Page 72 of Liar
Thorne grunts, bowing forward to hold my weight. I look up in full pleading mode. Don’t let me die, please don’t let me die…
His features are tight, tense with effort. Thorne’s curved one arm around the trunk, and on a roughened groan, he uses his other to pull me up. Muscles bulge underneath his long sleeve. Veins pop out of the top of his hand.
I cover his hand with both of mine, using my legs to scrabble up the trunk and hopefully lift some of my weight off his straining arm.
Sweat grows between our fingers as we both expend effort. My heart creates a new home in my throat, but I keep my mouth shut despite the overwhelming urge to wail and scream before I plunge to the ground.
“Hang on…” Thorne rasps.
Our eyes lock.
“Thorne. I can’t—”
“You can. Don’t let go.”
“I’m slipping.”
My palm slides from his grip.
Panic flashes in his eyes. He pushes himself farther from the trunk.
“No—Thorne, don’t. You’ll fall, too.”
“I’d rather fall with you than watch you die.”
A pained gasp escapes my throat, both at his conviction and the realization that he’d rather die with me than without.
Thorne tightens his thighs around the thick branch holding him up and lets go of the trunk.
“Thorne—”
He’s operating on pure core strength, bending forward and catching my slippery wrist with his free hand. With a low, determined growl, he pulls me up, inch by inch, until I can finally help out and use my legs to join him on the branch.
Soft velvet hits my cheek as I land against his chest. The soothing scent of salt and forest hits my nose. I inhale it like I’ve never breathed in before.
“I’ve got you. You’re safe.” His gravelly voice brushes against the top of my ear as he throws an extra cloak over my shoulders, thick with expensive fabric and as dark as the night surrounding us. A Noble’s cloak. Thorne pulls the hood over my hair.
Closing my eyes, I murmur, “That was…”
“One of the dumber things you’ve done.”
Aaaand he’s back. “It was either this or submit to whatever Savannah has planned for me.” I lift off his chest. “I wasn’t about to give her the pleasure.”
He cocks a brow. “Pleasure’s all mine, then.”
Thorne’s hands were wrapped around me, but slowly, he pulls them back, his thumb and fingers grazing along the bottoms of my breasts.
My belly clenches at the contact. He smiles under his hood as he feels my muscles tighten. Using those blasted thumbs, he flicks both against my pebbled nipples.
I’m cold. I’m scared. I’m insanely turned on.
I scowl. Glance below us. “How are we supposed to get down?”
“We have to wait. We’re up high enough that no one will see us unless someone decides to stand at the base of this oak and look up.”
“What are the chances of that?”
“Slim, I’d say. The alumni aren’t here. Just the current Winthorpe members of the Society, and their efforts won’t extend beyond scouring your house.”