An hour later I was screaming at Atlas that I had kicked his ass. We were the only ones left in the building except for the tired middle aged bartender who looked like he was about to fall asleep.

"You are a cheat!" Atlas said pointedly.

"You can't cheat in foosball!"  I countered.

"You distracted me with your beauty." I narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled brightly.  He moved around the table in my direction.

"Stay away from me maniac!" I hissed trying to keep on a straight face.  He gave me a sexy smile with sinister sewn through it. My only escape was the bathroom to his left. If I could just make a quick dash to it. I would be home free. I gave Atlas one last look then took off. I was in his strong arms, confined, imprisoned in a split second. I tried to wiggle out of his strong grasp.

"Look at me." I looked to his black shoes then to the bartender who was fast asleep. "Look at me." He ordered in a more stern tone. The way he said sent a chilling tremor down my spine. I looked slowly up into his frozen blues. "You cheated." My eyes widened. He had to be kidding me. I didn't but he apparently had a intense winning fetish.

"Fine, I cheated."

"Thank you butterfly." He said and let me go.

"Ass..." I hissed lowly, shooting daggers at him. "I'm going to go play pinball. A one person game that doesn't include Atlas Knight." I growled moving to the pinball machine. I pushed in a coin. I began playing trying to ease off the irritation that Atlas had formed. A familiar sharp scent attacked my senses as arms wrapped around my waist. Our reflections shone on the glass of the pinball machine.

"Are you mad at me, Butterfly?" His hot breath tickled my ear. I didn't reply. "Do you want me to apologize?" He went on in a low tone.

"That would be nice..." I countered honestly.

"Are you being truthful?" He whispered in concern. He placed a low kiss on the nape of my neck. A heated rush took over my body. I involuntarily tilted my head and inhaled deeply. More wet kisses were given to my skin. It was then when I gave notice to his erection against the lower of my back.

"I want you...to a-apologize." My voice was unsteady. One of his hands tightened on my waist while the other molded one of my breasts.

"What...do you want?" His voice came out a accented breath. His thumb began kneading my hard nipple through the fabric.

Unease and desire washed through me. "Uh..." He squeezed tightly making me arch my body forward. "I..." A soft gasp caught my throat as his other hand joined in on the fun. Kneading, pushing and massaging.

"What...do...you want?" He moaned out against my neck. His voice was a hoarse growl that sent trembling desire through me. He began pushing his member into my ass, grinding and creating friction. Desire shot through my body as every part of my body burned.

"I want you...to kiss me." I breathed. His hands disappeared and he spun me around encasing our lips in a rush. His tongue trailed across my lips asking for access which I granted. His tongue met mine in a fit of allure. Our tongues mashed against each other in a battle of scorching dominance. My hands found its way into his smooth hair and his to the sides of my hip gripping them tightly. He leaned into me making me lean back until the point I had to pull his hair slightly to keep from falling. He growled into my mouth and bit my bottom lip. Something wicked sparked inside of us. Our bodies began to crush heatedly into each other. I wanted to rip his clothing off. I wanted him to take me. Wait, what?

His lips left mine and moved to my neck placing small bites here and there.

"You two! Out. Now!" An angered voice yelled from behind. I pulled away from Atlas looking to the man at the bar. His eyes were red. He was tired. It was 4  AM on Monday morning. Who wouldn't be tired? "Go home and fuck there." He growled.

"Okay. Okay." I exclaimed grabbing my bag as Atlas retrieved his coat. Atlas took my hand leading us out of the bar.

"If you are going to remove your patrons at 4 A.M. then do not call your establishment a place to be opened for 24 hours, wanker." Atlas hissed moving passed the area and into the cold night.
Amazingly, it seemed the night wasn't over yet.

"Where are we going now?" I asked as we entered the vehicle. It 4:10 A.M on a Monday what other place would be open?

Additionally, the night was beginning to take its toll on me. My legs were trembling slightly and I kept dozing off. We slid into the car.

"Where are we going?" I repeated secretly grateful that the bartender had stopped us. It was animalistic what had exploded between us.

"Somewhere."

"You love to say that don't you?"

"Yes. I do." He smiled leaning into me. He wrapped his arm around me pulling me closer to him. His scent whipped around me crashing against my senses. He nuzzled into my neck.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he kept stroking his nose against the soft skin of my nape.

"I'm savoring your scent."

"Oh please." I beamed into his hair. His soft lips began a teasing caress up my neck. I leaned into him wanting more contact. What the H.E.L.L. is happening? We don't even know each other and we are acting as if we are truly in...love.

"Wake me when we get there, love." He whispered.

"Seriously?" He raised his head looking to me. Atlas grimaced revealing his white teeth.

"I have a crucial meeting in seven hours." He said in a tired voice while laying his head on my lap and wrapping his arms around me.

"I have to get to work in five." I hissed down at him. He mumbled something along the lines of then rest and was out like a light. I laid my head against the back of the seat and shut my now burning eyes. I didn't want anything serious. Yet, here I am. What was I doing this guy? Was my question to myself as I fell off into slumber.

I was awoken by the halting of the vehicle. My phone read 4:45 A.M. Yep complete and utter insanity is my life. I should be at home sleeping before my next shift but instead I'm running all over New York with Atlas Knight.

