Atlas Pov
She was perfect in every way, her porcelain skin glowing under the soft light of the room. I couldn't get enough of her, my eyes tracing the curves of her body. I didn't even want to get up when I did, afraid that this was all just a dream. When I finally mustered the courage to rise, it was only for a fleeting moment before I returned to her, my hands eager to feel her softness once again.
Her warmth enveloped me as I touched her. I couldn't control myself, my desire palpable. Yet, she seemed to welcome my touch, responding to it with a fervor that mirrored my own.

With gentle strokes, I explored every inch of her body, committing the texture of her skin to memory. Her breath hitched as I cupped her breasts, a soft moan escaping her lips. "You said you were in heat, is that why you are warm?" I asked, my fingers continuing their dance on her skin.
"Yes," she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of pleasure and relief. "Although it is a little calmer now, thanks to you. It's normal for my kind. We go into heat shortly after we trigger a bond with our mate. When I kissed you at the safe house, it started to trigger mine. It's our body's way of urging us to mate. It becomes really hard and painful if we don't mate or at least allow our mates to touch us to calm it."
"So, me touching you right now, this helps?" I inquired, eager to understand.
"Yes," she moaned again, her body arching towards my lips as I brushed them against her skin. "It helps very much.”
I had never desired anyone as intensely as I longed for Mia. The hunger to explore her was unlike anything I had ever felt before. Every touch I bestowed upon her ignited a craving within me that I never knew existed. Even though I had just been inside her, my mind was already consumed by thoughts of filling her once again. Surprisingly, I managed to hold on longer than expected, as the mere act of entering her brought me more pleasure than I had ever known.
As her hand gently brushed through my hair, I kissed her deeply. "Atlas, if I take a shower, it may help me calm down," she whispered, her body radiating warmth. Reluctantly, I moved off of her, allowing her to sit up. However, even a mere second of separation left me feeling strangely hollow. "Come with me," she beckoned, and without hesitation, I gladly left the bed and followed her.

Once inside the bathroom, Mia turned on the shower, I couldn't help but gaze at her, taking in every inch of her beauty.
She had waited for me, her mate, no one else had ever had the privilege of kissing her lips or caressing her body like I did. Somehow, I had been chosen as her perfect match, and I could feel it when we made love. It seemed as though we were created for each other.
Regret washed over me as I reflected on my past relationships. I realized now that I should have remained as pure as she had been. But I was unaware of her kind or the concept of a mate bond back then.
I had never cared if someone left me for another. But the thought of anyone else being able to touch, hold, or make love to Mia was unbearable. I knew I could never allow that to happen. I needed to show her that I was strong enough to be a part of her world, that I had what it takes to protect her so she wouldn't have to worry about my safety when being with her. I refused to let us be torn apart.

