Heart of Thorns (Shadow Valley U Book 2)
Heart of Thorns: Chapter 29

My lip is raw from chewing on it. The sun is just barely breaking through the clouds, and I’ve been up for hours with Thorne’s arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me safe.

He believed me.

Not that I thought he wouldn’t, but without the fire department investigating and determining that the fire was arson, the university was hesitant to take my word for it. Even after the fire department ruled it as arson, the dean had questions.

As if he thought I would start a fire, trap myself in a building, only to jump out and injure myself.

Sure I’m a little callous but I’m not suicidal.

Thorne shifts in his sleep, and I take a second to stare at the side of his face.

A smile tugs against my lips when I trace the curve of his relaxed jaw.

My heart races.

This is getting too real.

It’s becoming easier and easier to trust him. Not only with my body but my secrets and heart, too.

I’ve been through hard shit.

I’ll be fine when we break up. Right?

“Kitten.” My pet name slips from his mouth. His voice is a sleepy rasp.

“Cassius,” I reply.

He peeks one eye open.

How can someone look so… good first thing in the morning?

Humor works itself onto his face, and I start to question if I said my thoughts aloud.

“Is my fake girlfriend blushing at the thought of me being in her bed first thing in the morning?”

Key word: fake.

“What?” I put my back to him. “No.”

He chuckles. “It’s okay. This is a first for me, too.”

His arm clamps over my hip, and he pulls me closer to him. We’re spooning, and I can’t ignore the feel of his hard length against my backside.

“Who said this is a first for me?” I tease.

He makes a noise. “Right. I forgot. Ben.” He says his name with disgust, and I wrinkle my nose at the thought of waking up beside my ex.

“Is this really a first for you?” I ask. Surely that’s not true.

His warm breath coats my neck when he sighs. “Yeah, kitten. It is.”

I blink in disbelief. “How?”

There’s a long pause. He’s holding his breath, I try to turn toward him, but he keeps me in place and exhales. “I don’t like people touching me.”

I’m skeptical. “I touch you.”

His nose skims the inside of my neck. “You’re not people.”

I flop onto my back and find him staring down at me with a furrowed brow. Eventually, he flops onto his back, too.

“I’ve never told anyone this,” he starts.

There’s a slip in his voice, like he’s nervous. I intertwine our fingers but stay lying on my back so I don’t put too much pressure on him.

“But I have this… aversion to touch. I’ve been like this since I was a child.”

“Aversion?” I press.

His hand squeezes mine. I’m not even sure he realizes he’s doing it.

“Whenever someone touches me for too long, I start to panic.” He chuckles quietly and tries to pull his hand away. I keep it trapped until he relaxes. “It’s embarrassing, honestly. I’d actually hyperventilated from it a few times when I was younger.”

“More embarrassing than me being afraid to cook because of the open flame?”

He glances over at me but then turns away to continue.

“I didn’t really understand why until I was old enough to put two and two together. It’s because of my father.”

My heart races.

I hate him even more now.

“He used to say he was teaching me to face my fears, but I think he just wanted to control me.”

“What did he do?” My voice is more of a croak.

“He forced me to face whatever fear I had. Swimming? He held me underwater until I passed out.”

I try to hide my shock, but Thorne shifts at the sound of my parting lips.

“Afraid of monsters under my bed? He turned the lights off, shoved me underneath, and kept me there until I stopped fighting him.”

My heart hurts.

It protests inside my chest. Like if it could crawl from my body and go into his, it would.

“There’s more, but I’ll save you the trauma.” He shrugs away his emotions. “The more he did it, the more I hated being touched. It made me feel… smothered.” A chill works through his body.

I slowly move to my side and get closer to him. I drape my leg over his and place my hand over his racing heart. “I get it. I feel the same when I’m in a crowded room without a direct view to the exit.”

Thorne nods, like he understands.

We may be in a fake relationship, but I don’t think either of us can deny the connection we have.

“I’m glad I don’t make you feel that way when I touch you,” I whisper.

He angles himself, and our mouths are a breath away. My lips part, and his hooded gaze falls to them.

“Me, too.” He cups my cheek and tugs me in close.

The kiss is tender but real.

At least it feels that way to me.

We kiss for what feels like hours, only coming up for air every few seconds to discard our clothes on my bedroom floor. I press my lips to the cut I left on his throat before I climb on top of him. I slowly brush my fingers over his bare chest.

His cheeks are flushed. He watches with rapt attention as I touch every part of him. The more I touch him, the tighter his grip gets on my hips until he’s pressing himself into me. I gasp when he fills me. We fuck slow.

We don’t say a single word.

Only hot noises, heavy breathing, and whimpers that fall onto his mouth from mine.

I know it’s wrong.

I think he knows it’s wrong.

This definitely doesn’t feel fake, but neither of us put a stop to it. We move against each other, sweat coating both of our bodies, until we’re fully sated and breathless.

I’ve never had sex like that.

And by the way he’s gazing at me from the bathroom, I don’t think he has either.

Thorne is watching me like a hawk.

He trails my every step.

By the end of my second rep, I spring up from the mat and give him a look. “You’re making me nervous.”

He smirks. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

I roll my eyes.

“Why are you staring at me so intensely? I’m surprised you haven’t told me my form is wrong.”

He walks over to me and holds out his hand to haul me to my feet. I wobble a little, but he steadies me with his hands on my waist. I peek at him, and his brow is furrowed.

“I didn’t realize I was showing my thoughts on my face.”

I cock my head.

I know exactly what thoughts are going through his head.

“You’re thinking about what I told you, aren’t you?”

He huffs. “How could I not?”

My heart races. I push his hands away and drop back to the floor to finish my reps.

“There has to be more we can do.” He paces in front of me, and I try my hardest to focus on the burning in my thigh instead of the worry I’ve inflicted onto him.

“The police are handling it.” I say in between breaths.

They are.

Sort of.

I’m pretty sure they’ve run out of leads.

Thorne stops pacing and stands above me. “Did you tell them about the note?”

I glance away.

“I don’t see the point.” My stomach hurts. Worry is gnawing on my insides. “The gasoline would have likely taken the fingerprints away.”

Thorne’s lips flatten into a straight line. His gaze traces over my face. I try my best to smooth my features but I’m certain he knows me well enough now to know that I’m worried.

“Up,” he demands.

I slowly rise to my feet. He cups my chin, and my worries start to fade.

Not enough to slow my heart but enough to calm the shaking of my legs.

“You’re tense,” he states.

I swallow. Of course I am. Not to mention, I still haven’t told him that the arsonist is on the football team.

“It’s a hard workout,” I say, lying right through my teeth.

He grins. “I have the perfect remedy.”

My eyebrow arches with my thoughts going right to the gutter.

He laughs and rubs his thumb over my bottom lip. “Patience, kitten.” He leans in close, his lips tickling my ear with his whisper. “I’ll reward you after.”