Page 55 of Killer Confections (Syndicate Killers #1)

I tense before clearing my throat. “Nothing important. He just wanted to go over billing.”

She lifts a brow but doesn’t question me— thankfully —as Blair gathers our attention.

“I’m really sorry again,” the teen says sheepishly. “I should have said something, but I didn’t want to make a wrong move. Kai was already on Lox’s trail and I was trying to keep him in the dark as much as possible. I promise it won’t happen again.”

An idea strikes me. “You’re right. It won’t happen again.”

Blair’s eyes widen. “Are you going to whack me? Oh, god, at least make my death cool—”

“What? No.” I cut her off. “It isn’t going to happen again because you work for us now. Alana will take you on for training and we’ll get you set up in a house on the compound.”

She blinks. “That’s it?”

I tilt my head from side to side. “And you pledge your undying support to us. Sounds easy enough?”

She smiles, a real genuine grin as she sits forward. “Yes! Holy shit! I’m going to be an assassin!”

“Intel expert,” I correct as Loxley chuckles.

Once Blair is settled with someone on the compound to show her around, we tell the rest of our party goodnight. As we exit Dale’s, I let my arm fall from Loxley’s shoulders as she walks ahead without me.

I tuck my hands into my pockets, waiting for her to notice I’ve hung back. She takes two steps before turning to me.

“Are you coming?” She asks.

I rock back on my heels. “Just giving you a head start.”

Her eyes widen as her smile falls. “How much—”

“Twenty more seconds. ”

She bolts toward our home. It’s a good three acres away, but she could have been a track star in another life. She puts her all into it, arms pumping and legs moving as quickly as she can.

It’s only a shame I’ll close the distance before she can even make it onto our property line.

I count down in my head, smirking as I reach zero and sprint after her. My legs eat up the distance and she makes the mistake of looking over her shoulder.

I’m gaining quickly, and when she sees the short space between us, she squeals a breathless laugh, her eyes lighting up and a breathtaking smile spreading across her features.

Her laughter touches me, soothing some ache that’s been left to rot inside of me.

It’s like patching a long forgotten wound, her hands healing everything in their wake.

“No!” she shouts when I circle her waist and hoist her up over my shoulder.

I bracket an arm across her legs before delivering a sharp slap to her ass. “You can’t run from me, baby! I thought we established that?”

She giggles, her feet kicking. “You know I’m hard headed.”

I smile. “I know you’re mine.”

I fling our front door open, not bothering with closing it as I bring her straight to the bedroom. I toss her down and her giggles fill our room before I cover her and smash my lips to hers. Her laughter dies as she gasps into my mouth and I devour her.

Hands roam, hers running along my chest before they push my jacket off.

Mine holds her hips tightly as I push between her soft thighs and grind into her.

I’m hard and feel delirious with need. Everything about her engulfs me.

Her little breathless moans, her fingers ghosting over my tattoos before dipping down to the waistband of my pants, the way she fucking nips at my lips, teasing me.

I grab her chin roughly, turning her to peer into my eyes. She gives me an innocent look through her lashes, but the hint of a smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “What are you trying to do to me?” I ask before slamming my mouth onto hers and swallowing her excuses.

She whimpers at the punishing kiss, her fingernails digging into my chest. When I pull away, we’re both panting. Her tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip as if to collect the rest of my taste, and I snap.

I rip at my belt, allowing my member to spring free before I pull Loxley’s pants off in one quick motion.

She gasps, her hands flying to my biceps as I lower my head between her thighs.

The tangy smell of her arousal and the glistening pink folds that greet me have my mouth watering as I place an arm around her hip and allow my hand to rest over her lower stomach.

I use my other hand to open her up before I press gentle kisses to her pussy.

She becomes desperate, her raspy groan reaching my ears as she lifts her hips and grinds into my face.

“ Atlas ,” she moans, tangling a hand in my hair.

Warmth surrounds my mouth and her taste explodes on my tongue as I lap at her like I’m ravenous.

I groan my pleasure, letting her hear just how fucking crazy she drives me as I circle her clit with my tongue.

Her legs clench around my head and a long, breathless sigh leaves her when I add a finger, burying it knuckle deep in her.

“So fucking tight,” I praise, my voice thick with lust. “This is it, baby. It’s us. Forever.”

She nods, her eyes fluttering.

I move between her legs, trailing kisses up her abdomen as I ease another digit inside and tap her cheek to get her attention. “Look at me. Open your eyes. I want to watch you cum for me.”

Her eyes fly open, and she gasps as I force my thumb into her mouth. Her pretty pink lips close around it, sucking it deep and causing my hips to grind even harder into her. My bare cock slides through her slick folds, making both of us suck in a breath.

“Say it,” I command, removing my fingers from her and using her wetness to coat my cock. “Say you’re mine.”

Her mouth opens around my thumb, her lips shimmering. “I’m yours.”

That breaks me.

I lean forward, sealing our lips as my hips thrust forward and I bury myself to the root inside of her. She clenches around me and her lips part over mine.

I press my forehead to hers. “Breathe,” I coo as I slowly pull out. My voice darkens as my teeth grit. “ And fucking taking it .”

My hips snap forward and she screams as her arms wrap around my shoulders. Nails claw at my back, but the pain adds to the building pleasure as I slam into her repeatedly. Her legs tangle around me as her sweet moans fill my ears.

“ Oh, fuck ,” she rasps.

“You take me so well,” I growl, my hand closing around her throat. “If we weren’t made for each other, I would have made you into mine. We were always destined to end up here because I made sure our lives were intertwined. You never would have escaped me.”

She shakes her head, her throat bobbing. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love you.”

My teeth grind as I pound into her. Her walls clench around me, and I feel the familiar ripple that signals her release is getting close. My piercing bumps into her most sensitive spot and I know she won’t last much longer.

Neither will I at the rate I’m going. Her confession nearly has me seeing stars.

“I love you,” I chant in her ear. “ Fuck me , I love you so much.”

She tightens around me and her mouth falls open on a silent scream as her release drips down us. Her muscles lock and her features become slack with pleasure as my balls draw up and I shudder. I still, spilling into her on a roar as our hips mesh.

She thrashes slightly, overcome by the intensity of her release. I hold her tightly, whispering sweet words in her ear until we’re both bathed in after bliss.

I lay my head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat as she runs her hands through my hair. She tugs on me and I tilt my head up.

Her expression is soft— adoring —as she watches me. “We really have forever.”

“We do.”

“A lifetime isn’t enough,” she says, gently stroking a hand over my jaw.

I take her wrist, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Then I’ll just have to find you in every lifetime, won’t I?”

She smiles. “Not if I find you first.”

My chest warms at the sight of her laid on our bed. Her red-blonde hair spread over our pillows and her naked body beneath mine. All of those years of waiting and I have her.

Yeah. I’ve finally made it.