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

by Tee, Marian

  In those months, her moods had swung dangerously between depression and aggression, her pain lashing inward and outward. There were days when she would scream at him in front of other people – his parents, his friends, his colleagues – almost as if a part of her was just waiting for him to give up on her.

  But he never did.

  The prince had never once lost his temper with her, had never raised his voice to her, had never walked out on her even when Fawn herself had found her own attitude unbearable.

  When their gazes met again, she asked in a small voice, “Would you really always love me?”

  The prince didn’t answer, but his lips slowly curved into a smile of wicked amusement.

  Fawn wondered whether she should be confused or insulted.

  And then the prince said under his breath, “You’re so damn sexy when you’re insecure.”

  Oh!

  A surprised giggle escaped her, and she demanded helplessly, “Do you only think of sex all the time?”

  “Yes.” The prince’s gaze roamed over her face hungrily.

  Oh.

  Desire glittered in his beautiful emerald green eyes.

  Desire.

  There wasn’t anything in it that suggested he saw her as scarred, flawed, or damaged.

  It was just desire.

  “Do you really not see the scars...at all?” Her voice caught at the end, the unexpected twinge in her heart catching her by surprise.

  “Don’t be foolish.” The prince’s voice was mildly chiding. “Of course I see them, angel.” His fingers traced her scars one by one. “I’m not blind.” They had faded over time, but they were far from invisible, and they were still remarkable enough to have people occasionally stop and stare. “I see them as good as any other person, but I see them differently.” Cupping her face, he drew her close until their lips brushed against each other.

  Oh.

  Her toes curled hard inside her shoes.

  She knew she should be used to this, but she wasn’t. It was still so new to her, still felt surreal that now all of the prince’s kisses were hers.

  “I see the scars,” the prince whispered against her lips, “and I see how much you love me.” He kissed her hard. “I see them, and it makes me want to show you how much I love you—-”

  The prince suddenly pulled away, cutting their kiss and leaving her blinking.

  A moment later, and he had suddenly dragged her out of the chair, pulling her inside the temporary café.

  The students inside gaped at them.

  “Restroom?” the prince asked silkily.

  One of the students pointed.

  “Thank you.”

  And before Fawn knew it, the prince had locked them inside the café booth’s restroom.

  “P-prince?”

  The prince didn’t answer, too busy unzipping himself.

  His cock sprang out.

  Her eyes flew wide with shock.

  The prince reached for her.

  Oh my God—-

  She tried avoiding his hands, tried shoving him off her, hissing, “Are you seriously—-” She whimpered when the prince managed to lift her up, her back riding up against the door.

  Oh my God—-

  She felt him pushing her dress up, the fabric bunching around her waist—-

  She heard her panties rip.

  Holy sweet Jesus—-

  The prince’s hot, hard body pressed against hers, and her eyes squeezed shut at the feel of it.

  Mary—-

  The head of his cock nudged against the entrance of her pussy.

  Joseph-—

  And then he was sliding all the way in.

  “P-prince——”

  He pulled away just enough for Fawn to see him grin. “Harder?” he purred teasingly.

  She whimpered.

  “As you wish.”

  And he thrust into her, so damn hard that they made a loud thud against the door.

  Someone outside screamed, followed by the sound of glass shattering against the floor.

  “Priiiiiince.” She moaned in embarrassment, knowing that everyone outside had to be aware of what they were doing.

  Biting her ear, he whispered, “Are you telling me to stop?”

  God.

  No.

  She couldn’t stop her arms from tightening around his neck at the suggestion, and when the prince chuckled, another moan spilled out of her, Fawn realizing that she had completely given herself away.

  The prince’s mouth took hers then, his tongue thrusting in and out of her in rhythm with the movement of his cock.

  Over and over, he possessed her every thought with the synchronized thrusts—-

  Someone suddenly knocked hesitantly on the door. “S-sir?”

