A Cut so Deep (Thornes & Roses Book 1) Read online

  Following the sounds, I find myself at the greenhouse that my father had built for my mother. She hasn’t used it at all since he died. I suppose the heartbreak was too much for her to bear. And perhaps that’s why she’s always been so cold and heartless. But she never allowed me in to learn about her, to get to really know her.

  I always wondered why she never had it destroyed. Taken away. Deep down, I wonder if she’s holding onto hope that it will rekindle a flame that’s long since been put out. I step quietly into the glass structure, and that’s when I see it.

  Even in the dim light, I can see a guy leaning against one of the shelves of potted plants. His hair is as black as night; I notice from the illumination of the garden lights that circle the perimeter of the glass housing. He’s dressed in a dark suit, what looks like a crisp white shirt, and a black tie.

  His head is tipped back as pleasure clearly paints his face. I watch with rapt attention as the head at his crotch thrusts back and forth. His one hand tangled in the red curls that spill down her back and his mouth parts as a groan escapes his perfect lips.

  There are choking sounds coming from the girl, and he lifts his head right at that moment, his heated gaze landing on mine. He doesn’t make a move to let her know they’re being watched. And he doesn’t stop her either. Instead, he watches me. His stare bores into me, burrowing itself into the depths of my soul, as the corner of his mouth tilts upward, and deep dimples appear. A smile, dark and devious, turns my body molten, and I can’t stop the tremble that shoots through me.

  Stupidly, I don’t run. I don’t move. I’m not even sure I’m breathing at this point. But the stranger’s face is filled with pure ecstasy, as he holds the girl steady and moves his hips.

  The filthy, sexual sounds bounce off the glass walls. My breathing hitches in my throat, and my heart is drumming wildly in my chest. The ache that starts low in my stomach twists tighter with every second that passes. The pulse between my legs is erratic, and I want nothing more than to touch myself.

  “That’s good,” he growls, keeping his eyes on me, and it’s almost as if he’s talking to me, but I know he’s not. “Keep going,” he tells her but doesn’t stray his gaze from mine. “I’m going to fill your pretty mouth with cum.” His voice is low, gravelly, dripping with lust and desire.

  My nerves are shot; they spark with electric energy that has my feet slowly moving backward, but I never leave. I don’t look away from his beautiful, luminous eyes. I can’t tell what color they are from here, but all I know is they’re fucking flawless.

  He grunts, his head tipping to the side, as he regards me now. His hand is still in her hair, but his eyes are burning me from the inside out.

  “That’s what you like. Isn’t it?” he says, but this time, I’m not sure which of us he’s speaking to. Another grin from his mouth and she’s standing up, which sets me in motion, as I run back to the house. By the time I’m indoors, with a glass of champagne in my hand, I’m still shaking. I’m not sure who that was, or why they were using my mother’s greenhouse for something like that, but I know I never want to see that man again.

  “Here you are,” my mother snips when she finds me standing close to the corner of the room, where I can’t see the patio doors. The thought of laying eyes on him again has my body both shaking and thrumming.

  “I told you and Bradford I needed some fresh air,” I tell her.

  “Your aunt is here,” Mom whispers, leaning in closer to me. “She wants to see you.” Mallory is a godsend, and I can’t help but smile when I think about her. The younger sister, the harlot. That’s what Mom used to call her. They never got along, and I know it’s because something happened between them after my mother got married. I never learned what, but one day, I know I’ll find out.

  “I didn’t think she was invited.”

  “Well, you know your aunt.” Mother shakes her head, as if her sister is a disappointment, just like me. It’s almost as if I’m not allowed to have other family besides my mother and the people she approves. But I know it’s more than that. “Come, say hello to her.”

  I follow my mother through the crowd, but my gaze continually flits over to the doors that lead out to the garden. I realize I’m waiting for him to come inside. I want to see what he looks like in the light, without pleasure written all over his face. But, of course, he’d now have satisfaction all over his expression instead.

  My cheeks burn, and I almost stumble into my mother’s petite frame, when I don’t realize she’s stopped.

