In the Gray

by B.B. Reid

I finally allowed myself to meet his gaze, letting him see my sincerity as I said, “I’m sorry.” Freeing my hands from the ice packs, he stared at them for a long moment, some indecision in his eyes that melted away a second before his head lowered, and he kissed my cold fingers. Warmth pooled in my belly and pussy as I gaped at him. “Me too,” he whispered. He carefully tucked my trembling hands back under the ice before meeting my gaze.

“I never fucked Tuesday, you fucking crybaby. Come here.”

Rowdy whirled around, grabbed a fist full of my faux locs in a punishing grip and kissed me.

For the first time. In front of prying eyes and enemies.

“If you don’t want me to follow you into fire, then don’t run into fire.”

Above all else, guard your heart,” I recited to Rowdy’s bent head. I could have sworn he stiffened as if he knew what I’d say next. “For everything you do flows from it.”

“You demand things from me I’m not ready to give, but you’re so good at making me want them too—so much sometimes that nothing else matters. But then…then you make me feel like a fool for feeling that way, and I’m lost all over again. I know what I said before, but I lied, Owen. I don’t think I can give you my body without giving you my heart too.” Rowdy was still as if bracing himself for what I would say next. “But you said it yourself. You’re not interested

in that part of me, and I couldn’t trust you with it even if you were.”

“Let me know if you have any more trouble,” I told her quietly. And then, not so subtly, I squeezed her ass, earning a glare from her. “It doesn’t matter how small; I want you to come and get me. It doesn’t even need to be

work-related. Anything you need, and Daddy will make it happen. And Atlas?” I gripped her chin when her

stubborn ass looked away....

“I’d miss you,” he told me. “And if you left, I’d follow you. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than on your bumper, Dream.”

From the moment she’d tried to kill me in a jealous rage three nights ago, I decided I was ready for a girlfriend, and I wanted that girl to be Dream.

“Then what’s the problem, Dream? Are we not both consenting adults? You don’t need to make excuses for wanting this dick. Fuck what anyone else thinks. I want you just as bad—if not more—and unlike you, I’ve made that more than clear from jump.”

“What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained. After the way you just put that pussy on me, I don’t want to fuck anyone else. Believe that shit.”

“Take your motherfucking ass upstairs before I lose my motherfucking composure.” I inhaled, and right before I let the air go, I knew what my answer would be. “No.”

“I know you’ve been through some shit, so it might take you a while to believe me, but your back is my back, Atlas, and I’ll always have it.”

“Don’t do this for me, Dream. I’m too far gone. Nothing you do will make me less obsessed with you.”

“I want to give you shelter and be your peace. I want to take care of you, Dream. I want to be yours. I won’t ask if you like me too because I don’t waste time with stupid questions. Instead, I’ll only ask one.” I held my breath and waited even though I already knew what his question—and what my answer—would be. “Can I be your boyfriend, Atlas Ilana Beck?”

I love them!

“Fucking say it, Dream. Say yes. Make me yours.”

…….

“No,” I cried and shook my head. “It’s not true. Why are you doing this, Owen? You said you loved me.” “I do love you, baby. I promise that hasn’t changed. Why do you think I pushed you away?”

“You didn’t give up on me even when reason told you,” I whispered while staring at our reflections in the mirror, “so I’m not giving up on you. Come back to me.”

“Let that shit go, baby. There’s no one else here but me. I got you. Where am I standing?”

“Because you weren’t meant to find them, Dream. You were meant to find me.”

Period!!

“In the case of twenty-year-old Atlas Beck, Owen Wray…you are not the father!”

Whew!!! Thank you!!😍

“You two want to get a room, or can I have my fucking girl back, bruh?”