Crypts and Crimes (Trixie Towers Book 3) Read online

  My head jerked up in surprise, watching as he agilely jumped off the bed. I muttered in extreme confusion—and need, “What the fuck, shifter?”

  He wiped his mouth off with his forearm, like a brute after a messy meal, and leaned over the bed to take ahold of my thighs. “Elf, I want inside you.”

  “I was almost there,” I whined. Then I grunted, startled by his brutish ways as he yanked me to the edge of the bed. My head spun as he grabbed my hands and sat me up in a dizzying rush. I repeatedly blinked, mumbling inarticulately, “I think we are having a communication error, shifter. Orgasm, good. Sexual frustration, bad.”

  Mayhap he wasn’t as skilled as I’d thought, and he’d simply gotten lucky the last few times? If that were true, the Fae were even more fucking vicious than I’d already guessed.

  The King of Shifters chuckled under his breath and brushed my hair off my forehead that had fallen forward. “I read the first chapter of that book before your king got his hands on it. It said that elves like to be teased before they climax. Is that incorrect?”

  I stared, trying to catch up to his logic. “While that may be true… I was so Fae damned close.”

  My dratted soul mate’s lips curved into an arrogant grin. “I did well then.”

  Oh my Fae. I pinched my fingers together in front of his face. “You cut it a little too close. Understand? If you want to do what the book said, then less stimulation, more teasing.”

  King Athon’s lips trembled as his solid black shifter eyes grazed over my grumpy features. But he stated studiously, “We still have much to learn about one another. I will endeavor not to make you so…stimulated…next time.”

  “Hmph.” I flicked the tip of his nose—gently. “Are you going to make it up to me?”

  With my head at this height, and his feet firmly planted on the floor with the front of his legs pressed against the bed, he didn’t have to lean down so far to place his eyes in front of mine. He nipped the tip of my damned nose with his blunt teeth. “That is a possibility, elf, if you stop complaining.”

  I shut my mouth with an audible snap—shifter prick.

  The smile the King of Shifters wore was cruel.

  I glared death.

  The palms of his warm hands skimmed down my hips to my thighs, opening my legs further, nestling himself fully between their warmth. His mouth brushed against mine in a soft caress as he clutched my ass and brought me flush to his body.

  My churlish attitude flittered away like it never was with each teasing kiss he delivered, my soul mate a damned fine, quick learner. I draped my arms around his neck, arching my back to brush my breasts against his chest, needing to be as close to his hard body as possible.

  He wrapped one of his arms around my waist, and lowered his other hand to take ahold of his cock. He aligned himself at my entrance while I tipped my hips to help him—the bottoms of my feet pressed against the side of the mattress for support. His groan was quiet against my lips, his cock carefully entering me.

  I breathed through the sweet pain, shuddering inside his embrace from the pleasure of it, my mouth devouring his—the only way I could communicate how intense it felt.

  The King of Shifters slowly thrust his hips, attentive to how much of his cock he gave me at one time, his lips reluctantly pulling back from my mouth so that he could examine my face. “Too much?”

  I panted and shook my head, my attention lowering to where his glistening cock slid in and out of me, his hardened member almost fully seated now. “No. Though this position is new for me. It feels like you’re going deeper than before, but keep going.”

  King Athon gently drove his hips forward again, his large cock finally completely inside me. He grunted roughly, both of his hands capturing my hips. His fingers dug into my supple ass cheeks, squeezing.

  My arms stayed locked around his neck as my head tipped back on a long moan, my entire frame shivering at the perfect intimate fullness.

  The shifter king lowered his head and nuzzled at my neck, succulent love bites given again and again. He groaned quietly against my skin, “Your fucking pussy is my new favorite place, elf.”

  I laughed breathlessly, blurrily gazing up at the ceiling. “Shifter, we have happily reached an agreement. Your cock is now my new favorite invader.”

  And I wasn’t sharing this big cock with anyone.

  Fire boiled brutally within my veins.

  Yes. Oh, yes. This shifter was mine.

  All. Fucking. Mine.

  Tersely, his tiger fangs grazed my neck.

