Page 65 of Claiming Atlas

“If you’re going to stay in the car, could I at least have the key to your room?” There’s amusement in her tone, so I open my eyes and look around. We’re at the back entrance to the Hard Rock. I hadn’t even realized the car had stopped because I was concentrating so hard.

Hard. Like my cock.

“Some of us would like toeattonight.” She states the words deadpan, but I’m all too aware of the promise they hold. She really is trying to kill me.

I growl and climb out of the car and walk to the other side to open her door. We can’t get to the suite fast enough. As soon as we close that goddamn door, Kayla’s fucked.

Literally.

I hold her hand as she steps out of the Escalade, and her coat opens just enough that I get a shot of one perfect leg from high heel to the top of her thigh. I look up at her and shake my head.

She smiles and raises her eyebrows, as we walk toward the door.

“You sure you don’t want me to come up with you, boss?”

I glance at Red, then wave him away. “Nah. You go have fun tonight. I’m... busy.”

He nods. “Goodnight, miss...”

Kayla smiles. “Sanders. My name is Kayla Sanders. Goodnight, Red.”

She turns and walks into the hotel and I wave goodbye to Red then follow behind her like a puppy. Kayla Sanders. Kincaid Summers. I watch her blonde wig sway with each step she takes and wonder if I like one more than the other. I think I like both versions of her the same. Each side of her offers its own... benefits.

We’ve almost made it to the elevators when I see the familiar flash of a camera. “Atlas! Atlas! Over here!”

We both turn instinctively, and the paparazzo rushes toward us. “Atlas Reynolds! Who’s the girl? Who is she? Why are you here without the band? Is it because of her?”

“Shit!” I turn toward the elevators and press the call button a million times while trying to shield Kayla, as his questions about her continue. I tuck her face into my chest, and as soon as one of the elevator’s doors open, we rush inside. She spins around to face the back.

“Kincaid! That’s Kincaid Summers!”

Fuck.My fists clench as he announces aloud what he just realized.

People have started to gather in the elevator bay, and a dozen or more cell phones snap our pictures now, on top of this fucking guy’s photos. I can’t do anything about them, but I can at least stop him from following us up. I step between her and the reporter as he tries to follow us inside, and hold my hand out toward the camera. “I wouldn’t fucking recommend it, bro.”

He pauses, holding my gaze and flashing his camera at us as the doors close. I’ve been known to kick a reporter’s ass a time or two, and he must have known I don’t fuck around when it comes to my privacy. I don’t ask for it very often, but when I do, they better back the fuck off.

I should have had Red do a quick sweep of the casino before we got out of the car. After that fucking punk Johnny blasted my name all over Vegas last night, I should have known better.

I take a deep breath to steady myself. “I’m sorry about that,” I whisper, turning toward her.

She looks up at me, eyes wide. “Is that how it is for you? All the time?”

I shrug, smiling sadly. “I wanted the fame, you know? Kinda comes with the territory.”

She shakes her head. “Yeah, but... wow.”

I pull her toward me by the belt of her jacket, and look down into her eyes. “Are you mad?”

She frowns. “Mad? Why? Because of that guy?”

I nod.

“No, Atlas. I don’t even think he got my face. He guessed at who I was, but, what does that even mean? At most, they’ll say you were with the amazing Kincaid Summers, and then you’llreallybe famous.” She winks, and I laugh, pulling her even closer so I can kiss her.

“You are kind of amazing,” I say as I bring my lips to hers, chastising myself for feeling this way about her and actually saying the words out loud. What the fuck is going on with me right now?

With her lips on mine, I push the thought aside. It doesn’t matter how I feel about her, or the fact that she’s made me break three rules in two short days. Four rules? She’s leaving Vegas soon, going back to Whatever Town, U.S.A., and I’ll be hopping back on the tour starting tomorrow night, fucking Bangers in every town I cross.

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