I looked down at a sleeping Atlas. His dark hair fell in his eyes and his cerease lips were slightly open as he whispered incomprehensible words to himself. I bent down and placed a kiss on the side of his face.

"Wake up Mr.Maniac we're here...I think."

"Rest..." He moaned out.

"Yeah...I know. I mean we could just head back to my place and crash." I suggested.

"Yes...But, I want you to see this..." He whined as he sat up running his hands through his disheveled locks.

Note to self Atlas Knight turns into a little boy when tired.

He opened the door intertwining our fingers and pulled me outward.

I was met with an open cemented plane with a archaic merry go round propped on it. The hues were of rich crimsons and golds armed with frozen beings standing at attention in their distinct places. The lights were dim casting a ominous shadow over the huge entity.

The area was deserted except for an old dark skinned man couped up in a cube shaped glasd made compartment. Atlas made his way over to the man while chuckling to himself like a little boy.

"Two tickets."

"That will be 5 dollars, young man."

Atlas gave him a fifty while taking the tickets. The man gave him an exasperated look.

"What did I tell you about carrying change?"

"Sorry and thank you for staying, Charlie." He smiled at the old man who smiled kindly in return.

"No problem, Mr. Knight."

It was getting harder and harder to keep my burning eyes open. My legs were moving but it felt like my upper half was shutting down.

"Come on, love. We will survive this." He promised with a smile. I rolled my eyes as he jumped up on the contraption. He lowered his hand to me which I took gratefully. He pulled me up in a quick motion as if I weighed nothing.

The lights and the music started up scaring me half to death. I jumped back almost falling over a pony.

"Darling, stop penetrating the poor horse."

"Ass!" I exclaimed as my face grew warm. He burst into a slight fit of laughter soon regaining his composure.

"You are clearly easily aggravated."

"And you are unrestrained." I chided walking up to him.

"That I am, Butterfly. This will do." He decided looking downward at a carriage made of different hues of gold and ruby. "Ladies first." He beamed. I slid into the small carriage without protesting. He slid in smoothly beside me, his body squeezing against mine. He wrapped his arm around me turning me so I was looking out onto the water. The moon glittered over the slight undulations that moved along it's surface. I could see Brooklyn on the other side only with trivial lights sparkling brightly here and there.

"Beautiful?" Atlas asked laying his chin on my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me. His heat engulfed my form keeping me shielded from the chill of the dark night.

"Yes..." I whispered.

"I am truly happy you like it. Have I been given absolution from our first date?" He questioned tilting his head so he could look into my eyes. I turned slowly to him. His lips brushed against mine sending a pleasant tremor through me.

"Yes..." My voice carried barely above a whisper. He leaned into me kissing my lips. His lips were so soft that it was as if I was kissing the inside of a rose. After that I snuggled up deeper into Atlas not being able to hope for a better night. Yeah, I know that it's cliche but for tonight just eat on my ass. This was perfect.

"Tell me...one of your aspirations that you want to accomplish before this year ends..."

"Well, I have 30,000 in savings for this..beautiful apartment in upper Brooklyn. I just need 20K more and it will be all mine. That's one of the reasons why I haven't bought a car. I cannot wait to move there...Dane doesn't know. But, I believe it should be the next step of my life, to truly be on my own. I might change my mind about the being on my own. But, yeah."

In the distance the sun began to rise sending vibrant colors of peach, grape and raspberry over the buildings.

"Pretty."

"Just like you."

"Maniac." I breathed against his coat that was masked deeply in the frosty fragrance that was Atlas Knight. I didn't want to sleep but I had no choice. I was exhausted. Maybe I could give him my heart.

I caught bits and pieces of his gentle words as I fell in and out of conscious. He raised his chin from my shoulder whispering fuzzy words.

"I wish it... It must be...I need this. I-I am s-so..." His voice was cracking. "...very sorry."  Were his last words.

_|_

I had only slept for two hours when I was awoken by my alarm.
I was in my bed in the outfit from the early A.M. He was a gentleman I would give him that.
Wearily, I stood stumbling over my own feet and grabbing my uniform for work. My cranium was pounding and my legs would not stop shaking. Everytime a sound sliced through the silence of the morning it felt as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my forehead. I pulled out my phone as I trudged down the hall. Atleast Atlas and I could suffer through this day together.

I feel like the walking dead.

I waited a few moments for his reply. But, it never came. It was odd sense he almost always replied. He must've still been asleep. I entered the elevator.

You still asleep?

No reply. I waited, nothing came in. A feeling of dread began to form in my stomach. I walked out of the building waiting for Grey. He could tell me if anything had happened to Atlas.

Strangely, the familiar black BMW that I grown accustomed to for the last weeks wasn't there. No warm smile filled Grey was standing waiting for me.

No ride today? Cool. You have been spoiling me lately.

I was sure that would get a reply. But one never came. They all never came.

Two weeks passed and there were no replies, no Grey, no Atlas. I didn't have to worry that something bad had happened to him. Because, every time I turned on the NYC news there he was seen at some opening, winning some award, dating some model. There he was, not with me. I wasn't supposed to care. I wasn't supposed to get attached. But, every time I saw him my heart lurched. He didn't even care to say goodbye. He didn't care about me. He didn't love me.

Just like that Atlas Knight was out of my life. It was almost as if he never existed. As if we never existed.

*****

- How do you guys feel? What do you think Atlas is doing? :'( -BDX