Page 39 of Forbidden Access

He grunted, turning back to his meal, so she couldn’t see the desire in his eyes.

CHAPTER 16

Thorn breathed in the fresh mountain air, taking in the dramatic landscape dotted with hardy shrubs and towering cacti. The vast expanse felt liberating after all the time spent cooped up indoors, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her.

They didn’t talk much, but words weren’t necessary. The sounds of nature surrounded them—a chorus of birds, the rustling of dry grasses, the occasional flutter of a lizard darting through the underbrush. The sky was a brilliant blue, only a few wisps of white clouds marring its perfection. It would have been idyllic if not for the tension that crackled between them like a live wire.

Every few moments, Thorn looked over her shoulder, her nerves on high alert. Out here, they were exposed, vulnerable. But after Damian’s pent-up frustration at breakfast, she knew they needed to do something—anything—to release the pressure building between them.

“There’s nobody behind us,” Damian called, stopping up ahead. They’d been walking for nearly an hour, scaling the foothills surrounding the town. So far, they hadn’t seen another soul.

Thorn forced herself to relax, though it felt futile. This wasn’t Colombia. There weren’t rebels hiding in the mountains, armed with AK-47s waiting to take them out. But the way her heart raced at the sight of Damian, the way her pulse quickened every time he glanced her way, it was as if she was in the middle of a war zone all over again—only this time, the battle was within.

“I used to go hiking as a kid,” Damian said, almost to himself, breaking the silence. “It was a way to escape. I joined a local hiking group, and we’d walk for hours. Sometimes, I even slept out in the mountains. I loved the outdoors.”

The wistfulness in his voice tugged at her, a reminder of the boy he’d once been. A boy who’d had to grow up too fast, unlike her, who’d been loved and protected. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to reach out to him, to touch him.

“Our guide taught us about wildflowers and plants. He was a botanist, I think. I can’t really remember, but he’d point out the different species to us along the way.”

“He sounds nice.” Thorn’s voice was softer than she intended, betraying the emotions she was trying to suppress.

Damian nodded, a shadow of a smile touching his lips. “He was.”

He wandered over to a cluster of bright red flowers growing in the crevice of a rocky outcrop. “Take these, for example.”

Thorn followed him, her heart thudding in her chest for reasons that had nothing to do with their surroundings.

“They’re called firecracker plants. Hummingbirds love them. They’re native to this region.”

“Good name.” The vibrant red petals were striking against the rugged backdrop.

“They remind me of you,” Damian said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

Thorn’s breath caught. She knew she should stop him, but she couldn’t. She was rooted to the spot, his words sinking deep, far too deep.

“Beautiful, resilient, and built to withstand the toughest conditions. Hardy and untouchable. Hiding in the cracks, making it hard for anyone to get close.”

Her heart twisted painfully. “I think the fresh air has gone to your head.”

But she knew he wasn’t just talking about the flowers. He was talking about her, and it was tearing her apart. She couldn’t do this. Not here, not now. Her resolve was slipping, and she didn’t trust herself to keep it together much longer. “We should keep moving.”

She started to walk away, but Damian grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. The intensity in his eyes stole her breath.

“Goddammit, Thorn. Did it really mean nothing to you?”

“Nothing,” she lied, her voice cracking as she dropped her gaze.

“Liar,” he growled, pulling her closer, his grip firm but not harsh. He was daring her to deny the pull between them, to deny the raw, electric attraction that had been building from the moment they’d met.

She shook her head, her voice a mere whisper. “Damian, we can’t. Not here. It’s too dangerous.”

“Trust me, Thorn. It’s going to be a lot more dangerous if you don’t kiss me right now.”

His words hung between them, heavy with the promise of something she was terrified to give in to. She wanted to laugh it off, to brush it aside like she always did, but the way he was looking at her—like he was a man on the edge, ready to jump—it was unraveling her.

His eyes were burning into her, seeing past every wall she’d put up, every defense she’d constructed. He knew. He’d always known.

“Look at me, Thorn.”

---