Page 52 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

He laughed low in his throat, that warm, content sound that made something inside me melt. Then he pulled me close, his arm wrapping around my waist like a tether, his bare chest pressing against my back. I sighed, relaxing into him, my body still humming from everything he’d just done to me.

We lay there in the quiet dark, our bodies tangled, the scent of sex still in the air. I reached for his hand under the blanket and laced our fingers together, the gesture soft and intimate.

He didn’t speak again. Just exhaled slowly. I felt it when his muscles went slack, and his breath evened out. His heartbeat against my back steadied into a slow, peaceful rhythm.

I blinked up at the ceiling, my own pulse slowing. The silence wrapped around us. And in that stillness, wrapped in his arms, I realized something:

Rafe Vaughan–killer, criminal, violence incarnate–was calm.

With me.

** *

New York was a symphony of honking cabs, conversations spilling from all around, and the distant wail of sirens. But today, none of it touched me. The chaos was a world away because, for the first time in a long time, I had no responsibilities, no meetings, and no threats lurking in the shadows.

Just Rafe.

He held my hand as we walked, his fingers wrapped around mine with effortless possessiveness.

He looked almost relaxed in his dark coat, the wind teasing his inky hair.

We wandered through the high-end shopping district, the crisp air carrying the scent of fresh espresso from the cafés lining the streets.

He was impossibly patient, letting me drag him into whatever boutique caught my eye. He barely batted an eye when I tried on dresses, even when I deliberately chose the ones I knew would drive him insane.

But I saw the slight tick in his jaw. The way his fingers flexed when I smoothed a silk dress down my body, watching him in the mirror. Still, he never complained.

I squeezed his hand. “You’re surprisingly patient,” I mused, glancing up at him. “I thought you’d be miserable after the first store. Men usually are.”

“ Boys usually are,” he corrected with a smirk, gaze sliding over me. “ Men will happily go see and judge what articles of clothing we’ll be destroying later.”

I scoffed, nudging him. “You are shameless. ”

He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles, his voice dark and amused. I noted how his knuckles had finally begun healing from his late-night meetings .

After wandering through the shops, where he bought me things I didn’t even know I wanted, we found ourselves in a quiet, dimly lit restaurant with rich mahogany interiors and flickering candlelight.

The bottle of wine between us was untouched for a while, more of a backdrop to the conversation than the center of it.

I guessed that the delicious red blend cost more than some people’s rent.

The candlelight flickered over Rafe’s sharp features, making the gold in his blue eyes even more pronounced.

He was usually clean-shaven, but I could see the subtle stubble coming through on his face.

“You’ve been smiling all day,” he noted, leaning back in his chair. “It suits you.”

I let out a soft laugh. “You act like I don’t smile.”

He tilted his head, considering me. “You do. But not like this.”

I bit my lip, twirling my wine glass between my fingers. “I guess I’ve just been happy today.”

His expression softened, the edges of his usual arrogance easing just a little. “Is that so?”

I nodded. “It’s nice, you know? Spending time with you when no one’s trying to kill us.”

Rafe chuckled. “A rare luxury.”

“And you’re not so bad when you’re just… Rafe, and not the criminal kingpin making power moves.”

His brow arched. “I can’t decide if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

I smirked. “It’s both.”

He reached across the table, brushing his fingers over mine. “I really like seeing you like this.”

I exhaled, my heart twisting at the sincerity in his voice. Damn him. He always knew how to undo me in the simplest ways. “You’re getting soft on me,” I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

His lips curled. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Oh, I won’t.” I leaned in, voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “But I’ll enjoy it while I can.”

The way his eyes darkened sent a thrill straight through me. And I suddenly knew we weren’t making it through the night without crossing that line. He might’ve been playing the part of an angel, but later… he’d fuck me like a demon.

Because Rafe didn’t just want me. He consumed me. And I loved it, craved it. That was part of what made us dangerous together. He loved to take, and I loved to be taken. Shameless. Filthy. Addictive. A beautiful kind of devastation.

And goddamn, he was the best I’d ever had.

By the time we reached the theatre, I could hardly contain myself.

My body was buzzing from a day of princess treatment .

The dim glow of the screen cast flickering shadows across Rafe’s sharp features, his expression unreadable as he lounged back in the plush leather seat.

The private theatre was nearly empty, just a few other patrons scattered in the darkness, and we had chosen seats in the back–away from prying eyes.

Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

The truth was, I liked the idea of getting away with something reckless. It was hard for me to focus on the movie. I was too aware of him, of how his arm rested on the seat behind me and the warmth radiating off him. I shifted in my seat, sliding my hand onto his thigh, tracing small, idle circles.

He didn’t react at first. Then, his fingers curled, gripping the armrest tighter. “ Adela… ” he murmured, his voice low. A warning.

I ignored it. Instead, I leaned in, lips grazing his ear. “You’re too composed. It’s ruining the fun.” My nails traced the inseam of his pants, barely brushing over him. A test.

