Atlas didn’t want to let Lilliane go, but they could hardly eat dinner with her straddling him on his chair. Reluctantly, she stood and sat back in the seat next to him. He adjusted his erection as it strained against his jeans. Lilliane had to feel it against her thigh as she made him look into her eyes.
He was still dizzy from it. How was he supposed to keep himself under control when she did shit like that?
Look into my eyes.
It was insane, but it had worked. Somehow, as he took in her features, his wolf stomped his feet in his head, and he knew. He justknew. Lilliane felt safe with him, and she had no desire to leave.
He couldn’t even add ayetat the end of that thought because his wolf wouldn’t let him.
Lilliane really believed she wouldn’t bolt from him as soon as this was all over. Even his wolf believed her. Shouldn’t he? Was having some doubts normal? Didn’t it go against everything a mate bond should be?
Truth was the mate bond didn’t stop people from having doubts and feeling trapped in small towns. It wasn’t a guarantee like it should be.
And Lilliane had a history of bolting.
They ate quietly for a little bit, but soon enough, Lilliane chatted with him, telling him everything she’d learned from him during the day while she snooped. “Do you have a problem with dryer sheets, by the way?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“I did a load of laundry, but I couldn’t find dryer sheets. Where do you keep them?”
Atlas shook his head. “I don’t use dryer sheets.”
She gasped. “What? Do youlikescratchy sheets and towels? Dryer sheets are a must. I figured you were a bit of a wild wolf man who wouldn’t have any.” She grinned and pushed a slip of paper toward him.
He looked it over. “Fancy guest soap? Display towels?Throw cushions? What is this?”
“I made of list of stuff we need in here,” she answered. “It’s the basic essentials.”
He snorted a laugh. “Is it? I worry what the full list would be.”
“Oh, I’ll need a few more days to draft the full list.” She poked his leg with her toes under the table. “I’m kidding about the full list. You have a really nice place. It just needs a woman’s touch.”
Atlas stood and kissed the top of her head. “Whatever you want, trouble. I’ll get everything tomorrow on my way home.”
“Thanks. It was mostly a joke, though.”
“Nope.” He folded the list and put it in his pocket. “I’m on top of this.”
“I could get used to this,” she sighed, licking syrup from her fingers. “You know there’s a rule about who does the dishes. The one who did the cooking sits around while the other cleans.”
Atlas chuckled. “Is that so?”
“Yup,” she nodded. “I don’t make the rules.”
“I’ll callTails & Syrup. Let the cook know I’m on my way to do the dishes.”
She threw a balled-up napkin at him. “Ha. Very funny. You told me not to cook, so I had to improvise.” She stood and gathered the plates from the dining room on her way to the kitchen. She was bent over the dishwasher, loading the dishes, when he joined her.
He couldn’t help himself. He leaned against the counter and watched the curve of her ass looking delicious in a pair of blue leggings. “I thought I was supposed to be doing this,” he teased.
She waved him off. “I was just busting your balls. You’ve spent the day doing stuff for me. I obviously wouldn’t make you clean up.”
He nudged her out of the way and continued loading plates and cutlery. Apparently, Lilliane had used every single dish in the house to serve their takeaway meal. It was endearing. Sweet. It was straight-up sweet, and that was dangerous. He could get used to this. He could get used to coming home to Lilliane, sharing dinner with her before cuddling on the couch.
“Are you gonna tell me what you’re planning with Nero and Reece?”
He shook his head. “No. Not just yet.”
