Page 53 of Crowned

“But not Ivan’s.”

“I’m glad.” My voice is low and filled with venom. “A wife isn’t supposed to think it, but I’m glad he’s dead.”

Elyah’s gaze burns with malice. “I should have killed him the first time he laid his hands on you in anger.”

I shake my head, not sure if I’m pitying myself or pitying him. “In the hospital? Oh, Elyah. That wasn’t the first time.”

He clamps his hands to his skull and squeezes his eyes shut. “Fuck.Fuck.”

“He made my life a misery, and he would have made my child miserable if I’d—if it—” Even now with another baby strong and kicking in my belly, my heart still aches for the child I lost.

“I would have loved that child,” Elyah whispers.

I know.My mouth fills with the words, but I can’t say them. This man has done terrible things to my heart and soul, and I shouldn’twantto say them.

His large hand cups my cheek. “I will love this child. This is all I have to offer you both. Will you accept me, Lilia? Will you let me protect you both? It is all I want.”

Elyah takes both my hands and presses them to his chest. He’s burning hot, vital, and delicious. When I don’t immediately push him away, he takes his chance and captures my mouth with his.

“I don’t forgive you,” I whisper between kisses. “You’re dangerous. You’re cruel.”

“I am,” he says, his mouth melting over mine. “But this world is dangerous and cruel, and I will hold it back from you and the baby.”

I have to get away from Elyah before I succumb to what his body is offering. I don’t trust myself not to open my heart to him if I let him so sweetly devastate me with orgasms yet again.

But Elyah has other ideas.

He picks me up and carries me over to the bed. “I deserve to be dragged down to hell. I will fight every demon that comes for me because I will never leave your side, and, Lilia, you are meant for heaven.”

How can a man who professes to be stupid say such devastating things? I don’t feel angelic right at this moment, not when I’m craving Elyah so much I can’t think.

“Am I going to have to be good for the both of us so you can reach heaven, too?” I ask him.

“You will teach me to be good.” He unbuttons his jeans and pushes them down his legs, and his cock is thick and erect. Next he goes for my leggings, stripping them down my legs with a wicked gleam in his eye. “And I will teach you to be bad.”

I expect him to pin me to the mattress, but he rolls over onto his back and holds out his hands to me. His stiffened cock stands proudly to attention, thick and glorious. I can’t believe I’m thinking of a man’s cock as thick and glorious—I feel so stupid, I feel so cringe, but heis. I ache to raise my hips over him and slide down his length.

“Please,solnyshko. We both need it.”

Proud Elyah is saying please.

Beggingme.

My cheeks heat with anger and frustration. “I won’t.”

“You will, Lilia. Come here and scratch your nails down my chest while you fuck me. Hurt me. Make me pay. Tell me you hate me and that it will be long, long time before you will believe I am truly sorry. Whatever you need, but just come here.”

10

Elyah

Lilia still hesitates, so I take hold of her wrist and tug her toward me, and she falls across my chest. Her beautiful hair tumbles against my cheek.

“You want to hurt me? Go on. Attack me. Hit me. Punch me. But you have to do it while riding my cock.”

“Go to hell,” she seethes, but she doesn’t fight me. She doesn’t even try to pull away. She’s breathing hard, her belly pressed against my stomach. A spasm goes through my cock and my balls ache. I want my woman like this. She’s so fucking sexy I can barely breathe.

“I will get there eventually. Come on,solnyshka. Show me how angry you really are. Shred my chest. Make me bleed.”

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