Touch me, she wanted to shout. It had been so long, so damned long, since shed experienced this. Oh, shed been with other men since giving herself so foolishly to Atlas, because shed been searching for something as intense as what they had shared. But each experience had left her hollow, unsatisfied. And then she had been captured-by Atlas himself-and unceremoniously stuffed into this prison.
With the lack of privacy, thered been no opportunities to find companionship. Not that she would have wanted to or had even tried. No one drew her anymore. No one but Atlas, damn him.
Yes, damn him. Him. The man who had held her down only yesterday and etched his name into her flesh. What was she doing, allowing this? He would think she still cared for him. He would think she still pined for him, dreamed of himcraved him. That might be true, curse it, but she would never allow him to know it.
Panting, she tore her mouth away. I dont want you, she lied. Let me go. Now.
A low growl erupted from his throat. I dont want you, either. Once, twice, he rubbed his shaft against her. But Im not letting you go.
Tremors slid the length of her spine. Sweet heaven. Hed hit her sweet spot, and sensation rocketed through her. Then one of his hands lowered and cupped her breast, and her knees almost buckled.
Why? The word was a mere whimper. And why was she allowing him the choice? Why wasnt she ripping away from him? You are Strength. Act like it.
Why wont I let you go? He rolled her hardened nipple between his fingers.
That was why she remained as she was, she thought, dazed. The pleasure was building, flowing through her veins, burning her up, recreating her into a new being. Someone who lived for satisfaction alone. Someone who didnt care that the one responsible for her desire was an enemy.
Yes.
I justI Those fingers tightened, stinging her a little. Just shut up and kiss me again.
Their mouths met again, and this time she rose on her tiptoes to meet him. She couldnt stop herself. As their tongues clashed and warred, he cupped her ass and lifted her feet off the floor. Forcing him to hold her weight would have been fun, but not nearly as pleasurable as winding her legs around his waist and pressing her needy core against his shaft.
With her braced against the wall, he was able to tunnel both of his hands under her robe. Their bodies were too close together for him to reach her slick center, where she wanted him most, but having his hands on her cheeks, skin against skin, was almost as welcome. He was hotter than she remembered.
His lips left hers, but before she could moan her disappointment, he was kissing and licking his way down her neck.
Yes, she gasped. Yes. Like that.
More? His nose nuzzled the golden slave collar as if it were a trinket rather than a device that could kill her. For once, she even liked the collar.
Yes. More. At the moment, that was the only word she was capable of. Unlessdid he think to make her beg?
Fury suddenly blended with desire. Well, she would show him. She would beg for nothing. Not even this. Especially this. Not for him.
Then more you shall have, he said, shocking her. He tugged the fabric of her robe down, revealing her breasts. Air hissed through his teeth. So lovely. So perfect. His tongue flicked out and circled the nipple hed pinched just a short while ago. So mine.
Her head fell back, and her nails scratched at his back. So good. The heatthe wetnessthe-Yes! The suction. He was sucking at her so forcefully, her stomach muscles were quivering. Atlas, she groaned. Dont stop. A command, not a plea.
I wont. I cant. He straightened, his narrowed gaze suddenly pinning her in place far more effectively than his body. I want you. All of you.
She struggled to regain her breath. Her senses. You mean sex? Yes, yes, yes. Here, now.
A clipped nod was the only answer she received. She opened her mouth to reply, but somehow found the strength to stop herself. She drank in the sight of him-a sight that delighted her almost as much as it angered her. Angered? Why? His nostrils were flared, his lips pulled tight. He looked as if he barely had himself under control.
Did he want her that badly? she wondered. Or was he merely that good an actor?
Yes, she mused darkly. He was that good an actor. And that was where the anger sprang from. Hed looked at her like that once before, the last time theyd had sex. That look had been the catalyst to her decision to free him, despite the consequences to herself. Consequences that could have resulted in a death sentence. But, shed thought, he truly loves me with the same intensity that I love him. Shed thought anything worth the risk of freeing him. Of possibly being with him for eternity.
