Page 41 of Killer Confections (Syndicate Killers #1)

Loxley

The drive back home is eerily quiet. Mostly because I make it. Alana tries to strike up conversation, but it falls flat once she realizes I’m still lost in my mind.

Atlas said he loves me.

He said it earlier when I was leaving for Thalia’s, but I wasn’t thinking about it.

He said it and he fucking meant it.

My thoughts are clashing because one, it’s way too early in our relationship— marriage? —to say that. Two, he just smiled after he said it, like he didn’t expect me to say it back. Three, and the most insane thing, I may be in love with him too, but just freaked out about saying it.

Oh, god am I crazy by association? Atlas said he was diagnosed. I’m not sure if that was a joke, but if his insanity is airborne, I’m pretty sure I contracted it.

Yes, just blame it all on him.

That’s the mature thing to do, Loxley, instead of just facing your feelings like a big girl.

I follow Atlas back to the compound and tell Alana and Thalia good night when I drop them off.

Before she leaves, Alana leans into the passenger window. “Do you want to stay with us tonight? If you need some time—”

I shake my head. “No, Atlas and I still need to talk. I think I’ve done enough running today.”

She gives me an encouraging look. “You guys will work it out.”

I return her smile before driving the short distance back to Atlas’s— our —home. He’s waiting by the garage door as he leans against his bike, his ankles crossed. He pushes up the moment he sees me before walking over and opening my car door for me.

He holds a hand out, taking mine as he helps me out of the car. “Are you okay?”

I nod, feeling a little vulnerable after the night I’ve had. “I’m fine.”

He sighs, pushing a hand through my hair and tucking a strand. “I should have known better than to tell you how I feel after—”

I press my fingertips to his lips, effectively shushing him. “Don’t do that, Atlas. Don’t apologize for saying you love me.”

His brow pinches, and when he speaks, his voice is muffled against my hand. “You just went through something traumatic—”

“And I love you too,” I rush, my nerves fluttering in my stomach. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, but I don’t stop. “I was shocked and maybe the situation wasn’t the greatest—”

“Saying I love you after almost dying never is.”

“—but I needed to hear that in the moment. I was still reeling and coming down from something that shook me up. Hearing you say that grounded me and maybe I was thinking of saying it soon, too. I just didn’t know how…”

As I speak, his smile only grows until he’s cheesing ridiculously hard against my fingers. At the end of my little speech, he takes my wrist and presses little nipping kisses to my fingers, making it extremely hard to focus.

“Let’s get your bags out of the trunk,” he whispers before leaning down. “What did you get for me, hmm?”

Fire erupts in my belly as embers burn down my cheeks and chest. I look up at him through my lashes, “I guess you’ll have to see… ”

He hums in my ear as his lips feather light kisses along my cheek. “Are you gonna give me a show?”

My teeth scrape my bottom lip as I shiver. “ Yes .”

“Good.” He slaps my ass, jolting me forward before he heads to the trunk.

He grabs everything, loading his arms down with bags as he motions for me to walk ahead.

My skin prickles as I open the grave door and walk into the dark, connected kitchen.

Atlas walks past me with everything, and I watch his back muscles flex as he moves gracefully across the house.

He sets everything down in the bedroom before trekking back to the couch and relaxing back against the cushions. He slings an arm over the back of the sofa, giving me a lazy look.

He looks so… fuckable .

My eyes trail over his muscled thighs, and his toned, thick stomach.

I could just sink my teeth into him.

My eyes snag on the pink scrawl near the base of his throat. My name stares back at me and an overwhelming emotion washes over me.

The need to touch him and be near him becomes almost unbearable.

I walk over, placing myself between his legs as I place my hands on his thighs and level our noses. His look turns adoring as he soaks me in, like he’s seeing me for the first time.

He brushes his nose against mine, and my eyes flutter as his close. His expression turns fervent as he languidly touches me. “I love you. So much , Loxley. I still can’t believe you’re real sometimes.”

I suck in a breath, ghosting my lips over his as our eyes connect. The ocean tide crashes with fresh soil, erasing everything that was lost to time.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I breathe against his mouth. “Please don’t let me go again.”

He shakes his head, looking pained by the thought of such a thing. “ Never again. ”

“I love you,” I profess before closing the centimeter of space between our lips. Our kiss is everything, full of sweet, slow movements, but equally possessive and binding. When Atlas’s tongue swipes against my bottom lip, I gasp, opening up for him and letting him ravage my mouth.

