Red Thorns (Thorns Duet #1) by Rina Kent

“Why Sebastian?”

Her question takes me completely by surprise. The way she speaks is detached, cool-headed, which is what I’ve always loathed about her. Or maybe admired, as Akira eloquently put it.

I’m so surprised that it takes me some time to answer. “What type of question is that?”

“One that’s simple enough. You always put yourself one step ahead of everyone, so how come you’re falling for Sebastian?”

“I’m not falling for him!”

“I might believe that if I hadn’t seen the way you look at him. It’s like you’ve waited your entire life for him.”

Shit. Shit. “That’s not true.”

“And now, you’re just denying it and it’s pissing me off.”

“Oh, I’m pissing you off? Good. So how about you take the hint and leave me alone?”

“You can easily get rid of me if you tell me, why him?”

“I didn’t really have a choice. He pestered me.”

“So you wouldn’t have agreed under different circumstances?”

“Of course not. He’s a shallow quarterback with nothing behind his physical appearance. He’s not my type.”

She smiles as her gaze breaks from mine and flits behind me. “Hear that, Bastian? You’re not the lady’s type.”

I swallow as his scent invades my nostrils. Reina gives me a condescending stare before she steps past me into class.

Wincing, I turn around to face him. His features are a makeshift mix of emotions I’m unable to peer through.

In my attempt to shove Reina off my back, I spoke against the thoughts I hold in my very core.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper. He doesn’t usually come to our department.

He reaches into his pocket and gets out a bottle of apple juice, my favorite, and throws it in my direction. I catch it between clammy fingers as his detached voice wraps a noose around my throat. “I thought I’d come see you since we didn’t have lunch together. I was in for a surprise, apparently.”

“About what you heard…”

“Oh, you mean the fact that I’m a shallow quarterback, who’s not your type?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Do you always say what you don’t mean?”

Yes, and that’s why he calls me Tsundere. But there’s nothing playful about him right now. If anything, he seems to have taken it personally.

And I hate that, somehow.

I especially hate the monotone way he’s speaking to me. As the beast, he’s all growly, rough, and demanding. As the man, he’s witty and playful. An asshole sometimes, but never this closed off.

When I don’t say anything, he turns around and leaves.

“Wait…” I stumble over my words but can’t find the right ones.

His broad frame slowly disappears down the hall and my jittery insides catch fire. It’s like a part of me is disappearing with him.

Or maybe it’s a part of us.

I barely chance a glance at the classroom and the decision to ditch it comes so easily. I’m half-jogging in my attempts to catch up to Sebastian.

Thankfully, I know where he parks his car and I catch up to him right as he starts the engine. I don’t think twice as I hop in the passenger seat, panting.

He stares at me. “What are you doing?”

“Going with you.”

“Where do you think I’m going?”

“I don’t care.”

“It could be a dangerous place.”

I scoff. “I think I’m used to that already.”

“You have no idea how dangerous some addictions can become, Naomi.”

“Is that what we have? An addiction?”

“An addiction. An obsession. A madness. Take your pick. Oh, or maybe it’s shallow, too.”

I release a shaky breath. “I was agitated by Reina and I just didn’t want her to know…”

“Know what?”

How deep it really goes for us. Or at least, for me.

But I don’t say that or it’ll become a reality I’ll have to face.

“What we have,” I say quietly.

“So we have something. And here I thought I wasn’t your type.”

“You don’t have to be sarcastic.”

“Because that’s your thing?”

“Stop it.”

His eyes darken. “You know I love that word.”

The base of my stomach shrivels as blood pumps to my face and neck. Ever since the night he asked me to open up about what happened to me in return for him opening up about himself, Sebastian keeps his monster-self separated from who he is.

This is the first time he’s actually alluded to what we do in the dark while being the star quarterback.

Is this progress or just…dangerous?

Clearing my throat, I ask, “Have you ever thought about hurting others?”

“Of course, I have. All the time.”

“Why don’t you act on it?”

“Because it’ll give me a label and a bad reputation.”

“And that’s so bad?”

“When you come attached with my family name, it is. I need to have a good reputation so no one suspects me.”

“Wow.” I relax into my seat, fingering the bottle of apple juice as he pulls out of the parking lot. “Since when did you come to that conclusion?”