Cross (Dark Kingdom, #4) — Chapter no 4

CHAPTER FOUR

CROSS

FUCK, SHE’S A drug. That hit I haven’t had in weeks. That one taste of freedom that I’ve been craving.

I get fucked up to forget my past. Only I don’t crave it to feel in control of my life; it just helps dull the memories of how I got here. I didn’t pick Kingdom. It didn’t matter that none of us Kings wanted the responsibility.

Or to be killers. It started out as playing a role we weren’t able to escape.

Now we revel in it.

When my time is up, I won’t even get a chance to atone for my sins. No, I’ll go straight to hell and burn for eternity. Which is fair. I didn’t expect it to be any other way. When you’re raised to fear the light, you seek out the darkness.

“Yes,” she cries out as my fingers fuck her sweet, wet cunt in my bed. I could go again and again with her. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

Removing my hand, I grab her hips and flip her onto her back. I get up and move to sit between her shaking legs. I kept the lights off for a reason.

It’s killing me right now not to see her body, but I don’t want her seeing mine. Too many questions will surface that I’m not in the mood to answer.

She isn’t some woman I’m going to fuck tonight and then kick out afterward. No, I’ll see her tomorrow and the next day. Not only because she’s April’s best friend but also because I already can’t get enough.

I don’t care what any man tells you. We know pretty quickly if we’re going to let you go or want you to stick around.

Throwing her left leg over my shoulder, I grip the base of my already hard cock and guide it into her pussy, forcing a whimper out of her. I go slow this time, gently pressing into her until my balls hit her ass. Then I lean forward, my chest pressed to hers. We’re sweaty and both panting. My hands find her messy bun, and I grip her hair, pulling it loose. My lips find her neck, and I start to kiss her slick skin until I find her ear.

Her hands run down my back until she finds my ass. She digs her nails into it while trying to lift her hips, begging me to move. To fuck her.

“I’m going to take my time this round,” I whisper into her ear, nibbling on it.

She groans, irritated at that confession. “Please?” she breathes.

My lips trail down the side of her neck, and I smile against the skin while I lift my hips just a bit, allowing my cock to slide out. Teasing her.

“Cross,” she growls. Letting go of my ass, she brings her hands to my hair, and she pulls on it aggressively. My cock throbs as I push into her just as slowly as when I pulled out. It’s driving me just as crazy as it is her. “I don’t want slow,” she admits shamelessly.

I smile. “How do you want it?”

“Fuck me.” She lifts her hips. “Please. I need it.”

Her voice sounds as desperate as her body feels. She’s trembling, breathing heavily, and I can feel her heart pound in her chest with mine pressed against it. As much as I want to drag this out, I want what she wants.

“Okay,” I whisper, softly kissing the corner of her lips. “But only because that’s what I want.” She needs to understand that I control her. Not the other way around.

I let go of her hair and sit up. Grabbing the back of her knees, I press them forward, shoving them into her chest. Her ankles cross, and I hold them in place as I start to move. My hips slam forward, my cock fucking her cum-soaked pussy. My mouth waters, wanting to lick it clean while she cries into the dark room.

I give her what she wants. What I’ve craved since I saw her at the wedding. She’s my dirty little secret. Mine to do with as I please. I’m going to fucking make it worth it because when I’m done with her, she’ll come crawling back.

It feels like hours later, but I know it can’t be much longer before I’m coming inside her again. The sound of her getting off did me in. I lie down beside her, listening to her panting from her second orgasm.

I smile to myself in the darkness with one hand behind my head and the other on my bare chest.

“You said you made someone a promise …” She pauses to catch her breath. “Who and what did you promise exactly?’

“I promised Grave that I wouldn’t touch you,” I say honestly. Why lie about it? We’re both adults, and we made the decision to have sex.

“Why?” she asks, sounding confused.

I chuckle. “You expected me to turn you down?”

