A Dangerous and Cruel Love (Dark Mafia Romance Duet, #2)

by Tee, Marian

  “Not enough.” His hungry gaze devouring her, he rasped out, “Everyone else calls me that. I want something different—-”

  “Baby?”

  The prince stilled.

  “W-would that work?” The prince’s head jerked sharply to his side, and she stiffened in alarm. Was ‘baby’ that bad? Unable to help it, she moved her head to the side, too, trying to capture his gaze, and that was when she saw it.

  “Wow,” she whispered in awe.

  The prince’s jaw clenched. “Don’t fucking—-”

  “You’re blushing—-”

  “Goddammit, Fawn—-”

  “Again,” she finished unthinkingly.

  Their eyes clashed.

  And that was when she realized she was in trouble.

  “S-sorry—-” But because she couldn’t help herself, she mumbled, “Baby.”

  A deeper shade of red stained the prince’s high-boned cheeks, and a strangled gasp escaped her. “Oh my God, that’s so cu—-”

  “Shut up,” the prince snarled, cutting her off. But because he also knew he wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut with just a warning, he decided to silence her in the only other way he knew how.

  Sitting up, he lifted her off him, and when he brought her back down, he impaled her with his cock from behind.

  As her lips parted in a gasp, the prince chose that exact moment to slide his fingers inside her mouth.

  Their gazes met through the mirror in front of the bed, and Fawn couldn’t help writhing in a mixture of embarrassment and desire at the sensual image they portrayed.

  From behind, the prince used his free hand to guide her movements, and she began to ride him, all the while with his fingers in her mouth.

  “Suck it,” the prince said harshly.

  And she did.

  She began to suck his fingers, his cock thrusting into her at the same time, and it was like being taken in two different ways.

  Her mind whirled, and when he began to pump his hips against her, fucking her harder, her mind started to shut down—-

  The sweet, drugging sense of an impending climax began to overtake her body, and she sucked harder on his fingers.

  “Fuck.” The prince was moving even faster and harder now, his strokes wild and rough, but oh God, how it made everything feel even better, so wonderfully better—-

  The prince’s free hand squeezed her breast hard.

  She sobbed, the sound trapped in her mouth, with her tongue around his fingers.

  The prince’s hand moved down, pinching her clit—-

  Oh God.

  She bit into his fingers as she came, her body shuddering over his like a storm-tossed doll, and a moment later, the prince was surging forward, his cock driving so deep into her it made her almost see stars, her eyes shooting upward to the ceiling as their joined orgasm reached its peak.

  When she opened her eyes again, she found herself collapsed over the prince’s hard body, his cock still throbbing inside of her.

  “Baby.” It was the first thing that came to her mind, and she said it.

  Color stained the prince’s cheeks.

  Oh!

  Her lips started to part, Fawn eager to say it again—-

  But this time, she couldn’t, with the prince’s fingers going back into her mouth.

  The prince purred, “Let’s see who gives up first.”

  ****

  It was almost nine in the morning when she woke up, and this time the prince was still beside her in bed, his gorgeous face relaxed in his sleep. She was tempted to touch him, to feel the silky texture of his hair and the velvety hardness of his cheek.

  But she couldn’t.

  Not when she had to leave.

  Careful not to make any noise, Fawn left the bed and tiptoed into the bathroom to take a quick shower. After leaving a note for the prince, she hitched a ride with one of the bodyguards to get back to the mansion.

  Swapping her gown for a shirt and jeans, she drove to the nearby restaurant where she and Grant used to date. But unlike before, she had no need to wait. Grant was already there, and the irony wasn’t lost on her.

  Why now, Grant?

  Why?

  He literally jumped to his feet upon seeing her, knocking a glass of water off the table as he did, making Fawn gasp. She rushed to him as a red-faced Grant mumbled his apology, and once the waiter had finished cleaning up, she asked him worriedly, “Are you okay?”

