Page 5 of Monsters Carve Thrones (Crowned Monsters Duet #2)

Ten days on this tropical island. I’d bought it the second I saw the private cove. No neighbors. No staff unless summoned. Just us. And every fucking hour of it, I was going to spend worshipping and destroying that beautiful body of hers in equal measure.

Because loving Adela Sinclair-Vaughan was the best accomplishment in my life. And I intended to remind myself of that every time I got her beneath me.

This woman made me feral .

She turned then, catching me watching her, and her mouth curved in that mischievous smile that would always snag at my heart. “Come swim with me,” she called out while wading deeper into the waves, throwing her kimono carelessly onto the sand.

I stalked down the steps toward her, letting the ocean breeze whip through my shirt before I tugged it off and let it fall. Her eyes raked over me, heat blooming in her gaze like always.

“You are so beautiful,” I murmured as I reached her. My fingers tangled in her hair as I pulled her against me. “I’m still in disbelief that we made it.”

She smiled, bright as the fucking stars. “I meant every word of my vows to you, Rafe. It’s you and me.”

I kissed her cheek, feeling her melt into me, the cool waters lapping at our waists.

Ten days. One island.

And I planned to spend every second reminding her what it meant to be mine.

***

The salt still clung to our skin when we stepped into the shower, laughing and slick with seawater. Her back pressed to my chest beneath the hot flow of water from above. I held her there, arms around her middle, letting the steam rise around us as I kissed her damp shoulder and breathed her in.

We didn’t speak much in the shower. We didn’t need to.

I washed her hair slowly and kissed the nape of her neck while she leaned into me, her fingers brushing along my thigh in lazy strokes that gave me fucking butterflies.

But I didn’t touch her more than that. I loved her, and I wanted to make sure she felt it.

I wanted her to know that she was always safe with me.

Later, when we stepped out and dried off, her long black hair was pulled into a lazy ponytail, her wispy bangs framing her beautiful face. She looked fucking divine in the red silk slip she wore, bare feet padding across the stone floors of our beach suite.

Dinner awaited us on our private beachfront patio, lit with soft lanterns that swayed in the breeze.

The ocean was a lullaby behind us, and the sky was streaked in lavender and fire.

Everything smelled like jasmine, sea salt, and grilled citrus.

It was almost too perfect. If I hadn’t known the woman beside me was real, I’d have thought I was dreaming.

She smiled as she poured us wine. Her blue eyes glittered in the candlelight, and I had to steady my grip on the table. “So,” she said, taking a sip. “What happens when we get back?”

“Hmm,” I leaned back, pretending to think. “Perhaps discuss where we’ll be living.”

She rolled her eyes and smirked. “What’s wrong with where we’re at now?”

I studied her carefully. “You don’t mind staying at the mansion?”

She shrugged, but there was no hesitance in her voice. “It’s not about the place. It’s about who’s in it.”

God, I loved this woman.

But I’d been thinking about it for weeks.

I wanted something new. A home that wasn’t soaked in blood and trauma.

Something that was ours . Plus, I had barely wanted to step foot in that fucking office again after what I’d done to her last year.

I cleared my throat, willing away the painful memory.

“I want a fresh start,” I said, reaching into my pocket and pulling out my phone. “I’ve been looking at townhouses.”

Her brow arched, surprised. “Really?”

I turned the screen toward her. “This one isn’t listed yet. But I know the seller. Scored us a tour if you’re interested.”

She leaned forward, eyes lighting up as she took the phone from me. “This is stunning…”

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. Only you.” 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 from me .

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’re officially married…” 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 word drag with 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 were many kinks 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 would you want 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 would I want?” I echoed, tone dark now. I leaned in. “I want you to run from 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’re dark. Your fantasies are 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 way she affected me. We had stumbled into the bedroom earlier, exhausted from a heavy dinner and dessert, and fell asleep quickly.