How they would have managed that, she hadnt known. But shed wanted to try. He had not.
Thank the gods shed encountered one of the members of his skank parade mere minutes after escorting him from the building and into the clouds outside, where he would have been able to flash. Hed still had his collar on-she hadnt wanted to remove it until theyd bypassed every single guard. That way, everyone who saw them walking together would have assumed she was simply moving a prisoner.
But outside, theyd been seen. No one could flash out of or into the prison itself, so everyone had to walk through the front door. Aergia, the goddess of laziness, of all things, had decided to come to work early, surprise, surprise-just to be with Atlas again. Shed stopped Nike to question where he was being taken.
Im taunting him with what he can never have again, Nike had claimed.
The goddess had frowned. Well, take him to my office when youre done.
Why?
The frown became a slow, sensual smile. So I can dish my brand ofpunishment to him.
Dread had sparked inside her. And how do you punish him?
How do you think? But dont worry. Ill leave him begging for more. I always do.
Atlas had tried to run then, mowing right over them both, but with his collar still in place, he hadnt gotten far. Nike had locked him back up and, suspicious, questioned all the female guards. Nearly every single one of them had had a go at him. And hed told them all the same thing: You are beautiful. I want to spend my life with you. All I need is my freedom, and I will be your slave for eternity.
So, have sex with him again? Hell, no.
You want me, he snapped. His grip tightened on her, his fingers digging deep, bruising. I know you do.
Just like that, she knew what this little makeout session was about. He planned to sleep with her, make her fall in love with him all over again, and then dump her. Hed grind up her pride, spit it out and stomp all over it. All to punish her, she was sure, for daring to tattoo him as she had. Marking her with his name clearly wasnt enough.
Wanting you dead and wanting your body arent the same things. With a sugar-sweet grin, she patted his cheek. And I can promise you that while I do want the first, I was only teasing you about the second. Now who was playing who? Soif were done here?
He ran his tongue over his teeth. His arms fell away from her, and he stepped back. She nearly collapsed, but managed to shift her legs and absorb her own weight.
Were done, he said, his tone clipped. We are definitely done.
Chapter 5
Atlas had to empty a cell of its seven occupants and place those gods and goddesses within other, already cramped cells to make a place for Nike. The time and effort was worth it, though. He couldnt tolerate the thought of her with that bastard, Erebos, doing the same things to him that shed once done to Atlas.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
And maybe, perhaps, there was a slight chance it had nothing to do with punishing her and everything to do with the pleasure hed earlier denied. In her arms, hed come alive. That had happened last time, too, but hed written it off as prisoner insanity. Now, he couldnt write it off. He wasnt a prisoner; he was a warden. Hed come alive, and he needed more. Of her, only her. Yet she claimed shed merely been playing him.
He wanted that to be a lie more than he wanted to take his next breath. Which he didnt understand. She was doomed to spend eternity hidden away, which meant they could not have any kind of life together. Not even if he freed her. He would then be locked away or put to death.
For a week, Atlas lamented his plight and pondered what to do. All the while, he stayed away from Nikes new cell. That didnt stop him from thinking about her, however. What was she doing? Did she think of him? Did she dream of him and that shattering kiss?
He did. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the passion glowing from her face. A face that was exquisite. From barely passable, to pretty, to exquisite, all in a weeks time. He shook his head in wonder. But she deserved the praise. Her lashes were long and as rich as black velvet. Velvet that framed sensual chocolate eyes. Her cheeks were smooth, perfect for caressing, and her lush, red lips were sweeter than ambrosia. And all that strengthhis shaft filled and lengthened just remembering it. Shed gripped and scratched him with savage abandon. He still bore the marks.
They definitely werent done. Not even close. He had to experience that again.
