Heart of Thorns (Shadow Valley U Book 2)

I’ve never done this before.

I mean, I wouldn’t really consider it public indecency. No one is around. It’s a one-person bathroom. But it is in a public place.

“Thorne,” I whisper over his mouth. He bites my lip and tugs on it.

This is hot.

Like, can’t-hide-how-much-I’m-turned-on hot.

It feels sort of wrong because his parents are waiting for us.

But it feels sort of right, too. Because let’s face it. They are complete fucking assholes.

“Put your hands on the sink, kitten.”

Thorne turns me around swiftly, and I do as he says. His mouth hovers over my ear, and goosebumps rush to my skin. “We’re going to have to be quick.”

I whimper when his hand falls between my legs.

His hiss pulls my attention to the mirror. Holy shit. He’s dangerously hot with his hooded eyes and his fingers tugging on my panties.

“Fucking hell, kitten. You’re in thigh-high stockings? Later I’m going to fuck you with only those on.”

I whimper again.

I’m desperate for the ache to go away. For something to ground me and calm my fizzled nerves.

“Ahh.” My hands clamp on to the sink when he rubs his knuckle against my clit. I thrust backward, eager for him to ride this out with me.

“You want me to fuck you now, kitten?”

His mouth lands on my neck, right behind my ear. He sucks so hard, I see stars.

“Please.”

God, I even sound desperate.

But for some reason, I’m okay with it.

I’m okay with it because it’s Thorne.

Wait, do I trust him?

“Come for me, then I’ll fuck you quick. My parents are probably wondering where we are.”

“Fuck your parents.”

The rumbling of Thorne’s chest vibrates my spine. His finger moves in and out of me while his thumb rubs fast circles over my clit.

“That’s it,” he encourages, kissing on my neck again. “Those noises you’re making are so fucking sexy, Briar. Hurry up and come so I can feel you squeeze around my⁠—”

I throw my head back and combust. My hands slip, and my knees buckle. A hot tremor of pleasure zips through me as Thorne catches me by the waist, hauling me up to his chest.

“Look at how perfect you are when you come, kitten.”

I open my eyes slowly.

The bathroom is hazy, and we’re a blurry mess in the mirror.

Thorne kisses the spot on my neck that’s sore. “Let me correct myself.” His hand lands on my chin, and he squeezes it tight until I’m staring at us both in our reflection. “Look at how perfect you are when I make you come.”

A blissful sigh falls from my mouth, and I lean forward again. I inch my skirt past my hips and press myself on to him. “Well, are you going to make me come again or what?”

The condom is already halfway on by the time I get my hands on the porcelain.

The tip of his dick is inside, and I’m already clenching around him.

We both turn to the knock on the door and freeze.

“Cassius?” His mother’s voice sounds from the other side, and Thorne curses quietly. “Are you in there? Please come back to dinner before your father has a conniption. He’s already angry, and you disappearing from dinner is disrespectful.”

Thorne growls and pulls out of me. I quickly adjust myself and turn to lean against the sink. He places his hand flat on the door and speaks through it. “And the way you talked to my girlfriend is disrespectful.”

God, his parents are awful.

I replay everything they said during dinner and cringe. It’s no wonder he was so nervous about this evening.

Without putting much thought into it, I erase the space that separates us and wrap my arms around his waist from behind. I rest my ear on his back and hear his pounding heart.

“I will refrain from offending that girl as long as you come back.”

That girl.

I squeeze him tighter. His hand falls to my arm, and he rubs this thumb slowly on the inside of my wrist.

“We’ll be right there, Mrs. Thorne.” I’m proud of how sweet my tone is.

Thorne drops his head, and after a few seconds of silence, he starts to laugh.

I smile against his back because it’s a nice sound. I like it. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because…” He tugs on my arm, and I move in front of him. He takes the back of his hand and rubs his knuckles over my cheekbone. “I’m still fucking hard.”

I immediately glance at his pants.

“You’re the only girl in the entire world who has the power to keep me hard as a fucking rock with my mom right outside the door.”

I giggle, and Thorne grins. We stare at each other for a few seconds, and it’s difficult to tell what’s going through his head, because surely it isn’t what my heart is tricking me into thinking.

“Let’s go before I make my father even more angry.”

He brings my hair in front of my neck to hide the hickey he gave me and then quickly adjusts himself. After a moment, he opens the door to an empty hallway.

We walk hand in hand toward his parents. I feel lighter after our little bathroom escapade and I’m pretty sure that isn’t the orgasm talking.

I stare at the dessert placed in front of me.

I’m thankful it’s the final course of our excruciating dinner with Thorne’s parents but I’m not sure I can eat whatever the hell this is.

I glance at the waiter, who is sweating due to Thorne’s father scolding him for not grabbing our empty plates fast enough.

He must want this dinner to end just as quickly as I do.

“Poached Pears Belle Helene,” the waiter says, quickly scurrying away.

Thorne’s hand falls to my leg under the table after I continue to stare at the pear covered in chocolate?

“Why isn’t she eating?” Mr. Thorne refuses to look in my direction.

Thorne squeezes my thigh. I clear my throat, saving him from the trouble of making up some excuse.

“I’m trying to watch my figure,” I answer, glancing at Helena next. “Us girls have to stay in shape so we can keep our men happy, right?”

I hear the faintest growl from Thorne, but surely he knows I’m just trying to appease his parents. They want some Barbie-like wife for Thorne so that’s what I’ll act like if it’ll get them off his back.

“Well then, you’re dismissed.”

I slice my attention over to the head of the table. Andrew Thorne doesn’t even glance at me. Instead, he glances at his watch, like he has somewhere else to be.

Thorne scoots his chair back but stops as soon as his father slaps the table. “Not you, Cassius. Her.”

Now it’s my turn to grab Thorne’s thigh. Calm down.

“And how do you expect her to get home?” he grits between clenched teeth.

“She’ll find a way. You and I have business to discuss.”

I can tell Thorne wants to argue, but instead of letting him, I drag my palm up his leg and latch on to his hand. Two squeezes later, and I’m placing my napkin onto the table and standing upright.

Coming to stand behind Thorne, I place my palm on his shoulder and glance to both of his parents. “Thank you so much for dinner.” Thorne reaches up and softly touches my hand. “It was so nice to meet both of you.”

Not.

Helena says some fake-nice remark, and Andrew grunts followed by a curt nod.

“I’ll see you later,” I whisper, placing a kiss on Thorne’s cheek.

I don’t breathe again until I’m outside.

Thorne texts me almost immediately.

I send him a thumbs-up emoji.

He texts again.

The truth is, I’m sorry for him.