A muscle jerked along his jaw.
“When I told you what I’d done, when we were in your SUV, you didn’t say a word.”This was so important.“Why not?”
“Because I disagreed with you.But that didn’t seem like the time to argue.”He looked down at the hand that pressed to chest.“This doesn’t seem like it, either.”
“Disagreed…why?” How?
“Sweets.”
She always…secretly enjoyed it when he called her that.No one else had ever given her any sort of nickname or even used a term of endearment.Maybe it didn’t mean anything to him, but it did to her.
“You will always be protected,” Atlas vowed.“I won’t underestimate you, no worries on that score, because I’m not an idiot.But you are not evil.You’re not going to fly off the rails and hurt people.Even before you told me the rest of your story, I already knew the bastard would deserve what he had coming.”He eased closer, his head bending over her.“And the answer to thewhypart on that is easy.I trust you.I can look at you, and I can see good.I can see innocence staring back at me even when you are so sure that your soul is all dark.Maybe that’s what you needed all along, Lily.A mirror to stand before you.Well, here I am.Look into me.”
A…mirror?
“Born from evil and sin, just like you.A child of a monster.I know what I am, and I know that when I look at you—you are so much more.I want to protect that more.I want to guard you from every threat.”His jaw hardened.“I want you to be mine.I’m your broken mirror.Never going to reflect right back for you, not perfectly, but I am ready to cut the world to shreds if it means I can keep you safe.”
Her hand was still over his heart.A bruised band around her wrist.A gleaming sapphire and diamond on her ring finger.“I’m not going to tell you to walk away.That is the last thing I want.”
“Tell me?—”
She knew exactly what to tell him.“I want you to fuck me, Atlas.Right here.Right now.”
ChapterNineteen
Like he hadto be told twice.
Lily was in front of him, offering herself to him, and he wasn’t going to turn away from her.But she had to understand what would happen next.“I won’t walk away after I have you.”
“I’m not asking you for any promises.”
He had an engagement ring on her finger.How did you make a bigger promise than that?“I’m not talking pretend.This will be real.Wewill be real.”
A little furrow appeared between her eyebrows.
“Can a psychopath love?”The question was pulled from him.It was something he’d often wondered about.He didn’t believe his father had loved.Didn’t think the twisted bastard had ever been capable of loving anyone or anything.
I will not be like him.
“Atlas—”
No.He didn’t need an answer.Didn’t want to hear one right then.He wanted Lily.She’d chosen him.She’d saved him.He’d tried to keep her away.He’dorderedher away, but she just came back.Dammit, Atlas had even gotten the guards at his business to escort her out.She’d come back, and she’d chosenhim.Saved him.
His mouth swept down onto hers.Soft at first.Caressing.Almost worshipping because he understood that she was something incredibly special to him.
But softness didn’t last.He’d been truthful when he said his control would not hold with her.He had to fuck her.To take her.
So the kiss became rougher.More demanding.He curled his hands around her waist, and he dragged her against him.Lifted her up because it was easier to take her mouth and savor her, and when her legs wrapped around his hips, he growled.
She was soft and warm.He was hard and hungry.His dick shoved against her as she rocked against his erection.Teasing and pushing him even more.Oh, such a mistake.
You didn’t wave the red flag in front of the bull.Not unless you were ready for him to charge.
Yet he’d already learned so much about his Lily.So much.And the more he learned, the more of an expert he became at just how to handle her…
Lily had to experience pleasure with him.He’d be damned if she ever called his fucking justfine.She would need to scream.She would need to claw at him.She would need to shatter beneath him.
Then he’d take her.
