Page 115 of Monsters Carve Thrones

Her head tipped back, her body shuddering beneath mine. Her pussy clenched so hard around me that it nearly broke me.

“That’s it, little doe,” I whispered, my hand cradling her jaw. “Come for me.”

She fell apart, gasping, crying out my name in a sound I’d hold in my bones forever. My forehead rested against hers while I followed her over the edge, thrusting once, twice more before burying myself as deep as I could. My orgasm crashed through me like a fucking tidal wave. I groaned as I came inside her, every muscle flexing and trembling.

When it was over, I didn’t move.

I held her. Her body was warm and shaking, her skin slick with sweat. My arms wrapped around her, one hand smoothing back her hair while her breath slowed beneath me.Her legs were still around my hips like she didn’t want to let me go.

I kissed her temple. “I’ve got you,” I whispered. “I’ll always have you.”

Exhausted and sated, I swept her up into my arms and carried her to the bathroom. She didn’t say anything, but I knew she was happy by how she held me.

She was only gone for a few minutes before she joined me under the blankets, scooting her behind closer. My chest pressed to her back, one arm curled around her waist, the other smoothing down her hair. She was quiet, peaceful, tucked perfectly against me.

It wasn’t long before her breathing evened out, and I knew she’d fallen asleep.

Chapter 21

ADELA

The first thing I heard that morning was the wind brushing through the trees outside our bedroom window. I hadn’t woken up screaming or troubled. That was new.

Rafe’s side of the bed was warm but empty. A soft sigh left me as I sat up, the sheets falling around my waist. My body still ached a little from my training with Laura yesterday. Well, I had to get back into it somehow.

I looked down at myself, frowning at the fact that I was much thinner than before my capture. My hipbones protruded slightly, and my breasts had shrunk just a tad. Thankfully, Rafe never made me feel bad about myself.

I padded barefoot to the kitchen. The marble floor was cool beneath my feet. Rafe had left a coffee cup out for me with a note scrawled in his unmistakable hand:

“With every breath, for the rest of my days, I love you. - R.”

I smiled and poured my cup. And as I drank it, my thoughts wandered to last night. He gave me everything I needed and wanted. He... made love to me. No one had ever made me feel so valued, and I was entirely grateful.

Later that morning, I stepped into the private gym in the lower wing of the house. It was a larger room with enough space to run drills. The air inside was still, almost heavy. Dust clung to the edges of the windows, thin webs tucked in the corners of the ceiling. It looked forgotten–like a part of me. I hadn’t imagined Rafe used this room at all after I was taken.

Laura was already there, barefoot on the mat, stretching with her usual predatory grace. Her hair was in a messy bun, cheeks flushed from a light warm-up. She looked over her shoulder when she heard me enter, flashing a grin.

“Good morning, angel face.”

I snorted softly, stepping inside. “Morning, lovely.”

She rose to her feet and tossed me a water bottle. I caught it mid-air, more from muscle memory than coordination. “You sure you’re good after yesterday?” she asked, not unkindly. “After the training and... anything it could have brought to the surface?”

“I’mfine,” I said, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip. “I just need my body to catch up.”

Laura arched a brow. “Your body and your soul aren’t the same thing, babe.”

“Thanks, Socrates.”

She giggled, and we began with slow warm-ups, basic strikes, and balance drills. My limbs felt rusty and disconnected. It was fucking frustrating, really. My left arm lagged just a fraction behind the right. With every punch, I remembered what it felt like to fight. To win. To control something, even if it was just my breath and my fists.

“You’re still a weapon,” Laura said, moving behind me to adjust my stance. “You didn’t lose that. Waylon didn’t take that from you.”

I looked at her over my shoulder. “I know,” I said. And I did.Finally.I took a breath. “Did you ever think about killing him yourself?” I asked. “Waylon?”

Laura’s jaw clenched for a split second before she exhaled through her nose. “I thought about it every day after he took you. But I think you’d be pissed if I took that from you. And I’m sure I wouldn’t have survived Rafe, either. I know what got him through his withdrawals, and our time in captivity was picturing himself killing that fucker.”

I stilled, setting down my water bottle. “Withdrawals?”