She shook her head and parted those full lips to speak. I didn't let her. I sealed her mouth shut with mine. My lips took hers so hard, I was sure she would bruise. I took her mouth like I owned it, like I was entitled to it. Stella pushed against me in protest for only a moment before clutching on to my shoulders.

Stella squeezed in surprise, and I pulled back to look down at her. Her chest rose quickly with her fast breathing. Her lips were red and plump as her tongue darted out to lick them. I held her to the wall by her neck and grabbed the hem of her dress. With one hand, I pulled and the sound of ripping filled the room.

"Atlas," Stella breathed. Her black lace bra and matching panties were exposed to me.

"I am the one in control, Little Star," I hissed. "And I hate you for making me lose it."

My hand skated up her neck to the back of her head. Pulling her hair, her head tilted back to look up at me. Big, blue eyes sparkled with fire and excitement. Stella was a little scared and a little turned on. I dove down and sucked the sensitive skin of her throat where I held her too tightly.

Stella whispered my name but I ignored her. I couldn't stop now. After days of being with her, months of watching her, hours of touching her, I was a goner. I could think of nothing but having her. My blood pumped hot and thick in my veins. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

I ran my lips down the column of her throat, savoring her pulse pounding on my tongue. Kissing over her collarbone, I bit down on her shoulder. Stella swore and bucked against me but I held her immobile. In my grip, she was helpless.

XVII

Stella

Atlas had me pinned to wall and completely under his control. I was just as mentally controlled as physically. I was at his mercy as he attacked me with his hands, mouth and words. It was as if he was punishing me with his lips. Every growled word made my stomach flutter with nerves and fear. My hands went to push him away, but the power to do so never came.

Teeth sunk into my skin and I cursed. The pain sent a shock to every nerve ending, waking up my entire body. I was hyper-sensitive to Atlas and what he was doing to me. It was a mixture of pain and pleasure and my head spun trying to sort it out. He licked and kissed away the mark from his bite, only to repeat it over again. I was powerless to stop him as he left his mark from my shoulder to my throat.

Atlas was like a man possessed. It was as if he couldn't control his body when it was with mine. He handled me like he needed to. There was no restraint or holding back anymore. I should have been terrified of what he was capable of.

"I shouldn't have tried to save you," he said into my damp skin.

"I don't think you have yet," I answered, my voice breathy.

If anything, I was in a deeper danger than I was before a gun was pointed at my head in his living room. Not even before I was in his possession was I closer to the monsters. I started to wonder if the real danger I should be running from was the man with his hands on me.

Atlas pulled back to look at my face. I was sure I was flushed and my lips were swollen from his bruising kiss. His eyes were wild and dangerous. I held my breath, anticipating his next move. He was hanging by a single thread of control, and I watched as it snapped. The very power Atlas was struggling to obtain just shattered, falling to our feet.

His hands grabbed mine, pushing them above my head on the wall. I was open to him, exposed in only my bra and panties. He wanted to be angry at my dress or underwear, but he supplied them for me. Atlas had no one to blame but himself and he knew that. He was angry with himself as much as with me. Which one of us would pay the consequences?

When Atlas wedged one knee between my legs, I clenched my thighs together. Undeterred, he kicked my feet apart forcing me to open to him. His thigh rubbed against me, and a moan escaped my mouth before I could stop it. The slight pressure sent waves of heat through my body radiating from between my legs.

"Are you wet for me, Little Star?" Atlas asked with a knowing grin.

Atlas held my wrists together above my head with one hand while the other skimmed down my arms. He continued down over my breasts and stomach, finally landing on my panties. He wasted no time pushing his hand under the thin lace. His fingers slid over my clit, and I cried out before I could stop myself.

"You're dripping for me," Atlas whispered in my ear, biting my earlobe.

His fingers pushed inside me, stretching me. A deep growl rumbled from Atlas, sending vibrations through me. His hand pulled away from me, and I held back a disappointed whine. He wanted the power and control, but I didn't want to give it to him so easily. Dark eyes glared down at me as he slipped his two fingers in his mouth, sucking them clean.

I was fascinated with the calm that took over his features in that moment that I almost didn't notice him undoing his belt. Ripping it from the loops, he quickly and expertly bound my wrists together. With my wrists together, he put them behind his head. The position would feel normal and familiar if it wasn't for the leather forcing them there.

"You make me like this," Atlas said as he hoisted me up against the wall so my legs wrapped around his waist. "Unable to stop myself."

I was clinging to him like I couldn't get close enough. Atlas was holding me up and together at the same time. One hand gripped my thigh as the other moved between us. I hissed at the gentle friction as he reached down to position himself at my opening. I held my breath as his eyes bore into mine.

He was daring me to do something. I had the chance to scream even though no one would come to help me. I could bite him, scratch, or even kick. I could fight him off, or at least put up a struggle. Instead, I relaxed my muscles and waited for him to own me the only way he hadn't yet.

I didn't expect easy and gentle from Atlas and he didn't surprise me. He thrusted into me until he was fully inside me. I cried out, digging my nails into the back of his neck as he pushed into me. Atlas didn't give me time to adjust to his size or get used to being so full. He pounded into me, giving me everything he had.

"Fucking finally," Atlas said with his face buried in side of my neck.

The sexual tension between us was exploding. Every touch and tease had built up just to amount to this moment. It was almost too much feeling while he took his anger out on me and regained his sense of control. Almost.

Our sweaty bodies clashed and rubbed against each other. The sensations were building and my cries were getting louder. It had been so long since I'd been touched, let alone like this, that I was craving it. Every kiss to my neck and nibble to my lips sent me into a combustible mess. I was ready to finally explode.

"Come hard for me, Stella," Atlas growled. "I want to hear you scream."

Screaming was all I could do when I finally was pushed to the point of no return. I was a bomb detonating after a long and torturous countdown. My screams made my own ears ring but Atlas kept thrusting like he was trying to make me louder. My nails pierced the skin in the back of his neck, but it didn't slow him down.

Atlas pulled back just enough to watch my face. I could barely keep my eyes open as he groaned loudly and froze, pushed deep inside me. I could feel my insides convulsing around him as he throbbed inside. Warmth spread inside and my muscles went weak, making me go limp in his arms.