  “S-sorry.” Grabbing the bouquet on the table, he nearly shoved it at her, mumbling, “T-this is for you.”

  Doing her best not to accidentally swallow some petals, she carefully pulled it away from her face and managed a smile at Grant. “Thank you.”

  He pulled her seat out for her, and again, his lack of coordination caused a near mishap, the back of her chair bumping hard against the patron seated behind her.

  The older woman sent Grant a quelling look, and Fawn was stunned to see Grant simply accept it. Instead of sitting, she touched his arm, asking quietly, “Are you okay? You don’t seem yourself.” And he didn’t, at all. Even though he looked so much better now, like he had actually gone to sleep and taken a shower before coming to the restaurant – he was still a far cry from the Grant Bennett she had grown up with.

  Grant was smiling down at her like she had told him the secrets to the universe. “Thank you for caring, Fawn.”

  When they were seated, he continued to look at her with too-bright eyes and a smile that made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered to him.

  Once, that would have made her happy.

  But now, it simply left her feeling confused, especially when Grant would jump at every loud noise he heard and almost every move he made would result in a mishap. Throughout the meal, she tried hard to be patient, hoping that he would open up. But when their dessert plates were already taken away and he still hadn’t said anything important, she knew she had to take the initiative.

  “Grant?”

  “Yes, luv?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  His smile dimmed. “W-what do you mean?”

  “Something’s wrong, Grant,” she said gently, “and it’s clearly bothering you.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—-”

  “Please don’t lie.” Frustration made her voice just a little sharp, but to her surprise, the impact on Grant was immediate and incredible, his entire body jerking in his seat.

  “G-Grant?” Something was seriously wrong with him, Fawn realized.

  He began wringing his hands together over the table. “I h-have something to tell you.”

  It was painful to hear him stutter, and despite everything, Fawn’s heart ached for him. “It’s okay if you don’t—-”

  “I h-have to.” His face completely stiff and pale, Grant told her everything about his affair with Lou. There was little he was telling her that she didn’t know or suspected, but even so—-

  It hurt.

  A sick expression had formed on his face by the time he finished, and his voice shook as he said, “I didn’t mean to hurt y-you. I w-wasn’t thinking. I’m s-sorry.”

  Fawn could only nod. She had thought that once Grant made his admission, she would have so many things to say, but now that he did – she realized that words were no longer needed. He already knew how much she had been hurt. There was no need to say it out loud.

  “I know I d-don’t have the right to ask you this, but...” Grant suddenly grasped both of her hands over the table, squeezing her fingers tightly between his. “Let’s leave, Fawn.” His voice became urgent. “Come back to me, and let’s start again. Let’s go back home.”

  When she could only stare at him, he seemed to wilt, and his voice was desperate as he said, “I love you, Fawn.”

  Ah. How she had treasured those words once. But it was completely different now. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “But it’s too late.”

  Grant whitened.

  “The prince—-�
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  Without warning, Grant bolted away from the table, and for one moment, she could only look at his departing back, completely shocked. But then she saw him rush out of the restaurant and she finally managed to make her limbs work, running after him.

  “Grant?” She came out of the restaurant and turning around, she found Grant next to the bushes lining up the restaurant’s façade, throwing up. “Oh my God, Grant! Are you okay?” She hurried to him, rubbing his back, unable to understand what was happening.

  Five minutes had passed by the time Grant was able to straighten, and when she tried leading him back to the restaurant, he shook his head jerkily. “No. I d-don’t want to be around too many people.”

  Seeing how real terror had darkened his gaze as he spoke, Fawn could only humor him, saying soothingly, “We won’t go back then. What about your car? Is that okay?”

  At his nod, she led him to his car, and he followed her obediently, almost like a child rather than the full-grown man that he was. When they reached his car, Fawn’s concern grew when Grant’s shaking fingers had him clumsily dropping his keys.

  “Let me?” She took the keys from him and got the car open, helping him inside before going around to get in the passenger seat. Inside, Grant remained still and white-faced, leaving it to her to turn on the engine and air-conditioning.

