Page 7 of Monsters Carve Thrones (Crowned Monsters Duet #2)

His growl vibrated through my spine. “You want to be overpowered? Taken?” His fingers tightened. “Then keep. Fucking. Running. ”

He shoved me forward.

I stumbled, breath catching, adrenaline spiking before launching into another sprint. Branches snapped at my sides. My nightgown caught on something and tore. I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.

I ran.

The shadows were alive, like the trees were breathing. My blood thundered in my ears. I glanced back and saw him.

Holy fuck. Holy fuck.

Stalking after me like a god of war. Shirtless.

Wild-eyed. A monster carved from shadow and moonlight made only to devour.

I turned back with a gasp and kept going, chest heaving, legs burning.

The dark pressed in, every rustle of leaves making me flinch.

I didn’t know where I was anymore. Only that I was his , and he was coming for me.

It didn’t matter where I ran or how far. He was a goddamn predator. My heart was pounding wildly against my ribs, giving in to the fear of being a deer beneath a wolf’s jaws.

I slowed, gaze darting everywhere. “Rafe?” I breathed. “Where–”

He slammed into me from the side with a snarl, knocking the scream out of my throat as we crashed into the forest floor, rolling through leaves and dirt until he landed above me. He was all heat and rage and brute fucking strength. My back hit the ground hard, the breath ripped from my lungs.

A beast unchained.

Rafe grabbed both of my wrists, yanking them above my head and slamming them into the dirt with one hand. The other fisted what remained of my nightgown, yanking it up and over my hips.

I writhed under him, not to escape...but to provoke .

To feel the iron in his grip tighten.

“You’re such a little tease,” he growled, his voice sharp and dark like broken glass. “Making me chase you through the goddamn jungle?”

I glared up at him defiantly, loving this game.

His other hand shot to my throat and squeezed, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make my blood rush in my ears. He leaned in close, his nose brushing mine, mouth hovering just above my lips. “I should fuck you right here in the dirt for that.”

I shoved at him in a feeble attempt to get him off of me.

“What?” He tilted his head like some terrifying predator toying with his prey. “Are you scared, little doe?”

Before I could stop myself, I ground up against the bulge in his pants, even if I was trying to push him off of me. A fucking contradiction I was. That was what was great about this fantasy. I ached for it, but had to pretend I didn’t want it.

His eyes flared. The wildness cracked wider.

Rafe released my wrists only to rip my nightgown neckline roughly, baring my breasts to the cool night air and his hot gaze.

He stared at my chest like it pissed him off, like the sight alone made him harder.

Then he bent low, dragging his teeth across my nipple until biting down. I gasped, arching into his solid body.

He groaned, then sank his teeth into the curve of my shoulder. I jolted, shoving at him instinctively. “You’re scared , Dela. And you love it.”

Before I could spit back a reply, his mouth crashed onto mine. It was heavy and greedy and full of heat. I whimpered into him, thighs twitching as he shoved his knee between them and forced me open, spreading me like he owned me.

Because he did.

“You wanted this, didn’t you?” he muttered, ripping my panties down with one hand, the sound of tearing fabric echoing through the jungle. “Wanted to be chased. For me to catch you, pin you down, fuck you.”

My breath quickened, half of my body instinctively reacting to the threat on top of me while the rest of me begged for ruin.

His fingers dug into my hips, pinning me to the earth, and the look in his eyes was deranged.

God, it was beautiful and horrifying. It was the same look that both intimidated and terrified his enemies.

Moonlight painted his face in silver, his ice-blue gaze glowing like something inhuman.

I trembled beneath him, drunk on the thrill, the wildness, the brutal want of it all.

“Rafe,” I gasped, voice breaking apart. “Please–”

He tore my nightgown the rest of the way down my arms, ripping it in half and tossing it aside like a discarded kill. And then his hands were everywhere. Rough, greedy, and possessive.

He couldn’t decide whether to destroy or worship me, so he did both.

“You don’t know what you do to me,” he said, voice guttural as he mouthed down my neck, biting hard and then licking to soothe.

His hand slid between my thighs, and I nearly sobbed as two fingers plunged into me.

His thumb expertly circled my clit, and my eyes rolled back.

“Fuck– Rafe– ” I cried, my voice shooting up an octave.

He didn’t stop. If anything, he doubled down until I was writhing in the dirt, my back scraped raw, every inch of me aching and alive.

“Please,” I gasped, shoving at his chest, but he was a wall of solid muscle. He overpowered me. “Please, god –”

He pulled his fingers free, growling like a man at war with his own restraint, and dragged them across his tongue. “You taste like fucking sin,” he hissed, already unfastening his pants. “You’re a sin I’ll never give up. Even if I face an eternity in hell.”

“You’re so fucked up,” I whined, though my body was on fire.

An animalistic growl tore from him before shoving his pants down just far enough. I felt him, hot and heavy, against the inside of my thigh.

Then he paused.

“I like it when you beg, baby,” he rasped, pressing the head of his cock right at my entrance, teasing me cruelly. “So beg .”

I swallowed hard, genuine fear creeping up my spine. He was so large, strong, and downright terrifying. “Please, Rafe.”

He leaned down, his voice like gravel in my ear. “Please what? ”

I whimpered. “Please, don’t.”

