You are my blue crayon,

the one I never have enough of.

The one I use to color my sky.

a.r.asher

***

It's like i'm in a bubble.

And I don't want it to pop.

Atlas leads me back down the trail, the climb easier now since we are not going up.

And true to his word, he takes me to place after place. Beautiful scene after scene.

And kisses me at each one.

At the garden, the place filled with bursting flowers and winged butterflies, it was a light peck. Just something so that he could keep his word to me.

Then he surprised me with a waterfall, leading me around to a trail that showed a roar of water as it cascaded down- thundering in its need to reach the bottom.

That kiss was longer.

After the waterfall came a small playground.

I was overwhelmed by then.

I could tell I wasn't there in the moment. My body had overheated or gone into autopilot.

I just couldn't handle the change in personality that Atlas was revealing to me.

Instead of the distant, cold person- he showed a new warmth. A male who pushed me on the swings, laughing as I soared in the air. Smiling as he reached around to capture my lips- claiming them as his own.

By the time we arrived at the clearing, a soft green land with weaving fields of grass dancing in the wind- I was shaking.

He laid down a blanket but stopped when he noticed my hesitation.

"What's wrong?"

There it was.

That dark face I was use to.

Clouding over the sunshine he was revealing.

"Why are you doing all this?"

He looks down at the camera, before sitting down on the blanket, patting the seat next to him for me to join.

I shake my head, weary and wanting an answer.

He sighs- frustrated- and runs his hands through his dark hair.

"Do I need a reason Lexie? I just wanted to see if I could...if I could make you smile for real."

I angle my head, staring at him with confusion.

"I smile...,"

"No," he shakes his head, looking up at me, "You do that weird fake crap where it looks like you're in pain. Everyone else may think it's enough but I know it's not real."

My eyes widen at his words.

He knew.

He saw through me.

My mate.

"So dad told me to take you out. Like he did with her," the mention of his mother makes his face pull up, like he's swallowed something bitter. "I don't see how well that could have worked, seeing as how she left him soon after but..."

He looks up at me, his eyes thoughtful now, "I just wanted to make you smile. That was it."

I hesitantly step forward, before folding myself down on the blanket, sitting across from him.

"I'm just not use to this."

I motion towards the blanket. The grass. The sky. The camera. All of it. I wasn't use to having thought put into me.

"I know. I'm not either."

We stare at each other a few seconds more. The wind picks up then.

Atlas's eyes hood over, a soft humming coming from his chest as he scoots forward.

"You smell nice."

The statement has goosebumps forming on my arm.

"You smell like...like your paints. You smell like paint. But also...like lemongrass. It's nice."

I clench my hands. Bracing myself to be brave in front of this male.

"You smell...like pine wood. And honey."

He smiles at that. "Honey?"

I shrug and look away, feeling heat flood my cheeks at his question.

I start as I feel him move closer, his nose dipping down to touch my shoulder as he softly inhales.

"You smell nice."

He runs his nose up my neck, the slight feel leaving me shivering as he sets small flames upon my skin.

"Why are you so scared of me?"

He pulls back. I see pain in his eyes. Pain that i've caused.

"I...don't like the feel of skin."

I see the surprise on his face.

"Why?"

I want to smile at his curiousity. He's always curious to learn more.

But I can't tell him why.

"I don't know."

"So you don't like it when I touch you?"

His hands snake out, latching onto my hips, making me gasp as he drags me across the blanket. Before I know it, without any effort from him, I'm sitting within his lap, his nose once again pressed against my neck as he inhales deeply.

"You don't like it when I do this?"

He softly, faintly places a lingering kiss where his nose once was.

"No...I mean...," I gasp the words out, unable to form any real thoughts in my mind as his hands move to my hips.

"You don't like my skin, touching yours?"

His hands push up my shirt- push up the fabric as they explore my stomach. I want to push away. I'm embarrassed. Embarrassed that his hands meet soft folds of flesh instead of the hard flat muscles that are normally associated with wolfs.

He hisses in my ear.

"Stop moving."

I realize then that i'm squirming on his lap. Moving and trying to get away, but at the same time, provoking him.

"Don't touch my stomach." It comes out as a whisper. A faint plea.

Atlas grabs my folds around my hips, making me cringe.

"I know what you are thinking Lexie." I shake my head. This male doesn't know what I'm thinking. He is nothing but lean muscle. Nothing but beautiful flesh. I know. I can feel his chest press against my back- confirming my thoughts.

"I like it," he growls it into my ear, making me close my eyes from the words.

"You're lying."

Before I can react, I'm flipped over, blinking in surprise as I look up at his face- his face that looks over mine as he holds himself above me.

"Don't ever call me a liar," his eyes flash gold from the accusation.

I hold up my hands, covering my face, "I'm sorry."

I feel Atlas slowly grab them, each hand within his own, as he presses them above my head.

And then he kisses me.

I don't react at first.

It makes him growl and bite my lip, causing me to gasp at his action.

He laughs and continues, this time getting a reaction from me as I hesitantly, slowly, start moving with him.

He breaks away, moving down and slowly pulling up my shirt to reveal my stomach.

I put my hands over my eyes, trying to cover up the sight.

But I look up when I feel his lips kiss the soft flesh.

"I will be honest Lexie. I didn't think my mate would be so easy to grab."

My mouth is hanging open in astonishment as he looks up, smiling in delight as he holds my hips within his hands.

"I thought she would be lean."

He bends down and kisses my lower stomach, trailing up. I blush at his words. Blush at the truth that i've already guessed.

"I thought she would be toned."

I put my head back down, trying to block out what he will say.

"I thought she would be muscle."

He slowly crawls over my body, the action so much like a wolf, as he holds his head above mine, letting our breaths mingle together.

"I'm so glad," his eyes dart down to my lips as he licks his own, "so glad that what I thought- is not the reality."

He steals my words as he captures my lips.

His hands gripping my hips, the whole time.

*swoon*