“No.” I hear her shift, and then her hand is on my chest. I tense at the sudden contact, and I can tell she notices. She goes to pull her hand away, but I reach out and hold it in place. “Why did he ask you that?”

“Because he was afraid it would get between you and April’s friendship.

And then that would interfere with his relationship with her.” I spell it out for her. Plain and simple.

She laughs. “She’s my best friend. I’d never allow a fuck to get between us.”

I don’t have anything to say about that.

After a few seconds, she speaks again. “Wait … when did he have you promise this to him? Tonight?”

I’m really surprised he had me drive her home, considering I had already asked about her before. I think his mind was elsewhere after his encounter with Ethan. “No. At Titan and Emilee’s wedding.”

“You wanted to sleep with me then?” she asks, and I hear her yawn. The alcohol and two orgasms were getting the best of her. I was going to wait twenty minutes and go again, but I guess that’ll have to wait for another night.

“Of course. Why do you sound surprised?”

“Because we hadn’t even met,” she whispers, her body fading fast.

“So?” I run my hand through her matted hair. “I saw you. That was enough.”

Men aren’t as complicated as women seem to think. If we want you, you’ll know. Even the ones who try to act all hard are easy to catch.

She doesn’t respond to that. Within a few seconds, I hear her breathing even out, letting me know she’s asleep.

I close my eyes and let out a long breath, fully satisfied and tired as fuck.

ALEXA

I WAKE UP to find myself alone in a king-sized bed. Sitting up, I allow the covers to fall to my waist. I look around the room to see a wall made of

windows to my right. The black curtains have been pulled back to allow the sunlight to enter the room. It’s large with a single dresser to the left, and a TV hangs on the wall across from me. The floor is white marble with a black diamond design. It’s all very classy, but it’s what I expected from a King.

Pushing the black covers off me, I stand, the room swaying a little from all the alcohol I consumed last night. I should have stopped long before we left. I spot my cell phone on the floor by my bra and underwear. Picking it up, I see I have two messages. The first one is from Mitch.

CUNT: It was nice seeing you last night. Let’s have dinner this week.

I know I had a lot to drink, but does he not remember what happened?

That he thought I was there with Cross? I hope the motherfucker saw me leave with him. But I can’t get that lucky.

Ignoring it, I open the second one. It’s from Jasmine.

Jasmine: Meeting the girls for breakfast. Seven o’clock at Empire in Kingdom.

Looking at the clock, I see it’s six thirty. God, why the fuck am I up so early? I wanted to sleep in … A door to the right opens, and I jump back, placing my hands over my tits and pussy to try to shield what little I can. Cross stands there in the doorway dressed in a plain, long-sleeved white T-shirt and blue jeans with combat boots. He’s got his dark hair spiked and the sleeves rolled up, exposing his tatted arms.

My thighs tighten as I stand here butt fucking naked in the middle of his room. “I, uh …” I stop talking when he pushes off the doorway and starts walking to me.

He comes to a stop before me, his green eyes sweep over my very exposed body, and a rush of guilt runs through me from last night. He said he had promised Grave that he wouldn’t sleep with me. I practically jumped him.

“Good morning,” he says roughly, making goose bumps cover my exposed skin, and my nipples instantly harden.

“Morning,” I whisper, lowering my eyes to the floor.

He places his finger under my chin and lifts it to where I have to look up at him. “I have to get to work, but stay as long as you want.” Then he leans forward and gently kisses my lips.

I keep them closed, not kissing him back. I haven’t had the chance to brush my teeth like him. I can taste the lingering alcohol on my own breath, and that alone makes me want to vomit.

He pulls away and lets go of my chin, slowly running his knuckles down my neck and over my chest bone. My breathing picks up. His eyes follow his touch and then lift to meet mine. “I put my number in your phone. Text me later.” With that, he pulls back and exits the room, leaving me alone to catch my breath.

I rush to his bathroom and find a toothbrush on his counter, not even bothering to wonder why he has an extra one still in the package. Total playboy move, but whatever. At least he’s considerate of his one-night stands.

