Page 19 of Guarded by Atlas (Steel Rebels MC #6)

Two Years Later

Marie

I spot the van just as I’m stepping outside the nursing home, and the smile on my face freezes, as does the rest of me.

A low rumble vibrates through the pavement, and my breath hitches when I realize that it’s headed my way.

My hands instinctively tighten on the strap of my purse and my knuckles turn white.

It’s approaching the curb, its shape instantly triggering a wave of icy fear that washes over me. The world narrows and the sounds of the city fade as I stare at the one object capable of arousing such fear in me.

A white van.

My eyes dart around, searching for a way to escape as the van slows down. I should turn around and run back into the nursing home and call my husband. He won’t let anyone take me. I just know Atlas will lose his mind if someone dares to lay a hand on me.

And yet, I’m frozen in place. I grip my purse tighter, the leather cool and slick against my clammy palms. I can’t scream, my throat feels like it’s been constricted by an invisible hand.

Then the van stops. The side door opens with a mechanical hiss, but no hooded figures jump out.

Two people step out wearing matching uniforms, and for the first time, I notice the words stamped on the side of the white van.

“Elite Furniture Delivery.” Relief floods through me, making my legs weak, and I would have fallen to the ground if a pair of arms hadn’t caught me.

“Hey, it’s okay, sweetheart,” rasps a familiar deep voice before I feel the press of lips against my temple.

“I’m fine,” I assure him even as I wrap my arms around him, burying my face into his neck and inhaling his scent, letting it soothe me. “I’m okay, I promise you.”

And the truth is, I’ve been okay for a while.

Atlas bullied, bribed, and cajoled me into talking to someone, and despite my reluctance, it worked.

I haven’t had a single nightmare of the kidnappings in over a year, and I even manage to sleep well in our bed alone when he has to work out of town.

The van today was unexpected. My therapist did warn me that something could always trigger the memories.

“I’m here,” Atlas whispers into my hair, running a soothing hand down my back until the tremors fade. “I’m always watching you, okay? Just remember that.”

I nod, feeling steady on my feet again as I push from the embrace to look at him.

Christ, he looks so freaking handsome with his dark, buzzed hair and vibrant green eyes so beautiful they send my heart racing.

“Well, that was a little dramatic, wasn’t it?

” I chuckle. “Anyway, I’m more than ready to go home.

I just got my leave approved and will be free for the next fifteen days.

I know you’re busy, but maybe you’ll have some free time and we could do something fun together.

” Atlas takes my hand, and we walk to the parking lot.

I look around for his bike but don’t spot it.

“You didn’t bring your bike today?” I ask.

“No, I drove,” he says, walking me to a sleek black SUV and opening the door for me.

The first thing I spot is the flowers on the seat with a card.

For a panicked minute, I’m terrified that I forgot a birthday or an anniversary.

His birthday is not until next month, but our first wedding anniversary is coming up …

God, what month are we in? Did I really forget?

“Honey, I…”

He must read the panic in my eyes because he breaks out laughing; the sound so warm, it makes my heart swell with affection. “Relax, sweetheart. The flowers are to celebrate the day we first met.”

I blink at the man. “You mean the day I was kidnapped and you rescued me?”

“Considering what happened just now, I’m starting to think of it as poor timing,” he says, looking sheepishly at me.

“I would say it’s rather poetic,” I respond as I reach for the bouquet of red roses and bring them to my nose. “Ironic, but poetic nonetheless. Thank you for the flowers. Now every time I think about vans, I’ll think of flowers instead of closets.”

“There’s a card too.”

“I didn’t know Hallmark made cards for such occasions,” I tease, reaching to grab it and expecting to read something cheesy and romantic when I see two airline tickets tucked inside. My jaw drops as I look from them to my husband. “W-what’s this?”

“Our honeymoon trip,” he says, brushing back my hair when it blows into my face. “Well, it’s a belated honeymoon trip since we’ve been married for almost a year now, but we never had a chance to go on an extended trip. I know you’ve always wanted to visit Barcelona.”

“We’re going to Spain?” I gasp, my jaw dropping at his words. “Really? Wait, what about… the club, Rusty?”

“Everything’s been taken care of, Sweetheart,” he assures me, cupping my jaw and leaning in to kiss me.

“Rusty will stay with Chelsea while we’re away for the next two weeks.

The girls have already packed for you, so all you need to do is change out of those scrubs, and we’ll be on our way to the airport. ”

My eyes well up at all the effort he put into this, how he thought and timed it, and I try to stop the tears but they fall. “You always know just what I need.”

“You could say that I learned it from you,” my gentle giant whispers, brushing his finger over my wet cheeks. “Now, sweetheart, how about we get started on our belated honeymoon?”

“Yes, please.” I nod with a teary smile, climbing into the car, cradling the bouquet in my arms, and burying my nose in it. We make it to the clubhouse, and I have just enough time to grab a shower and change, thank the girls, and kiss Rusty goodbye before we’re driving toward the airport.

Three and a half hours later, we are finally seated in our first-class cabin.

I let out a happy sigh as I sink into the plush, oversized seat, the soft leather molding to my form.

I’m going to miss Debbie and the other patients, but I’ve been working without a break for months, so this is very much needed and deserved.

The flight attendants, impeccably dressed and with kind smiles, move through cabins, offering pre-departure drinks, so I wave one over, requesting two glasses of chilled champagne, intent on enjoying the ride with a bit of a buzz, and ten minutes later, I can already feel it take effect.

