Chapter 36

As Ursha exits the bedroom with Eirik, I watch his little green hand wave goodbye, already missing him. Thorn shuts the door behind them and I can't shake off the unease that's settled in my gut.

Thorn tilts his head, his eyes studying my face. "What's wrong?"

I can't deny that there's something on my mind. Clearing my throat, I look up at him. "Is it really safe to leave him with Ursha?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "She seems… a little aggressive sometimes. I know orcs take care of everyone's children, but..." I shake my head. "I don't know. Why is she always around? Is it just because she doesn't trust me?"

Thorn's black eyes pierce me, pin me to the spot. He takes my hand in his; the roughness of his calloused fingers is a stark contrast to my soft skin. I want to lean into his warmth. To curl against his chest. He sits on the edge of the bed and pulls me between his knees.

"Didn't I tell you?" He frowns slightly. "Ursha was my sister's best friend," he says, his deep voice steady and reassuring. "They grew up together. They were like sisters themselves."

"Oh." My brows shoot up. "I didn't know."

Thorn's lips tug at the corner. "She's around all the time because she cares about Eirik. Ursha doesn't like outsiders, but she would never hurt one of ours. Much less Thistle's son. You can trust her. You can trust the clan."

I want to believe him; I really do. But something doesn't feel right.

"How does the Wolfbone Clan get inside the village?" I ask. "With the walls and everything, one would expect we'd be safe inside."

His eyes grow cloudy with guilt. "We don't know. They didn't force the gates. Maybe the guards were threatened. Maybe they were blindsided and thought it was one of us. We can't know because the guards died."

My mouth goes dry. I lick my lips. "What if it's an inside job?" I say, my voice dropping to a whisper. "What if someone in the clan opened the gates from the inside?"

The second I say it, I regret it.

Thorn's expression darkens. His jaw clenches as he shoots to his feet, letting go of my hand. "That's impossible," he growls, his tusks gleaming in the dim light. "No one in the clan would put others at risk like that." He looks away and takes a beat. "Did you see something that made you believe so?"

I shake my head, feeling a twinge of guilt for even suggesting it. "No, nothing," I admit. "But we can't rule it out, can we?"

"Are you really suggesting one of ours opened the gates?" He arches an eyebrow. I have to take a step back to look up at him. He's not happy. "That we have a traitor?"

"I think it's much more likely than the other options."

Thorn lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his thick black hair. "And I thought you had learned it already. The clan is our family. No one would have done that. No one would have let enemies inside, because it's our own family at risk."

"I get it, sorry." I look away, closing my hands into fists. My heart races in my chest and warmth spreads over my face. "The clan is a family. Fine."

He scoffs. "You act like you've been insulted. You just said one of my brothers might be a traitor."

"Well, I apologize for worrying. Last time, I found Eirik in the woods, about to be killed. I'm sorry if I don't want to repeat the experience."

Thorn snaps. He takes a step closer, his hulking frame towering over me. A massive hand curls around my cheek, the other curling around my hip. "Violet," he says, his voice low and husky. "I would never let anything happen to you or Eirik."

I don't reply. Thorn sits on the edge of the bed and pulls me closer to him again. Even sitting down, he's taller than me.

"Look at me, Spitfire," he says, and I raise my eyes, meeting his. "You're mine now. I will keep you safe."

His words send a shiver down my spine. I lick my lips, my hands tracing his sharp jaw and his lower lip.

"I'm yours?" I ask.

He hums in agreement, rubbing his cheek against mine, his nose in my hair. "You absolutely are." His big hands curl around my hips, his fingers meeting. I never thought I'd feel small. "Every part of you."

Our bodies press against each other, the heat between us building with every passing second. I take a deep breath, his thumbs coasting under my breasts, setting my body on fire.

I meet his eyes. "Prove it."

Before I know it, I'm leaning in, my lips meeting his in a fierce, angry kiss. Thorn's tongue dips between my lips, urging me, exploring me. Every sweep of his tongue over mine is too much. Every time our tongues brush against one another, my pussy clenches in need.

I've been kissed before, but never like this. There's something frenzied, starved about the way Thorn kisses me.

I can feel his hard cock pressing against my thigh, huge and thick, and I know he wants me just as much as I want him. Lust tightens my nipples. I clutch onto Thorn's shoulders, trying to rub against him, searching desperately for any friction.