Once done, I bend over, throw my hair up into a messy ponytail and then use the restroom before getting dressed in the clothes I wore last night. I don’t even have time for a whore’s bath. This’ll have to do until I can get home and soak in the tub.

Making my way to the twentieth floor, I enter Empire at a quarter till seven to see April and Jasmine already seated. “Hey, ladies.” I scoot into the booth with a smile. They both sit across from me. April looks like her glowing self. She has her dark purple hair down and her makeup done. Her lips match her hair, and her winged black eyeliner is on thick.

Jasmine looks rough. “Have you been home?” I ask.

Jasmine has her face covered with a big pair of white Versace sunglasses, and her red hair is up in a messy bun. Well, kind of. It’s so short that a lot of pieces have fallen to frame her face. Pretty sure she still has her makeup on from last night just like me.

“No.” She sighs. “I left the moment I got to their house last night.” She points at April sitting next to her.

“I was wondering where you were this morning,” April says. “I went into the room, and there was a piece of paper on the bed, but nothing had been written on it.”

“Shit. I could have sworn I left you a note.” Jasmine shrugs. “Must have

imagined it.”

“Where did you go?” I wonder.

“I climbed out the window and had someone pick me up,” Jasmine answers vaguely.

“You what?” April laughs. “You climbed out the window? Why didn’t you just use the front door?”

“It was fine. Felt like I was fifteen again.” Jasmine sips her coffee.

“How do you feel?” I ask, looking her over.

She pushes her glasses to the top of her head, and sure enough, her once flawless makeup is smeared under her eyes. It looks like she has been crying, but that could just be the result of a good fucking. “Like I’m seventy and just had back surgery,” she says matter-of-factly. “My pussy is still feeling the aftershocks of the 9.5 dick that pounded it last night.”

We both laugh. “Hey, before Emilee and Haven get here, I need to tell you guys something, but you have to keep it a secret.” My eyes dart around the restaurant to make sure the girls haven’t arrived yet.

“With my life.” Jasmine pretends to slit her throat, showing her commitment to keeping my secrets.

April chuckles at her but nods. “Of course.”

I can trust both of them. I’m not so sure about Haven and Emilee, though. They’re both married, and I’m not sure how much they tell their husbands. “I slept with Cross last night.”

“What?” April gasps, her ice blue eyes wide.

“I knew that was going to happen.” Jasmine waves it off. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you guys did it in his car before you even left.”

“I waited until we got back here.” I laugh.

“Why is that a secret?” April asks, looking confused all of a sudden.

“I guess Grave told him I was off-limits.” I shrug, having problems remembering everything that was said last night. At one point, I was hammered. The other part, I was exhausted. “Not sure why or what that meant. But he made Cross promise not to touch me at Titan and Emilee’s

wedding.”

April frowns, tilting her head.

I can’t keep secrets from her. I understand that I told Cross I can, but I didn’t know it was going to involve April. I’m not sure what I was thinking about who he wanted to keep it from, but I have to tell her.

“But why?” she asks again. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Because you and I are friends,” I answer.

She sighs, running a hand through her hair. “Grave has been … fragile ever since he got out of rehab.”

“What do you mean by fragile?” Jasmine asks before shoving a piece of toast into her mouth.

“Just overprotective, I guess is the right word.”

“Well, you’re pregnant with his child. What do you expect?” Jasmine adds.

“Please don’t tell him,” I add quickly. “I don’t want it to put a strain on his relationship with Cross.” I don’t know Grave well enough to know how he would react to this news. And it’s not like I plan on doing it again. It was just a one-night stand—multiple times. They, however, see each other every day. They’re not only best friends but also business partners.

“Of course not.” She shakes her head. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“You know my lips are sealed.” Jasmine nods. “Unless it’s for a dick.

Then they’re pretty open.”

We both laugh at her.

“So how was it?” April asks, wiggling her dark eyebrows.

