Atlas’s hands were in my hair, and he pressed his lips to my forehead. “You won’t be lost forever, Wren.”
That feeling in my chest bloomed, the petals of hope unfurling within me. “But how do you know if the girl I find is someone you’d even want, Atlas?” I couldn’t have him kissing me, touching me, being with me, if he didn’t really want me. That wasn’t something I was capable of right now. I couldn’t do this if he wasn’t into it.
But Atlas smiled, a full, broad smile. “Wren, I want you now, just as you are, and I will want you when you find every missing piece of yourself and put them back together again. I will want you when you are lost or scared or broken or whole, because I realized something today.” His hands gripped the back of my neck. “When I thought something had happened to you when you fell from that ledge, it became undeniably clear that you mean more to me than I ever expected. You are more than a friend. So don’t ever think for a moment that you aren’t wanted or that no one cares for you. Because I do, Wren.”
There were no words to describe the feelings he stoked within me. There wasn’t anything to say so I simply leaned in, my hand touching his face, palm running over the rough stubble on his jaw before I let my lips collide with his again. This time I didn’t stop.
I didn’t think I would ever get tired of kissing him. Every fiber of my being lit up as my body vibrated. I clung to him, breathing in his breaths and running my hands through his thick, silky hair.
The kiss grew wilder, more desperate as everything that had happened, everything I’d confessed and everything he’d said in return ran through my mind. He’d said he’d wanted me…said he thought I was extraordinary. And though I knew there were still secrets I kept near, I wanted to believe what he said. I wanted to believe I could be happy again. Free. Thriving.
With Atlas.
I’m not sure when it started, but I felt wetness on my cheeks. Atlas pulled back, his thumbs swiping away the tears that had suddenly made a reappearance. I didn’t want to stop kissing him, but he held me inches away from his face. It felt too far away.
“I think,” he said, his voice rough between labored breaths. “I think you need some rest.”
I frowned and shook my head. “No, I’m okay. We don’t have to stop.”
His face pinched, almost looking pained. “Trust me, the last thing I want to do is stop what we’re doing here.” He paused. “But I want to do things right. And if I don’t stop kissing you right now, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop. After everything that happened today, the best thing we can do is take a moment to rest.” He tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear, his thumb rubbing idle circles along my cheekbone.
I sighed. Even though he was probably right, I still didn’t want to stop. But my eyes were sore and tired, and I’d be lying if I said sleep didn’t sound good too. “I don’t want you to leave.”
His lip quirked up. “I don’t have to leave, not yet at least. I can hold you till you fall asleep.”
“Promise?” I stifled a yawn. I turned over, tucking an arm underneath the pillow as Atlas wrapped his around my middle and pulled me close.
He kissed the top of my head and whispered in my ear, “I promise.”