Page 20 of Broken Crown

Breathing heavily, he wrapped an arm under my back and pulled me upright against his chest.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears, even as his matching pulse drummed beneath my fingertips.

He then swept his hand over my cheek, brushing back the clinging wet tendrils.

Twisting his hand in my hair, he pulled my face close, growling, "Liar."

The truth in that single word undid me completely.

CHAPTER 7

SEBASTIAN

“Cazzo,” I muttered.

I truly was the monster she believed me to be.

My cock remained half hard inside her, a violent reminder of my obsession.

Twice today I’d taken her, and still my body craved more.

This never happened with other women. I’d fuck them, become sated, and discard them without a second thought.

Sabrina was different.

Rising from my position, I slid my hands under her arms and lifted her.

Before she could call out the protest forming on her lips, I shifted my hold and pulled her against my chest with one arm, cradling the base of her skull with my other hand.

Standing there beneath the scalding spray, I held her trembling body against mine.

Water cascaded over us, washing away tears and sweat but not the sins between us.

Her cheek rested directly over my heart, the top of her head barely reaching my shoulder.

“So small,” I murmured against her wet hair. “My sweet little bird.”

She stiffened in my arms. “I’m not yours.”

“You keep saying that.” I tightened my grasp. “And yet here you are.”

A better man would release her. Free her from this cage I’d constructed.

“A better man would let you go,” I said, the words rough against her temple. “Unfortunately for you, I’ve never claimed to be good.”

She tilted her head back, water streaming down her face. “Then what are you?”

“Yours.” The word came out like a threat. “Whether you want me or not.”

Even after the bloodshed this morning, I had no intention of letting her go.

If anything, I wanted to hold her tighter, brand her as mine so thoroughly that she’d never contemplate escape.

“No one will take you from me,” I growled against her ear. “Not you. Not your fucking father. No one.”

She shuddered. “You can’t keep me forever.”

“Watch me.”