  I flinched and snapped my head up. “What?”

  “My dick isn’t going anywhere else. Calm yourself.” King Athon’s muscled shoulders shook under my arms in silent mirth, his eyes pinching at the corners. His gaze flicked down to where our bodies joined and then back up to my eyes. “Your temperature rose a few degrees.”

  Oh.

  Politely, he didn’t mention that he’d felt my possessiveness flare inside his Fae-spark.

  I tilted my chin up and sniffed. “I hope it hurt.”

  Barely restrained humor still colored his features—apparently utterly tickled by this intimate knowledge. “I must admit it wasn’t completely comfortable. But I survived.”

  I sighed heavily and softly tugged a fistful of his hair. I lied with my most uppity voice, “That is quite enough. I am growing bored.”

  “Are you now?” King Athon chuckled and nipped sharply at my bottom lip.

  I crinkled my nose. “Ow.”

  His eyes found mine as he ran his tongue over the hurt.

  I shivered inside his hold and chased his lips with mine. I mumbled absently, “More of that, please.”

  The King of Shifters grunted, his mouth instantly stroking my lips. His hands holding my hips tightened, and his hips pulled back. He began thrusting inside of me, slowly and sensually…

  The shifter king could do gentle sex.

  I groaned against his mouth in pleasure and used my feet for leverage, tipping my hips further, wanting all he had to give.

  King Athon smiled against my mouth and drove his cock in harder, but kept his leisurely pace. His right hand smoothed up my side to cup my left breast, pinching my nipple softly. He twisted gently, rubbing it between his fingers.

  I shuddered as carnal heat swathed my body, shoving forward into his hand, relishing his soft care. I looked into his gaze, whispering, “You’re very good at this.”

  He pressed his forehead to mine and rolled his hips, causing my entire body to tremble against his. King Athon stared back at me under his long, curling eyelashes, his breath panting against my lips, a stalking tiger watching his mate.

  I moved my hips with his on each stroke, my breaths becoming harder and harder, my gaze locked on his.

  My arms unwound from around his neck, my hands wandering over his delicious body. I explored gently, and, occasionally, scraped my nails over his brutish muscles, stroking him.

  His chest vibrated with a chuffing sound deep in his throat.

  He liked that. Very much so.

  I groaned breathlessly and gripped his flexing ass, pulling him harder with each drive. I asked softly, “May I bite you?”

  One hard, rumbled word. “No.”

  I growled under my breath. Trust, we didn’t have it.

  For good reason, too…

  I snapped my fangs at him, irritated.

  Fae dammit. I really wanted to bite him.

  King Athon chuckled softly and ran the tip of his nose across my cheek to the bottom of my ear. His words were spoken quietly, “One day, we may get there. But today is not that day.” He thrust his hips more fiercely, grinding against my clit.

  I jolted against him. A husky moan erupted past my lips.

  Fuck it. Another day it would be.

  Not all battles were won before the sun set.

  The King of Shifters drove and drove his hard body against my clit, his cock sinking deeper inside my tight channel. His firm plunges didn’t stop, his muscles tig
htening with each thrust. The indulgent rhythm he set curled my toes, while quiet curses flew out of his mouth.

  My frame tightened, my eyes closing in euphoria.

  Then he licked the pointed top of my right ear, sucking it roughly into his hot mouth, his blunt teeth biting down.

  I shouted in ecstasy as sizzling pleasure exploded behind my eyes, carnal bliss turning me inside out. My body quaked so brutally, my endowed soul mate swiftly wrapped his arms around me, lest I fall off the Fae damned bed. My pussy grasped his cock brutally in beat to my hammering heart, while I gulped for air that didn’t want to come—and I didn’t give a Fae damn. I shook hard inside his hold from my climax, my head thumping forward onto his firm shoulder.

  King Athon’s left hand gripped the back of my head, holding me possessively as he tumbled into his own hard rapture. His muscled body violently clenched as he thrust inside me once more, his cock pumping warmth within me. He grunted and shoved his face down on the top of my head, heaving great lungfuls of breaths against my hair, shuddering his release.

