Page 54 of Bonds of Obsession

Today? We’re fucking. We’re fulfilling a primal need that’s as basic as it is instinctual.

“Harder,” I beg, spreading my legs wider to give him better access. “Fuck me harder. I’m getting close.”

He seems happy to give me what I want, snapping his hips forward with enough force to jerk my entire body around on the mattress like a rag doll.

Something warm and wet drips onto my breast. At first, I think it’s sweat—we’re both covered in it, our skin slick and sliding against each other. But when I glance down, I see red. Dark red droplets splashing across my chest.

“Atlas—”

He cuts me off with another deep thrust that makes me forget what I was about to say. His blood smears between us as he drives into me harder, faster, chasing his release. I should stop him. I should say something. But my own orgasm builds, sharp and electric, and I can’t form words.

He comes with a guttural groan, spilling inside me. The sensation tips me over the edge and I follow, crying out as pleasure crashes through me in waves. His mouth finds mine in a messy kiss, teeth clashing, his blood mixing with sweat on our bodies.

When the high fades, reality crashes back. Atlas collapses beside me, his chest heaving. His face is ghost-white, and painlines are etched around his eyes. Blood has soaked through the bandage on his chest and is slowly trickling down his stomach.

“Shit.” I bolt upright. “Killian! Get your ass in here!”

Atlas tries to grab my wrist. “I’m fine. I don’t need?—”

“You’re not fine, you stubborn ass. You’re bleeding like a stuck pig.” I pull my arm away as I try to assess the situation. Fuck, there’s a lot of blood. More than there should be. “Killian!”

Atlas sinks back against the pillows, his breathing shallow. The sheets beneath him are already stained red.

“Worth it,” he mumbles, but his usual cocky grin is weak.

The door bursts open and Killian rushes in, gun drawn. His eyes sweep the room before landing on us. His nostrils flare as he takes in the scene—me still naked and clearly freshly fucked, Atlas bleeding beside me, both of us covered in sweat and blood.

Heat flashes through his eyes for a brief moment before he groans in exasperation. “Jesus fucking Christ, Atlas. Those stitches were perfect before you decided to start thinking with your dick.”

“Had to…” Atlas’s laugh turns into a harsh wheeze that makes my stomach clench. “Make up for lost time.”

“Yeah? How’s that working out for you?” There’s a gentleness beneath Killian’s gruffness as he shoves his gun in the waistband of his pants and approaches us. His hands are already steady, clinical, as he pulls the soaked bandage away. “Half these stitches are shot. Gonna have to redo the whole goddamn section.”

The bedroom door opens again and Nico rushes in, wearing nothing but low-slung gray sweatpants. His eyes lock onto my naked body and darken with unmistakable heat before he takes in the blood-soaked scene.

“Couldn’t even keep it in your pants for a full day, huh?” He shakes his head at Atlas, but there’s a hint of amusement in his voice.

Killian leaves the room, then returns with the med kit and gets to work cleaning, stitching, and re-bandaging Atlas’s wounds. Atlas winces but stays still, his hand finding mine and squeezing.

“You need to be more careful,” Killian mutters, although I’m not sure if he’s talking to Atlas or me.

“We all need to be careful.” Nico’s voice carries an edge of worry as he leans against the doorframe. “Especially you, mia cara. The Dark Lotus Syndicate isn’t like other organizations.”

I pull the sheet up to cover myself, suddenly feeling exposed in more ways than one. “I know. But I don’t think there’s anything I would’ve done differently if given a chance. Well, except to tell them to go after Ambrose too.”

“And that’s fine. I wish they’d killed him in the crossfire, though, because now he’s a fucking complication. It would be different if the Syndicate was bound by blood or tradition like most crime families. Instead, they’re all about power and politics. The votum system keeps things in check, but…”

“But some members weren’t happy with how you used yours.” Killian doesn’t look up from his work as he speaks. “They think it was reckless.”

“I had to.” The memory of Atlas bleeding out makes my chest tight. “I couldn’t let him die.”

“We know.” Nico’s expression softens. “But they don’t care about that. They don’t care about loyalty or love or family. They care about power and maintaining their position.”

“There’s a lot of complex dynamics we don’t understand yet.” Killian finishes the last stitch and starts wrapping fresh bandages around Atlas’s chest. “One wrong move could get you killed.”

Atlas tries to sit up but Killian pushes him back down. “We’ll protect you.”

“That’s not enough.” Nico shakes his head. “We need to learn how to navigate their world. Fast.”

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