Page 11 of Guarded by Atlas (Steel Rebels MC #6)

Atlas

No one questions it when Marie moves out of the guest apartment and into mine. But hell, maybe if I knew I would have to fight with my feline roommate for her attention, I would have reconsidered having her move in here.

It’s stupid to be jealous of a cat of all things, but Lord above, I am only a man.

Rusty is nestled in the crook of her arm, purring like a tiny engine as she strokes his fur, her fingers gently kneading his back.

I would purr too if she touched me like that.

I’ve spent a considerable time staring at those soft delicate fingers petting the cat, wishing they were on me instead.

Her face is relaxed, devoid of the worries it used to carry during her first few days at the clubhouse.

It’s a Friday evening, and in the true fashion of a man without a social life, I’d planned to be read, but the book lies on the coffee table, its pages untouched.

My gaze keeps drifting to her, admiring the way the light catches the curve of her cheek to the way her eyelashes cast delicate shadows on her milky skin.

I find that I want to reach out, to touch her, but I also don’t want to break the spell.

Besides, my hand still stings from where Rusty swiped me earlier when I tried to touch Marie.

Ungrateful brat. I’ve housed, fed, and cared for the cat for months, but he shifts his loyalty in the presence of a pretty woman. Well, I can hardly fault him when I want her for myself. When I called her mine, I hadn’t meant to speak those words out loud, but now, she feels every bit mine.

Heat gathers like fireballs in my gut as all blood floods to my cock, turning my semi into a full erection.

Christ, it’s been days since Marie and I first slept together; the urge to jump her like a sex-starved maniac shouldn’t still be so strong, and yet, it is.

Heck, she’s dressed in a sweatshirt she borrowed from my closet and some long sleep pants, nothing overtly sexual, but she’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

She doesn’t have to do a thing to have blood roaring in my head.

It’s unnerving.

Before Marie, there was no one. I had sex, sure, but it was impersonal and perfunctory. Women tend to be equally attracted to and terrified of me. Once the sex part was done with and the lust sated, they were all eager to leave quickly.

Marie hasn’t left.

A part of me is waiting for her to. For Marie to look at me and realize I am not what she wants, but for now, I allow myself to bask in her presence.

“You are doing it again.”

Her voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I frown when I realize that she’s indeed talking to me even with her eyes glued to the TV. “Doing what?”

“Staring at me,” she says, and this time, she turns to look at me. “I can always feel it. Even when we’re in different corners of the room. I can always feel your eyes on me.”

“Does it bother you?” Scare you?

“I like it.” Rusty protests when Maire picks him up and gently lays him on the couch as she sits up. He tosses me a glare as if it’s my fault before settling down. “It makes me feel safe.”

“What?”

“If you’re watching me, then no one can get to me without you noticing,” she says, brushing hair from her face.

“I’ll admit that a part of me is scared those men will somehow get to me.

Even here, there’s always an urge to keep looking around and stay more conscious of my environment so I don’t get caught off guard.

But then…I feel your gaze.” She blushes, her cheeks picking up a beautiful rosy hue in the light of the lamp.

“It sounds a little dramatic, doesn’t it?

That I would immediately relax after sensing you watching me, but I mean, if you are, then I don’t have to be on guard all the time, right? ”

A long silence follows her words, and I realize I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as much as I want her. Christ, how can she be so perfect?

“Come here.”

“What?” She laughs but climbs to her feet, careful not to disturb Rusty as she does so.

I watch as she makes her way to me and wait until she’s within arm’s reach before snagging her waist and pulling her onto my lap.

She giggles, her hands landing on my chest as she settles down to straddle me.

The laughter in her eyes shifts to something else when she feels my erection pressed against her ass. “Oh.”

I lean down and nuzzle her neck, inhaling the soft flowery scent that clings to her skin, and I kiss the sensitive spot. “I’ll always protect you,” I speak into her skin.

“Always?”

If she expects me to backtrack, I don’t. “Always.”

“Hmm,” she hums, tilting her head back to allow me access as I nibble at her throat, my hands sliding under the sweatshirt to cup her naked breasts. “We can’t have sex again, Atlas. There’s no way this is healthy.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

He hands tighten around my neck as she shakes her head frantically. “Don’t you dare,” she threatens, making me chuckle, but she’s right. I have no idea if there’s such a thing as too much sex, but what we’re doing must close to it, and yet, I can’t get enough of her.

