95 - Offerings

When Atlas finally came to bed, it was already past two in the morning. Jia had let the twins know she wouldn't be coming home - and although they probably thought she was up to mischief, the reality was that she knew she couldn't leave Atlas alone tonight. Even now, he sat on the side of the bed, slouched over with his elbows on his knees.

She sat up and rested her fingertips on his bare, muscular shoulder. He felt so strong, and yet...

"Sleep," she told him. "You'll know what to do tomorrow."

He reached back and grasped her hand in his before turning around and sliding under the covers beside her. She was ready when he pulled her close and began kissing her neck and working his way down her chest, pulling on her clothes with growing insistence. But instead of yielding, she reached up to cradle his face in her hands and urged him with slight pulls to lift his head and look at her.

"Atlas," she murmured as she stared up at him. "I'm glad you told me."

He stilled, so she kept on.

"If yo