Chapter 40: Treasure

It was pleasant than I thought. Enjoying the well-cooked, tasty steak with Atlas while carrying a light, an interesting conversation was truly great.

He showered really quick and was back in a jiffy. We used the same vanilla-scented body wash, but it smelled way intoxicating on him. I tried to be discreetly sniffing the air and swooned.

"Is this a fetish of yours? Staring at someone? Sniffing them?" Atlas genuinely asked, eating a piece of the steak. I tightened my hold on my knife as I tried to control my cheeks from heating. Turns out I'm not good at being discreet.

My knife scrapes the plate hard. The sound produced by the action was lethal to our sensitive ears. I originally wanted to irritate Atlas with it, but I ended up a victim, too.

Atlas tapped my hand currently holding the knife. "Don't do that," he grimaced, shaking his head to take the sound off of his ears.

"Sure, if you stop asking weird questions," I careened at him. I ate some of the pasta clumsily. I'm using my left hand, after all. I'm proud that I could use it efficiently now, a little clumsy but tolerable.

He looks offended. "They're genuine questions, though," he miffed, pouting his kissable lips. I smacked myself on the face. The knife clattered on the plate. Why am I looking at things I shouldn't?

"That one too. You have a habit of hitting yourself for no reason at all," The ridiculousness of my action baffled Atlas to some extent. I chuckled.

"It's really nothing. It's out of habit" I smiled, picking up the knife again. I was about to cut another piece of the delicious steak when Atlas pulled my plate in his direction and started cutting them into bite sizes. The action warms my insides.

"Thank you," A twinkling smile was all I could give

At the end of the dinner, Atlas was still the one washing the used plates. It's a good life to live. I opted to watch some movies to pass the time. With Atlas in my home, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to sleep early. Who would be if your mate's in your house, staying the night?

I chose to watch some action movie and leaned back on my couch. From my peripheral, I saw Atlas go into my room. I was engrossed with the movie this time when he sat beside me.

A poke on my cheeks, "Is this yours? Can I have this?" I turned to Atlas. A bracelet was dangling in front of my eyes. It was the bracelet I bought back in Helen's antique shop. The bloodstones shimmer as the light from the movie reflected on them.

"You like it? I bought it in an antique shop," I muttered. Atlas tried wearing the bracelet, and I was right back then. It fits him right. I originally bought it for him. I'd just never had the chance to give it to him.

"If it's from you, I'll like it," he sincerely uttered and raised his wrist against the light. The stones glinted back at him. It was a good thing that I switched the main lights off and left the lampshade on my side table plugged on. He wouldn't see how my cheeks were tinted with red, burning.

I cleared my throat, "You can have it," I quickly said to him as I focused my gaze back at the TV screen. Atlas hummed in response.

"Thanks," he grinned and placed his head on my shoulder. I have frozen up. He's not only getting fresh. He is getting familiar too.

"Atlas, your head's heavy," I lightly complained.

"Right? It's inconvenient," He snuggled on my side but kept his head on my shoulder. What is happening?

My mind was like in a whirlpool, right now. This is too much for my senses. It's an overdrive. From his smell to the wild tingles dancing like crazy and the bond vibrating, it was too much.

"They said these things were romantic," Atlas added as he looked up at my face. I pursed my lips in nervousness. He's too close. If I looked back at him, our faces would be a hairsbreadth away. I shut my eyes closed to muster all my will into not taking advantage of the man beside me.

A gentle blow, "What?" I leaned my head away when Atlas blew some air into my ear. It tickled as hell. The result of my action caught Atlas off guard. His head fell right into my lap.

I panicked.

I tried pushing his head off of my lap, but the idiot caught my hand. "Stay still please, this is comfy" He smiles, looking up at me. I might look gross from this angle. "You're pretty sly, Mavis," he smirked about my earlier movement.

"Shut that mouth, Atlas, or else," My eyes narrowed as I gazed down on him. The man didn't even let me off and continued smirking at me. He's teasing me so much.

"Or else what?" he simpered. The side of his eyes crinkled in amusement at my expense. "You gonna take advantage of me?" he pouted and hugged himself like a damsel in distress.

I flicked his pouted lips. He shrieked in pain. 'Serves him right,' I thought, smirking down at him. "That's what," I beamed in triumph. Atlas stretches his long legs over the arm of the couch. His feet were dangling over it.

"It's fine at least I know your ear is ticklish," he turned to the screen. The movie is currently at its climax, but my mind was no longer watching it. My head was preoccupied with the man whose head was on my lap.

We watched in silence. Laughing at the stupid scenes and sharing our thoughts about the unrealistic ones. I did not notice that my hand were already combing through his soft hair. I stiffened for a moment but continued to do it. He's not complaining about it so I'm gonna keep combing through his smooth hair.

"Are you sleepy now?" Atlas asked while playing with the ends of my hair. "I really like your eyes," I look down and find him staring at me. There's that glint in his eyes again. I can't get used to Atlas's random compliments.

"I'm not sleepy yet. You can go ahead if you're feeling drowsy," I did my best to avoid his searing gaze. There are my flaming cheeks too.

