Page 63 of Heart of Thorns

“Okay. Okay, yeah, no funny business.” I motion for her to scoot back again. “Stay here.”

When I finish in the bathroom, she’s in the exact same spot. On the far end of the bed, her legs pulled up and her arms wrapped around them.

There are scars all over her leg?—

My heart squeezes.

She wears long pants everywhere. Even to the gym, she’s in leggings or yoga pants. I’ve never seen her in shorts, and now, her gaze seems heavy. She’s hurting—not physically, not yet, but emotionally. Because she stripped, and now there’s this extrasomethingbetween us.

It feels fragile.

Maybe not quite trust, but…

I sit on the bed and draw up the blankets, motioning for her to get under them.

She blinks, then slowly unfolds. Her scarred leg disappears under the sheets.

I climb in, too, then flick off the lamp. In the darkness, I roll onto my side to face her.

The questions burn in my mind. I know how it happened—there was a fire, she was trapped, she jumped out of the second-story window to survive. The rumors about why she was in the building in the first place were never answered.

Some say she was there doing a job, painting one of the walls with a mural for the new owners. Others say she used to bring hookups there, or do drug deals, or…

“Come here.” My voice comes out gruff, and she winces. “Come on, kitten.”

She scoots forward. I meet her in the middle of the bed and wrap my arms around her. Her face is inches from my bare chest, her warm breath coasting across my skin.

Goosebumps rise in its wake.

She brings her arms up, one tucked between us like a safeguard, the other tentatively pressing to my sternum. Then up to my shoulder, down my arm.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’ve got you.”

She sighs, and something tells me that maybe nothing is okay.

But I can do my best to fix it in the morning.

CHAPTER 21

BRIAR

I flingmy legs out from under the covers. My head throbs, and my body buzzes.

I must’ve slept because it’s hard to open my eyes. They feel heavy, just like my head, but the rest of my body feels light.

The room is hazy and dark, though there’s a little bit of light peeking through the window. I make a noise, and it sounds like a whimper. I turn onto my side and cradle my stomach while hitching my leg higher. There’s warmth nearby.Skin on skin.It feels good.

Reallygood.

A lustful sigh falls from my lips, and I move closer to the warmth.

It takes me a few seconds to come to my senses.

Who is beside me?

My eyes spring wide open. Anxiety plows into my chest, and I fly off the bed. I thud onto the floor and scramble to get away.

“Briar.”

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