Page 53 of No Saint

Something about Amelia’s reaction had warning sirens blaring inside my head. Why had she reacted to Atlas’s voice that way? Looked at him like he had answers to questions she wouldn’t voice.

“Three,” Atlas says, “They’re alive.”

I glance to the man groaning at my feet, noting the tight cable ties around his wrists, blood steadily pulsing from a gunshot wound to the left of his abdomen.

“Take them below,” I order, “all three of them. Keep them alive.”

Atlas nods and moves to give the order, I grab him by the arm though I didn’t know what to say. Something was off here. He glances to my hand holding him, “What is it, brother?”

“Fratello,” I repeat in Italian, “We are family,si?”

“Yes.”

I let him go, “Don’t let them die. I’m not done with them."

I leave them to my orders and take the stairs to Amelia’s room, finding her freshly showered with Devon sitting in a chair by the window. He glances at me and nods once before he exits.

Amelia doesn’t say anything as she climbs into the bed, curling up onto her side. I go to her, drawn even in the dire of circumstances. She doesn’t stop me from settling myself next to her, from pulling her to me, and cradling her against my chest, arms curled protectively around her.

She relaxes.

I turn my face to inhale the scent of a mix of her shampoo and simply her scent, willing myself to calm down. She was breathing. Injured but breathing. I wanted the remaining men down below to suffer and if I was too angry, I’d rip them all apart. Tentatively, Amelia curls an arm around my abdomen, curling herself in tighter.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper.

Her nails bite into the flesh at my side, clinging to me, “Gabriel,” she cries on a breath.

“Shh,” I bring her in closer, “I’m here.”

She doesn’t stop, she turns herself until she is staring at me, noses brushing, her other hand curling into the front of my shirt. There are unshed tears glistening in her eyes but fuck, they’re alive, a little wild.

“Amelia…” I try.

Her mouth slams down onto mine in a clash of lips and teeth.

Fuck!

I curl my arms around her, opening to let her in, her tongue finding the invitation and diving into my mouth. I meet her there, adjusting as she moves to straddle my hips, my cock jerking to attention at the roll of her hips against my groin.

My fingers thread into the hair at the back of her head, holding her to me as she whimpers into my mouth. I press my hips up as she grinds down, finding a rhythm that slowly heats and increases. She felt so fucking good against me, her body perfectly built for mine.

Her breath stutters from her as I roll my aching cock against her centre, pressing in and up, wanting to bury myself to the damn hilt inside her.

Something wet hits my face and then again before I taste the salt on my tongue.

I manage to break away, breathing hard. Amelia moves in once more, trying to seal our mouths but I somehow manage to restrain myself when all I want to do is spread her out and feast on her.

“Amelia!” She turns her face away. “Amelia.”

I pinch her chin, forcing her to look at me, seeing the tears tracking down her face, sliding over her swollen and red lips. I’m careful in the way I handle her, aware of those bruised ribs.

“Leonessa mia,” I gently push her off, laying her onto her back. The top half of my body follows until I’m leaning over her, my weight held in the arms positioned on either side of her body, “I want nothing more than this, but not like this.” I swipe a tear from her cheek.

She brings her eyes to meet mine, more tears seeping out to slide into her hairline, “It was a mistake.”

I kiss her softly. “It wasn’t a mistake but you’re not ready.”

“You can’t have me,” She declares weakly.

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