  Minutes passed before Grant finally spoke. “I know about you and the prince.”

  She jerked. “Grant—-”

  He shook his head vehemently. “I d-don’t want to hear a thing. I d-deserve it.” He swallowed. “The p-prince said it’s nothing compared to h-how I betrayed you, and he w-was right.”

  Unable to believe what she was hearing, she asked unevenly, “You spoke to the prince?”

  Grant gave her a jerky nod. “H-he told me you would n-never have been with him if you h-hadn’t s-seen me—-”

  Fawn bit her lip hard, Grant’s words forcing her to remember the day she had caught him cheating. And even though it was the prince who owned her now—-

  It still hurt.

  Betrayal would always hurt.

  “I think she set you up,” she said dully. “The other girl...”

  “S-she did.”

  Silence.

  “I s-still love you.” Despite his stuttering, Grant’s voice was fierce, his gaze focused on her completely.

  “Grant—-”

  “Please.” Grant took hold of her hand. “I n-need you.”

  And she could see that he did, more so than he ever had—-

  But it was too late.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “But he d-doesn’t love you.”

  “Grant—-”

  Taking a deep breath, Grant said tensely, “It’s true. I k-know you d-don’t have to believe me, but I’m n-not lying. He t-threatened me, Fawn. He told me n-not to h-hurt you, but he a-also told me n-not to tell you I k-know the two of y-you are l-lovers—-”

  Fawn slapped him, and as Grant’s head snapped to the sight, she whispered shakily, “Stop lying.”

  It took a long time for Grant to face her, but when he did, she was stunned to see tears running down his face.

  “Y-you don’t know.” A crazed laugh escaping him, he said hoarsely, “You d-don’t know how t-terrified I am t-to s-say t-the truth. If you only knew—-”

  “Then tell me!”

  “I can’t.” Grant began beating his own chest hard with his fist. “I’m different. You k-know it. I k-know it. Everyone k-knows it.” His voice broke, and tears fell faster down his cheeks. “B-but I had to w-warn you. Because now I know I love you.”

  A sob spilled past her lips. “Grant...it’s too late.”

  His lips twisted. “E-even so. I n-needed to t-tell you. I o-owed it to you. And I d-don’t want you hurt.” He grabbed her hands. “So please l-listen. He d-doesn’t love you. Y-you’re like a f-fetish to him—-”

  “Stop it, Grant—-”

  He let her hands go, staring at her with leaden eyes. “I’m n-not lying. But I am sorry.” Grant’s head lowered. “I’m so d-damn sorry it c-came to this.”

  She could only stare at Grant, realizing that she was looking at a man she no longer knew.

  Because he was right.

  He had changed.

  But then...so had she.

  “If you’re really sorry,” she heard herself whisper, “then promise me one thing.”

  Grant’s head jerked up.

  “Please pretend this never happened.” She smiled tremulously at his stunned gaze. “If it’s t-true, and I’m n-not saying it is, but if it’s true you’re the only reason I can be with him now, then...” She sucked her breath. “Can you please let me stay with him just a little bit longer?” Her own voice broke. “Give me a chance to make him love me, Grant. I’m begging you.”

  ****

  The prince turned away from the windows in his study as soon as he saw Fawn’s car roll down the driveway. Returning to his seat, he waited tautly for the sound of her footsteps, but when they came—-

  He sensed her skulking behind the door, which he had left slightly ajar, and he wondered grimly if it was a sign of guilt that she couldn’t make herself enter his study. Then again, he had no right to be furious, did he?

  Hadn’t he been the one to demand Bennett to keep his relationship with Fawn?

  When the prince got tired of waiting, he took his wine glass from the table, and as he stared into the dark liquid, he murmured, “Stop peeping and come in.”

  There was a squeaking sound of horror, and then she was tiptoeing inside his study. He turned to her as she closed the door, and when she spun to face him, their gazes met.

