Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (books like beach read TXT) 📕

hands collide with the window. “I hate this, I hate this, I hate this.”

I inhale a ragged breath.

“Hey, hey.” Bexley reaches for me, gently tugging me toward him. He touches his head to mine and sucks in a sharp breath. “You are so fucking strong, Mia. One of the strongest people I know. You can do this. You have to do this… I can’t lose you. I can’t ever lose you.”

“I kept telling myself we’d find a way out, that I’d figure out something… but there isn’t a way out, Bex. I’m his prosapia. That isn’t going to change.”

Bexley stiffens, the tether between us pulling taut. The air crackles, shifting and swirling around us.

Then the tether snaps.

I don’t know who moves first, but we collide in a blur of tongue and teeth, hands and sighs. Bexley hauls me onto his lap and grinds into me.

“You’re mine, mouse. Mine,” he rasps, kissing me with big, open-mouthed kisses that trail down my jaw and along the slope of my neck. His hand wraps around my throat and pushes me back against the steering wheel.

“He can’t have you, because you’re mine. Nothing he says or does will change that. I’m here, Mia.” He presses his hand flat against my breastbone, over my heart. “You fucking own me.”

A whimper spills from my lips as I dive for his jeans, tugging and clawing at his belt until it comes loose. Bexley lifts his hips, helping me get his jeans down enough to free his cock. I pump him a couple of times, reveling in the moans he makes in the back of his throat.

“I need you, mouse. I need inside you.”

I lean up and pull my skirt up, slipping my panties aide, and sink down on him, crying out at the sudden fullness.

We don’t move.

We just sit there.

Bexley hard and ready inside me.

My hand slides up his jaw, gripping him, and I stare right into his eyes. “Tell me I’ll always be yours. No matter what, Bex, tell me…”

“Mine,” he growls, thrusting up, making us both moan. His hand tightens around my throat as I start to roll my hips, slow and torturous strokes that build an intense wave inside me.

Bexley’s other hand digs into my hip enough to leave bruises, but I welcome the pain. I want to feel it all, I want to feel everything with this man.

My hands curl into the hair at the nape of his neck, and I touch my head to his, anchoring us together. “I love you, Bexley Easton. I’m in love with you.”

He blinks at me, his mouth parted on a small gasp. “Y-you love me?”

I nod, fighting a smile.

“Fuck, little mouse. Fuck!” He takes over, thrusting into me with complete abandon. It’s hard and fast and sweat coats my skin as he tells me with actions, not words, that he feels the same.

My hand flies out, slamming against the window as I meet him, thrust for thrust. “God, Bex… God…”

“That’s it, Mia. Take me, take all of me and show me who you belong to.”

My legs begin to quiver as the pleasure drenches every inch of me, and I shatter.

“Fuck, that feels good. Squeeze me, Mia. Just like that.” Bexley groans my name as he falls over the edge with me, spurting hot jets of cum inside me.

Our chests heave between us as we ride out the aftershocks. He buries a hand in my hair and cups the back of my neck, leaning in to flick his tongue over my lips. “I love you, Mia. I don’t know when or how it happened, but I do. I love you so fucking much.”

Contentment fills me as I collapse against him, and we sit there, basking in the moment, pretending that when we get back to Gravestone things will be different.

After we cleaned up, Bexley drove me home. I didn’t want to leave him. I forced myself from the car and watched as he drove away. Dad still wasn’t home, but Mom was back, waiting for me.

“Mia, sweetheart, where have you been?” she asked, and I fed her some lie about going for a walk.

I don’t know if she believed me, but she didn’t push. She’s been too busy asking me questions about Cade and the Electi, about what it’s like being his prosapia.

“We need to find you a dress for the Coglio,” she says as we sit at the breakfast counter.

“You know, I still can’t believe it. My baby, Cade Kingsley’s prosapia.” Pride washes over her, and it makes my stomach lurch.

She’s so blinded by the town’s ways. I wonder what she’d say if I told her the truth.

But I don’t.

Maybe out of fear that she won’t care, or maybe because I’m too ashamed to admit what Cade has done to me. Either way, I sit there, stuffing down the truth and playing the role of quiet, meek daughter.

“I’ll book an appointment at Stella’s.” Stella owns a boutique downtown. She’s verus like us.

“Sure, Mom.”

“What is it, sweetheart? What’s wrong?” Her brows furrow.

“Nothing, Mom.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” She reaches across and pats my hand. “You’re feeling nervous about the union ceremony. It’s completely normal, Mia. But Cade is a fine young man. You’ll be in good hands.”

I manage to force out some garbled reply, and her frown deepens.

“Mia, did something happen? You can tell me, sweetheart. You can tell me anything.”

But the sad fact is, I can’t.

And that kills a little piece of my heart.

A piece I know I’ll never get back.

21

Bexley

The guys still aren't back when I pull up at the house with my head spinning later that evening.

I hated leaving Mia while she looked so confused by everything we'd learned tonight.

Gregory Kingsley was killed by Q.

Does Cade know this?

I shake my head at my stupid thought. Of course Cade knows. Cade knows everything.

"Fucking hell," I groan, slamming my hands down on the wheel of my BMW in frustration.

Is this all karma for the way I fucked up in Sterling Bay? I know I screwed