A Cut so Deep (Thornes & Roses 1)

And that’s what scares me the most.

19

Damien

The night is coming to an end, and dawn is peeking on the horizon. I can’t sleep, I’ve spent most of the night on my balcony, looking out over the garden.

Thorne Manor offers each bedroom a private wrought-iron balcony, with views of the town that are usually hidden amongst the trees of our property perimeter.

I spent my childhood looking through those trees, seeing the murkiness that hides amongst the thick trunks. I knew that one day when I was old enough, I’d venture into them, but I never thought I’d play the games we did.

The memory of my last burning rose comes to mind.

She must’ve seen it. The directions were clear as day. Creed is hidden somewhere to my left, along with Brody and Cassian. The younger boys—Finn and Keirin—are at home, prepping for the party.

My body is alert, my ears prick at the faintest sound. I inhale a deep breath, trying to still both my thudding heartbeat and the hardening of my dick. I guess being a horny teenager, I have to put up with it.

I know, as soon as I start the chase, I’ll calm my erection down and focus on the trees that will be whipping by me.

Seconds later, I see it. The swooping lights from a car pulling into the lot. It won’t be long now, until she walks into our line of sight, and then we’ll sound the whistle that normally startles them into a frantic race for survival.

“Damien!” Her voice is drenched in fear, which only seems to make me harder, ready to feel her pulsing around me, as I make her come. Shaking my head, I attempt to focus, but it’s been off for a few of our runs now.

Creed blows the whistle, and like clockwork, we watch as the pretty blonde spins on her heels, but she doesn’t run toward the car, that’s not part of the rules. I can’t help but smile.

None of them ever run for their cars because they know what lies at the end of the cat and mouse game. We wait the five seconds, and then we move. The rustling of bush has my head turning to see Creed and Cassian, along with Keirin, making their way out onto the path. Only we know where it is.

“You want the blonde?” Creed arches his brow, looking at me, and I nod.

“Yeah. She’s mine.” I’ve laid my claim, now I need to make good on my promise. I allow my feet to carry me. Listening to the broken twigs echoing in the darkness, I follow the sound, moving swiftly through the trees.

We’ve done this so many times, I know where I’m going, without looking. In this darkness, you can’t see much in front of you, but the white skirt of my prey is right in front of me. I don’t catch her; instead, I allow her to think she’s getting away.

A howl comes from behind me. Creed. The asshole loves to scare them more than I ever do. But I can’t help chuckling at him. We’ve been friends for most of my life, growing up together, learning about each other, we’ve all become like a band of brothers.

Brother-in-arms.

Another long, pained howl bounces against the trees, and it’s as if the sound is following me and blondie. I can’t even remember her name. My legs work quickly, as I decide to make my move.

I’m in pouncing distance, but I watch in awe, as she races through the trees. Her breathing is panicked, and my dick gets hard. I bet her pupils have dilated, I wonder, briefly, if her pussy is wet. Because my dick is ready to find out.

It doesn’t take long for us to reach the clearing, and that’s when I grab her arm, spinning her around and pinning her against one of the last trees in front of us.

A squeal escapes her lips, which I quickly steal with my mouth. The kiss is frantic and sharp, short breaths mingled with the trembling of her body. I’m so fucking hard; I probably wouldn’t last long the moment I felt her slick heat around me.

“Damien,” she mumbles through the kiss.

“That’s all me, Baby,” I chuckle, leaning in to inhale her scent. A soft, strawberry fragrance mingled with the light scent of sweat. My hands travel down her body, gripping her ass, I pull her up and nestle myself between her thighs.

Time to collect my prize.

Shaking my head to clear the memory, I try not to think about what happened next. How my friends and my brother watched me claim her in the darkness.

She had no idea, while we were fucking, that they were there; it was only as she was screaming my name, did she notice them. But girls who came to the forest to play our game didn’t care about morals, or how they were seen by the rest of the town.