My gaze drifts to my husband and a fond smile touches my lips. I reach for his hand, interlacing it with mine. When the seatbelt sign turns off, I smile as the idea occurs to me. Atlas’s brows knit when I release his hand and get up. He grabs my arm before I can leave. “Hey, where are you going?”

“The bathroom,” I say with an innocent smile, and he lets me go.

I walk into one and wait, knowing fully well it won’t take him long to come looking for me, and just as I expected, I hear him outside.

I open the door a little, make sure it’s him before reaching out to grab my husband’s arm and pulling him in.

It’s a tight fit for someone as huge as my husband, but fortunately, the first-class bathrooms on luxury airlines are bigger. “I knew you’d come.”

He smirks, “Let’s just say I’ve gotten better at getting a read on you.”

“Lucky me,” I giggle, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as need floods my stomach.

Being close to him always does this to me.

“I’ve always wanted to join the mile high club.

” I trail a hand down his chest, watching heat flood those eyes as I reach the massive bulge in his pants.

I lean in and brush my lips over his, tasting the champagne on his mouth and getting drunk off it.

“Maybe you can help make that fantasy come true.”

“Maybe I can,” he says, flipping us and pushing me against the door so that my breasts are pressed against it.

I gasp when he forces my legs open with his knee, and then there’s that hand, strong and calloused, sliding under my dress and trailing up my thighs.

“You have to promise me to be real quiet, sweetheart,” he rasps, using his other hand to push my hair to the side.

I jolt hard when I feel his lips touch the back of my neck just as his hand reaches around and strokes my breasts.

He stops when I whimper. “Shh, no sound, okay?” I nod, biting hard into my lip to stop a moan when he rubs at my nipples over my dress.

I jerk against him when the hand between my legs grazes my sex, teasing me over my panties.

“God, you’re so hot. How is it that I want you more every day?

” he growls into my neck, tugging down my panties and slipping a finger between my wet folds.

“When I think I know your body and couldn’t possibly want you more than I already do, I’m proven wrong.

” I barely stop the cry that threatens to slip out when he finds my clit and rubs at the swollen bud.

“I want you, more than it’s healthy for one person to want another.

I whine when he pulls out his finger, but then when I turn around, it’s to catch him sinking to the floor.

He works around the tight place and reaches back under my dress to tear my panties the rest of the way down before nestling himself between my legs.

That is all the warning I get before I feel his tongue over my sex.

“Oh God,” I cry out, slapping my hand on my mouth as his tongue slides through the wet slit of my sex.

My knees turn weak and breath choppy when he starts licking my sex, sucking on my sensitive nub and sending wild flutters of pleasure through my system.

I jolt hard when he slips his finger into me again, licking wildly at my clit until all I can do is choke back my sobs, afraid they’ll carry to the cabin.

The orgasm tears through me with little warning.

I bite hard into my hand to stop the cry, my sex clenching around his finger as heat floods through my system.

The tongue on my clit stays, lapping me through the orgasm until I’m a trembling mess, jolting from every tremor that rolls through my body.

And then he pulls back. His hands are already on his pants, tugging at the button and zipper.

“My turn now, and I’m going to fuck that sweet pussy of yours, so promise me you’ll be good and not alert the crew,” he says as he lines himself up with my hole.

As if anticipating my scream, his palm covers my mouth seconds before he’s slamming into me.

“I’m going to take you hard and fast, sweetheart,” he whispers into my ear, pulling out before pounding back into me.

“Ride your creamy little pussy so hard, you’ll be feeling me the rest of the flight. ”

That is all the warning I get before he grabs my hips with his free hand and pulls me to him as he starts pounding, every thrust harder than the last. I sob behind his hand as pleasure floods my system, tiny fires lighting up in every corner of my body.

The bathroom fills with the wet sounds of our love making, flesh smacking together and making the obscenest of noises.

And I revel in every second of it.

The hand on my hip reaches around and strums my clit as he hammers into me, grunting into my neck as he grinds into me with the violence of a sex-starved maniac. My body trembles as my walls take his girth, allowing him to stretch and pleasure me in ways only he can.

“Mine,” he growls into my hair, his thrusts growing impossibly feral. “I’m going to fill this tight pussy with my cum and plant a baby in your womb!” His words send my pulse quickening, pleasure flooding my system, and I moan. “You like that, don’t you?”

I nod, pushing back to meet his thrust. Christ, I like that idea so much.

The thought of having a family with Atlas, kids that are a mix of him and me, is something I wanted from the moment I realized that I was in love with the man.

I wanted it so much, but we both agreed that I needed to first heal from my trauma, and now… God!

Euphoria overtakes my system at the idea of finally having what we’ve spent countless nights talking about, and I feel the climax building. Atlas rubs fast at my clit, rocking harder into me, and when I let go, he’s there to catch me. Falling right along with me.

“I love you,” he grunts, biting into my skin as he pours his seed into me, his thrusts becoming slow and deep, drawing out the orgasm until the small space is filled with our harsh breathing. “How was that for your fantasy?”

I smile when he nuzzles into my hair. “Perfect,” I whisper, trying to catch my own breath. “It was more than perfect, and if I conceive on this flight, we’re naming the baby Skye if it’s a girl and Jet if it’s a boy.”

He laughs as he helps me straighten my clothes. He’s laughing all over again many months later when we welcome both Skye and Jet.

~The End