Page 32 of Crush
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear.” I sense a smile in his words. “I like it.”
My mind doesn’t respond to his tone, but my swelling center has other ideas. “Seriously, why are you here? You made it clear today how you feel about me.”
He shifts closer. “Aurora may have written the invitation, but she’s well aware who’s in charge of your challenges.”
“If only you’d caught her earlier in the day.” I sigh. “What’ll it be this time? Jump from the roof of Weatherby Manor? Stay overnight in the middle of Raven’s Bluff forest covered in honey for the bears?” When I notice the spark of ferocity in his eyes, I add, “Or is more hot water involved because Dash just made himself a fresh tea kettle—”
“Who did that to you.”
It’s not a question. Thorne’s tone reaches such a deep level when he bites it out, I retreat a step. I have no idea how much of the bandages he can see when I’m wearing a crew neck T-shirt, but it’s enough to make my wound itch under his scathing focus.
“Didn’t you hear?” I stutter out, hating that his intensity affects me like this. “Aurora tripped during history class, the same day she decided to include fresh-brewed black coffee as part of her royal cleanse.”
Thorne’s hand snaps out, gripping my bicep and dragging me forward. He bends to inspect me closer. At this vantage point, I can see the frustrated curve to his brows. He grinds out, “Lift your shirt. Show me.”
“You don’t get to make demands like that.”
He flicks his eyes up to mine, then back down, before yanking up my shirt himself.
“Thorne!” I cry, but he holds me by the fabric at my neck, practically burying my face in the cotton as he exposes my front. I can’t hold back the whimper as he peels back a bandage, hisses something, then presses it back down. Hard.
He shoves my shirt down on a storm-filled curse, his brutal stare boring into my face as I sidestep and regain balance.
“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” I say, if by chance his growing temper contains concern. The burn at my chest throbs from exposure. From his touch. It affects my voice. “First-degree burn treated by the Winthorpe nurse.”
“I can’t fathom her idiocy.” He spins to face the manor, tilting his head up to the gargoyles on the roof. “I’ve been very clear. No one touches my toys.”
I stare up with him, half-expecting the gargoyles to talk back. They’re more like him than human beings, after all.
I put my hands to my hips, regaining composure now that he’s redirected his focus. “I said I’m fine. I can handle whatever Aurora digs up next.”
“The Virtues are that important to you, huh?” Thorne twists to face me. It takes effort to stay strong under his probing gaze. “After all the Societies have taken away, you’re willing to undergo their challenges and mutilate yourself to have a chance at being one of us? Please. You’re not that pathetic.”
I change the subject. “Where were you today? Why are you only finding out about Aurora’s plans now? I thought you were in charge.”
Thorne eats up the space between us with such swift steps, I swallow down a cry of surprise. His face darts so close to mine, I chew on a whimper, refusing to make a noise. I won’t alert him to my fear.
He would just lick it off his fingers when he’s finished with me.
Thorne’s lips tremble around his teeth, holding back rage, his body vibrating with it. But then, he blinks. Slopes his shoulders. Straightens.
A devil to an angel in a single breath.
“You want to know where I’ve been?” he asks softly, then hooks me by the elbow. “Come with me, little pretty. I’ve just thought up your next challenge.”
14
Thorne
Ember tears out of my grip and runs.
Fucking sprints.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I murmur to her retreating form, her white T-shirt flashing in the darkness like target practice.
Adrenaline spikes as I watch her dash across the curve of Malcolm’s driveway, aiming for the garage. I have to close my eyes, find calm, and give her enough of a head start so I don’t immediately hunt her down, rip her clothes off, expose her burns, and fuck her until she’s dripping with arousal.
It’s my natural instinct to conquer her. Consume her against the dirt. Scrape her flawless skin against the asphalt.