Gratify

by Katelyn Taylor

Gratify grat·​i·​fy (verb) 1: to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to someone/yourself.

All it took was one look at me in Thomas Randall’s jersey to have Theo snarling. He stormed up to me and demanded that I take it off.

“I’m sorry, girl. I didn’t know. For what it’s worth, this was the first time, but he’s been chasing after me all year.”

Before I can stop myself, I feel my mouth moving slowly against his smooth neck as I speak. “It doesn’t hurt as much when you’re around.”

This is a bad idea. I should move, go to bed. At least stop hugging him. Instead of doing any of that though, I lean closer and gently press my lips against his.

I know I shouldn’t be kissing him. This is wrong and taboo in every sense. Something has taken over me, though, and I can’t stop.

“Kiss me, Atlas. Kiss me like you should have last night.” I watch his forearm flex as he lets out a ragged breath. “It’s not right,” he says as he breaks our eye contact, not moving an inch otherwise. “It feels right, though. You feel it too, don’t you?”

“I’m just asking for one kiss. I want to know what it’s like to have you want to kiss me. To run your tongue against mine, to devour me like I’m—” I’m silenced with the brutal force of Atlas’s lips against mine. The kiss is more crushing and violent then I would have anticipated.

“You will never wear another man’s clothes again, is that understood?” I nod quickly. I would promise anything right now to feel his lips on my skin again.

“You. Let. Him. Kiss. You,” he grits between clenched teeth as he places his palms against the wall on either side of my head.

“I’m trying so fucking hard. I’m trying to be a good man, a good father, a good friend, a good godfather,” Atlas strains, his resolve visibly weakening by the second. “Stop trying,” I breathe softly, watching as his eyes flick over my face rapidly. In the next breath, his lips are on mine.

“You better hold on tight, Little Nevaeh. I’m about to fuck this obsession right out of the both of us.”

“When we are behind this closed door, Nevaeh, you are mine. I’ll do whatever I want to this beautiful body, understand?”

“Words, babygirl. I need to hear those pretty pouty lips tell me what I want to hear.” “In here, I’m yours. Do whatever you want, anything. Just touch me,”

“Your pleasure gives me pleasure, Nevaeh. Watching you fall apart is the sweetest sight I’ve ever been gifted. I want to see it again and again and again,”

“Give me one more, Nevaeh.” His hand moves over to my clit, fingers rubbing tight quick circles over it that to my surprise, sends a zing of pleasure running up my spine. “God,” I breathe out as my head rests against his chest. “Not God, baby, Atlas. A fucking Titan.”

“Close the door,” he rumbles lowly, not bothering to look up from the spot that he is staring at on the floor. I do as he says and stand there in silence, gearing up for a fight when he says something that catches me completely off guard. “Crawl to me.” What? “Excuse me?” I balk.

Believe me when I say I do not have the control or patience for your attitude Andromeda Nevaeh. Now get on your hands and knees and fucking crawl to me.”

“Put your hair up like a good girl and open your mouth.”

“Fuck, yes. Just like that. Such a good girl. Sucking my cock like you were made for it.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been an asshole. I know that. I don’t know what’s happening to me, to us. One moment, I’m fine and the next I see you kissing another man and anger like I’ve never felt takes over me. I want to slaughter any man who has ever touched you, Nevaeh. Do you get how dangerous that is? How dangerous I am to you?”

“Don’t ever speak about my son or any other man on his knees for you ever again. You. Are. Fucking. Mine!”

“My entire life I’ve thought of everyone before myself. Done everything I could for everyone else. I’ve sacrificed a lot for those around me and I have no regrets, but I’m done, Nevaeh. I’m gonna be selfish and reckless for the first time in my goddamn life. I’m taking something for me and that something is you.”

“I mean it. You’ve officially broken me. Congratulations. I hope you’re prepared for what’s next because there’s no going back now.” My heart flips at his words as I nod. “Please,” I say softly.

“Don’t you know that I’m the only one that can give you pleasure? When I’m done with you, even your own touch won’t be enough. Catch your breath, Nevaeh. I’m about to fucking ruin this pussy.”

“Thinking about another man just breathing the same air as you makes me murderous. If another man touched you, I would slaughter him and fuck you in his blood.”

“Yeah, you’re needy for your godfather’s cock. Can’t get enough, can you babygirl?” “I love my godfather’s cock inside me,” I agree as my hands brace against the glass. “Fuck. That shouldn’t be as hot as it is,” he says as he takes the hand not strumming against my clit and slaps the side of my ass.

“It was half a second too long. You are mine, Andromeda. Mine to care for, mine to protect, mine to fuck and mine to touch. I’ll burn the fucking world down before I let another man lay a finger on what’s mine.”

“I’ve never been in love before. Not a love like your parents had…but I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, Nevaeh.”

We’ve said we loved each other all our lives, obviously. Since we went down this road though, neither of us has said it. The lines were too blurred. There was already love there, but a different kind. Not this kind.

“I love you, Atlas. Irrevocably.”

“It’s too late, though. I can’t stop being selfish, I can’t stop myself from having you. You’re not just under my skin, you’re in my veins. You’re the air that I need to breathe. I should have never touched you, should have never wanted you. But I did, and I do. I regret wanting you, but I don’t regret taking you.”

“Of course I do. Seeing your belly round with my baby, knowing a piece of you and me together exists in this world.” I shudder at the temptation of the ideas as I shake my head. “You better change the subject before I pitch your birth control in the garbage and knock you up right here and now."

“I don’t think you understand, Neveah. I don’t just love you. I’m obsessed with you. I’m addicted to you, and I never want to go to rehab.” “Please don’t. Need me, love me,” she begs as she squirms against me.

Fuck. I can’t even believe it. I’m getting married. To Andromeda. Definitely never saw this coming. We had only been back together for two months before I got down on one knee.

A charm with the Andromeda galaxy and the Atlas constellation interwoven, just like they were always meant to be. Or at least in my opinion.

I can’t believe it, this goddess, this angel, is all for me. It’s the greatest gratification I’ve ever felt in my life.