  Fawn jerked, but the prince only tightened his hold on her, and pulling his mouth away without stopping his cock from driving in and out of her wet, tight pussy, the prince asked, “What is it?”

  “S-someone, err, needs, to, err—-” Embarrassment seemed to have gotten the better of the student.

  “I understand,” the prince murmured smoothly. “We’ll be done in a minute.”

  Outside, they both heard someone scoff, “A minute? He can have her cum in a minute? Yeah right.”

  Fawn caught sight of the glitter in the prince’s eyes.

  “Bet you twenty dollars it’s going to be more than a minute.”

  Oh. No.

  She stammered in protest, “P-prince—-”

  But it was too late.

  The prince’s mouth caught hers. The prince’s cock drove hard and deep into her, all the way to her womb, and his fingers pinched her clitoris.

  It. Was. Over.

  In twenty seconds.

  When they stepped out of the restroom, Fawn ducked her head, unable to meet anyone’s gaze. But the prince was the complete opposite, which was cute, sweet, and annoying at the same time. His arm around her waist was intimately possessive, and the air of immense sexual satisfaction about him was so palpable it was almost as if he was a walking signboard that screamed I FUCKED HER GOOD.

  Just before they reached the doors of the café, they heard someone gasp in laughter. “Pay up,” the guy hollered. “Look at the floor, man! He made her cum so damn hard you can’t even see—-”

  Holy. Sweet. SHIT.

  Her knees buckled, but the prince caught her easily to him with a laugh.

  “Shut up.” Yet his laughter was infectious, and oh dear God, she couldn’t help giggling up at him.

  Leaving the café, they stepped back into the sunlight, and as the prince watched the rays of the sun create a halo behind her, he couldn’t recall seeing anything so beautiful.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” It was the first time she had returned the words since they had gotten back together.

  Looking up at him with eyes that shone, she said it again because she could no longer help it. “I love you.”

  And the most fantastic thing happened.

  The prince’s knees buckled.

  Oh. My. God.

  She laughed before she could stop herself.

  The prince’s gaze turned murderous.

  “Umm...oops?”

  He said very, very pleasantly, “What do you mean fucking oops?”

  She shrieking, jumping back before he could reach for her. “I’m s-sorry—-” And then she suddenly remembered the look on his face when his knees buckled, and she couldn’t help laughing again.

  The prince’s teeth gnashed together. “I’m going to kill you.”

  Shrieking, she ran away from him.

  He went after her at a measured pace, his pride not allowing himself to run like a damn teenager. But he wasn’t above cheating either, and with a subtle gesture, he had his security corner her.

  Fawn gasped when she realized what was happening, the way the prince’s bodyguards were forcing her to take the path that he had chosen. She glared at him over her shoulder, muttering, “Unfai
r!”

  The prince’s broad shoulders moved in a shrug, saying silkily, “I’m the Prince of Darkness, aren’t I?”

  In moments, he had her cornered between his body and a vacant passenger car of the Ferris wheel, the prince’s VIP status allowing them to cut in line. “Shall we?”

  Trap herself with him while they were a hundred feet off the ground?

  No way.

  “I’m, umm, scared of heights—-”

  The prince only smiled down at her. “Even better.” And then he was unceremoniously pushing her inside. The door was slammed shut behind him as the prince followed her, and a second later, the Ferris wheel had started to move, bringing the passenger car up while the one below them took on its next set of passengers.

  “So...” The prince’s drawl called her attention back to him.

  She said weakly, “Sorry?”

  The prince stared at her.

  “I’m so sorry...baby?” When dark color stained the prince’s cheeks, Fawn almost sighed in relief.

  Oh, thank God the prince still liked hearing that.

  “Who’s being fucking unfair now?” she heard the prince mutter, and she couldn’t help giggling.

  “Oh, prince.” She reached for his hands impulsively.

  The prince teased, “Are you going to propose to me?”

  Thinking she should tease him back, she said quite seriously, “Yes—-”

  “Dammit, Fawn!” The prince yanked his hands away as if her touch burned him. “You know we fucking agreed that’s my job—-” He broke off at the way her brown eyes laughed at him.

