Page 16 of Monsters Wear Crowns
Hepushedme down.
Air rushed past my ears as my back tipped over the ledge, my spine curving into open space.
Holy shit.
The city blurred beneath me–an endless pit of darkness and light, a dizzying reminder of how small I was compared to the beast holding me. If he let go for even a second, if he decided he was done playing this sick little game, I would fall.I would die.
The thought sent my pulse into a frenzy, slamming with a force that stole my breath.
And he felt it.
His hand remained firm against my chest, right over my pounding heart, fingers splayed like he could mold me beneath them. His other hand gripped my thigh–hard. Keeping me pinned, keeping me alive.
Trapped.
Completely at his mercy. And then, helaughed.A low, sultry chuckle rumbled from his chest, vibrating through me like static, like heat. Then, just as easily as he’d tipped me back, he pulled me forward, guiding me upright.
My body was trembling. His eyes swept over me, and he smiled. “Alright, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice like a slow drag of silk against my skin. “Do you feel alive now?”
I couldn’t answer.
I could barelybreathe.
Rafe still had his hands on me–one pressing lightly against my chest, a silent acknowledgment of what he’d done to me.What he could do to me.The ledge still loomed behind me. The rush still pumped through my veins.
And I feltinsane.Wild.
Every nerve in my body was on fire. My mindscreamedat me torun, toget awayfrom this man.My stomach turned.
Rafe Vaughan. The worst criminal in New York. Theoneman people spoke of in hushed voices. The kind of man who had no lines, no limits. A man who hadbloodon his hands–probably as recently as today.
And he washuntingme. My body wanted him anyway. His lips twitched like he knew, like he’d reached inside me andseen it.He’ddraggedsomething out of me I hadn’t even realized was there.
And Ilet him.
I exhaled hard, my chest rising and falling as I blinked up at him. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
He didn’t argue. Instead, his hand trailed lower, slipping between my legs. A single finger hooked inside my underwear, teasing along my heat.
I gasped.
I shouldstop him.
I should–
His lips crashed into mine. The kiss wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t careful. It felt like someone who’d been holding back for a long time. His mouth moved over mine, rough and deliberate, his grip tightening like he’dneverlet me go. His fingers dipped inside me, slow but deep, and hesighedagainst my mouth like he’d just tasted something forbidden.
Pleasure crackled through me, setting every nerve on fire. I responded instantly, my body betraying every rational thought. My fingers fisted in his shirt, clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping me tethered to this moment.
Hewas.
The rooftop, the city, the world–it all fell away. There was only this.
Onlyhim.
His grip on my thigh tightened, pulling me against him and dragging me into the hard, solid heat of his body. My breath came out in a sharp, uneven moan. I tried to stifle it, to keep some of my dignity. But hefeltit,heardit.
And hedevouredit.