His fingers twitched against the armrest. “Are you bored?”

I tilted my head innocently. “A little.”

His breath left him in a slow exhale, as if he was holding onto the last of his patience.

I leaned closer, lips at his ear. “Do something about it.”

For a beat, he didn’t move. His breath left him in a slow exhale. “You’re playing a dangerous game, little doe.”

I smirked, my fingers moving higher. Then, his large, warm hand gripped my thigh under my dress, fingers digging in just enough to send a thrill through me. I barely had time to stifle my gasp before his hand slid higher. The theatre was dark, and the other patrons were oblivious.

He leaned down, his breath hot against my skin. “ You started this. Are you sure you’re ready to finish it?”

My heart pounded. I was. After a quick glance around, I traced my fingers along his belt, dipping them underneath to tease at his underwear line. He shifted, tightening his grip on my thigh.

“The movie is almost over…” I whispered, slowly unzipping his jeans. The feel of his bulge in a public place made my heart race. His hand slid higher, and I choked down a squeak.

He chuckled, pushing a finger inside me, my achingly drenched pussy desperately clenching around him. “Shh,” he grinned.

I giggled quietly, fisting his cock and stroking. He bit his lip and adjusted his hips. “Shh,” I mocked.

“Fuck you,” he laughed quietly, careful not to draw attention. So we teased each other mercilessly, dragging one another close to the edge and stopping. The surround sound boomed over every quiet breath and muffled whimper I made.

“I’m texting Kieran to come get us,” he whispered.

“Why?” I asked, pausing my stroking.

He gritted his teeth. “Because I need somewhere to fuck you.”

The second the limo doors shut, Rafe’s restraint snapped. I barely had time to register the dark hunger in his eyes before he had me in his lap , his hands gripping my waist. I glanced up, noting that Kieran had closed the divide. Thank god.

“ You ,” he growled, pressing his lips to my jaw, my throat, “are such a good fucking tease.”

I laughed breathlessly. “And you adore me.”

His grip tightened. “More than you realize. ”

That stole the air from my lungs. But before I could think too much about it, his lips were on mine so deeply that it left me dizzy.

The city blurred outside the tinted windows as the limo pulled into the night.

His hands slid up my thighs, shoving my dress higher so it bunched around my hips and revealed my red thong.

I smirked against his lips. “ Someone’s desperate.”

He let out a breathy laugh, his teeth grazing my bottom lip before he kissed me again, harder .

I was so lost in the taste of him and the wine that I almost didn’t hear him unbuckle his pants.

And within the next moment, he pulled my panties to the side and drove up into me.

I yelped against his lips, my body immediately accommodating his size.

“Ugh, fuck , you feel so good, baby,” he rasped against my throat before pulling the neckline of my dress down. His mouth found my nipples, teasing and biting, while his hands cupped my ass.

My head kicked back, savoring the burn of his cock, stretching me as I rode him and the rough touch of his hands on my body. I could feel his muscles shifting, coiling. He wanted to ravage me, but I was the one controlling the speed.

“Use me to make yourself come, baby,” he murmured, snatching my chin and capturing me in another passionate kiss. “Ride me.”

So I did. I started by lifting and lowering myself with achingly slow strokes, grinding my clit against him. After a few minutes, a wild heat bloomed, urging me to increase my speed. My thighs squeezed around him with every turn the limo took.

“There you go,” he ground out between kissing my neck, one hand cupping my breast. I picked up my pace, his eyes drinking me in. “There you go, sweet girl. You look so beautiful riding my cock.”

That did it. I shamelessly cried out in an explosive orgasm, my body trembling and clenching around him. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if Kieran could hear us. I didn’t care, I just wondered.

“That’s it, gorgeous,” he gave me a satisfied grin, feeling the gush of wetness from my release. “Good girl.” He gripped my waist, lifting and bringing me down on him like I was a doll.

“Use me to make yourself come, baby,” I repeated his earlier words. “Fuck me.”

His eyes rolled back–a fucking glorious sight–and then he kissed me, biting into my neck between brutal, possessive thrusts. My mind spun, reeling at how effortlessly he handled me. How ruthlessly he used me.

“Show me I’m yours, Rafe,” I moaned, my nails clawing into his shoulders. The only thing saving his skin was the thin layer of his shirt, already damp with sweat.

The sound of his breathy grunts, the relentless force of his cock–it made me lightheaded. Drunk on him.

“Please,” I whispered against his throat, kissing the sweat-slick skin. “Please, Rafe.”

I knew what that did to him. I knew he needed to hear it.

“Goddammit, Dela,” he snarled, slamming into me so hard I swore the stars went white. His hands gripped my ass, holding me still as he came inside me. My eyes rolled back when I felt him pulse. “You’re such a good girl when you take it. Fuck .”

He kissed me like he wanted to drown us both in it–his mouth wild, consuming. And somewhere between his tongue and the aftershocks still rolling through me, I realized the limo had stopped.

Kieran was gone.

We were home.