Heart of Thorns (Shadow Valley U Book 2)

“Ow.” I clench my jaw and raise my leg again.

“One more.”

I grumble under my breath. I do as Thorne says, though, because he does know what he’s doing when it comes to strength training. My leg thuds to the mat like it weighs three hundred pounds when I’m finished with my final rep.

He laughs and takes a seat beside me. Our legs brush against each other. I can hardly feel it through my leggings, but heat still moves through me.

It’s because he kissed me.

It was the briefest of brief kisses. Like, a split second. I pulled away because I was surprised over the fact that he went straight in and because of the zip of butterflies that came with it.

Even thinking about it causes my head to spin.

It left me feeling… curious.

“Has Ben cornered you or anything since I threatened him?”

My heart skips a beat with the thought. Cornered. Trapped. They’re too similar in meaning, and it forces me to think of a certain someone.

“He has, hasn’t he?” Thorne’s lips flatten. “I’ll take care of it.”

“No.” I’m quick to reach my hand out and place it over his. I think he’s just as surprised as I am because we both snap our attention to it. “He hasn’t talked to me since.”

Thorne searches my face. His golden eyes narrow, like he thinks I’m lying.

I give his hand a squeeze. “I’m telling the truth. I may be a grumpy cat as you like to say, but I’m not a liar.”

His lip lifts into a smile, and I’m pretty sure I feel a few butterflies flying around my stomach—which I will continue to ignore.

“You don’t lie, huh?”

I jerk my hand back because I’m not sure I like the way his honey-colored eyes darken with something enticing. “No.”

Thorne leans backward onto his hands, appearing cool, calm, and collected. He has this nonchalant attitude that I crave to have. Instead, I’m “prickly” and “uptight”, according to those around me.

“Okay, tell me this.” Thorne turns and gives me no room to look away. “What did you think of me kissing you the other day?”

My nostrils flare.

Shit.

Heat burns my cheeks, and I’m sweating even more than before. Thorne shakes his hair off his forehead and waits for my answer.

I shrug. “It was fine.”

“Then why’d you pull away so quickly?” he asks, smirking.

Because.

“I told you.” I climb to my feet and start packing my things. “I was surprised.”

“Surprised?”

My breath hitches when I realize he’s also climbed to his feet. I move quickly and see that he’s standing no more than a foot away from me.

I nod. “Well, yeah. How was I supposed to know you’d lean in and kiss me in front of everyone?” My words come out too fast. I’m nervous.

He thinks I’m amusing. A full smile slides onto his face, and I kind of want to slap him.

“What?” I roll my eyes and put my back to him. I start pulling things out of my bag again, only to shove them back inside. I don’t even know what I’m doing other than attempting to distract myself from my nerves.

Thorne’s hands land on my hips, and the room is spinning. We’re face-to-face now.

I’m flush against him with my palms splayed over his chest.

“What are you doing?” I ask through ragged breaths.

He inches his chin to the door. “I saw someone walk past.”

My heart beats faster. I glance toward the window in the door to see. What if my arsonist is spying on me like I’m attempting to do to him?

“Oh,” I manage. “Are they gone?”

Thorne doesn’t answer. He bounces his gaze back and forth between mine. The longer we stay like that, the harder his heart beats against my fingertips.

“Do you want me to warn you next time?”

I swallow when his attention drops to my mouth. I’ve kissed guys before. I don’t need a warning.

Nonetheless…

“Yes,” I say. “That way I can act accordingly⁠—”

“This is your warning, kitten.”

Wait. Wha⁠—

My brain sizzles out.

My body does not.

Thorne’s lips press against mine, and I fall right into his kiss. My eyes shut the moment our mouths touch, and when his hands squeeze my hips, I move even closer and let his tongue sweep inside. Every part of me that I thought was dead comes back alive, and it’s burning brighter than it ever has before.

