“Shantel takes us back to the gritty, addictive world of the Dark Kings and it’s as steamy, twisted, and captivating as the first two books in this amazing series.”--Siobhan Davis. USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author
Cross, an all-new dark standalone romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Shantel Tessier, is available now!
CROSS
Have you ever stood next to a fire and felt the heat of it on your skin? Stared into the flames and thought how amazing it would be to be that free? It changes directions with the wind, destroying everything in its wake.
That's what she felt like.
Alexa was a wildfire that torched everything she touched, and I couldn't wait to be consumed by her.
She was off-limits. Even though I promised to stay away, I couldn't resist. She was the spark I had been missing in my life. The fire I craved.
I knew from an early age I was destined to burn in hell, but she was born to walk through fire.
ALEXA
I was single-minded, focused, and independent. Just how my mother raised me. I didn't have time for anything other than myself and work.
Funny how everything can change in an instant when you least expect it.
A King entered my life. What was supposed to be one night ended up being too many to count.
He was afraid that I'd see his darkness, but I couldn't get enough of him.
After all, a fire burns the brightest in the dark of night. And it only takes one match to cause total devastation.
Cross is the third standalone in The Dark Kings Series. You are introduced to the Kings in Code of Silence: A Dark Mafia Romance.
Review
An intense plot with intense characters and an amazing dark romance. Shantel Tessier is an amazing writer and has literally become one of my favorites when it comes to dark romance. She has the ability to write complex characters and then carry them off well.
With this book, I met the most twisted, complex, and dark character I have ever read about. Cross is not for the faint of heart, he is brutal, fierce, and messed up. What he is today is a result of his past and he is unapologetic about who he is and what he does. He doesn't care about what people would think or how to please others. He is someone that you would love and fear at the same time.
Alexa on the other hand, is somewhat a very mild character. She is strong, independent, and has been in very messed up relationships. She sort of is a milder version of Cross and way too naive sometimes. But she is lovable.
Coming to the story, some things that I loved about it was the cast of characters and how complex they are. Secondly the romance between Cross and Alexa. Thirdly, the manner in which the entire story unfolds. Something that I found a little odd was, one that every character seems to have green eyes (just an observation, this doesn't affect my rating), the other thing was the manner in which the suspense was handled in the story. For me, the ending wasn't satisfactory. It sort of felt too rushed and somehow everything unfolded in a very haphazard manner.
However, I read the entire book in a day, which just shows how good everything in this book is. I loved the book and would love to recommend it to all the dark romance lovers out there.
My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars.
Start reading today!
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Excerpt
She slides in, and I make my way to the driver’s side. Starting it up, I look over at her. “Where to?” I meant it more as a “where do you live?” but what I wanted to say and the words that actually came out were two very different things.
She looks over at me. “Wherever you want to go.”
That’s an open invitation if I’ve ever heard one. Obviously, she doesn’t want me at her house, or she would have suggested that. “Kingdom?”I question, unable to keep my eyes from dropping to her legs as she runs her hands over her jeans. Her nails are kept short and painted black. She wears a silver banded ring on her right hand. It’s plain yet dainty at the same time.
“I don’t gamble,” she states.
My eyes meet hers. “Neither do I.”
What I have planned for her is much more intimate. I mean, if she’s into a crowd watching, then that’s fine too. I’m not shy.
She laughs, leaning her head back against the headrest, and smiles softly at me. Her green eyes drop to my jeans, and I refrain from groaning at the thoughts that run through my mind. My hand in her hair while she’s bent over the center console with her lips wrapped around my cock …“Kingdom it is.” Not wanting to waste another second, I take off, getting the hell out of here.
We don’t say much during the twenty-minute drive back to the Strip. I keep checking on her to make sure she hasn’t passed out, and every time, she’s looking out the window.
I pull up around the back of tower one, where the Kings and I have a private entrance. Parking the car, I help her out and up the fifteen stairs that lead to a set of black doors.
Her drunk eyes take in the white marble floor and black circle with the gold K in the middle when we enter the building. Lifting her head, she notices the mirrored ceiling and chandelier hanging in the entrance.
Nigel stands behind his black marble desk in the corner. Nigel is our right-hand man. He’s more of a father to us than our actual fathers ever were. Guess it didn’t take him and Titan very long to bury Kenneth. He looks up and smiles at us. “Good evening, Cross. Alexa. It’s good to see you again.” I’m not sure how he knows her other than maybe he met her at Titan’s wedding.
“You too, Nigel,” she tells him as I scan my key card for our private elevator. Only a King has access to it. Other than him, of course. It opens immediately, and we step inside. I have to refrain from ripping her clothes off right here and now. Just a few more minutes and she’s all mine.
It comes to a stop on the Royal level to the suite that the Kings share. But no one will be here tonight. Titan hasn’t stayed one night here since he married Emilee. Grave stays at his house with April, and Bones rarely sleeps. I’m sure he’s at Glass—one of the many businesses he owns that we all pretend we don’t know about.
Stepping into our suite, I turn to face her. “Would you like a drink?”
She places her hands on my chest, gripping my shirt. “I think I’ve had enough.”
My hands go to her hips, and I yank her to me. The thought crosses my mind that this is a mistake. That she’s off-limits to me. I try to think of my best friend and how it would affect him. “I made a promise not to touch you,” I rush out, hoping she pushes me away.
She surprises me by smiling, and it’s anything but innocent. Her pretty green eyes drop to my lips before returning to mine. “I can keep a secret.” Then her lips are on mine.
