Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

I never thought that the one thing able to lift me up would be the same thing that could break me down.

I never stopped to consider that my own Achilles heel would enable me to touch heaven even while living through hell.

It’s been a few weeks since the charity event at Senator Weaver’s house.

A few weeks since I hit rock bottom, burned, and rose from the ashes.

I don’t know why I broke down that night. Could be because of the physical torment or the psychological pain. Could be because Sebastian made me so happy, then rejected me so cruelly afterward.

Could be all of those combined.

I didn’t even feel it when I fell to the floor and let the thing that festered inside me out in the open.

It was a moment of weakness, but I moved past it.

Or I pretended to, anyway.

My affair with Sebastian is a different story altogether.

Every other day, I’ve gone to his apartment, where he ambushes and fucks me. He comes up with different ways to catch me off guard and it never gets old. Not the waiting time or the thrill that comes with it. Not the adrenaline rush or the sinking into the unknown.

The moment he grabs me, I fight, I really do, but it’s always useless. Not only because he overpowers me, but also because I love it when he does.

I love it when he pushes me down and uses me so thoroughly, as if he can’t get enough of me. Or when he takes me roughly and unapologetically, whispering dirty words to me.

“You’re such a filthy girl, aren’t you, my slut?”

“Look how your greedy cunt wants more of my dick.”

“Open your legs wider, let me see my pussy.”

“No touching yourself or I’ll come all over your face.”

“Feel that? Feel how you stretch around me, inviting me in?”

“Does your husband smell me on you when he touches you? Does he see my dried cum between your legs and in your every pore? Does he notice the marks I leave on your tits and ass or do you hide them?”

It should turn me off, should give me the courage to finally say the safe word, but I don’t.

I can’t.

Because those words, no matter how wrong they are, turn me ablaze with a wildfire.

And Sebastian is the reason behind the flames. He’s the damn volcano.

Every evening, I say this time will be the last. That I’ll bid him farewell and voice that damn word.

Every night, I come prepared for the end and armed with the will that kept me going for seven years.

But every time he touches me, every time he calls my name and fucks me like he hates me yet still wants me, I forget all about it.

I tell myself that we’re safe and no one will find out about us. Akira thinks I’m busy with the fashion house and Father couldn’t care less as long as he has his deal with my husband.

Ren has been watching me close lately, but Akira keeps him busy, annoyed, and agitated, so he can’t possibly be following me.

Besides, if that asshole had found out about me and Sebastian, he would’ve told my father and I would have already seen the consequences of my actions. Kai, however, is a mystery. I’m not naive to think he’s in the dark about this entire situation since he’s in the know about everything. However, he seems to be turning a blind eye. He didn’t even ask me to stay away from Sebastian as he did when I first got back here.

So, for now, I choose to be in this temporary phase for as long as I can.

Even if I’m well aware that it won’t last.

Even if I know it will hurt like a mother when it all ends.

Stopping in front of Sebastian’s door, I remove my wedding band and slide it into my bag.

I’ve been doing it since we started our screwed-up relationship. Not that Sebastian commented on it. He’s never once told me to leave Akira, even when he taunts me about him sexually.

But then again, we’d have to have actual conversations for that to happen. All we do is fuck, then I gather my clothes and leave without a word.

I stopped trying to seek affection from him after he brutally rejected me that night. Now, we’re just two hollow souls using each other.

And despite the emptiness of it sometimes, it’s still better than nothing.

I tap in his apartment’s code. He gave it to me so he could ambush me upon my entrance. Some days, he waits until I’m a few steps inside before he takes me. Others, he drags me to the shower and fucks me under the stream of water.

My spine tingles with anticipation of what he’ll do today.

He changes his methods often enough that I have no clue what he has in store for me. It’s part of the thrill and the reason why no one could ever replace him.

Sebastian is the only one who knows my needs and can satisfy them without my having to voice them.

I come to a halt inside the door of the apartment when I notice the lights are on.

In all of the times I’ve been coming here, it’s usually pitch-black, like in some horror movie.

His apartment is really empty. Aside from a TV, there’s absolutely nothing.

A female voice comes from the direction of his bedroom and I freeze, an acid-like sensation rising to my throat.

Please don’t tell me Aspen is here.

I’ve seen him with her at the countless social events Akira and I have been attending. She’s often happily on Sebastian’s arm, and even though I’m not sure whether they’re in a relationship or not, I know there’s something going on.