  “I’m...kidding?” When his gaze narrowed at hers, she quickly added, “Baby?”

  Silence.

  And then a small sigh escaped him.

  “I can’t fucking believe I’m as pussy whipped as the others.”

  Her sweet, innocent laughter played out in the air like a beautiful melody, and he closed his eyes, savoring the sound.

  “Come here, angel.”

  She immediately moved to him, joining him on his side of the passenger car, and he scooped her onto his lap.

  “I love you.” A part of him wondered if he was smothering her with his love, but a bigger part of him didn’t care. He just needed her to feel loved.

  She snuggled closer to him. “I love you, too.” When she felt his lips graze the top of her head, she whispered, “I think it’s time.”

  The prince tensed, and she knew he knew what she meant.

  Looking up at him, she said softly, “It’s going to be okay now.” The scars had served their purpose, and it was time to let go of the past.

  The prince sucked his breath, asking hoarsely, “Are you certain?”

  “About what?”

  “That your feelings for me won’t change when they’re gone?”

  “Who’s being insecure now?” she teased.

  The prince didn’t smile, and the darkness in his green eyes didn’t fade.

  And then he said simply, “I’ll always be scared of losing you.”

  Oh.

  She blinked back tears, not wanting them to blur her vision.

  She looked at the prince, wanting to memorize every beautiful feature of his face.

  And her heart hurt—-

  Her heart hurt so much with love.

  “I’m certain.” And as she spoke the words, Fawn suddenly remembered the first time they met.

  Igor saying, ‘Please tell us a bit about yourself, Ms. Cornwall.’

  And then she had started to speak. ‘I’m, umm, Fawn Cornwall...’

  The prince’s cold green gaze settling on hers as he said, ‘Go on.’

  She had stammered, ‘M-my resume—-’

  And the prince had answered icily, ‘If I had wanted to just read your resume, I would have.’

  Fawn choked back a laugh at the memory. Oh, Lord, who would have thought that from there...they would end up here?

  The prince tipped her chin up, asking, “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing.” And nothing was wrong. Her heart hurt, but it was a beautiful kind of hurt.

  Because the Prince of Darkness loved her, at long last.

  ****

  A short distance away from the Ferris wheel, three women came to occupy the same table that the prince and his fawn had recently vacated. “Of all places, why did we have to meet here?” Alyx muttered irritably. “This place just makes me feel old.”

  Fredericka Spears glared at her cousin. “Shut up. At least you’re still in your twenties.”

  “But I’m wondering the same thing, too,” Anneke de Konigh protested. “Why do we have to meet here?”

  “Because misery loves company,” Fredericka said with a shrug. “I had to come here to support a former client of mine, and I don’t want to be the only granny roaming around Christopoulos University. You remember that huge case I handled against Abraxas Davos?”

  Anneke rolled her eyes. “It was the biggest scandal of the year, Freddie, and we do have Internet in the Netherlands, too.”

  Fredericka snorted. “Stop being so sensitive, your royal bias is showing.” Anneke sputtered, but she ignored this, continuing, “I became good friends with my clients, and they made it impossible for me to refuse their invitation to this Family Day—-” She stopped speaking and stared.

  Alyx and Anneke, following Fredericka’s gaze, stared, too.

  It was Mairi Tanner-Leventis, the infamous-turned-famous American schoolteacher who had once been the center of much controversy, having been labeled by international media as a serial gold-digger. Her name had been linked to numerous Greek billionaires, but in the end—-

  They watched Mairi smile up at her husband, who had their one-year-old daughter on his back in a carrier. The two were dressed casually for Family Day, both in shirts and jeans and with matching baseball caps and Adidas Superstar sneakers. She tried feeding her husband with her ice cream, but their daughter chose that exact same time to lower her head and take a bite from her mother’s soft serve instead.

