Page 65 of Monsters Wear Crowns (Crowned Monsters Duet #1)

Then, his palm was on my chest, and before I could catch a single thought, he pushed me back.

Three stories up. High enough that it made my stomach twist. The wind swept through my hair, wild and warm, kissing my skin.

I laughed breathlessly, the sound weaving in with Rafe's own rare, joyous chuckle.

God, I loved that sound. I’d missed it more than I could admit. “Careful,” I warned, a tremor of excitement running through my voice. “You might drop me. ”

“Never.” His eyes locked on mine. “I’d never let you fall.” And then I heard the telltale sound of his belt slipping free and the quiet rasp of a zipper.

And my breath stilled. “Rafe–”

“Shhh,” he whispered, his perfect, soft lips molding to mine. “Trust me.” He slipped my panties to the side.

But trust had always been the hardest part. “I don’t know how to trust–”

He silenced me with a single, devastating thrust. My words broke into a choked cry as my body clenched around him, scrambling to adjust to the sudden fullness.

The stretch. The burn. The bliss. I leaned back, bracing myself against the ledge as he ravaged me under the stars, the edge of danger making every movement sharper, more electric.

His fingers dug into my thighs with each brutal thrust, and I gasped for air I couldn’t find.

“I love you so fucking much, Adela.”

Everything stopped. The world, my breath, the ache in my chest... it all stilled in the wake of those four words. He said it like he’d been dying to. Like it cost him everything. And still… he gave it freely. The tears I’d held back threatened to fall again.

“I love you, too, Rafe. I always will.”

***

RAFE

She said it. I love you, too, Rafe. I always will.

The words echoed in my skull like gunfire, shattering every last wall I’d built to keep from falling apart.

And I did fall–right into her, into the heat and the tremble and the impossible goddamn purity of that moment.

I wanted to mark her, bury myself so deep inside she’d never be able to separate her heartbeat from mine.

The sound that tore from me was not human. It was desperate. Wrecked. Wild .

I yanked her up and crashed my mouth to hers, swallowing that precious breath she’d just given me. Her lips were soft, and I kissed her like I was dying and this was the only thing keeping me tethered to the earth.

“Open wider for me,” I panted, my hand fisting in her hair, the other gripping her hip.

And she gave herself to me entirely. Every inch.

Every gasp. Every trembling moan. My sweet little doe.

Her thighs spread for me, and my cock hit that spot again.

Fuck , the way she gasped and arched, I saw stars.

I couldn’t focus on the city, or the danger, or even the fucking rooftop beneath us.

There was only her . My wild, stubborn, devastating Adela.

“There you go, sweetheart,” I murmured into her neck, tasting sweat and skin and something sweeter than anything I deserved. God, she was perfect.

“Rafe,” she breathed–my name from those lips would ruin me forever.

“Yes?” I grunted, burying myself harder, faster. Her nails scraped down my back, and I lost my goddamn mind. Then she leaned in and bit me. That soft, perfect mouth nipped at my lower lip like she wanted to claim me . “Show me I’m yours.”

My heart fucking stopped.

That was it. That was the trigger. Her submission, her plea, her trust –it was everything I’d wanted. Everything I didn’t believe I’d ever get from her again. And now that I had it?

I’d never fucking let it go.

I moved like a man possessed, holding her tighter, plunging into her like I needed her to feel me for days. She was sobbing with pleasure, and I fed on it. “Good girl,” I rasped, nearly breaking from how perfect she felt around me. “You take me so well. Look at you. God, you look so pretty, baby.”

She whimpered, and it was my favorite sound in the world. Her body trembled violently as I kept going, coaxing wave after wave out of her, and fuck, I wanted everyone within a ten-block radius to know .

“That’s it, be loud for me,” I growled, my teeth catching on her throat. “Let them all hear you. Let them fucking hear you .”

“Please, Rafe–”

“Who does this body belong to?” I demanded, voice breaking from the strain of holding back. “Who does this heart belong to, little doe?”

Her legs were shaking, her walls fluttering around me, and I could see the tears in her lashes–too much, too good, too everything.

And I was done.

I slammed into her with a broken, primal groan and pulled her hair back so she had no choice but to look at me when I came. “Mine,” I growled, voice shredded. “Mine. You’re all fucking mine.”

I emptied myself inside her, locking her in place with both hands on her hips, refusing to let her go. I kissed her like I was anchoring myself to her soul. My lips moved against hers even when the words came soft.

“ Je t’aime. Don’t forget that.” Even if the world came for us. Even if I had to kill everyone who tried.

She was so fucking light in my arms. The adrenaline was still coursing through me, the sharp edge of it slowly fading into a dull hum.

But the weight of her against my chest, the way her breath softened and slowed as sleep tugged at her–that was what kept me grounded.

That was what kept me from unraveling completely.

I stepped into her apartment, the familiar scent of her wrapping around me. It was softer and calmer here...and I hated how foreign that felt. She shouldn’t have peace away from me. I should be the one to give it to her.

But I hadn’t, had I?

The memory of that night twisted like a knife in my gut.

I’d broken her. I’d fucking raped her. She’d trusted me, and I’d thrown that trust aside in my rage.

In my fear. In my need to keep her, no matter the cost. After she left me, I paced in my office, where I fucking hurt her, and nearly shot myself. Nothing mattered without her.

She stirred against me, a soft sound escaping her lips, and I tightened my hold without thinking, as if I could keep her from slipping away even in sleep.

I laid her down carefully, brushing the hair from her face as I pulled the blanket over her. Her face was soft in sleep, but the faint shadows beneath her eyes told me everything.

I did that.

She shifted, and my heart clenched when she turned toward me. Even in sleep, even after everything, she still sought me out. And she still had every ounce of my heart and soul.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand brushing over her cheek. She made a quiet sound, her face pressing into my touch.

Je suis désolé, mon amour.

I’m sorry, my love.

The words wouldn’t leave my throat. Maybe because I knew they weren’t enough.

Maybe because I didn’t deserve the forgiveness I wanted so desperately.

But I made myself a promise right then. No one would take her from me.

Not Moreau, not fear, not even myself. And I would never stop loving her.

Even if it ultimately fucking destroyed me.