Page 58 of The Cruelty of Thorns

Why had I let this happen to me again? I should have known it was too good to be true. A guy like Ron, what could he possibly see in me? He was just using me, for what I didn’t know. Some sick fantasy, pity the unpopular girl? Was I just a joke he could tell his friends?

The thought of going back to the dorm to face Kristin was almost too much to bear. What would she say? Ron was her friend. They were all her friends. Surely they would take his side against me. I didn’t even know what I had done wrong.

The Uber arrived and I climbed in back, telling the driver to take me to the college. I was still crying, though if he noticed, he didn’t say anything. Probably just thought I had lost someone at the hospital. In a way, I had. When we got to the parking lot on campus, I thanked him and got out, looking around. It was early evening on a Saturday night. I would have expected more activity around, but the place seemed deserted. Then I remembered what had happened earlier today; the girl who had been killed. It seemed like a hundred years ago since Kristin had called me with that news.

I wrapped my arms around myself and struck out across the grass toward the quad, my wary gaze sweeping the darkness. I told myself to stay focused, to be aware of my surroundings, but my mind kept replaying Ron’s words over and over again, causing the tears to continue to flow.

I was halfway across the quad when I felt it, that same tingling across my skin. That same feeling of being watched.

“Myra.”

I turned around, looking for the source of the summons, and saw him step out from behind a nearby tree. I almost didn’t recognize him since he wasn’t wearing his usual suit. Instead he was clad in black jeans and a dark hoodie, his hair loose, his eyes, even in the darkness, reflecting light like a cat’s.

“Julianus. What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer, instead closing the distance between us and stopping inches from me. My breath hitched with him so close. Why did he have this effect on me? It’s like I couldn’t form a coherent thought in his presence.

He studied my face, reaching up and brushing a finger across my tear-stained cheek, that simple gesture sending shockwaves through my nerves. There was an edge to his voice when he asked, “What’s wrong, cuore mio?”

I sniffled, trying to gather my composure. To not sound like a blubbering child when I opened my mouth. “Nothing,” I replied evasively. I didn’t think he wanted to hear about Ron.

“It’s not nothing if it upsets you,” he murmured, his deep, buttery voice enveloping me with its warmth. Without realizing it, I leaned into him, suddenly craving his touch. Craving anything to chase away the pain of rejection.

His gray eyes sought mine, pulling me in until I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. And I was surprised to find I didn’t want to. That despite my earlier resolve to stay away from him, he was exactly what I needed right now.

As if he sensed this, he pushed me back against the tree while his arms closed around me, his body pressed tightly against mine, and I felt my pulse quicken. I wanted–no I needed–him to kiss me like he did that night in the restaurant, and he smiled as though he had read my mind. He lowered his head, his soft lips brushing mine, the touch tentative at first, as though he was merely tasting.

“I shouldn’t want you this bad,” he growled, “but fuck if I do.”

I could feel the truth of his words as his growing erection pressed against my belly. His mouth sought mine again, his lips persistent, his tongue tasting then devouring mine, one hand running down across my hip and dipping behind me, pulling me closer and cupping my ass. Squeezing the tender flesh until I moaned into his mouth. He took that as a sign to continue as the other hand rounded my thigh and pressed against my crotch.

A voice in my head screamed at me to stop him. This wasn’t who I was. I had never let anyone’s hand near me there, but I couldn’t deny the bottomless ache that surged through me. I simply couldn’t think clearly with him this close. He splayed his hand across the front of my jeans, two fingers dipping in and stroking the sensitive crease between my legs while his tongue continued its assault on my mouth.

“I can feel how hot you are,” he murmured against my lips, the hunger in his voice sending butterflies skittering through me. “All for me.”

Without conscious intent I parted my legs enough to give him access, and he shoved his whole hand between them, massaging my core, before moving up to unbutton my jeans. He eased down the zipper and slipped his hand inside, his long fingers caressing my bare skin.

No, I can’t do this, my mind screamed. I can’t…

Oh. I melted against him as two fingers dipped inside my pussy, scissoring inside and circling around my clit until I was panting against him in need.

“So wet,” he whispered in my ear. “You feel as good as I knew you would.”

My mind and body were at war. Every ounce of rational thought told me this was wrong, that I shouldn’t be letting him touch me like this, a man I didn’t even know. But the sensations rippling through me said otherwise. A fire I didn’t recognize had been ignited in me and I suddenly couldn’t get enough of his touch. I ground my crotch against his hand and he chuckled deep in his throat before sucking my tongue back into his mouth like a starving man.

He pumped those two fingers in and out of me, sliding across my clit with every down stroke until I was clinging to him just to stand. My thigh muscles burned from the position, but I didn’t want to do anything to cause him to stop. I was making noises I didn’t recognize as his fingers worked their magic inside me.

“That’s it, cuore mio. Get yourself off. I want to feel you cum all over my hand.”

What was left of my rational mind told me I should have been mortified. I was humping a strange man’s hand in the middle of the quad, all the while moaning in need like a common whore. I could feel my release coming, and as much as I might have been embarrassed by the circumstances, I was more worried that he would stop before I got what I needed.

His mouth drifted over my ear, nipping at the sensitive flesh. “Come on, baby,” he breathed against it. “So close.”

His hot tongue dipping into the shell of my ear sent me over the edge. I crashed against him, my orgasm shuddering through me like I had been struck by lightning, causing me to momentarily lose all sense of time and space.

When I could finally think again, I was vaguely aware of him whispering endearments in my ear, most of them unintelligible, probably in Italian, while his hand continued to stroke my weeping pussy. “Such a good girl,” were the only words I recognized.

He finally pulled his hand away and brought it up to his mouth, making a show of licking the fingers slick with my cum. “You taste so good.”

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