  I quickly lifted my hands from his ass and held his back…lest he fall over. I repeatedly blinked until my vision cleared, my face still pressed against his warm russet skin. My heartbeat didn’t want to calm down, not even a little.

  I slurred, “The Fae may have cursed us to die, but they sure as Fairy made the going pleasant.”

  King Athon chuckled breathlessly against the top of my head, his arms unyielding around my still quaking frame. But after a few minutes, he sensibly leaned back, carefully pulling his cock out from inside of me—time was running out. He lifted me off the bed, my feet landing on the floor with one of his quick, graceful moves.

  I swayed where I stood…and stumbled to the side.

  “Careful.” King Athon grasped my hips, drawing my body against his solid frame—kindly not remarking on my sated state. When I groaned and snuggled closer to his warmth, his muscled arms tightened around me. But in his brutal shifter accent, he reprimanded, “If you’re fine now, elf, you need to get moving. The music’s changed, and King Traevon will come looking for you soon.”

  I sighed heavily, and sullenly pulled back from his heat. I marched—perhaps, crookedly—toward my clothing. “Yes, shifter, the hour is getting late. I must go dance with some of my people before my king sends me to exile again.” I glanced back at him over my shoulder as I grabbed my clothes off the ground. “How did you manage to sneak out of the ballroom?”

  The King of Shifters leaned his hips back against the bed and crossed his arms, and stared at my ass while he talked—no shame whatsoever, “I asked for a private room to speak with Bishop. He’s very talented at impersonating voices. I snuck out a window and into another.”

  I struggled with my clothes, squirming to get them on correctly. “Do you mean that Bishop has been holding a conversation with you—by himself—this entire time?”

  King Athon smirked, and finally began collecting his own clothing littered about the floor. “Yes.” His regard once again roamed my body when I stepped in front of the mirror. He asked oh, so coolly, “King Traevon commanded you to dance with elves?”

  I paused in patting my hair, my right hand up in the air. My gaze caught on his reflection in the looking glass—the violence he hid so well peeking out in his eyes. “Shifter, I had to watch you dance for an hour with women of your own kind. You do not get to act the beast here, not in my kingdom. I will do my duty, as you did yours.”

  The King of Shifters grunted and yanked up his leather pants. His scowl looked permanently etched in his features it was so fierce, wisely choosing not to argue my valid points.

  I peered back into the mirror, twisting my necklace so it lay correctly again. “And I can take care of myself. You have nothing to fear.”

  “Fae help me,” he muttered under his breath.

  I sniffed. “I can. Hush.”

  King Athon abruptly lifted his nose into the air, inhaling. He snarled while he looked down at his pants, messing with the laces. “Caspian is coming.”

  I quickly fiddled with my hair again, turning my head left and right, trying to see if I’d missed anything.

  But I froze in place when the lock jiggled…

  Caspian opened the door, words already spilling from his mouth, “Trix, you have had—” He halted hard in place, his dark blue eyes instantly shuttering at the view in front of him.

  King Athon peeked up at him, and then back down at his laces, tying them at his own pace, not seemingly bothered by the interruption.

  I cleared my throat and grabbed my sandals from the floor, turning to leave quickly. It would be wise to put distance between Caspian and King Athon. I hastily sped across the room right toward my cousin.

  Caspian stared calmly into my frantic gaze. It was the look he owned when he killed someone. His voice was even and cool. “Your ear jewelry. It’s missing.”

  I stopped abruptly and touched my right ear with my free hand. A blush stole over my cheeks, discomfiture heating my skin. I glanced all over the floor. Where in the Fairy had they gone?

  “The bed,” King Athon rumbled. He shoved his arms into his black, fur vest, turning to evaluate his appearance in the mirror. He stopped in place, an instant scowl marring his features. His solid black shifter eyes snagged my gaze in the reflection, one of his black eyebrows lifting. “Grab my crown, if you would.”

  I puffed out a quick breath and hurried to the bed. I shoved on my sandals with one hand while I slipped my ear jewelry back on with my other. I snatched the crown off the bed and tossed it to the shifter king in my haste to leave.