Of her taste and scent.

The way she fits against my body is like she was made for me.

A puzzle coming together, and fuck if that doesn’t send an ache spreading through my chest. “I want you,” I grind out, tugging up the sweatshirt before fastening my mouth on her left breast. She moans, her back arching as I kiss the soft skin, rolling my tongue over her beaded nipple and getting drunk on the taste of her.

“Atlas… Oh, God,” she cries out when I graze the sensitive skin with my teeth, soothing the sting with my tongue before shifting my attention to the other. Her hips roll over my erection, rocking needily as I tease her tits. “Touch me, please.”

I don’t need to ask what she means as I slide my hand into the sleep pants and between her legs, groaning when I find her slick with arousal.

Her mouth parts with a gasp when I slide my middle finger into her wetness, a growl climbing up my throat when her sex pulses hard around it.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” I say, pushing up to take her lips with mine, groaning at the taste of her.

She rocks her hips forward, riding my finger and kissing me back with feral need.

“Oh, God,” she cries out into the kiss, rolling her hips faster and faster I can feel her teeter close to an orgasm. “Oh…Atlas.”

“Come for me, sweetheart.”

I bite her lower lip, and she cries out in pleasure as her sex cinches hard around my finger, releasing and contracting as she sobs, rolling her hips over mine and riding the wave.

I kiss her through it, swallowing her pleasured whimpers before pulling out.

My cock is aching in my sweats, begging for reprieve, and I’m about to carry her to the bedroom to finish what we started when a knock sounds on the door.

“Fuck!” I consider ignoring it and carrying my woman to bed instead, but that’s not how things work here.

No one in the clubhouse comes to my door just to invite me for a cigarette.

“I’ll go see what they want,” I say, brushing my lips over her temple before putting her down as I climb to my feet.

“You better be in bed naked and ready for me when I get back.”

I smack her butt as she staggers toward the bedroom, making sure to tug my T-shirt over my hardon before walking to the door.

Standing on the other side of the door is Kyle, a club prospect.

He is one of the youngest in the MC, but well on his way to becoming a fully patched member.

Now, however, I want to rage at the dark-haired kid for interrupting the moment between Marie and me. “What is it, Kyle?” I ask impatiently.

“Oh, uh…Prez sent me to get you. He’s been trying to call you, but couldn’t reach you.”

I immediately go on alert at his words. “Is anything the matter?”

“They found the men.”

“What men?”

“You know, those Vipers that wanted to kidnap Scarlett. Saint and a couple others are getting ready to head out and—”

“Tell them I’ll be right down,” I say firmly, boiling with blood lust. This is admittedly the only thing that could pull me away from Marie right now.

I promised to protect her, and the best way to do so right now is by eliminating the men who’d hurt her, who still terrorize her in her nightmares.

“Thank you, Kyle. I’m right behind you.”

He nods and turns to leave just as I shut the door.

I walk to the bedroom to change out of the sweatpants and see her lying on the bed naked just as I’d asked, and Jesus Christ, she looks like an angel.

Every inch of her is perfection, and for a hot second, I consider staying.

My cock, which had begun softening from the interruption hardens to full mast as I stare at the golden angel lying in my bed.

Her tits are flushed and nipples pink, contrasting her milky skin, and her thighs slightly parted in invitation to a heaven I have tasted but still thirst for.

And those eyes, Christ, those soft blue eyes are locked on mine in invitation it would take a saint to resist.

Fuck!

I’m not feeling very saintly right now. And for a shameless moment, I question if I have time to climb into bed and give in to my baser needs, but just as quickly as the lust floods in, the memory of her tied up on that dirty floor with terrified eyes overtakes it.

Those fuckers need to pay. I need to keep my promise, and only then can I touch her. Only then can she trust my vow to protect her to my last breath.

She sits up, tilting her head to the side when she notices me simply standing there. “You have to go,” she says, tugging the sheet over her nude body to cover herself, and I mourn the loss, even as I silently thank her for allowing me reprieve. “Is that why they came looking for you?”