at a different issue.

“I hate you being in danger,” Atlas admitted, confirming Cristian’s suspicions. He gave a deep sigh, one that rattled down through his body. Cristian adjusted again so he could hold Atlas even tighter, reminding him he wasn’t alone.

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