Bryn had warned that others would come, seeking to claim her for power, and the mere thought sickened me. No one would ever use Mia or force her into a relationship against her will. I would make sure of that.
Once in the steamy shower, the water cascading over us, I couldn't resist placing my hands on her again. It was evident that she desired it too, as she pressed her body against mine, moving sensually in sync. For a moment, I paused, not wanting to cross any boundaries with her. "Please, Atlas, don't stop unless you want to," she pleaded, her voice laced with longing. Her words fueled my desire as I resumed exploring her body with my hands.
"I won't stop unless you ask me to," I assured her. With one hand, I massaged her chest, while the other traveled down to her sensitive area, teasing her clit. Her moans of pleasure, calling my name, drove me wild. My manhood throbbed, begging to be inside her once more. Her core was drenched, warm, and inviting, coating my fingers.
Pausing briefly, I got out and opened a new condom from the bathroom, fumbling to put it on. Stepping back into the shower, I gently pushed her against the wall, her back facing me. I kissed her neck, the taste of water mingling with her skin. Rubbing my tip against her entrance, I ensured she was ready. With a surge of passion, I thrust harder this time, eliciting a pleasurable yelp from her. My hands on hers, as I moved in and out of her with forceful yet pleasurable thrusts. "ATLAS, yes, harder," she moaned, igniting me to make her demands come true.
The feeling of uniting like this was addictive, electrifying every nerve in my body. As we embraced, her grip on me tightened, her walls clenching against me with an intoxicating intensity. The sensation was indescribable, a perfect balance of pleasure and desire.
Her delicious suction enveloping my manhood with each thrust. I could feel her fluids gushing over me, a torrent of ecstasy that ignited a primal hunger within me, urging me to delve even deeper into her depths.
The cascading shower water added another layer of sensuality to our encounter. As its warmth caressed our skin, it heightened our connection, amplifying the intensity of our desires. The water droplets danced over our bodies, mingling with our sweat, creating a slippery, intoxicating sensation that only fueled our cravings further.
My climax synchronized with hers, as her entire body shuddered. Once I pulled out, I swiftly removed the condom, tossing it into the trash. Pulling her against me, she seemed to have finally calmed down from her heat. She leaned comfortably onto me, allowing me to wash her off. As I reached her sensitive area, I was gentle. "I hope you aren't sore," I whispered against her. I knew I had taken her hard in the shower, and even though she had asked for it, I hoped I hadn't caused her any pain.
"I'm not, everything felt really good. Thank you for helping me, Atlas. I didn't mean to force you into anything," she spoke softly. "Trust me, you didn't force me into anything I didn't want," I said, shutting off the shower. I helped wrap her in a towel before grabbing one for myself. Mia turned to look at me, her eyes glowing again, like they did sometimes.
"Atlas, um..." she started speaking, her voice wavering slightly. She shook her head, as if searching for the right words. The sound of her uncertainty hung in the air. "How about we go get something to eat?" she finally spoke, but I could sense that wasn't what she truly wanted to say. I didn't want to push her, though. I knew she would tell me when she was ready.
"Sure, I can help you order food, unless you want to go out," I replied. I was surprised that she wasn't tired, but hunger gnawed at me as well.
"I'll try and find a job out here to help pay for things while we stay in the city," I suggested.
"You don't have to. For now, I have plenty of money to keep us safe. We also don't know how long we can stay here," she confessed.
"I understand, but when I can, I am paying you back for some of this," I said with a smile.
"Can we go out? I can sense other shifters, so I'll be alert," she asked.
"We can do whatever you want," I responded.
"Are you comfortable going out? I noticed at the bar, although you sat with me and got food, you didn't seem very comfortable. Do you not like going out?" she inquired.
"I'm fine with it. I just don't like crowded places. I'm not that social, I guess, since I tend not to get along with people who act a certain way just for attention or to fit in," I admitted.
"I understand. I'm not a fan of that either. We can find someplace that's not crowded, and if it gets that way, we can leave or you can just focus on me. If anyone bothers us, I'll tell them off," she assured me, causing a chuckle to escape my lips.
"Sounds like a plan," I said. She disappeared into the room to get dressed. I heard the sound of a towel rubbing against her hair as she towel-dried it. Soon, she emerged, announcing that she was ready. As we walked to the door, she slipped her hand into mine.
"The city is crowded, so we should hold hands. And I also just like feeling your hand against mine," she confessed.
"I do as well," I responded to her softly, our footsteps echoing through the empty hallway as we left the room.
As we walked, the distant hum of the city greeted us.
"I've never spent much time off my pack lands, so I've only really been to the small establishments that were run by my pack members. My best friend and I always talked about how we wanted to sneak into the human realm and try a fancy restaurant sometime," she whispered, her voice tinged with both longing and sadness. "I know it sounds silly, but we promised each other we would. But we never did."
I could feel the ache in her heart, the desire to honor his memory and the dreams they had shared.
"I know I face danger now, but I kind of want to make some of those dreams come true," she confessed, her gaze fixed on the bustling city streets ahead. "In memory of him and his sacrifice. In the end, he distracted those who attacked our pack so I could run."
Her words hung in the air, filled with determination and a tinge of grief. I gently squeezed her hand, offering comfort and support.
"I think that's a good idea," I replied, my voice soft but resolute. "To honor his memory. Let's pick a nice place to celebrate your friend's life."
She nodded her head, a small smile playing on her lips, as we continued our journey through the city streets, hand in hand.