Chapter 16 #2
My mouth became as dry as the Sahara Desert.
Other than a few mental health specialists, I’d never discussed the attacks with anyone outside the group of men who’d survived it.
“Yes. We lived through something most people wouldn’t understand, not that they didn’t try.
It’s just the kind of fire you must walk through to comprehend it.
The same friendship bond that originally united us is what saved our lives overseas, so we relied on the connection to rebuild our lives and heal.
And we are stronger for our bond, even if we’re deeply scarred.
” I took a deep breath. “And scared, in my case.”
Atticus cupped my face so I couldn’t look away from him. “You lost someone very important in the attack, didn’t you? Someone you loved romantically?”
My broken inhale was the only answer he needed. The next thing I knew, Atticus climbed over the console to straddle my lap. His ass hit the horn, so I scooted my seat back as far as it would go to prevent everyone from rushing out of the building to see what was going on.
“Tell me about him.”
“His name was Javier, but we called him Javi. We’d been dating for a little over a year, and I had planned to propose when we got back home.
I had the ring and his mama’s blessing. It’s terrifying how quickly your life can get turned upside down.
One minute, you’re on top of the world, and the next, you’re burying the person you wanted to spend your life with. ”
“I’m so sorry,” Atticus whispered as unshed tears shimmered in his eyes.
He hadn’t known Javi, but he would grieve for him alongside me if that’s what I wanted.
But I needed so much more than existing in the shadows of sadness and despair, and I craved the light Atticus offered me.
I held him in my arms as tightly as I could, soaking up his affection like a greedy sponge.
Then I cupped his face and kissed him. Atticus was hesitant at first, his lips stiff for a few seconds before he yielded.
He swirled his tongue around mine, sucking it into his mouth and reminding me of all the wicked things I wanted to do with him.
Honk! But we needed to get the hell out of the SUV first.
Atticus jolted back and covered his mouth in mortification. “We don’t have to do anything you feel is too much or too soon.” We both knew we were heading into deeper waters, and he was throwing me a life raft I didn’t want or need.
“I want to see you in my space. It’s all I’ve thought about since that first day at Silver Maple.”
“Seriously?”
“You’ve left your mark here,” I said, tapping my temple with two fingers. Then I lowered my hand to cover my heart. “And I want you imprinted here too.”
Atticus swallowed hard and inhaled shakily. “Oh, wow.”
“You breathed new life into me.” I nodded toward the building and added, “And the guys know it too, so they’re going to be eager to know more about you.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. And there are security cameras all over the warehouse, so they’ll know we’re here.”
“Cameras?”
“Not in the living spaces,” I replied. “Just the business offices, the corridors, entrances, the elevator, and the stairwell.”
“Oh my.”
“Yeah. It’s a lot, but safety and security are our business.
” I scanned the row of cars parked near the building and sighed.
“And damn, everyone is home already. The guys are going to invade our sanctuary at some point.” I ran my thumb over his cheek.
“There’s still so much I want to do to you tonight. ”
Atticus pressed his lips to mine in a quick kiss. “Then why the hell are we wasting time in the parking lot?”
I glared at every camera we encountered as I escorted Atticus through the building.
I didn’t know if the guys were watching our progression, but if so, my look promised hell’s fire if they dared interrupt us.
My antics might’ve bought us an hour because that’s how long it would take for Archer and Nico to wear Vaughn down.
Ethan would stay neutral until Vaughn caved, and then he’d be just as eager to make trouble as the other two.
We made it to my apartment without interruption, and an internal clock started ticking in my head as soon as I shut the door and locked it.
We deposited our gear on the kitchen island, and Atticus wandered deeper into my loft while I debated how to ravish Atticus first.
I owed him a blowjob and had a sudden image of sucking him off in my shower.
“Wow!” Atticus said.
For a second, I thought I’d mentioned the shower blowjob out loud, but it seemed Atticus only had eyes for my apartment.
He stood in the center of the living room, slowly turning in a circle to take it all in.
I tried to see the loft through his eyes and let my gaze wander around the space.
The floor plan was wide open, with furniture groups dividing up the living areas instead of walls.
High ceilings and exposed ductwork gave the space an industrial vibe that I’d softened with warm hardwood flooring and light-colored furniture.
The few walls that existed were the original rough brick that we’d sandblasted clean.
I accented the kitchen wall with blue-gray cabinetry and butcher-block countertops that matched the island.
The accent wall in the living room had floating black shelves to hold my books, a few collectibles, and framed pictures.
Atticus slowly looked up, his gaze climbing the iron staircase to the open mezzanine where my bedroom and bathroom were located, the latter being the only room closed off from view from the rest of the loft.
But once inside the bathroom, the exterior wall was all dark-tinted glass that let light in while maintaining my privacy.
I pictured dropping to my knees in the shower to eat Atticus’s ass while he pressed his palms to the glass wall for support.
I’d wait until his legs threatened to give out, and then I’d turn Atticus around and suck him off.
“This view is something special.”
Atticus stood at the floor-to-ceiling wall of windows overlooking the Chattahoochee River. The glass was tinted for ultimate privacy, just like the bathroom, but it gave the illusion of being exposed to anyone who drifted down the river. God, he looked so damn good in my space.
