Craven Cove Royalty (Craven Cove)

“Celeste.” He drops his forehead to mine.

It’s so right being back here in his arms. When I’m with him, it’s like coming home to a place that belongs to me. But even still, I know I need to tell him about my mom.

“I’m sorry about my mom.” I let out a long breath. “I knew what she was up to, but I didn’t know how to handle it. On one hand is my mom and on the other is you. It doesn’t help that I’m not crazy about your dad. I’m pretty sure he hates me.”

“I don’t care about our parents. That’s their own bullshit to work through. We’re never getting tangled in their mess again. How did we end up as the adults in this situation?”

I let out a laugh because he’s right. His cock jerks inside of me, making Apollo groan. He’s hard again, and for a moment I’ve forgotten we’re naked in someone else’s office.

“We need to get out of here before I fuck you again on this couch. I want you in my bed.” He lifts me off him, and his cock slips free. When some of his cum leaks out of me, he grunts. “Fuck, that’s hot.” He puts me down beside him, and we both start getting dressed.

I’m suddenly exhausted, and all I want to do is lie in his arms and pass out. He tucks my hair behind my ear and smiles.

“You're coming home with me.” It doesn't sound like a question.

“You’re bossy.”

“You like it.” He slaps my ass, making me jump, before he leads me out of the party and to his car.

People move out of Apollo’s way as we come through, but I don’t miss the stares. They can look all they want. I don’t give a crap anymore. I’m over letting people try to get between us. When it’s only Apollo and me, everything is perfect.

“Shit.” Apollo jerks me back quickly when a car screeches down the driveway like a lunatic. “I’m done with her shit,” Apollo grits out.

“Who was it?”

“Amber.” Yikes, she really is crazy. I hope she hasn't been drinking, because someone is going to get hurt. I wonder if she was aiming for us, but I shake off the stupid thought.

Apollo holds my hand tighter as he opens the passenger door and presses another kiss on my lips. When he hops in, he takes my hand again before he pulls down the driveway and out onto the road.

“I love you, too,” I tell him because I forgot to say it back earlier.

He doesn't get a chance to respond before the sound of twisted metal being crushed fills my ears, and glass explodes all around. My car door pushes in on me, and screams fill the air. I’m pretty sure they're mine, but it all happens so fast.

“Apollo?” I call out, my words coming out slow and soft.

“I’ve got you, baby,” I hear him say, but he sounds so far away. “Stay with me,” he begs, but the darkness wins out.

Chapter Six

Apollo

“I need to be with her,” I tell the nurse as she brings the tray closer to my bed. “Please, I’m fine. Let me go.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Crew, but you’re going to have to stay still until the doctor is back with the X-rays.”

“Please.” I look up at her with all the pain I have in my heart and try to make her understand. “She’s my life.”

The nurse gives me a hint of sympathy as she presses her lips together. “I'll go get you an update.” She pats my arm as the doctor walks through the curtain. “Be right back,” she says to me softly and exits the way the doctor came in.

Everything happened so fast, it’s all just a blur. One second Celeste was telling me she loved me, and the next all hell broke loose. The ambulance, fire department, and police arrived within minutes, but every second Celeste was unconscious a little piece of me died.

They had to use the jaws to get us out, but they worked as quickly as they could. At one point I saw Amber being taken away on a stretcher, and all I could think was, If she survives I’m going to kill her.

By the time they cut us out, Celeste had begun to slowly regain consciousness. She didn’t respond to the questions the EMTs were asking her, but she was alive. I didn’t even realize I was bleeding until I tried to run after her. It took three firemen to hold on to me long enough for them to take care of Celeste and get her in an ambulance. It was only then someone noticed the slice on my leg, and I felt the pain in my arm.

We were brought to the hospital in separate vehicles, so I have no idea what’s happening with Celeste. When I got here, I tried to get up, so someone strapped me down. They think I’m experiencing a psychotic episode, and maybe I am. The thought of losing her has driven me to insanity.