  “There she is.” My aunt, Mallory, grins playfully as she pulls me into a hug. Her body is warm, calming, not like my mother’s who is cold and unaffectionate. I’ve gotten so used to it, that when Mallory holds me, I actually hug her back.

  “I’ve missed you,” I tell her with a genuine smile, knowing she’ll understand the underlying pain in my words. Mallory is younger than mom by a few years and, at times, I wonder if that’s why I get along with her better than my own mother. My mother trying to be the older, more grown-up levelheaded of the two, whereas my aunt is more frivolous, younger in personality and immature in her choices in life.

  “I just heard you’re moving up north to the cold and rain.” She glances at her sister, and I can tell there’s animosity because the tension between us is so thick, so heavy, it feels as if a fight is about to break out.

  “I am, for a month, until mom gets back from her honeymoon, and then we’ll see what happens,” I tell her.

  “Well, if you need to ever get away, you’re always welcome at my house,” she offers, but my mother’s hand lands heavily on my shoulder in warning. She doesn’t like the idea.

  “Or she could focus on choosing her major and making sure she’s chosen the college she wants to attend. Bradford is generously offering to pay for her studies. I think it’s nice of him.” My mother’s tone is filled with fury, as she hisses the words.

  My aunt’s gaze sizzles as she regards her sister.

  If I didn’t feel halfway comfortable spending time with Finn and Cassian, I would’ve asked my mother if I could stay with Mallory; but with tensions running high, I think I’ll just let it go for now.

  “I’m actually looking forward to spending time at the Thorne house. Apparently, it’s rich with history, and I’m dying to have some cooler weather.” I turn to my mother who’s watching our interaction, hoping she’ll lay off. She sips her drink as I stare at her, and she offers me a smile of victory.

  I’m the pawn in the middle of a game between the siblings, which annoys me, but I allow it to filter into nothing. If I did put up a fight and argue the fact, I know my mother would only force me to go to Thorne Haven.

  The need to be anywhere but in LA is burning in my veins. I can be someone else, no longer the daughter of the infamous beauty that my mother is. When she realized I would never be like her, she gave up on me, allowing me to focus on my schoolwork.

  “I’m glad you’re taking this so well and not throwing a hissy fit in the middle of the reception,” she finally responds in a slightly hushed whisper, and my lungs expel the breath I’d been holding. “But,” she says a bit louder for everyone to hear, her voice stern, more serious than I’ve ever heard her, “If you don’t go to college or choose your major while we’re away, when I get back, you’re coming into the studio with me. My agent has roles that would be perfect for you.”

  “I’m sure she’ll figure out what she wants to do with her future, Marcia,” my aunt tells her sister, her voice drenched in frustration. This is what it’s like with them all the time.

  “Seems I haven’t met the beautiful ladies of the Ellington family yet.” A deep and raspy tone comes from behind me, sending goosebumps skittering across my bare skin.

  I know who it is before I turn around. There’s no doubt that it’s him. No man in this room sounds like that. A voice dripping seduction, and a tone that’s laced with sin.

  “You’re far too kind,” my mother gushes, her gaze locked on the man beh
ind me. I can feel his warmth, smell the intoxicating spice of his cologne, and the hint of smoke that tells me he’s had a cigarette outside.

  I guess it’s true what they say: after good sex, you need a smoke.

  “This is Damien.” My mother grins happily, causing my body to go into a flat-out panic.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” My aunt shakes his hand, and then I finally take a chance and glance over my shoulder. The moment I do, my breath is knocked from my lungs. Ice blue pools of glass are looking directly at me.

  Where Cassian’s gaze is a soft teal shade and less intimidating than Damien’s icy blue one, I can’t stop trembling at having his cold focus on me. Each brother unique in the features, and I’m sure in personalities too.

  “And you are?” He quirks his thick black brow at me. It’s now that I can see his hair is jet black, like a raven’s feathers. His mouth is pursed, lips full and pink. His angular jawbone is smooth, temptingly beautiful. I want to touch it to see if he’s really human. But I don’t move. His sharp nose looks like it’s been chiseled by an infamous artist.