I shifted slightly, feeling the warmth of her body curled beside mine. Adela, my wife, my obsession. I looked down at her moonlit form, all smooth skin and dark lashes, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of her mouth even in sleep. She looked soft like this. Innocent, peaceful, and mine .

I reached under the sheet and wrapped my hand around my cock, already thick and hardening from nothing more than the sight of her. It was ridiculous how much I wanted her. How often . I had never felt like this about anyone before. But her? She killed me with a single look.

I rolled onto my side, careful not to wake her, my mind spiraling into a dark place.

She was lying on her back, her face turned away, lips parted slightly in sleep.

I let my fingers trail along her black, barely there silk tank top and the cute lacy underwear.

I paused, biting my bottom lip, considering.

She did say she wanted this. And she was in her underwear.

I slid my hand beneath the waistband of her panties. The moment my fingers found her, warm and slick, I felt something primal claw up my spine. I bit back a groan in nearly painful anticipation. Her hips shifted subtly at my touch, her body reacting before her mind caught up. Good girl.

I pushed her tank top up over her breasts, my thumb grazing one nipple until it peaked under my touch.

She moaned softly and arched toward me, still lost in sleep, but moving on instinct.

I dragged the pad of my thumb over her clit in slow, deliberate circles, watching the way her thighs parted like she was inviting me in.

Christ.

I slipped one finger inside her, exhaling a shaky breath at how hot and tight her pussy was.

My eyes rolled back just imagining how she’d feel wrapped around me.

I added another finger, curling them just right.

She clenched around me, a soft gasp slipping past her lips.

Her thighs shifted, tensing, a quiet moan catching in her throat as her head tilted toward me.

Her brows pinched like pleasure was dragging her up from sleep.

I pumped my fingers, pressing into that perfect spot I knew would make her come.

The slick sound of it was obscene in the stillness of dim morning.

I swore under my breath with a low, guttural exhale, then slowly peeled her underwear down her thighs.

Dragging my mouth along her knee, I took my time positioning myself between her legs. My cock throbbed, thick and aching. I kissed up her belly, found her throat, and let my teeth scrape gently across her skin.

Then I pressed into her, inch by inch until I was fully buried inside. I still wasn’t sure if she was pretending to sleep or truly floating in that warm haze between dreams and consciousness.

Didn’t matter.

Her body responded instantly, welcoming me.

She shifted as I began to move with deep, slow strokes that drew soft sounds from her mouth.

Her hips rolled, her full breasts brushing my chest with every thrust. I glanced down at her flat stomach and the cute belly piercing of a palm tree.

She’d gotten that right before our wedding.

I bit back a groan, sinking into her heat, pulling out, then in deep again.

The feel of her under me, pliant and warm, was enough to make me see stars.

Fuck .

I continued with slow movements for a while, savoring how tight she felt.

God, she was always so fucking tight. It took everything I had not to lose control, not to pound into her like an animal.

But I held steady. Let her feel every inch of me.

Let the tension coil a little further. But when her body started to shudder, when she gasped and clenched around me, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

My rhythm broke. I drove into her harder, rougher, chasing the end I’d held back for too long. I didn’t care if she woke up, now.

Then I let go.

With a groan torn from my chest, I emptied inside her, hips grinding down, burying myself as deep as I could go. Her name burned in my throat.

Afterward, I kissed her temple, breath still ragged, and collapsed beside her, one arm slung over her waist.

She suddenly made a cute sound and tucked herself into my side, one hand splayed over my chest, her breath slowing. I stared at the moon’s reflection rippling across the sea, my hand stroking slowly up and down her back.

Jesus, that was hot as fuck . I loved the idea of being able to take her whenever I wanted. She knew she could do that to me any time. “I love you, Dela ,” I whispered quietly.

For a moment, I didn’t think she’d respond. And that she had remained sleeping. But she nestled a little closer with a soft sigh. “I love you too, nightmare .”

My heart stuttered, and I laughed quietly into the darkness.