Page 157 of Monsters Wear Crowns
I moved like a man possessed, holding her tighter, plunging into her like I needed her to feel me for days. She was sobbing with pleasure, and Ifedon it. “Good girl,” I rasped, nearly breaking from how perfect she felt around me. “You take me so well. Look at you. God, you look so pretty, baby.”
She whimpered, and it was my favorite sound in the world. Her body trembled violently as I kept going, coaxing wave after wave out of her, and fuck, I wanted everyone within a ten-blockradius toknow.
“That’s it, be loud for me,” I growled, my teeth catching on her throat. “Let them all hear you. Let themfucking hear you.”
“Please, Rafe–”
“Who does this body belong to?” I demanded, voice breaking from the strain of holding back. “Who does thisheartbelong to, little doe?”
Her legs were shaking, her walls fluttering around me, and I could see the tears in her lashes–too much, too good, too everything.
And I was done.
I slammed into her with a broken, primal groan and pulled her hair back so she had no choice but to look at me when I came. “Mine,” I growled, voice shredded. “Mine. You’re allfuckingmine.”
I emptied myself inside her, locking her in place with both hands on her hips, refusing to let her go. I kissed her like I was anchoring myself to her soul. My lips moved against hers even when the words came soft.
“Je t’aime.Don’t forget that.” Even if the world came for us. Even if I had to killeveryonewho tried.
She was so fucking light in my arms. The adrenaline was still coursing through me, the sharp edge of it slowly fading into a dull hum. But the weight of her against my chest, the way her breath softened and slowed as sleep tugged at her–that was what kept me grounded. That was what kept me from unraveling completely.
I stepped into her apartment, the familiar scent of her wrapping around me. It was softer and calmer here...and I hated how foreign that felt. She shouldn’t have peace away from me. I should be the one to give it to her.
But I hadn’t, had I?
The memory of that night twisted like a knife in my gut. I’dbroken her. I’d fucking raped her. She’d trusted me, and I’d thrown that trust aside in my rage. In my fear. In my need to keep her, no matter the cost. After she left me, I paced in my office, where I fucking hurt her, and nearly shot myself. Nothing mattered without her.
She stirred against me, a soft sound escaping her lips, and I tightened my hold without thinking, as if I could keep her from slipping away even in sleep.
I laid her down carefully, brushing the hair from her face as I pulled the blanket over her. Her face was soft in sleep, but the faint shadows beneath her eyes told me everything.
I did that.
She shifted, and my heart clenched when she turned toward me. Even in sleep, even after everything, she still sought me out. And she still had every ounce of my heart and soul.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand brushing over her cheek. She made a quiet sound, her face pressing into my touch.
Je suis désolé, mon amour.
I’m sorry, my love.
The words wouldn’t leave my throat. Maybe because I knew they weren’t enough. Maybe because I didn’t deserve the forgiveness I wanted so desperately. But I made myself a promise right then. No one would take her from me. Not Moreau, not fear, not even myself. And I would never stop loving her. Even if it ultimately fucking destroyed me.
Chapter 30
ADELA
The sheets were cold when I woke the next morning in an empty bed. For a long moment, I lay still, listening to the quiet hush of my apartment. There was no sound of the shower running, no low murmur of his voice on a phone call, no weight of his arm across my waist, holding me down even in his sleep.
He was gone.
A dull, hollow ache struck my chest. I told myself it was better this way. Rafe Vaughan had been too dangerous from the start, and now…now I knew exactly how much power he had to destroy me. I fucking hated that.
But my body didn’t seem to care about logic. My skin still tingled where his hands had been. My lips were swollen from his kiss, and my muscles ached in a way that made heat flare through me. I squeezed my eyes shut against the memories–the rush of wind, the laughter on the rooftop, the way he whispered my name. And…he’d told me he loved me.
Je t’aime.
God, I was so stupid.