“Let’s just say I was extremely drunk, but it was very memorable.”

“Plan on making it a casual thing?” she digs.

“No.” I throw up both of my hands. “It was a one-time thing.”

“Sure, it was.” Jasmine nods her head once. “I bet you let him hit it again tonight.”

I snort, but the truth is I wouldn’t turn him down if he called. Good dick is hard to find these days.

A cell rings, and April pulls hers out of her purse. Looking at it, she sighs. “I need to take this. It’s my brother.”

Jasmine stands to let April out and sits back down when she walks out of the restaurant. Sitting back down, she lifts her empty cup of coffee, begging anyone to come by and refill it. “I need a truck full of this shit today.”

“That bad, huh?”

“I haven’t even been to bed yet.” She covers her mouth to yawn. “And

I’m pretty sure I’m still drunk.”

“Well, at least it was worth it.”

She winks at me. “He always is.”

I don’t ask who she’s talking about because she keeps who she hooks up with pretty secretive. It’s none of my business. As long as she’s getting what she wants, that’s all that matters.

“Sorry, ladies.” April returns to her seat.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah …” She doesn’t sound so sure. “Ethan is just acting weird.”

“How so?” I ask, curious about Ethan.

April and I haven’t gotten to spend much time together lately. She supplied the flowers for Titan and Emilee’s wedding, and when the happy couple did an article in the paper, they name-dropped Roses. April’s shop blew up. She’s been slammed with order after order ever since then.

Her brother was in trouble a while back, and Grave had to dig him out of it. I don’t know the extent of it, but it cost Grave quite a bit of money.

“He seemed to have been doing better, but we’re not as close as we once were. And we no longer live together since I moved in with Grave, so all I can do is guess.” She shrugs.

“Well, I’m sure if he was in trouble, he would come to you or Grave,” I say, and Jasmine looks away as if to check out of the conversation, not wanting to stick her nose into anything. Makes me wonder if she knows something.

“Yeah,” April agrees but doesn’t seem convinced.

I look up to see Titan enter the restaurant with his wife in hand, followed by one of the King’s best friends, Luca Bianchi, and his wife as well. Titan stands out just like the rest of the Kings with all of his ink. But Luca looks more business type. He wears the expensive three-piece suit, whereas Titan is dressed casually.

“Can’t find the place on your own?” Jasmine asks Emilee.

She ignores her and turns to kiss Titan before plopping down next to me.

Emilee has her dark hair up in a bun and no makeup on her face. Her blue eyes meet mine. “Why are we here so early? What happened to our lunch dates? I wanted to sleep in.”

“April picked the time.” Jasmine calls her out.

“Hey!” April shoves her shoulder. “Some of us have jobs to do.”

“You have fun with that. I’m going to drink two more cups of coffee, then go home and sleep the day away,” Jasmine states.

Haven sits down next to Jasmine, making them scoot in more to give her room as her husband and Titan leave the restaurant.

I like her, but I haven’t spent any time with her husband. No reason to.

We’ve been around each other here and there but never spoke to one another directly. Her husband, Luca, seems … different. He’s best friends

with the Kings, but I can’t find the connection. He doesn’t work for Kingdom that I know of, and she doesn’t work at all. From what I know, the girls all grew up together.

“Where’s your babysitter?” April asks Haven.

“Nite? He had to go upstairs with the guys. I guess they’re having an important meeting.” She shrugs. “I don’t ever ask. Sometimes, it’s better off not knowing.”

“You know there is a law—spousal immunity—where the spouse can’t testify against their significant other,” Jasmine offers her. “So even if you did know where he buried the bodies, you don’t have to say.”

The girls laugh it off like it’s a joke, but a part of me knows they’re being serious, and that makes me even more interested in Cross. I know it’s wrong. That comment from Jasmine alone should make me delete his number from my phone and run, but it does the opposite. Ever heard of curiosity killed the cat? Well, call me a dead pussy.