Red Thorns (Thorns Duet #1) by Rina Kent

She slams her hands over my mouth and searches around us, probably to see if anyone heard. “Shut up. How the hell do you know that?”

I remove her hands, laughing. “Because I’m your best friend, dummy. I know you.”

“I know you, too, and I can tell something has changed.” She narrows her eyes on me. “What is it?”

“The weird movie. It’s stuck with me and I can’t chase it away.”

“Do you have to? If you enjoyed something, it’s allowed to stick with you.”

“I didn’t enjoy it.” My voice is too defensive. “It stuck with me because of the graphic details.”

“Nao, hon, you watch brutal retellings of serial killers’ crimes and you don’t bat an eye, but graphic sex is a trigger?”

Not when it concerns other people, but it might be when I’m the one on the receiving end.

I swiftly divert the conversation to Reina and the cheer squad, and Lucy gladly gets absorbed in the subject as we get to class. For the rest of the day, I avoid the Political Science Department—where the bastard Sebastian studies.

Thankfully, our department, Sociology and Psychological Science, is far enough away that he and I could only run into each other in the cafeteria. So I suggest that Lucy and I have our lunch near a fountain behind the building, where I usually go to escape the witch hunt of the calorie police—aka Brianna and her fat-shaming squad.

But despite my tactical escape, I can’t bail out of cheer practice.

Just when I’m contemplating skipping today, Reina catches me and nearly confiscates my damn headphones again.

When I get to the football field, my senses are assaulted with him. He’s not even close, yet I can feel him.

Lucy is saying something, but I don’t hear a word coming out of her mouth.

My eyes instantly find his light ones. He’s talking to Owen, but his sharp attention is completely on me.

Sebastian is downright beautiful in everyday clothes, but he looks like a god in his football uniform with those two streaks of black underneath his eyes.

He winks and it’s like I’ve been hit with a thunderbolt. I immediately cut off eye contact and hurry to the cheer squad.

Now he must think I’m into him or something.

Way to go, Nao.

I’m restless during the entire practice, waiting for it to end with bated breath so that I can retreat and rebuild my walls.

I barely manage to keep from looking at him, even though I feel his attention on me the entire time.

When Reina calls it a day, I practically flee from the field.

I spend more time than needed in the shower until almost everyone leaves.

When I come out, Reina and Prescott are talking to the coach in the office adjacent to the locker room. Their voices are clear, but not their words.

Hopefully, they’ll leave before I’m done. I’m not in the mood for jabs today. Or any type of talk, actually.

My sense of self has taken a jab and I need to carefully nurture that part of me back to life.

I’m sliding my panties up my legs when the door opens.

Letting the towel fall, I speak without turning around. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right out, Luce.”

The voice that answers me is completely different from my friend’s.

My spine jerks upright when it echoes around me. “Take all the minutes you need. I’ll be right here.”





13





Naomi





There are a few possible reactions I could have to seeing Sebastian in the locker room.

The most logical should be anger.

If not that, then maybe embarrassment.

Confusion, even.

But the thing that beats loudly in my chest is so similar to…relief.

What is that supposed to mean? Is there any logical explanation under the circumstances?

Sebastian’s gaze darkens as he runs it over the length of me, his tongue darting out to lick his upper lip. “I knew those tits were beautiful.”

That’s when I realize I’m standing in front of him in nothing but my panties. I jerk backward, grabbing the towel and holding it against my naked chest.

He steps closer, the tenor of his voice low and chill-inducing. “I’ll see you naked sooner or later, baby. Hiding won’t serve any purpose.”

“What makes you think I want you to see me?”

“Oh, you do.” He jerks his chin in my direction. “You’re trembling with excitement.”

“Maybe I’m trembling with anger.”

“Not with your pupils dilated and your cheeks blushing.” He reaches a hand to my face and I flinch at the last second, so he only grabs air.

I have no clue how I’ll react if he touches me and I’d rather not find out.

If it were up to me, I’d be running away from here, even in my half-naked state. But still, my legs won’t move.

My heart won’t stop thumping, grinding in remembrance of the last time I was trapped alone with him.

In the darkness.

On my knees.

I shoo those thoughts away as I keep out of his reach. But if I thought that would save me from his clutches, I thought wrong.

His hand shoots out in my direction and before I can think of what he’s doing, he wraps it around my throat. His fingers press against my pulse point until my breath is nearly cut off.

“Stop fighting it, Naomi.”