A breathy laugh left him before he slammed into me in one brutal thrust.

I screamed, my fingers clawing at the dirt, the force of it sending a jolt through my whole body.

Rafe stretched me, claimed me, and drove the air from my lungs.

He didn’t wait. Didn’t let me adjust. He just took .

Just grabbed my hips and fucked me into the earth, hard and deep, grunting with each thrust like he was trying to break me open and pour himself inside.

I loved it. Loved every punishing stroke. Every filthy word he spat against my throat as I moaned beneath him, half-feral, nails raking down his back and surely drawing blood.

“You feel that?” he panted, mouth brushing my cheek. “You feel how wet and tight you are around me? You love it when I scare you.”

I whimpered his name, my eyes rolling back.

“That’s right, baby,” he snarled. “This pussy is mine .”

I clenched around him on purpose, watching the way his jaw locked. He slammed in harder, deeper, hitting that spot that made me see stars.

I fought against him, my dark fantasy overtaking my body, mind, and soul entirely. He was a wall of muscle and heat, and there was absolutely nothing I could do. My struggles were futile against him. With a menacing laugh, he held me down harder.

He snatched my jaw, forcing me to look at him, to see the dark wildness in his eyes as he pounded into me. “Stop fucking struggling, I’m almost done.”

I moaned, tears in my eyes from how good it felt. “Oh, god, Rafe–”

He groaned low, slamming his hips faster now. No rhythm, just pure need . He shoved his face into my neck, teeth dragging over my erratic pulse as I arched and shattered beneath him, crying out my defiance as I came, still shoving at his muscled chest.

“There you go,” he growled, thrusting into me so hard that the tears finally fell. Like he couldn’t help himself. “You’re such a good, twisted little whore .” His hand suddenly closed around my throat, cutting off oxygen for a swift moment. “I’ll never let you go,” he rasped into my ear. “ Never .”

And then, with one final, violent thrust, he spilled himself inside. Every muscle in his body locked tight, holding me down until he was finished. My mind reeled, finding such wild satisfaction and pleasure yet also recovering from the fear.

Silence crashed down around us. Only the chirps of night creatures filled the space.

I was breathless, my body pulsing with satisfaction.

“You gonna run again?” he muttered against my throat, still inside me, his hand stroking slowly over my hip now.

I smiled lazily, breathless. “Depends. You gonna catch me again?”

He chuckled, low and lethal. “Every fucking time, baby.”

We lay tangled in the dirt and moonlight, the forest still echoing with what we’d done.

My legs were draped around his waist, his body heavy on mine, grounding me.

Rafe’s breath ghosted against my collarbone, still ragged, like he hadn’t caught up to himself yet.

His nose nudged my neck, then my jaw. I felt the curve of his grin before I saw it.

“Well,” he murmured, voice low and hoarse. “That was dramatic.”

I huffed out a breath, half-laugh, half-exhausted wheeze. “You tackled me like a fucking linebacker.”

“You looked so cute all scared,” he said smugly, shifting slightly so he could nuzzle my throat. “It was very convincing. Compelling, even. I couldn’t help but take you.”

I smacked his shoulder, too tired to lift my head. “You like to scare the hell out of me for fun.”

“For our fun,” he corrected, lips capturing mine in a deep kiss. “Let’s not pretend you didn’t get soaked the moment you ran.”

“Rude,” I muttered, but I was grinning.

He chuckled and rolled us gently so I was sprawled across his chest, my cheek resting over his heartbeat. His fingers traced lazy circles over the curve of my hip, the edge of a bruise he’d surely left. I’d ache in the morning. Hell, I already did. But I felt good. Sated. Alive .

“I’m covered in dirt and scratches,” I groaned, rolling my hips to feel him inside me. His grip tightened as if he could violate me again. I’d gladly take it if he did.

“You’re glowing,” he said, grinning like a bastard. “Like a little forest goddess.”

“Charming.”

He laughed outright, and I bit back my own. He looked so pleased with himself. Smug and sweaty, his pants still halfway down his hips, his mouth swollen from kissing and biting and everything in between. Even after being spent, he was still hard inside me.

“You’re insufferable,” I said, poking him in the ribs.

“You love it,” he replied, catching my hand and kissing my knuckles. “Besides… you started it.”

“ I started it?”

“You ran,” he said, feigning offense. “You know what that does to me. It automatically triggers me. And your combat skills? Impressive, baby. I didn’t think you’d actually make it as far as you did. I almost lost you at that creek crossing.”

I snorted. “I nearly fell in the creek.”

“I know. I laughed.”

“Rafe.”

“I’m sorry!” He grinned. “You were stumbling and cursing and gorgeous, and I couldn’t help it.”

I groaned into his chest, but I was laughing now, too. Maybe it was the orgasm. Maybe it was the primal thrill of being hunted by the man I loved. Or maybe it was just him.

“Next time,” I said, shifting to look down at him, “I’m climbing a tree.”

His eyes lit up. “You should. I’ll chase you up it. Rip you down. Fuck you against the bark.”

I snorted. “You’re an animal.”

“You married one, sweetheart.”

I rolled my eyes but leaned in and kissed him anyway. He kissed me back, all teasing gone, one hand threading into my hair, the other curling possessively around my waist.

Taken, owned, and fucking loved.