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

“Fuck, Mia. You were made for me.” He breathes the words against my lips.

But it isn’t enough. I need more.

I lift myself up and slam down over him, making us both cry out. It’s messy and frantic, but it feels so good that I never want to stop.

“Harder,” he groans, and I circle my hips faster, sinking down as far as I can go.

Bexley’s hand travels up my stomach, squeezing my breasts then grabbing my throat. That combined with the tenderness in his eyes as I ride him sends me hurtling over the edge.

“Oh God,” I cry, shattering around him. But Bexley isn’t done. He flips me over and drives into me, hard enough that it hurts. But the pain quickly gives way to pleasure as he claws at my hips, my thighs, slamming into me over and over.

“Fuck, Mia… fuuuuck.” He collapses on top of me and we lie there on the cold ground, underneath a blanket of trees.

“This… this is what matters,” I whisper. “As long as we have each other, nothing Cade says or does matters.” I let my fingers trail over Bexley’s brow. “I love you.”

I only hope it’s enough to survive whatever is coming.

I didn’t go back to the Electi house. Cade hadn’t summoned me, and I didn’t want to be around Bexley, not after what we’d just done.

So I headed back to the dorms.

But as I pull open the door to the building, Brook saunters out as if she owns the place.

“Oh look, it’s Cade’s pet,” she sneers, blocking my entrance.

“This is a surprise.” I lift my chin and meet her icy gaze with my own. “I didn’t realize you knew anyone who lives here.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised.” She smirks. “I have friends everywhere. You know it’s the Coglio soon. Are you really going to go through with it?”

“I don’t have any choice.”

“Mila, Mila, Mila… when will you learn? There is always a choice. You just have to figure out what it is. How is Bexy, by the way? We never did get to compare notes.”

The blood drains from my face.

“Now, he was a very nice surprise. Had me purring like a kitten. And that thing he does with his tongue…” She fans herself. “I wouldn’t mind a little repeat of that. I came so hard I almost blacked out.”

Bile rushes up my throat, but I swallow it down.

Brook leans in as if we’re two girlfriends sharing a joke. “I bet it must really cut you up inside, knowing I’ve had his long, thick dick inside me. And what a dick it is.”

My teeth grind together, my body vibrating with jealousy. It crashes over me like an unrelenting storm.

“Interesting,” she drawls. “I guess you and I aren’t that different. Despite his… indiscretions and weird infatuation with you, I still want Cade. And something tells me that despite watching me fuck Bexley’s brains out, you still want him.”

I flinch at her cruel words, and she chuckles. “Oh, Mila. So much to learn about this world.” Brook taps my cheek like I’m a child. “If you need any advice about your Coglio, tips on how to please a guy like Cade, then you know where to find me.”

She struts off like she hadn’t just pulled the rug from under my feet.

I have never met someone as cruel and vindictive as Brooklyn Moore.

Instead of heading for my dorm room, I make a beeline for Annabel’s room. She opens the door immediately. “Mia?” Surprise glitters in her eyes. “What are you—”

“Can I come in?” I blurt out.

“Of course.” She steps aside and I slip inside. “What happened?”

“I just ran into Brook outside, and God, she makes me so crazy.”

“Brook? Here?” She balks, and I nod.

“Weird, right? She was saying all this stuff… about Cade… about the Coglio, and I just… it’s so hard, Bel.” Tears spill down my cheeks.

“Hey, don’t cry. I’m here, Mia. Whatever you need.” She pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight.

“You’re a good friend, Annabel,” I whisper.

Although things might be different between us now I’m Cade’s prosapia, she’s always been there for me.

She eases back and smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s what best friends are for.”

25

Bexley

Despite wishing time would slow the fuck down to give Mia and me a chance to find out what's really going on, the days just seem to disappear.

I sit in the back of one of the Electi's SUVs as it speeds across town toward the church where this whole fucking mess started.

But tonight isn't a ceremony or even a meeting. Apparently, it's a party. A party to celebrate Cade's upcoming Coglio. Literally the last thing in the world I want to be celebrating right now, but according to the king himself, attendance is mandatory.

My stomach is in knots as we pull up to the old gothic building which already holds a host of more than forgettable memories, but I keep the blank expression on my face. The others were tight-lipped about what we could expect from tonight, but I'm more than aware that secrets never lead to anything good where Quinctus are concerned, so I'm trying to keep an open mind while preparing for the worst.

We're dressed head to toe in black—a requirement, apparently—but unlike when we went on that job, this time, we're wearing dress pants and button-downs.

"Right then. It's party time, boys," Cade announces, rubbing his hands together while his eyes sparkle with wicked intent. It does nothing to settle my unease about tonight.

The second we come to a stop, someone opens the door for us, and we climb out in turn before Alex and I trail behind the others toward the main entrance where two men are standing—also dressed all in black.

Cade nods at them and they greet him by name—as if he's actually someone worthy of it—before we all file inside. The hallway is deserted as usual, and I breathe a sigh of relief as we pass