  The King of Shifters caught it easily out of the air while he fixed his, unquestionably, disheveled hair. He wasn’t troubled one bit—while I was a Fae fucking mess. King Athon ran his fingers through a tangle in his hair, studying his work in the mirror.

  I shoved Caspian out the door and quickly shut it behind us. I grabbed my cousin by the shoulder of his fake servant uniform and dragged him behind me at a fast clip. I growled, “Why did you have to pick the lock, Cas?”

  “I bloody well thought you’d fallen asleep.” Caspian snorted. “I was quite wrong about that, wasn’t I?”

  I stopped hauling his person and slowed myself to stroll next to him. I stated seriously, “Don’t kill him.”

  “How did this even happen?”

  “The Fae fucked up.” I shook my head, at a loss. “But, either way, Cas, you cannot kill him. Do you understand?”

  Caspian stayed quiet until we were almost at the ballroom, the cadence of older music floating all around us. “I won’t. For now.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Confession of a princess:

  I don’t particularly like Bishop. The next time I see him, I might just burn off his eyebrows. Mayhap I’ll set fire to his dick. Then his tongue. His eyelids if I am bored…

  Perhaps his fingers? One at a time.

  His toes?

  The insides of his thighs would burn nicely.

  And his nipples would pop right off with the right spark.

  I should just burn all of him. Slowly.

  I WOBBLED As gracefully as I could off the dance floor, my feet Fae damned hurting from so much twirling. I stopped next to my uncle and placed a serene smile on my face—as I leaned on his arm for much needed support. I hissed through my teeth, “If King Traevon points at one more person for me to dance with, I will kill him myself. An hour was quite enough.”

  Uncle Marlon’s lips trembled. He placed his arm around my waist to discreetly help me stand straight. “There’ll be no need for treason and mayhem. Your father and Minnie left about five minutes ago.” He cleared his throat purposefully. “She was getting a little hot.”

  My blink was slow. “What horrible timing. Mother will not be pleased about this.”

  Violet eyes pinched at the corners while he stared down on me with affection. “It is their soul-mated anniversary. Some would say a heat right now is perfect timing.”

  I wigg
led my right foot, sighing in relief as my ankle cracked. “At least, my king will leave me alone now. I will not complain about that.”

  “Yes, that is true, also.” Uncle Marlon chuckled softly. “Do you think you can stand on your own? It appears you have another man coming to ask you to dance.”

  My gaze caught on the elf headed our way. I stood straight and ignored the jabbing pains in my feet to meet this individual head-on. I slid out from my uncle’s helping hold and smiled sweetly, saying, “Hello again, Willam.” I peered behind him and then back to his face. “Where has your beautiful soul mate run off to?”

  “Bianca was only able to attend tonight for a short time. Our son requires much of her attention, as I’m sure you might imagine.” He smiled brighter than the sun and dipped into a deep, formal bow. “If you would care to dance again, Your Highness, I would enjoy it greatly.”

  I lifted one red eyebrow, noticing this time that his eyes were glued to my legs showing through the slits. My sweet grin grew broader. “I would rather impart a secret to you.” I crooked a finger at him when he quickly straightened, intrigue written all over his features. “Come closer, Willam.”

  He stepped forward on command and ducked his head down near mine—his slow, intimate smile hidden from others. “Yes, Your Highness?”

  I turned my head, placing my lips against the bottom of his ear. I whispered, “If you stare at my ass one more time, I will burn the points of your ears off.” My lips curved into a wicked sneer as he froze in place, not moving even to breathe. “And if I find out that you stray from your soul mate—ever—I will have you thrown into the dungeon, and only released when your soul mate goes into heat. Do you understand me, Willam?”

  The philanderer choked on air. William finally nodded.

  I patted his cheek and stepped back from him and then stated pleasantly, “I think it’s time for you to leave so that you may help your sweet soul mate with your babe. That is a grand idea, is it not?”

  Willam rose to his full height, his face as pale as the moon. He rasped, “Yes, indeed. Thank you for the kind suggestion, Your Highness.”