Page 15 of Guarded By Atlas

I could have sworn I saw a cat earlier. Do notoriously dangerous motorcycle gangs even keep pets?

Chapter Six

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’twant 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.

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