(Arthur Academy, #2)
Publication date: November 25th 2021
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

“If the world is full of monsters, how do we know who wears the crown…”

Hendrix:
In the dark of the night he bared his soul, delivering a shocking event that should’ve changed everything.

So why in the light of day, does everything appear the same…?

The further I’m immersed in this world he calls the ‘elite’, the more I don’t understand. And it’s not only his world I’m afraid I’m falling for, but the Golden Crown himself as well.

But Pax still has secrets.

And I want him to trust me, like a flame wanting fire.

Because despite his world being nothing as it seems, I’m not sure I could walk away even if I wanted to.

Because the truth be told, I don’t want to.

I want him.

Paxton:
In the dark of the night I revealed a truth, delivering the brutal reality of what the elite really means.

So why in the light of day, does everything appear the same…?

It’s the same cat and mouse games, and the same political, power tricks where the Golden Crown is all they see. It’s all they want to see.

Except for her.

But there are things I can’t tell her. Things I don’t think she’ll understand yet.

And I need her to trust me, like a fire needing flame.

Because despite me knowing what this world does to those who fall victim to it, I’m not sure I could walk away from Hendrix, even if I wanted to.

Because the truth be told, I don’t want to.

I want her.

Excerpt

I put aside the questions I wanted to ask her about how those scars got on her perfect skin and shoved down the anger trying to take over when all I wanted to do was to kill the one responsible for hurting her.

Because that’s not what she needed right now.

But I swear on everything I am that no one will ever lay a hand on this girl as long as I’m breathing.

She was mine.

Mine to protect. Mine to care for.

Mine to love.

That last thought was what I let soar to the surface because this girl beneath me meant more than anything I would have ever dreamed.

My palm drifts from her cheek to the side of her head, where my fingers glide down the braid she always wears. A simple thing to most people, but for someone like me who was taught how to read situations like it was my second nature, I knew the reason she wore her hair like this wasn’t because she liked the style. From what I’d discovered, I knew Hendrix had a story, but I never dreamed that a girl like her would have endured this much pain.

This much torment.

By the hands of someone who was supposed to protect her too. This girl had a strength and a beauty inside of her that went so far beyond the realm of what I would’ve thought possible, that I almost felt like I wasn’t deserving of her. But to have her look at me like I’m the only star shining in her sky, and for her to let me into her deepest fears, had me wanting to do everything in my power to make sure it stayed that way.

No matter the cost.

When my hands find the end of her braid, I tug on her bottom lip with my teeth before pressing a final kiss there and pulling back. My eyes were seeking an answer to my question as I finger the hair-tie that holds her hair in her safe place down her side.

“May I?” I croak, like it was a moment I would relive forever.

Her eyes widen before she nods shakily, and after a moment I carefully slide the tie out of her hair. I run my fingers through the long, black strands until it fans out beside her, and do nothing but gaze down at this goddess from my god-damn dreams. She nervously slips off her glasses and rests them on the table beside us, before running her hands up my naked chest to the tips of my shoulders.

“Hendrix, I…” I start, but before I can get out more words, she initiates a kiss and pulls my head down to hers. I ease more of my weight on her, careful not to crush her but needing to feel as much of her as possible. My palms cup her thighs, squeezing her ass until my hands are gripping her waist beneath her sweatshirt. She shivers when her bare stomach presses against mine. I move my assault from her lips to a path down her neck and feel her legs falling slightly open so I can settle my body between hers. My fingers move up her stomach until I’m feeling every inch of the bare skin on her breasts, and I take my time kneading them until I earn myself the reward of her soft moans and breathy whispers when she says my name.

“Pax….”

I slowly tug her hoodie up and over her head until her luscious hair cascades around us like hells waterfall.

My dark angel sent only for me.

Our mouths and tongues are at war with one another, like they would never get enough, until I feel her tiny hands head south down my chest and stomach until she reaches the top of my jeans.

And I don’t stop her.

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About the Author

Kathleen grew up in the south-western suburbs of Sydney, where family holidays by the beach and tormenting her two younger brothers, was how she spent her early years. But at the young age of 11, when she submitted a short story to a talented writing competition through the NSW schools program, not only did she win it, but she quickly found a love for it as well.

Throughout her schooling, writing was a hobby, along with sketching and various sports. But fast forward to her adult years when she moved to Europe to follow her husbands field hockey dream, and her love for writing surged to the surface.

Her debut story, Cut, was penned over two years where her hobby seemed to lead to the completion of Pennys' world. The rest of the series came the following year.

Kathleen enjoys writing stories full of self-discovery, emotional journeys and of course, love.

Something else she loves is hearing from her readers, so feel free to follow her blog or drop her an email.

For signed copies of her novels, more information about upcoming stories, or to follow her blog, please visit her website www.kathleenmaree.weebly.com

Dream often. Believe always.

Kathleen xo

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