We spend the minutes in silence. We might be at odds with our situation but I did enjoy the time I spend with Atlas just like this. The comfortable silence spoke volumes itself. Like how I feel contented and safe right at this instant.
"I'm sorry if my pack was rude to you today. I don't know what came over them. They're not usually like this, well, this worse." Atlas break the silence first so I turn my face to him. I caught his eye. He has been staring at me the whole time. It made me giddy knowing that he find me interesting enough to look at.
"It's really fine. Don't sweat it. I want to ask something though. May I?" shrugging the depressing topic of, I think about another one. I can handle those kind of personal question, doesn't mean it it doesn't bother me but I can tolerate it.
"Go ahead," he lazily stretch his long legs as he settled more on the poor bean bag. I placed my left palm under my cheek to be able to gaze at him better.
"Are you acknowledging the breaking of the bond?" Atlas's relax posture stiffened the moment the question was out of my mouth. I don't blame him. It's their pack business and I am not particularly part of the pack. The change in his mood is noticeable. You can see the walls around him going up as high as the sky.
The frown on his forehead became prominent and his face darkened as he looks at me. I met his stare head on. I want to know the answer. If he's acknowledging the breaking of the bond then why the hell is he dragging the Assent to my rejection? I sure as hell won't make my intended mate suffer more than the pain he's already in. I do not particularly enjoy this waiting game. It's taxing, both mind and soul.
"I do acknowledge it," he did not explain further but I'm not letting him get away. It gets colder as the night wears on. I pulled my knitted coat down my uncovered feet and hug one of the pillows. My sling nestled comfortably on my stomach.
"Then what's up with my rejection? Do you know the longer you drag it, the more I'm starting to get my hopes up?" Atlas looks away. Dang, if that didn't hurt. It's his subtle way of saying that there's no need for my hope to act up. Then and there, my hopes crashed.
"There's nothing worse than knowing you're going to be rejected, for certain, and left hanging in a limbo," I muttered under my breath. He heard it, nonetheless.
"I'm afraid I can't give you an answer that would satisfy you. I've acknowledge it with respect to the packs wishes. That's all I can say about this matter," the dismissive tone made me flinch. He is right, but I can't help asking him about it when I'm one of the affected party. It's his right to not disclose about it, though.
"You sound like legal rep," laughing drily, I stared at his wavy midnight locks. The fairy lights made them shine. It pleases my eyes the way they sparkle under the light. His eyes also looks ethereal when the light reflected on them. "Can I ask you another question?" the discomfort on his face almost made me double-take. It seems like I've got the knack of making him uncomfortable. Heck, my existence made him uncomfortable.
"Yeah," the answer was clearly forced but to hell with it.
"Why is Luke a little nervous around Nana?" Actually, it's not the question that I want to ask but as long as our conversation keeps going, I got to do it. He looks at me suspicious, like I'm about to plan something devious against his lover. When he kept looking at me like that it makes wanna strike back. This man needs to get his snobbishness taken down a notch. I'm not crazy enough to attack Luke.
"Who's the top?" I beam at him teasingly and boy if the man did not get color on his cheeks. I scoff at his reaction. He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. It would be a shock if Luke was the top. I was slowly drifting deep in my thoughts when he spoke up.
"I am," Atlas cleared his throat again and it took me a few seconds to comprehend and process. After what he said sink in, I burst out into fits of uninhibited laughter. Atlas gaze at me in amusement. Wiping my eyes, I look at Atlas and burst out into another hysterics again. I forgot my earlier question entirely.
"Stop it," he said with a small smile forming his lips. The tender smile made him look years younger.
"Oh my goddess, I thought you're not gonna answer it," I snigger, trying my hardest to stop since its staring to hurt, the good kind of hurt. Peeking on Atlas's face, my senses went on full alert. I sat and raise my hands up pursing my lips in an attempt to stop the laughter. My eyes widened when he give me a predatory look. Like, he's going to stomp on my carcass if I wouldn't seize laughing at his splendid ass right at this moment.
"Alright, I'm stopping now!" I'm sure I look ridiculous but who cares. Atlas draw nearer, dragging his bean bag with him. He also looks absurd doing it while sitting so I ended up in peals of laughter again, curling on the chair in mirth. It's a good thing that my shoulders didn't hurt that much anymore.
"I'm warning you," It's clear that he find it funny too since there's also mirth in his voice. I wasn't having it. He grabbed my sides and did the most unthinkable. Tingles exploded on my skin as his strong fingers tickled my sides. Other's would have laugh their head off but I'm not that ticklish.
