Page 133 of Crown of Lies

“No!” I scream, fighting harder, but it’s not enough.

Suddenly, I smell smoke. Panic grips me as I realize the clubhouse is on fire. The flames spread quickly, engulfing everything in their path.

“Quinn!” I yell, pushing through the chaos, ignoring the heat and the smoke.

I can see her now, still tied to the chair, the flames getting closer. Her eyes meet mine, filled with terror and something else… resignation?

No. Fuck no. She’s not going to die like this. None of us are.

I’m almost there, just a few more steps. But the fire is faster. It reaches her before I can, and I’m forced back by the intense heat.

“Quinn!” I scream again, but it’s too late. The flames have taken her, and there’s nothing I can do.

I jerk awake with a strangled shout, my heart pounding in my chest. I’m sweaty and momentarily disoriented, the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my consciousness. My eyes dart around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings before I remember I’m in Quinn’s house, in the room that’s become mine.

As my breathing starts to slow, I become aware of a warm presence next to me. Quinn. The memory of her crawling into bed after we all finally made it home last night flickers through my mind.

I tighten my hold on her, pulling her closer. The dream flashes through my mind—the fire, the clubhouse, Quinn tied to that chair. My jaw clenches as I try to push the images away, but they’re sticking around just to taunt me tonight.

My emotions are raging out of control, a chaotic mix of fear, anger, and an overwhelming need to protect. I’m furious at my subconscious for conjuring such a horrific scenario, angry at myself for not being able to save her even in my fucking dreams.

My entire body tenses with the effort of holding it all in. I don’t want to wake Quinn, don’t want her to see me like this, so damn raw and vulnerable. But the nightmare has shaken me to my core, leaving me feeling exposed and on edge.

I focus on Quinn’s steady breathing, trying to match my own to hers. She’s here, she’s safe. We all made it out of the chaos at the clubhouse earlier tonight. But the fear lingers, a cold knot in my stomach that refuses to unwind.

My fingers trace light patterns on her arm, needing the physical reassurance that she’s really here. The dream felt so real, the heat of the flames, the desperation in Quinn’s eyes.

I’m jolted from my spiraling thoughts as Quinn stirs beside me. She turns her head, her sleepy eyes meeting mine in the dim light.

“You were muttering in your sleep,” she murmurs, her voice thick with concern. “Nightmare?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. The images from the dream flash through my mind again, and I clench my jaw, trying to keep it all contained.

Quinn shifts, propping herself up on one elbow. Her gaze is steady, searching my face. “I can see you’re trying to hold it all in, Nico. Everything that happened tonight… it’s a lot. It would be a lot for anyone.”

I look away, unable to meet her eyes. The emotions are threatening to overtake me—grief, anger, fear—all battling for dominance.

“Hey,” Quinn says softly, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. She gently turns my face back to hers. “Take it out on me.”

I blink. “What?”

“Fuck your emotions out,” she says, simply and quietly and completely serious. “Whatever you need to let out, I can take it.”

I hold her gaze, my emotions churning even harder as I see the trust in her eyes. She means it. She’ll let me do anything. The realization hits me—she wants it, and she really can take whatever I do to her.

It’s almost instinctual—the primal urge to take, to claim, to exert my will over hers, and to show her just how much I needthis. My desire for her is raw and animalistic now, fueled by the nightmare and the chaos of the night. I want to possess her, to make her mine in the most basic, instinctual way. I need her to feel it all, to understand what she does to me, and what I’ll do to protect her.

Before I can second-guess myself, I roll her onto her stomach, pulling her up onto her knees. The position is stark and primal, exposing her in a way that triggers every protective and possessive instinct in my body. I can’t stop myself from claiming her like this, marking her as mine.

I press myself against her, trapping her hands above her head against the mattress. She makes a soft sound of surprise, but it quickly turns into a moan as I thrust against her, letting her feel every inch of my cock inside her.

“Fuck yes,” I growl, thrusting as hard and deep as I can. “Fucking take it. Gonna fill that tight pussy.”

“Yes. God, yes.” Her breath quickens, and she arches her back, pressing against me, encouraging me. “Give it to me. Fucking give me all of it.”

My mouth finds her neck, and I bite down, marking her with my teeth. She gasps, and I feel her shiver beneath me. I can’t stop myself from growling, the sound rumbling in my chest as I claim her with my mouth, my teeth, and my cock. She’s mine, and I want her to know it, to feel it in the deepest, most intimate way possible.

I drag my open mouth down her spine, biting and tasting her, marking a path to the curve of her ass. I grip her hips and pull her back onto me, wanting her to take every inch.

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