"You're rather shy, aren't you?" He hummed. I scrunched my nose to distract myself from the temptation on my lap. I wish he would stop spouting nonsense. He should stop observing my reactions.

"Go hit the sack," I squirmed on my seat, trying to dislodge his head. Atlas keeps my knee in its place. I sigh in resignment. It was a hopeless squirming.

He gives me a sexy grin again. I covered my face in embarrassment. "I'm not sleeping yet. I'm just asking you because I want you to stay here for longer," I averted my gaze upon hearing it and covered his eyes instead.

"You're so noisy," I breathe out anxiously. Atlas was considerate enough not to remove my hand from his eyes. But, if he's noisy, should I not cover his lips instead of his eyes? I glanced at his lips, 'Hell, Nah,' I thought.

I might have covered his eyes, but his naughty smile was surely blinding me. "Are you done blushing?" He teased, and I screamed internally. I cannot keep up with his antics. I'm a loser when it comes to him.

"Atlas, what are we doing?" I asked after I calmed down a little, though my cheeks were still on fire. I'm happy with what we are right now, but he is still a taken man. It doesn't sit well with me.

"We are spending time getting to know each other," he fondly smiled. My hand is covering his eyes, still. What's the use of getting to know each other? Is it a memory for us to get us by after we end it?

There's the silence after his words. The explosions from the movie were our unusual background as we plunged deeper into our thoughts.

"Will you answer me, Mavis?" Atlas started, and I squinted down at his covered eyes, then his pretty lips. I was gawking. My eyes sure were straying to the darker side.

"About what?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. Atlas tried to pry my hand off his eyes, but I held on. He understands and lets me off.

"How did you fall in love with me? Why?" I somehow expected the question and mulled on my thoughts. Why indeed? This man on my lap might have flaws but there's a lot of good things in him, too. Things that were so ordinary to others but special to me, intrigue me.

I keep my eyes on the movie, "Why not you?" I gently replied. Atlas went unusually quiet. I left him to his thoughts. I do want to know what he's thinking, but if I could ever read his mind, it would be a thrilling experience. It wouldn't be so difficult for me to know my place.

"I'm gay. How could you love someone like me?" I snorted at his unsure words. He has no idea how I'm deeply into him.

"And if you're gay?" I removed my hand from covering his eyes. Our eyes locked in an intense gaze. Atlas's bottle-green eyes sparkled prettily under the dim light. I don't know where I got the courage to meet his gaze.

"I first saw you back in the mart, you know. You asked me about the aisle for beverages," I kept my eyes locked on him, as I combed his hair again with my hands. His eyes sparkled, telling me that he remembered it. "I was hooked with your voice then. I was gobsmacked. I even ogled you more than a polite stare." I gave him a tight smile.

Atlas kept quiet as I recalled the memory, "I was lured by your voice then. I love your eyes. They're breathtaking." this time, I looked away and leaned my head on the couch. "I know you're my mate, so I followed you outside. Imagine my shock when I saw you kissing a man?" I let out a small laugh. Atlas gripped the hand combing through his hair, kissing the back of it. Damn, if the tingles didn't spread through my hand and up my arm.

"I've questioned the Fates why would they pair me with someone like you. It's just impossible. I've been unconsciously avoiding meeting you. Hence, I panicked when you touched my shoulder then. I was afraid you would be disgusted with me." I carry on.

"I didn't think that way," he chimed in, and I gave him a quick glance.

"But then I thought, so what if you're gay? You're so gorgeously pretty that I can't help but notice your every action." I heave a deep sigh. Am I really going to tell him about this?

"I fell in love with your eyes first. They sparkled just right and took my breath away all the time."

"I love how your hair moves the next, how they curled chaotically to make a perfect mess atop your head. I just want to play with them all day,"

Atlas on my lap burrows his head on my stomach and puts his hands around my waist.

"I fell in love with your voice because it made me dreamy every time. I always end up with an explosion of tingles whenever I hear it,"

"I'm in love with how you take care of Luke. How you make sure he's safe and looked after. You look so dependable,"

"I love your flaws and how you acknowledge them. It was so human and reminded me that we're not in control of everything. That you're flawed but fine,"

Atlas went back into staring at me. The glint in his eyes was a burning inferno. It was too much. I covered his eyes again, stopping myself from chickening out.

"I love everything about you. So what if you're gay? You're human first before your gender. I am in love with who you are, Atlas. Regardless of your preferences. I love you," I whispered.

The noise from the movie drowned out in the background. My tears were silently streaming down my face. I was grateful that my voice didn't falter. It's liberating to tell him about everything. My shoulders lightened.

"Mavis," Atlas softly called my name. He wants to remove my hand, but I don't want him to see me as a mess.

I crouch my head down and plant my lips ever so slightly on his. I waited for his response, for a little movement. There's none. I was about to move away when Atlas's hands snaked up and wounded them around my neck, gently bringing my head back down. Our lips meet once again in a tender fashion.

My tears keep falling as my conscience clash with my desire to be with this man right now. It's so hard to keep my stance when it comes to him.

"What are we doing, Atlas?" I mumbled into the kiss. I didn't get an answer. He indulged himself in it as the kiss went on and time went by. A distinct sound of a ringing phone was left ignored in the background.

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