My giggles died, he looked at me confused, "It's not working?" Atlas's determine face, move his fingers again but to no avail. I'm deadass staring at him with how ridiculous the action turns out.
"You look silly," I sincerely say and his face reddened in embarrassment. Atlas slowly reach for my feet and tickled my soles with a question mark on his face. "Nope." I replied with a resounding 'p'.
"You're a stone in a human form," he commented, embarrassed and slightly pouty. I smile so big that the side of my mouth hurts. Atlas leaned on the side of the chair abandoning the bean bag as he sat on the cold floor, laughing at his own silliness. I'm so soft for him. I made him laugh.
A comfortable silence ensued.
I scot closer to him. If I lift my hand just a little, I could run my hand through his soft hair. The strong was so urge that I just found myself doing the exact thing. Atlas surprise the heck out of me by leaning to my touch. A content groan, and he lean a little more. Goddess, I'm so happy.
"Your hair's nice too," I complimented him the same way he did to my hair back then. This moment takes all the mishaps that happened today. Atlas turns his head to me and grins. His white perfect teeth shines under the light. I was a little taken aback at how close our faces had become.
"You want to try the shampoo and conditioner I'm using?" he smirks my way. Thick right brow arch in a meaningful manner. Why does he make it sound like he's got better hair than me. I arched my brown in return and tug his hair a bit." He grins.
"No, thank you. I like my own regiment just fine," I tried my best to sound haughty. My hand glides smoothly through his hair as the snow slowly fall outside the gazebo.
"Don't you want grow your hair?" I just thought of it and I imagine he could rock the long hair.My hand is getting tired form stroking his hair, but I did not even think of stopping. This is a rare chance after all.
Atlas's hummed, "I had a long hair back in university, just above my shoulder. It was a hassle when training back then. I never look back,"
My hand halt its movement. Atlas grasp my hand and place it back on his hair. "Don't stop, it's too nice," My cheeks reddened, shy to know that he doesn't despise my touch. I start combing through his hair again.
"Do you have a picture?" I'm curious on how he looks with his hair long. I saw him hesitate before he completely lay his head on the soft cushion of the cradle chair, looking at the ceiling of the gazebo. "I would like to see it. I'm sure you rock the look," I added.
"I don't like taking pictures so I'm not really sure if I have one," he stated still looking up. My pout was so pitiful that he must have sense it and look at me. The bond must have tap him. He
"Aw that's too bad," I flutter my eyes at him along with my pouted lips. He chuckled. He unconsciously pokes my left cheek and dang if it didn't make me blush.
"Now you look silly," Another chuckle came from him as he return to staring at the ceiling while I tend to my heating cheeks. I pick the other pillow and cover my embarrass self.
"I'll try to check if I have pictures hidden somewhere," he assured me and my cheeks continues to heat up. I buried my face deeper into the pillow. I felt someone tugging at it. I sneak a peek and saw Atlas looking at me.
"You'll suffocate doing that," and the nerve of the stupid man to sexily grin at me. His eyes twinkling better than the falling snow. My heart gallops faster for a while now.
"Shut up," I choked. He keeps grinning at me as if he find something funny with me being embarrassed. He looms closer, that my heart race like there's no tomorrow. It's too dangerous for my poor heart when his face inch closer to mine. My lips gape at his face when I can't form a coherent thought. I shut my eyes in final defense when he's a hair's breadth away.
"Why are you closing your eyes? You think I'm going to kiss you?" there's amusement in his voice. I can feel his breath on my face and the embarrassment I felt was too much. He's such a tease!
I shot up from my lying position and that did it. I scot deeper into the chair. My face steaming as Atlas looks at me shocked. His shocked must have reflected on my face since his cheeks colored in a slight tinge of red. I covered my tingling lips.
"I'm so sorry, it was an accident!" my shuddering exclaim as my wide eyes stared at him. He looks away. It must've felt dirty and weird for him. Goddess, why did I have to move recklessly. I smack my head in my mind.
"It was an accident I swear. I don't want to kiss you at all. I mean, yeah but it's an accident. Shit, no, I mean you got so close and I got skittish. Oh god, I'm sure it made you feel terrible. I'm sorry!" my head were fill with sudden random thoughts, and I was clearly spouting nonsense. I covered my face with the pillow once again.
"It was fine," and I heard him chuckle. I peek at him and met his glittering eyes, "It's no so bad," he even winks at me and I was a goner. I hide behind the pillow and scream silently. I appreciate him making light of the accidental kiss, but I'm still embarrassed. His lips were soft, anyway.
"Atlas? Mavis? What are you two doing here?" that suspicious voice snap me back from my euphoria.