  Mairi’s Greek billionaire husband laughed, and when his wife pulled away, he bent his head and gave her a passionate, open-mouthed kiss.

  The three friends immediately looked away, flustered, fanning themselves. And then they looked at each other—-

  Fredericka said it all for them. “Some girls have all the luck.” Her tone was glum. She was turning thirty-one, and she was still a virgin.

  Alyx shrugged, saying cynically, “Maybe not all of us are meant to be married.” She gestured to one of the student staff, and a young guy quickly came forward, doing his best not to gape at the length of legs that Alyx’s mini displayed. “Y-yes, ma’am?”

  Pretending she didn’t notice the blatant admiration in his gaze, Alyx took the menu from his hands, saying briskly, “We’d like to order.” Her gaze quickly scanned the items. “A vanilla frappe for me, please.”

  She passed the menu to her cousin, but Fredericka being Fredericka, she already knew what she wanted, saying, “Lavender tea, please.”

  “We, umm, don’t have tea,” the waiter said, flushing.

  “Then a glass of lemonade.” She passed the menu to Anneke.

  “Ice cold café Valencia,” the 31-year-old heiress murmured after a moment. “That would be all.”

  As the waiter left, Alyx said slyly to Anneke, “I can’t help noticing your choice of drink is very Italian.”

  Fredericka coughed to cover her amusement.

  Anneke said stiffly, “It’s just a coincidence.”

  “Oh, suuuure.” Smirking, Alyx turned to the side, crossing of her legs—-

  And in the process she accidentally ended up kicking someone.

  Someone grunted in pain, and Alyx looked up, an embarrassed apology already about to slip past her lips—-

  Gray eyes collided with hers.

  And Alyx found herself staring up at the most impossibly ethereal-looking man.

  The man’s lips suddenly twitched. “It’s
a good thing your eyes are quite eloquent.” His voice possessed the slightest accent, and Alyx had heard it often enough from her friend’s tycoon husband that she recognized it instantly.

  Greek!

  The realization made her hackles rise, and she thought, Hell, no.

  “Apology accepted,” the man said courteously.

  She bared her teeth in a sweet smile. “Who said I was thinking of saying sorry?” And then she turned away, deliberately snubbing him.

  Alyx heard the man chuckle.

  A moment later, and she froze, the man having bent down, his mouth nearly brushing her ear as he whispered, “My name is Nathan Callis. It’s nice to meet you, Alyx.”

  Oooooooh!

  She felt the man slowly straighten away.

  Everything in Alyx told her to look back.

  Everything in her wanted to demand, how did he know her name?

  Conscious of the way Anneke and Fredericka were staring at her in complete fascination, Alyx stared straight back at them, forcing herself to smile brightly as she asked, “So, what were we talking about again?”

  Fredericka cleared her throat. “Don’t get mad, okay?”

  Alyx’s gaze narrowed. “Freddie?” She knew that tone of her voice.

  The state’s number one hotshot attorney cringed. “The reason I also asked for us to meet here was because...” Fredericka gulped. “I set you up in a blind date – well, it’s not blind anymore—-”

  Alyx growled, “FREDDIE—-”

  —with...that...guy?”

  “Oh my God, Freddie!”

  “I just thought you guys would click,” Fredericka protested. “He’s so calm, Alyx, he’s the opposite of you, and have you heard about how opposites attract—-”

  Anneke had an absent-minded expression on her face. “Is that the same Nathan Callis who used to be a supermodel?”

  Alyx gagged. “A supermodel?” She glared at her cousin. “Really, Freddie? You think I’m the kind who’d date a supermodel?” She gagged again.

  “Stop being so judgmental,” Fredericka said reproachfully. Turning to Anneke, she said, “Yes, it’s that same Nathan Callis.”

  “Oh.” Anneke cleared her throat. “Then...that means he’s about three years younger than Alyx?”

  Alyx was moaning in horror now. “He’s not just a supermodel, but a younger one, too?”

  “You can be sued for discrimination with that attitude of yours,” Fredericka lectured.