Black Thorns (Thorns Duet #2) by Rina Kent

She doesn’t stop touching me—running her fingers over my bicep, then up my side, chest, and shoulder as if she needs to make sure for herself.

“Nao.”

She’s focused on my torso, my hand, my arm. Anywhere but my face.

“Baby, look at me.”

She finally lifts her eyes and they’re filled with tears. They blur the dark color of her irises and then cascade down her pink cheeks.

I reach a hand out and wipe them away with a thumb, my palm lingering on the swell of her cheek. “Why are you crying?”

“Because you’re okay. Because it’s finally over.”

“Kai told me. I can’t believe you went to my grandparents and did everything in between. You’re so strong, so goddamn beautiful.”

“It was all scary, but I would do it all over again for you, Sebastian. I would go to hell if it means I get to be with you.”

“Good because I have a special spot in there.”

She smiles through her tears and it’s the most beautiful fucking smile I’ve ever seen on her.

“I’m free,” she whispers as if not believing the words. “I’m free of Akira. I’m free to be with you…I mean, if you…want to.”

“Of course I fucking want to. I needed to be with you a lifetime ago.”

Her own palm grabs my cheek, a whirlwind of emotions darkening her gaze. “Seven years, Sebastian.”

“Seven fucking years.”

“Promise me we’ll never be apart again.”

“Oh, I promise to chase you to the end of the world, baby.”

“Yeah?”

“Fuck yeah. Also, you’ll keep the promise you made seven years ago in this same place.”

Her breath hitches. “What…promise?”

“You’ll marry me. For real this time.”

She bites her lower lip, staring at me from beneath her lashes. “You still want to marry me?”

“I never fucking stopped. You’re the only woman I ever wanted to be my wife and that will never change, not even when you had a bastard for a husband before me.”

“Akira never counted for me.”

“As he shouldn’t. Fuck that guy.”

“Fuck that whole marriage. If it were up to me, you would be my only husband.”

“Well, it’s up to you now.”

“Oh, Sebastian. Of course I will marry you.”

“Good. Because that wasn’t a question.” And then I’m kissing her—savagely, wildly, like the animal I actually am.

And Naomi kisses me back like the prey she is.





44





Epilogue 1 - Naomi





Six months later





Today’s the day I’ve been dreaming about for years.

The day I thought would never be a reality.

My wedding day to Sebastian.

I feel as if I’m walking on air, reaching and touching the stars. It’s like levitating out of my own body although my feet are on the ground and I’m heading toward the aisle.

This is the second time I’ve done this, but I don’t even remember the first. All the memories I have of that day are tears and blurry images of metaphorically burying myself.

That marriage was nothing.

This one is everything.

My fingers tighten around the roses I’m holding in my hand and I inhale their scent and let the whole setting sink in.

We decided to get married in the back garden of my old house. This is where we’ve been living for the past couple of months and will continue to. Just the two of us.

We’ll erase the bad memories that linger here and replace them with new, happy ones.

Sebastian and I will start a new page in both of our lives.

Only our closest family and friends are attending. And that means my father isn’t here.

We’re estranged now and if it weren’t for Mio, I’d never see him again. He’s still allied with Akira and that’s all that matters to him.

My ex-husband stayed Japan after we finalized the divorce and he gave me my freedom.

Ren went with him, or more accurately, Akira threatened him to either accompany him or he’ll lose his head at Father’s hands. On the other hand, my father, who now believes that Akira is plotting against him because of that ledger, wanted Ren with Akira to keep tabs on my ex-husband. So both of them are using the guard. I feel bad for him sometimes, but it’s not like he can’t take care of himself.

The only members present from my family are Mio and Kai. My father’s second-in-command insisted on being a part of my life, even if it’s from the shadows.

I’d rather have no relation whatsoever with my father and the Yakuza and their dirty business. But ever since that red night about twenty years ago, Kai has been different. Like a big brother of sorts. A fucked-up one at that, but it still counts.

The other attendees include Reina, Asher, Owen, Lucy, and Prescott, and when they smile as I walk down the aisle, I smile back.

We’ve all been getting together over the last couple of months, and it feels…normal. I have friends; I have a life here.

I’m not lonely and miserable.

I’m not sad.

If anything, it’s the absolute opposite.

I nod at Debra, Brian, and Nate, who are seated in the front row. The senator and his wife insisted on attending their only grandchild’s wedding even though Sebastian wasn’t really keen on inviting them. They’re not the best of friends with Nate and Sebastian, but I know they care about them in their own snobbish way. They’re also a bit scared of me after Kai’s threat so they don’t dare to voice their displeasure about me anymore.