Chapter 2 Nowhere to Escape
Atlas's hand landed on the doorknob, and I immediately panicked.
"Don't."
My hand fell on his wrist.
Under the light, my slender fingers intertwined with Atlas's bronze-colored arm. The visual impact made me extremely embarrassed.
Just as I was about to pull my hand back, Atlas was faster.
He turned his wrist, and my palm fell back into his hand.
His rough fingers rubbed against my palm, his eyes full of teasing. "Don't refuse me. All I want is to hear you say you want me."
"You!"
I bit my lower lip, my eyes glistening with tears. Being toyed with by him again and again, I was about to cry from frustration.
As he saw my embarrassment, the amusement in Atlas's eyes grew stronger.
"Say it. If you don't, I'm opening the door."
Knox was relentless outside the door, while Atlas inside wore a mocking expression, waiting for my answer.
To get revenge, I needed to prepare so many things. I couldn't let Knox suspect anything. Only when he was off guard could I deliver a fatal blow.
Meeting Knox now, I was really afraid I'd give myself away, especially since I was here with his enemy, Atlas, who was half-naked.
If Knox caught us, I couldn't explain this clearly.
I couldn't let Knox catch me in any compromising situation. Compared to Knox outside the door who had killed me, Atlas's small request inside was nothing.
I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, they were clear and determined.
Upon seeing my desperate resolve, the interest in Atlas's long, narrow eyes grew even stronger.
The fingers playing with my palm slowly stopped, and his low, husky voice sounded in my ear.
"If you've made up your mind, then say you want to be with me. Let me hear it. If you don't say it, I'll hand you over to Knox outside right now."
His threatening voice carried a kind of temptation, leaving me no escape.
My heart trembled. Finally, I steeled myself and meowed like a cat. "I... I want to."
Atlas's tall figure pressed closer, his chin resting on top of my head. As he rubbed gently, his muffled voice sounded. "Want what?"
With the door right behind me, I had nowhere to retreat. I could only grit my teeth and blurt out. "I want to be with you!"
After I said this, Atlas looked down, his handsome eyes full of surprise.
After a long moment, he laughed silently, his chest rising and falling with his laughter.
"Sweet kitten, truly a sweet kitten. Now that you've said this, you're mine from now on!"
As he spoke, his fingers pinched my face lightly. "No taking it back."
I was extremely embarrassed. Before I could say anything, Knox's pounding on the door started again outside.
"Helena, are you in there? Come out, come out!"
It seemed Knox was determined to get through this door today. I looked at Atlas somewhat anxiously.
"I'm here, don't be afraid."
As Atlas spoke, he pushed me aside a bit and opened the door while holding my hand.
Outside the door, Knox was like a crazed lion, glaring with bloodshot eyes. The moment he saw Atlas, his fury intensified.
"Atlas, what are you doing here? Where's Helena?"
Behind the door, my heart raced. I tried to pull my hand back, but Atlas gripped it even tighter.
Looking at the frantic Knox, Atlas chuckled. "Interesting. Mr. Pemberton, you're looking for your fiancée and ends up at my room. Those who don't know might think Ms. Lockwood and I are having an affair."
"Atlas, stop talking nonsense!"
The furious Knox shouted. "I saw Helena run this way with my own eyes. I've checked every nearby room one by one. Only your room is left. Move aside, I need to look inside."
Atlas's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Want to come in and look for someone? Sure."
As soon as Atlas said this, my heart leaped into my throat. Along with the anxiety, more of what surged in my heart was a tingling, prickling sensation of excitement.
This feeling of getting revenge on Knox was something I'd never experienced in my twenty-plus years.
But right now, I didn't want to be caught red-handed by him.
I twisted my palm uneasily, trying to give Atlas a hint, but he gripped my hand even tighter.
He lightly scratched my palm, signaling me not to move, while saying. "Mr. Pemberton, but if you go in alone, how boring. How about I call a few journalists to come along?"
Sure enough, his words successfully made Knox stop in his tracks.
But soon Knox's suspicious gaze fell on the small section of slender arm exposed in his palm, clearly a woman's hand.
Knox asked, "You have a woman in your room?"
"That's funny. Is it only okay for you to fool around, but not for me to have fun every night? Mr. Pemberton, you're being a bit too nosy."
As Atlas spoke, he lowered his head and kissed the back of my hand lightly.
The warm sensation almost made me cry out. I quickly covered my mouth with my other hand, not daring to make another sound.
At this moment, Atlas at the door chuckled and said, "How about Mr. Pemberton comes in to observe how I make love to a woman, so you can learn something."
"After learning, you can use it on your Ms. Lockwood, so she won't abandon you because of your poor sexual skills."
"What are you so smug about!"
Just as I was so nervous my palms were sweating, Knox dropped this line and turned to leave.
Twenty-plus years of following rules meant I'd never experienced a situation like today.
After the nervous excitement, my legs went weak and I almost fell.
Atlas quickly caught me and pulled me into his arms.
"So eager already? My little kitten."
As Atlas spoke, a kiss landed lightly on my shoulder. Soon, a light hickey appeared on my delicate shoulder.
Atlas looked up, his expression pausing.
He stroked that patch of light red, dark currents surging in his eyes.
"Delicate!"
Afraid he might do something more outrageous, I pushed hard and shoved him away.
Atlas was caught off guard and pushed back a few steps, but he wasn't angry. He spread his hands and said with a smile. "Are you planning to cross the river and tear down the bridge?"
My face flushed red. I bit my lip hard and said with a straight face. "Thank you for your generous help today, Mr. Lancaster. I will repay you properly in the future."
After I finished speaking, the room instantly fell silent.
A moment later, Atlas's low voice sounded. "But I don't want the future. I only want the present."
The present?
I frowned, not understanding what Atlas meant.
Seeing my confusion, Atlas chuckled. "Don't tell me that in half a month, you're still planning to marry Knox."