“Yes.”
I expected Roman to be angry that I still hadn’t let that notion go, but instead he crawled into bed with me and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest and snuggled close. It was the first time since returning home that I felt a sense of security. His simple hold of me was washing my demons away little by little. I inhaled his scent as if the aroma was the very air I needed to breathe to survive.
“I know the initiation was hard on you, but—”
“That’s just it,” I interrupted. “It’s harder being back. I feel lost. At least there, I had a purpose. I had a mission. My life was about the initiation. I was told what to do every second I was there, and I grew accustomed to it. You were my everything there. There was not a part of my existence that didn’t involve you. I guess it was a dark bubble. A fucked up bubble. But a bubble that I am sad to see pop.”
“But I told you—”
“Yes, yes. That it wouldn’t change, but it already has. I’m here in my bed alone, you are off doing whatever it is you do, and things have changed.”
Roman kissed me on the top of my head. “It’s temporary. I told you that.”
“But is it?” I asked as I looked up so I could see his eyes looking down upon me. “Or am I destined to live the life of my mother? Galas, charity events, hair and nail appointments, tea with other women who live as boring lives as I do? Is this the life I am to live as Princess Cherise Cassian?”
“Not if you don’t want to. You… we can do whatever we want. If you don’t want that proper, perfectly groomed, and clean life, I assure you we can definitely dirty it up. What happened at the manor was just a small taste of what’s to come. I plan to treat you like a lady in public but treat you like the dirty kitty you are in the bedroom.”
My heart skipped at his words. “You do?”
“Why do you look so shocked? Did you really peg me for a man who would all of a sudden turn vanilla just because we got married?”
“Well… our lives are just so formal and structured.”
“So you assumed that our sex life would be as well?”
My face heated. I couldn’t believe that I was damn near slipping into a pit of depression because I was afraid the man wouldn’t dominate me like he did at the manor.
“Trust me, dirty girl. I will be your Master from this day forth. Nothing has changed. Nothing.”
“God, I feel so needy,” I admitted, hating my weakness but at the same time loving the fact that I could be vulnerable and honest with the man I was about to marry. “And it’s not just the sex. Though I had no idea until the manor how important that was to me. It’s our life. I don’t want to become my mother. I don’t want you to become your father.”
Roman laughed loudly, causing his chest to bounce my head around as he did so. “I could never be anything like my father. You saw Spiked Roses. Could you even picture my father, or even my brothers stepping foot in that place? And as much as you are afraid of becoming your mother… I just don’t see that happening. I agree with you. I want adventure, spice, and an excitement in our life that is laced with some dark tinges of taboo. Nothing will whiten our soiled souls. I love you, Cheri. I love how you are just as twisted and debauched as me. I love knowing that our lives will be anything but boring. I promise you this. I promise you a life that will take you to the edge of lunacy.”
“I love you. And I love that you want this too.” God, I craved this man. There was no doubt about it. It was a deep type of love that caused an undercurrent of madness.
Roman adjusted his body so he could bring his lips down upon mine. With a perfect blend of force and gentleness, he mastered my mouth as only he could do. My body lit with excitement and any sadness or depression I had had was drowned by my need to have him buried deep inside of me again.
He pulled from the kiss and looked at me with darkened eyes. “You are about to marry into royalty.”
“I know,” I said as I lowered my hand to his hardened cock that unfortunately for me was restricted by the fabric of his pants. My body, mind and soul were hungry for my king. He would be my king in every single way.
“Which means that crown jewels are very important.”
I arched an eyebrow as I unzipped his pants and took his cock into my hands. “Is that so?”
“I collect diamonds. Very, very expensive and priceless diamonds.”
I laughed as I began to pump his dick with my fisted hand.
“I expect my princess bride to help me acquire these diamonds.”
I nodded as I licked my lips, preparing to place his cock inside my mouth. “I will consider it my royal duty… Master.”
The End
Have you taken a sip of the entire
Top Shelf series yet?
Bastards & Whiskey
I sit amongst the Presidents, Royalty, the Captains of Industry, and the wealthiest fucks in the world.
We own Spiked Roses—an exclusive, membership only establishment in New Orleans where money or lineage is the only way in. It is for the gentlemen who own everything and never hear the word no.
Sipping on whiskey, smoking cigars, and conducting multi-million dollar deals in our own personal playground of indulgence, there isn’t anything I can’t have… and that includes HER. I can also have HER if I want.
And I want.
Villains & Vodka
My life is one long fevered dream, balancing between being killed or killing.
The name Harley Crow is one to be feared.
I am an assassin.
A killer.
The villain.
I own it. I choose this life. Hell, I crave it. I hunger for it. The smell of fear makes me hard and is the very reason the blood runs through my veins.
Until I meet her…
Marlowe Masters.
Her darkness matches my own.
In my twisted world of dancing along the jagged edge of the blade…
She changes everything.
No weapon can protect me from the kind of death she will ultimately deliver.
Scoundrels & Scotch
I’ll stop at nothing to own her.
I’m a collector of dolls.
All kinds of dolls.
So beautiful and sexy, they become my art.
So perfect and flawless, my art galleries are flooded by the wealthy to gaze upon my possessions with envy.
So fragile and delicate, I keep them tucked away for safety.
The dark and torrid tales of Drayton’s Dolls run rampant through the rich and famous, and all but a few are true.
Normally I share my dolls for others to play with or watch
on display.
But not my special doll.
No, not her.
Ivy is the most precious doll of all.
She’s mine. All mine.
Devils & Rye
Forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.
It had been years since I had seen her.
Years since I last saw those eyes with pure, raw innocence.
So much time had passed since I lusted after what I knew I should resist.