A Cut so Deep (Thornes & Roses 1)

Why is she living in Thorne Haven?

And why the hell didn’t Damien tell me?

The man finishes his speech, but I’m still in shock when the crowd claps and whistles. I turn toward Damien, his blue eyes sparking with sadness and guilt.

“Talk to me Damien,” I plead, tears filling my eyes. His hand latches onto mine, and he tugs me through the crowd and deeper into the darkness of the garden. My heels aren’t made for the grass, so I stumble behind him. When we reach a beautifully carved fountain, with Cupid shooting an arrow down at us, I can’t help the laugh that bubbles in my chest at the irony.

“Sit.” Damien points at the smooth, marble seating bench that surrounds the fountain. I obey silently because I have a feeling, if I fight him on this, he’ll only keep more secrets from me. My chest is tight with agony. She didn’t even look at me. Surely, she knows I’m here.

“Damien, I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to know why the fuck my aunt is here. And why she’s hanging onto the man making the speech.”

“I know.” He nods, as he runs his fingers through his hair, which only makes it look messily sexy. Shaking my head, I focus on the anger that’s surging through me, along with confusion at my aunt’s actions.

“Who is the man?” I whisper. Damien looks at me before he sighs and settles beside me. I know something bad is coming. If he’s being this quiet about it, this can’t be good at all.

“The man is Creed’s father.”

I shoot to my feet. “What?” My voice comes out with a croak of shock. “That… I can’t… She’s… No.”

“They got married last year. She moved to Thorne Haven, and as time passed, she became part of the community. When I met you at the reception, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you because everything else didn’t matter. Only your eyes on me. I was being selfish.” His words falter off into the dark night. It feels like the world is closing in on me.

“I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t she tell me? What is actually going on?” Even though I have a million questions running through my mind, one comes to the forefront, and I voice it. “Did you and I happen because of that?” I point back to the castle behind us. “Did you make a move on me because you were trying to make Creed angry?”

“No!” Damien’s on his feet, his hands on my hips. He holds me tenderly, but firmly. “I want you, Nesrin. When I first saw you at the reception, all I could think about was being beside you, inside you.” Damien leans in close, his mouth feathering over mine. “You’ve burrowed your way into my life and into my heart.”

He doesn’t blink, keeping his gaze locked on mine. I believe him. He doesn’t smile; he doesn’t grin and play his admission off, so I know there’s truth in his statement.

“I can’t get my heart broken, Damien.” My plea is clear. He knows I’m not strong. I may come across as such, but I’m so far from it, and this has hurt me more than I can explain.

“Wild rose,” Damien whispers the nickname he’s given me. “If I do ever hurt you, I’ll be hurting myself ten times over. When you came into my life, I was…” He shakes his head. I’ve never seen Damien vulnerable. I have never witnessed him look so torn and broken. Not even when he showed me his scars.

“You were?” I urge, needing him to tell me the truth. I don’t know why I’m so needy, so fucking childish, but I want his words, and nothing else will suffice. Not now.

“I don’t trust myself around you.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t this cozy?” Creed’s voice comes from behind me. Damien’s gaze lifts to the man with a spark of annoyance.

“What the fuck do you want, Creed?”

“You know I’m allowed a dance with any new girls who’ve come to Thorne Haven. It’s part of the rules.” A shiver runs down my spine, and goosebumps rise on my bare skin.

“We’ll rejoin the party shortly, Creed.” Damien’s voice is ice. The heat behind me is the only way I know that the other man has stepped closer to me. I’m sandwiched between the two, and the animosity is so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

“Don’t disappoint me, Thorne,” Creed says in a low, violent tone. “You of all people know I don’t like being disappointed.” He spins on his heel, and the cool air he leaves behind makes me shiver.

“Are you ever going to tell me what the hell is going on between the two of you?” I question, looking up at the man who’s stolen my heart.

“Tonight. For now, we need to get back. And please don’t be angry with your aunt.”