Our tastes dance and I feel so whole and complete here in his arms. The outside world is forgotten and everything from hours ago is nothing more than a distant, bad memory.

When we pull away, our breaths are ragged and I feel something hot and feverish licking through my veins.

“I still can’t believe you married us,” I say in breathless disbelief.

He chuckles, his hard features softening with his smile. “Well, believe it, baby. I have your ring, too.”

Oh .

“You got me a ring?” It’s probably the silliest question to ask, but I find myself excited and a little antsy to see what he picked out for me.

The first step to getting better is always admitting you have a problem.

I’ll admit that I’m warming up to this marriage thing much quicker than I should be.

I should be furious that Atlas did this without my permission, but it isn’t like we weren’t headed there anyway.

If he asked me now, I honestly think I would have said yes.

He reaches into his pant’s pocket and fishes out a small black velvet box.

I watch intently as he opens it and I’m blinded by the stunning princess cut diamond that looks like it’s worth far more than just a couple thousand.

The band is elegant and encrusted with smaller diamonds that lead to the shimmering square stone on top.

I gasp, slapping the lid closed as I hold Atlas’s hands and the box between mine. “I can’t accept this! This had to be worth a fortune—”

His brow gradually lifts as I speak, effectively cutting me off as I realize he thinks I’m being ridiculous.

“We’re millionaires, Short Stack. If I want to buy my wife a beautiful, expensive ring, I can.

She deserves it.” I open my mouth to protest, but he shushes me again.

“And she isn’t going to say no. She’s going to wear this ring while she tries on her new clothes for me. You got it?”

My heart flutters, and a slow smile spreads until it touches my ears. “It is really pretty…”

“See,” he says as he opens the box again. “Do you really like it? If not, we can look for a new one together.”

I take the ring out, awestruck by how beautiful it is. This all feels so surreal, but as I slide it on and the diamond swings to the underside of my finger, I laugh. “Yes, I like it. But I think we need to get it resized.”

He almost looks embarrassed as he runs a hand across his mouth. “Of course. I can’t believe I didn’t get your ring size right.”

I gasp jokingly, a hand flying to my mouth as I stare at him with wide eyes. “What kind of stalker does that make you?” I ask in a whisper.

He runs a hand through his hair, his lips twitching. “A piss poor one.”

I press my lips to his in a quick, chaste kiss before standing and trailing a hand over his jaw. He leans into my touch, his eyes fluttering. “I’ll be back.”

He smiles against my palm before nipping at it. “I’m going to tear whatever it is off of you, baby.”

“Hmm,” I hum hungrily. “I’m hoping.”

I saunter to the bedroom, those flames in me licking higher and brighter with every step closer. I’m already soaked, and my skin feels too taut. I’ve been waiting for this all afternoon and I can’t hold out any longer.

Being near Atlas, drinking in his smell and staring at his arms in an objectifying manner, has me shucking my clothes before the door is fully closed.

“I’m going to fucking bite him,” I say to myself as I go through my bags. Mostly everything I bought consists of jeans or cute tops. I have a new pair of heels and a dress for a date night, but there are a few things I got especially for this occasion.

I pull out the white silk robe, the fabric feeling soft as butter on my hands as I lay it out on the bed.

Next is the lingerie set, a light green lace bustier with matching panties.

I used to be super into lingerie sets. It was my guilty pleasure.

I never wore them for anyone but myself, but this feels so intimate.

Like I’m sharing something with another part of myself.

I slip into the set, appreciating the way the lace hugs my curves and accentuates my hips and bust. I give a turn in the body mirror next to the bathroom and hum in approval at the way my ass looks.

Atlas is going to love it.

I quickly pull the robe over it, tying it at my waist before giving one more spin and then heading back out to the living room.

My husband— I still can’t believe I can say that without having a panic attack —perks up the moment he spots me. His eyes rake over the robe and he nods his approval.

“Very pretty,” he circles a finger lazily, asking for me to spin.

I roll my lips in, containing my smile as I give a slow spin in place. Atlas’s hungry eyes are taking in every inch of bare skin they can, lingering far too long on my neck and legs. His pants are tented from his obvious desire, and I think I’ve had enough teasing.