Page 10 of Monsters Carve Thrones

Modern, clean lines. Tall windows. Private courtyard. Enough space to breathe and still feel close. Somewhere we could truly build a future.

She looked up at me, eyes softer now. “I’m definitely interested. This is beautiful, Rafe. Wow. Thank you so much.”

My heart kicked. I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed to hear that until she said it. I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “Good. Because I already told them we’d take it if you liked it.”

She laughed, but there were tears glistening in her eyes. “Of course you did.”

I lifted her hand to my lips. “I don’t just want a house, Adela. I want a home. With you.Onlyyou.” I glanced up as the stars began to rise above us. I closed my eyes at the warm breeze, feeling truly and utterly at peace.Huh, who would have ever thought this demon could find happiness?

The wine had soon gone to our heads, offering the best goddamn buzz. Adela’s skin was flushed, not just from the alcohol or the ocean breeze, but fromme. The weight of her gaze. The promises I couldn’t stop myself from making with every glance, every touch. I watched her as she tucked a loose strand of black hair behind her ear.

I shifted in my seat, leaned forward on my elbows, and dropped my voice low enough to vibrate through her bones. “Now that we’reofficiallymarried…” I paused, dragging my fork through the remnants of roasted fig and honeyed cheese. “Do you have any kinks I don’t know about?”

She nearly choked on her wine. But I caught her immediate interest. She looked down, then back up at me, those blue eyes dancing with mischief and heat. “You already know my main one.”

“Being…taken,” I said, letting the worddragwith a smirk. “Of course. I’m quite a fan of that one, too.”

Her cheeks went pink, but she didn’t look away. I shifted in my chair, ignoring the heat that flared low in my spine. I stabbed a bite of grilled salmon and brought it to my mouth, chewing slowly as I watched her squirm.

“But what else?” I asked once I swallowed. “What haven’t you told me yet? I know you’re a dirty girl. There weremanykinks in those books of yours, baby.”

She tilted her head, thoughtful. Her gaze flicked away for a moment.

I narrowed my eyes. “What is it?”

She smirked, leaning forward slowly until the candlelight kissed the curves of her cleavage. The silk of her dress slipped lower, just enough to make me grip the edge of the table so I didn’t reach across and tear it off of her right then and there. “I’ve always wanted to be woken up with you… already inside me,” she said, voice like velvet over a blade. “Or… you just take me in my sleep, regardless if I wake or not.”

Damn.

My jaw clenched. My pulse roared. “So…somno? Free use?” I asked, my voice rougher than intended. “I can…absolutely indulge that. I wouldn’t mind. How would I know you’re open to that, though? I want to respect you.”

She pursed her cute lips, thinking. Even with the dim light from the candles, I could still see the blush that crept over her cheeks. “If I sleep in my underwear, then you’re good. If pajamas, no.”

I nodded. “Sounds logical to me.”

She raised an eyebrow, seemingly happy with that response. “What about you? What wouldyouwant to try?”

I could no longer control myself after what she had just told me.

I reached across the table and caught her throat in one hand. My thumb pressed against her pulse point, and I could feel the rhythm spike under my grip. She gasped, her eyes widening. “What wouldIwant?” I echoed, tone dark now. I leaned in. “I want you torunfrom me.”

Her lips parted, breath shaky. “Run how?”

I considered her for just a moment. Then I squeezed a little harder. “Out into the trees,” I said. “Barefoot. I’ll give you a minute, maybe two. Then I’ll come after you. And when I catch you…” I leaned in further, voice gravel. “I’ll fuck you. Right there. Against the ground.”

She bit her lip, eyes blown wide, trembling slightly beneath my grip. “That sounds…dark, Rafe.”

I smirked. “Please, Adela.You’redark. Yourfantasiesare dark.” I finally released her and leaned back, the tension between us a wire stretched thin. “I’ll surprise you,” I said. “We’ll explore these soon enough.”

She reached for her wine, her hand barely steady, and took a long sip. But her eyes never left mine. And as we returned to our meal, I knew she was already imagining the taste of dirt and leaves and bark beneath her palms. And me, hunting her. Catching her. And devouring her.

And fuck, so was I.

***

I woke to the ocean breeze drifting through the open windows, the white curtains billowing like ghostly sails. The moon still hung in the sky, pouring a peaceful glow across the room. The alcohol had thinned from my system, but not the heat pooling low in my stomach.

Not the waysheaffected me. We had stumbled into the bedroom earlier, exhausted from a heavy dinner and dessert, and fell asleep quickly.