Finally, he could stand the separation no longer. Thankfully, his shift was over. A shift that had consisted of walking the prison halls, watching the prisoners inside their cells and ensuring everyone remained calm.
That should have bored him. After all, he was a warrior. But bore him it didnt. And that should have irritated him. After all, hed spent countless centuries in this place and had sworn never to return once hed escaped. But again, irritation was not what he felt. Hed wanted this job to be close to Nike. To have his vengeance, hed once told himself. Now, he wasnt so sure. Today, and all week really, hed walked the halls invigorated, knowing all he had to do to catch sight of her was turn a corner.
He hadnt allowed himself to do so. Until now. Finally, he would see her.
The moment she came into view, his blood heated, blistering. His breath followed suit, flaming his lungs to ash. She sat atop her cot, arms gripping the rail, knees drawn up while she leaned slightly forward. Her hair was finger-combed to perfection, and her eyes were narrowed, shielding her irises and the emotion banked there, but at least he could see the shadows her lashes cast over her cheeks. Shadows he might trace with a fingertip.
Oh, yes. She was exquisite.
Wheres your girlfriend? Her voice was smooth as silk. Just beneath that silk, however, he thought he caught a tendril of fury.
Was she mad that hed come? Or mad that hed stayed away so long?
I dont have a girlfriend.
She shrugged. Too bad for you that whores never commit.
He knew he was the whore that she spoke of, and popped his jaw. But he deserved that, he supposed. I did what I had to do to escape, Nike. That doesnt mean I didnt feel- No. Oh, no. He would not go down that road. He hadnt wanted to feel anything for her, but he had. That hadnt stopped him from using her, so shed never like what he had to say about the matter. Im sure youd do anything to escape, as well.
Her expression darkened, but she did not refute his words. So, did you come to free me?
Hardly.
Then why are you here? We have nothing more to say to each other.
Because youre all I think about anymore. He never should have marked her.
This might have been avoided. Or not. He might have slept with others all those years ago because hed been desperate to flee this place, but it had been her face hed imagined when hed done so.
Without looking away from her, he leaned back against the bar behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. Theres plenty to say. About the kiss.
She yawned, patting her beautiful mouth. A mouth he wanted all over his body. Id rather sleep.
So. She still wanted him to think she had been unaffected. Part of him believed it. An insecure part of him that had never really known how to deal with her, his equal in every way. Yes, even strength, though he often liked to deny it. The other part of him, the masculine part, knew she had liked everything hed done. Shed shouted his name, for gods sake, and he hadnt even made her climax.
Youre saying you dont want me? he asked as silkily as she had.
Not even a little.
Really? He rested his fingers at the waist of his pants, twisting the button, and her eyes followed the movement. His cock was already hard, already straining, rising over the top. Moisture glistened there. Not even a tiny, tiny bit?
She gulped. N-no. The word was croaked. But you are. Tiny, that is.
Liar. She did. She wanted him. And he was huge, thank you very much. The sense of possessiveness returned, all the more intense because it was joined by satisfaction. Ill have you yet, Nike. That I promise you.
Justgo away, she said, suddenly sounding almostdejected. She eased to her side, then rolled to her back, facing away from him. Were done with each other. Remember?
Wrong move. Seeing her back, even covered by that baggy robe, reminded him of what hed done and that set fire to his blood anew. Whatever he had to do, he was going to have this woman.
I guess well find out, he told her before walking away.
Chapter 6
Atlas pushed past the double doors that led into Cronuss throne room. Armed guards, immortal warriors Cronus himself had created, were stationed along the edges of the walls. Each held a spear, and swords swung from the sheaths at their waists. They stood at attention, waiting for an order or a threat. They would spring into action for both.
Of course, there were also warriors lining both sides of the purple lambs fleece carpet that led to the bejeweled dais, crowding Atlas as he made his way forward. His weapons had already been removed, but they were taking no chances, eyeing his every movement with distrust.