Thorne drags his hand up the side of my body, skimming over every last curve, until his fingers delve into my hair. He tips my head back, and the kiss grows hotter.

Holy shit.

A little whimper escapes, and it’s enough to break me out of the trance.

I back away, and my quiet gasp spills into the open space between us.

Thorne unburies his hand from my hair while keeping a hold of my gaze. I’m too stunned to speak.

That was a good kiss.

Like really fucking good.

It swept me right off my feet, and now I’m left wanting more.

“There,” he whispers raggedly. “Consider that practice.”

I think I need more practice.

I remain quiet because I’m at a loss for words. All I can manage is a quick nod.

“You good?” he asks, smirking. “Don’t tell me… that was the best kiss of your life?”

Thorne is dangerously hot. His smirk is inviting but cocky at the same time.

I try to cover my tracks. I scoff and busy myself with grabbing my bag. I peek over my shoulder at him and shrug. “It was okay.”

Thorne’s laugh echoes around the empty weight room. I hide my smile by keeping my back to him. My lips flatten together to keep from showing him all my cards. He reaches over my shoulder and snatches my bag from my grip but lingers for a second with his mouth hovering beside my ear.

“It’s going to be awfully entertaining getting you to admit that I’m the best you’ve ever had.”

Desire flies to the spot between my legs, and my nipples have entered the party.

Traitors.

Thorne steps away, and when I move to follow him, I swear he’s carrying himself more confidently after the kiss.

I won’t admit it out loud, but it’s warranted.

My mouth still feels branded.

Like it isn’t mine anymore.

Thorne’s face comes into view—those golden eyes that twinkle with amusement but also have a depth to them that puts my body on high alert. His hands on my hips and the way his smooth whisper sounds in my ear. God.

Frustration backs my every move.

I dump my bag onto my bed and begin gathering my sweaty clothes. I gulp the rest of my water bottle and push Thorne out of my head. Lydia comes home but I keep my door shut so I can have a few minutes to get myself together before having to act like Thorne isn’t taking over my mind.

Throwing my workout clothes into the bin in the corner of my room, I start clearing my bed off. I pause when I smell something… strange.

Is that gasoline?

My nose turns upward. I walk around the room sniffing the air like a dog after a bone. The closer I get to my desk, the stronger the scent is. My heartbeat pounds violently inside my ears.

I stare at a piece of notebook paper that’s soggy around the edges.

It isn’t mine.

I’m much too neat for something like this.

My hand is shaking. I reach for the note, and the closer I bring it to my face, the stronger the gasoline is.

What the hell?

My legs grow weak. I slip to the floor.

The note is lying in front of me. I read it until my vision blurs.

Stop looking.

Or you’ll be the one soaked in gasoline.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but when there’s a knock on my door, I move quickly. The note is buried underneath my bed, and I climb to my feet, ignoring my sore muscles.

Lydia storms inside, all dolled up for some party, I’m sure.

“Hey—” Her smile falls. “What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” Even my voice is shaky.

Shit.

“I’m fine.”

Lydia cocks her perfectly arched eyebrow. Her arms cross against her low-cut shirt. “That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I shake my head and hope it covers up the fact that my entire body is shaking. “I’m fine, really. What are you going?”

Lydia eyes me closely. “The hockey house for a party. I wanted to see if you wanted to come with.”

A party right now?

I can’t.

My gaze falls to the floor. I still smell gasoline.

“Sure.” The word rushes from my mouth, and we both pause.

Surprise flickers over her pretty features. “That was way easier than I thought it would be.” She claps her hands excitedly and walks over to my closet. Clothes fly through the air and land on my bed. “Snap, snap, Hart! Marley is waiting for us.”

I fake a smile and nod.

When she leaves the room, I exhale.

The hockey house is the last place I want to go to, but it’s either that or I sit in my room, obsess over the note, and become paralyzed with every noise I hear.

He knows where I live.

And that does not sit well with me.