“No,” she says softly, placing her hands on my forearms and slowly running them up my arms. “The Dark King known as Cross.” They continue up to my neck, and she brings them around the front and grabs hold of the cross that hangs around my neck.
Instinct has my hand shooting out and gripping her wrist tightly, but she doesn’t flinch. Instead, she gives me a soft smile, her head tilting to the side as if she was testing me and I failed.
“Are you afraid I won’t love the real you?”
“No,” I say honestly. “I’m afraid that you will.”
She pulls back, and I let go of my hold on her, knowing this is it. She’s had her fun, but it’s over. I’ve been too honest with her and how I feel.
I step back to give her space, and she jumps down off the counter. But instead of leaving the bathroom, she steps into me. Placing her hands on either side of my face, she stands up on her tiptoes. “I’m not so innocent, Cross. I don’t need you to protect me.”
But I have to.No matter what I do now, I promised myself years ago I would never be my father—If I ever fell in love, I’d cherish her. I’d burn the world to protect her from people like him and myself.
She drops to her knees before me. My cock is instantly ready for her, and I let out a growl as she takes it into her hands. Mine find their way into her already knotted hair, helping hold it back from her face.
She opens up for me and licks up my shaft. I throw my head back and moan when she gets to my piercing. Her tongue gently plays with it, making me weak in the knees. “Alexa,” I call out her name, not even sure why. Other than just needing to say it.
Her hand grips the base of my cock while her mouth swallows it, setting my body on fire and fulfilling that craving I always have. I touch the back of her throat, and I lean forward, one hand having to hold the counter while the other remains in her hair. She picks up her pace, and I allow her to take control, letting her do whatever she wants to me.
Slow, fast, deep, or shallow, it doesn’t even fucking matter. This woman is my damnation. I’ve always known I was going to hell; now I know it’ll be her who sends me there. Because I will do absolutely anything for her. She doesn’t even have to ask.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ALEXA
“GOOD AFTERNOON,” Ising, falling into my seat at the booth for lunch at Empire, downing what’s left of my second Monster.
“Afternoon.” Emilee is the first to greet me. Haven gives me a smile, and Jasmine didn’t hear me because she is too wrapped up typing out a text.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your bar,” Emilee tells me, giving me a sympathetic look with her amber eyes.
“Do they know who did it?” Haven asks curiously.
I’ve never really spoken to her, but she’s the girl’s best friend, and now that I know who she’s married to, it makes me a little nervous to even be around her. What if she goes home, tells her husband she hates me, and he offs me? The guy has some major pull in this town. I bet he’d make it look like an accident. Like I slipped and just happened to fall on a knife to the chest. Or maybe my car would conveniently lose a wheel while I’m driving down the highway. I mean …
“Alexa?”
“Hmm?” I blink, looking up at Emilee.
“Do they know who did it?” she asks what Haven had, and I realize that I never answered.
“I believe so.” I keep it vague. I’m not sure what Cross would want me to say. I guess we should have had the discussion last night instead of fucking multiple times. So many things needed to be discussed, but I craved that connection with him more than answers. Or maybe I just really don’t want to know. Love does make you stupid.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” April states, falling down next to me.
“You’re just in time. We were about to order mimosas,” Jasmine tells her.
“I’m not drinking.” Haven waves her off.
“What? Why not?” Jasmine snorts.
“Because Luca and I are trying for a baby,” Haven answers with a smile on her face, but it quickly drops when she looks at April. “I’m so sorry,” she rushes out. “I didn’t think …”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” she says, giving her a kind smile in return.
“Yeah, I’m fucking a lot too,” Jasmine jokes, trying to lighten the mood, and I snort while trying to take a drink of my water.
“Jasmine …” Haven shrieks. She always seems to be the most proper of the girls. A little more uptight than the rest.
