Page 14 of Princess of Vengeance

“I said, do you think it’s smart to trust Kendrick?” I repeat, louder.

He grimaces, and his jaw clenches. “Right. Sorry. I can’t hear shit out of my left ear. The gunshot—when I ducked away from that guard’s gun—it fucked something up.”

“Jesus.” My stomach drops. “Atlas?—”

“It’s fine.” He cuts me off. “Killian says I might get some hearing back eventually. And if not?” He shrugs. “It’s a small price to pay for getting us out of there alive.”

“It’s not fine.” I reach up, touching his face near his damaged ear. “You lost your hearing because of me.”

“No. Because Malcolm and his psychotic fucking friends tried to kill you.” His voice is hard. “Don’t twist this into something you need to feel guilty about. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He almost died. Again. First with Ambrose at Blood and Ink, and now with the Dark Lotus Syndicate. Both times trying to protect me.

Something inside me cracks open, raw emotion flooding through my system. Before I can think about it, I grab his face and crush my lips to his.

Atlas responds instantly, like he always does. Like we’re two halves of the same fucked up whole, moving in perfect sync. His hands slide into my hair as he kisses me back hard, matching every ounce of desperation I’m pouring into it.

I press closer, ignoring the pain in my side. I need this. Need him. Need to feel alive and whole and connected to someone who understands exactly how close we came to losing everything.

His tongue slides against mine as the kiss deepens, turning hungry and fierce. There’s so much wrapped up in it—fear and relief and that bone-deep need that’s always simmering between us. My fingers dig into his shoulders as his grip tightens, both of us holding on like we’re afraid the other might disappear.

He’s hard, and I can feel his thick cock straining against me as he pins my lower body with his hips. My hand slides down to palm him through the denim, and he makes a low sound in his throat that sends a rush of wet heat straight through me.

I shift, trying to get even closer, but pain shoots through my side as the stitches pull. I can’t help the hiss that escapes me even though that’s the last noise I should be making right now.

Atlas breaks the kiss immediately and pulls back. “Quinn?—”

“Don’t you dare stop.” I tighten my grip on him.

“You’re hurt.” His voice is rough, and I can tell he’s torn between desire and concern. “Your stitches…”

“If I remember correctly,” I cut him off, “you were begging me to fuck you after Ambrose tortured you half to death. So don’t give me that shit now.”

His eyes darken at the memory. “That was different.”

“Like hell it was.” I stroke him again, feeling him throb under my touch. “I need this. I need you. Now.”

For a moment, he just looks at me with the conflicting emotions written all over his face. Then slowly, a grin spreads across his lips. He reaches up, tucking my hair behind my ear with surprising gentleness.

“I love you, vicious.” The words rumble from deep in his chest.

My heart clenches. “Then fuck me like you love me.”

Something dark and possessive flashes in his eyes. His expression shifts, and when his mouth crashes back to mine, it’s with an intensity that takes my breath away.

6

QUINN

This kiss is different.There’s purpose behind it now, and I can feel the raw intent in the way Atlas claims my mouth. His tongue slides against mine, deep and demanding, making it clear that he’s in control.

I surrender to it completely, loving the taste of him as he guides me onto my back. My hands fist in his shirt, pulling him closer as he braces himself above me. I can tell that he’s being careful not to put any weight on my injuries, but those stab wounds are the last thing I’m thinking about right now. I just want him. All of him. All over me.

“More,” I whimper, raising my head to meet him before he presses me back down again.

His kiss turns harder, hungrier, until I’m gasping against his lips. One of his hands slides up my side, then starts to drift lower, his fingers teasing at the hem of my shirt.

Then he stops.

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