  The prince had changed into casual clothes, a white V-necked shirt and black jeans, and he looked gorgeous.

  Fawn gulped.

  He also looked mad as hell, and as the prince came to his feet to make his way towards her, Fawn couldn’t help gulping again. Why was he mad?

  When he reached her, Fawn’s apprehension got the better of her, and she blurted out, “Sorry!” It didn’t matter that she had no idea what she had done wrong. She had no problems apologizing if that was what it took to make him stop looking at her with those cold green eyes.

  When he reached her, stopping less than a foot away, he asked silkily, “Sorry for what?” Before she could even think of answering, he continued, “Sorry for sneaking out of my bed to date your boyfriend?”

  Oh.

  When he put it like that, it did sound pretty bad, she thought with another gulp. Raising her gaze to his, she said weakly, “Sorry?”

  Green eyes blazed at her.

  “R-really sorry?”

  His gaze swung downwards, and following it, she was stunned and bemused to see him staring at her engagement ring.

  “Get rid of it.”

  Her eyes widened.

  “Now, dammit.”

  His tone made her jump, and she hastily pulled her engagement ring off. Reaching behind her, she hurriedly unclasped her necklace to weave it through her ring—-

  “No.” The prince’s captured her hands from behind and forced them down. At the look of bewilderment in her gaze, he said tightly, “I don’t want to see it when you’re with me.” When her mouth opened, he forestalled her words with a hard look. “Get rid of it.”

  “But—-”

  “I mean it, Fawn.” The mere sight of that ring trapped inside her fist revolted him, and even though he knew he was being unreasonable, he didn’t give a damn. “You spent the night in my bed,” he gritted out savagely, “and I woke up to find you gone, leaving me for Bennett—-”

  “We agreed to meet up last night,” she mumbled helplessly. “W-what am I supposed to do?”

  “Ditch him,” he growled. “Why do you even have to fucking ask that?”

  Because!

  I!

  Know!

  You!

  Only!

  Want!

  Me!

  When!

  I’m!

 
With!

  Someone!

  Else!

  The prince stared at her. “For one moment there, it almost like you were screaming at me—-” He paused. “If screams didn’t have any noise.”

  “Well...” Fawn was breathing hard. “You were i-imagining things.” Opening her fist, she looked down on Grant’s engagement ring and the diamond winked up at her, perfect in a way that her life couldn’t be—-

  Yet, Fawn reminded herself doggedly. Her life couldn’t be perfect just yet, but it would be.

  “What are you doing?” the prince asked coldly when he saw Fawn get back to unclasping her necklace.

  “I promise,” Fawn mumbled without meeting his gaze, “you’ll never know it’s there.” She weaved the necklace through the ring before locking it around her neck. After hiding it under her shirt, she finally allowed herself to look back at the prince—-

  The prince stared back at her, his gorgeous face expressionless.

  She said weakly, “Voila?”

  The prince bared his teeth in a sharp smile. “You think you’re being funny?”

  “Umm...yes?” His smile became sharper. “Or...no?”

  He took a step towards her, and she stepped back.

  “You know,” the prince purred, “that I’ll make you pay for what you did, don’t you?” He continued stalking forward, and she continued backing away.

  “But you know I c-couldn’t help it—-”

  “I know,” the prince acknowledged softly.

  She started to brighten up.

  “But it doesn’t matter though.”

  Fawn’s smile faded, her back hit the door, and she cringed, realizing she was trapped.

  The prince closed the distance between them, his arms slamming against the door, and she tensed.

  “You...” His head started to lower, and oh, the way he looked at her made her heart jump for all sorts of reasons.

  “P-prince?”

  He didn’t answer, and it terrified her, but oh, if she had to be honest, it thrilled and excited her, too, making her entire body tremble, and that part of her become slowly wet—-

  She clutched his shirt. “Prince...” She tried shoving him away, but he was immovable.

  Their eyes met one last time.

  She blurted out, “Baby?”

  The prince froze.