Thorn breaks the kiss so I can catch my breath. His heavy-lidded eyes are on my abused lips. I gasp as Thorn's mouth crashes into mine again, his kiss demanding and possessive. My body responds with an intensity that takes my breath away, and I melt into him, wanting more.

His rough cheek rubs against mine, down my jaw, and across my neck, and I feel the sharp points of his tusks graze my skin. It's different but not unpleasant. In fact, it sends a thrill through me that I can't quite explain.

Thorn's hands roam up and down my side, pushing my shirt up. Every time his skin touches mine, I shiver. He kisses me with a hunger that makes me feel more than wanted. Needed. My heart races in my chest, and heat pools between my legs.

"You taste so sweet, Spitfire," he says against my mouth, his voice rasping. "You have no idea how much I've been dying to taste you."

My pussy clenches at the innuendo. There's no way he's saying what I think he's saying. He kisses me again.

Thorn breaks the kiss with a half-mad look in his eyes. "Spitfire, I need you to ride my face."

The words send goosebumps across my body. "What?" I gasp, wetness making my panties slick.

"If you're afraid I'll hurt you," he says, and his hands leave my body, "then I'll lie back and you take over. I won't touch you. Just ride my face and let me taste you. I can't take another day without tasting your pussy."

My heart skips a beat. I can't believe he really meant it! Hot shivers crawl down my arms. I hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. Do I want this? Absolutely. But should I? Isn't it too soon?

I don't care. There's not a part of me that cares. And Thorn sees it on my face.

He pushes himself up on the bed. I yank my pants down as Thorn lies back on the bed, his massive frame taking up most of the space. His thick, hard cock tents his pants, and I can't help but stare at it. I've never seen anything like it before, and I feel a sudden urge to touch it, to feel its weight in my hand. Reaching out, I kneel at the edge of the bed.

Thorn growls. I meet his eyes.

"No," he says, his voice low and husky, his gaze burning. "This is not about me. It's about you. This time, you're in control."

Fire licks my limbs and I clamber onto the bed. I kick my panties out.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

Thorn narrows his eyes at me, then clucks his tongue. "I'll have to break my word."

"What?"

"I'll touch you now, little Spitfire. I fucking need you."

His massive hands curl around my hips and Thorn lifts me off the mattress as if I weigh nothing. I gasp, but there's no time to be surprised. He adjusts my knees to each side of his head, and he's so big I have to spread open right over his mouth.

Thorn's eyes are a forest fire when he stares at my pussy. I can feel his hot breath against my inner thighs, and I shiver with anticipation. His tusks brush against my skin, and I wonder if they'll hurt.

But then Thorn's tongue darts out, licking my pussy with a hunger that makes me gasp. My hands shoot down to grab his hair.

Thorn roars, holding me down against his face. He breathes me in deeply, and he growls in lust. His tusks don't hurt at all as he eats me up, his lips and tongue exploring every inch of me.

I roll my eyes. My body heats up and moves on its own. A pleasure I've never known spreads through every cell. I moan longly, finding a rhythm.

I grind against him, my hips moving against his eager mouth. I can feel the pressure building inside of me. Fast. He's sloppy and frantic, and I know I'm close. My breath hitches.

Thorn's tongue works magic on my body, lapping and flicking until I can't take it anymore. Pressure coils between my hips. My brows shoot up. My motions go awkward as I chase the high. I whimper, my muscles stiffening, my heart racing.

The orgasm is like nothing I've ever felt. It hits me out of nowhere and it goes on and on. I cry out as another orgasm crashes over me, my hips jerking. I shiver, my body going limp.

I shake with the afterglow. Sensitive, I try to climb off Thorn, but he holds me down and drinks every drop of me. Every lap of his tongue makes me jerk with aftershocks.

When it's over, I collapse. Thorn catches me in time and lays me down. I catch my breath, an exhausted smile on my face. I look over at him, my heart swelling with affection.

Dare I hope for this? Dare I want more?

"This was amazing," I whisper, my voice hoarse. As soon as my head stops spinning, I reach out for his cock.

Thorn grabs my hand before I touch him. He grunts in response, shaking his head.

"This was not about me, little Spitfire." He pulls me closer, wrapping his massive arms around me. Thorn buries his nose into my hair as he covers me with a pelt. It's so gentle that my eyes sting. "Sleep. I'll always watch over you."

And I trust him. I trust him because I love him. He already has all my heart.