“I’ll say.” I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around him from behind. Atticus smelled like sex and me.
“This place is stunning.” Atticus turned to look at me. “Did you design it?”
I shrugged. “I got input from Vaughn and his sister. They took my vision and gave it a glow-up.”
Atticus gripped my shirt and tugged me down. “I think you’re being modest.”
“I think I owe you a blowjob.”
Whimpering softly, Atticus leaned his forehead against my chest. “How private are we?”
“Very private unless we go out onto the balcony.” I dropped my hand and cupped his growing erection through his athletic shorts. “I could suck you off right here, and no one would know. But by the time I’m through with you, you won’t care who’s watching.”
A hard shudder rocked his body. “Okay. But maybe I should get cleaned up first.”
“Too many steps.” I shoved his shorts and underwear to his thighs and took his cock in hand. “I want you now. Here.”
I lifted his T-shirt off and tossed it aside, then dropped to my knees in front of him.
Seeing the evidence of the orgasm I gave Atticus earlier drove me mad.
I rubbed my nose against his stomach and pressed kisses to the sensitive skin while Atticus carded his fingers through my hair.
I wanted to take my time and tease him until he was painfully aroused, but I was still mindful of that ticking clock in my head.
Gripping firm ass cheeks in both hands, I licked and sucked the head of Atticus’s dick, savoring the burst of his excitement.
Atticus moaned and said, “I shouldn’t be this hard after the orgasm you gave me, or on the verge of coming so fast.”
My skills were rusty after years of celibacy, but giving head was something I’d always loved. I took my time learning his taste and adjusting to his size, taking him deeper with every pass. When his cock nudged against my throat, I relaxed and breathed through my nose, then took him deeper.
Atticus tightened his fingers in my hair and tensed his entire body.
I stayed right there, his cock buried in my throat, and pressed my nose into his trimmed hair.
“Oh my god,” Atticus moaned. The muscles in his ass flexed with his restraint, and I didn’t want him to hold back.
I wanted him to fuck my face and needed his balls to slap against my chin as he chased his orgasm.
I swallowed around his cock, and Atticus released an animalistic growl.
He eased back and thrust forward. “You want this?”
I swallowed again in response, begging him with my eyes.
Atticus fisted both hands in my hair and gave me what I wanted, pulling out and snapping his hips forward, using my mouth to get off.
His cadence was short and choppy at first, but then he settled into long strokes.
Atticus watched his dick glide in and out of my mouth, lust twisting his handsome face into a savage mask of need.
I swallowed around his cockhead every time it reached my throat and hummed when his eyes rolled back.
Atticus was lost in passion, not caring about the boats going up and down the river.
I wanted to fuck him right up against the window until his spunk painted the glass.
Atticus went up on his toes, changing the angle and fucking deeper and faster until his balls slapped against my chin.
“Gonna come. Do you want me to pull out?”
I gripped his ass harder, holding him in place.
Atticus pumped twice more and shot his load down my throat, riding out his orgasm on my greedy tongue.
His legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed back against the window once he eased from my mouth.
Getting him off helped me reach an aroused state I would have to ignore until after dinner.
I wanted a sex marathon, not a sprint. Pressing a kiss to his pelvis, I rose to my feet and pulled his shorts back up to his waist.
“Appetizer,” I said before kissing him deeply.
Atticus looped both arms around my neck and melted against my chest. God, he was so warm and sexy.
If I had my way, we wouldn’t see another soul until at least Monday morning.
Then, as if I’d conjured them out of thin air, a loud knock landed on my door.
Atticus lifted his head from my chest and stared at me with wide eyes.
Another knock followed, this one even louder than the first. I needed to think fast because Atticus smelled like sex and wore an orgasm face.
“Go away,” I yelled.
The third knock sounded more like a battering ram. “We know the code,” Archer said.
“Um, this is intense,” Atticus said, blinking owlishly.
I chuckled and stroked his jawline. “You’re not in any danger…from them.” I aimed for a smoldering look, and it must’ve worked because Atticus relaxed his head against my chest.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“We won’t hesitate to let ourselves in,” Nico added.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“You can’t hog him all to yourself,” Ethan said.
“Come on, Hawk,” Vaughn cajoled. “I want to meet your man.”
Atticus snapped his head up at that. “Your man?”
I couldn’t tell if the idea thrilled or terrified him, so I kissed him deeply, passionately, and without concern for the nuisances loitering outside my apartment.
“My man,” I agreed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Atticus pulled back with a huge smile. “They’re not going away, so we might as well get this over with. I’ll go upstairs and get cleaned up while you get the door. Hopefully, they won’t stay long.”
I nearly whimpered at the intrusion into our night, but Atticus was right. It was best to get the meet and greet over with so we could get on with our night. I swatted his ass and kissed him fiercely. “The bathroom is attached to my bedroom. Far-right door. Enjoy the view.”
“More windows?” Atticus asked.
I waggled my eyebrows in response. “So many dirty things I’m going to do to you in there.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“That’s it!” Archer yelled. “We’re coming in!”
Atticus pecked a kiss against my cheek and ran for the stairs. I waited until he was inside the bathroom before I crossed to the door and opened it.
“I hate each and every one of you right now.”