  “This is your stepsister, Nesrin,” my mother answers for me, when I can’t find my words. Frustration burns my cheeks because I’d never been so caught unaware by a boy before. Not a boy, really. This is a man. He is the eldest of the three, which would make him mid to late twenties.

  “Damien Thorne,” he says, reaching for my hand. I offer it only because I don’t want to be rude, but the moment he brings my hand up to his mouth, heat coils in my stomach. His lips touch my knuckles, and sparks shoot through every inch of my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. The pulse that was so boldly thrumming between my legs earlier is set alight by his touch. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “It is.”

  Really?

  That’s all I can manage!

  4

  Damien

  I make her nervous. It’s alluring. She pulls her hand away as if my touch burned her, and I wonder if she’s thinking about what happened in the greenhouse. One thing I know for sure is that she won’t be telling anyone what happened in there because she’s feeling embarrassed for watching, but most of all, she’s feeling guilty for enjoying it.

  “It’s good to finally meet you, Nesrin,” I tell her, which only makes her cheeks darken, as she watches me. I’ve been around plenty of women and girls who fall to their knees for me or would like to, but nobody has ever captured my attention like this.

  “Yeah, same,” she responds, once more, and I realize that my father has just ensured a month of fun and games for me. Granted, she is my stepsister now, and I know I can’t do much about it or he’ll probably cut my dick off, but I can certainly toy with her to my heart’s content.

  “I trust you’ll look after my little girl while me and your father are gone,” Marcia Ellington says, but I don’t answer her. She’s one of those fake beauties. Everything about her is plastic, even her heart. And I know I’ll make my father see the truth, one way or another. Perhaps I can use the little rose in front of me to do it.

  I’m going to kick Cassian’s ass if he allows Finn to go anywhere near her because my youngest brother is a loose cannon when it comes to pretty girls. But I can see why he would go there. She’s sweet and innocent, but far too young for me, even though I’d have her on her back in a few hours, if I really wanted to.

  Even in her sweet innocence, there’s more to her, I can tell just from her reaction to my touch. Beautiful, appealing, but even with all that shiny veneer, there’s something broken about her. As if her petals could easily tumble to the ground, one by one. Wilting under the bright spotlights of fame that come with her mother’s career.

  She pins me with her hazel eyes, and I can’t help but read through the glare to find something far darker than I anticipated hiding there. Something I would certainly love to uncover.

  “Well, then it seems I’ll have a full car on the way back,” I tell Marcia with a sincere smile. I can’t wait to see what she makes of life in Thorne Haven.

  “You will.” Marcia grins happily, swaying on her five-inch heels. I’m sure she’s had far too much of the sparkling gold bubbly already. My father should cut her off, but knowing him, he probably prefers her like this.

  I don’t know her well enough yet, but I have a feeling once she’s living in Thorne Manor, I’ll be moving out. I doubt Dad will mind; he seems happy enough with his new bride.

  “Can I talk to you?” Marcia whispers to her sister, but we all hear it. I can read the animosity between them as if it were a page in a well-known book. I’ve lived around bullshit like that for so long it’s become second nature to pick up on it the moment I walk into a room.

  Soon enough, the sisters are gone, and I’m left with Nesrin. She looks like a deer caught in headlights when she looks up at me.

  “Did you enjoy the show?” I ask, arching a brow at her.

  The apples of her cheeks turn dark pink, and I can almost feel the heat coming off her. Her gaze dances along the crowd, not meeting mine. She’s shy, but still, I can see the fire burning in her gaze when it sweeps over me.

  “You know, I enjoy people watching. I would love to have watched you touch that pussy that I’m sure is still tight and pure.” Another statement that has the same hue flourishing on her chest, and I’m tempted to lean in and get a taste of her flesh.

  “You’re disgusting,” she finally hisses, but her voice is merely a whisper. “You do realize that I’m practically family now.”

  I tilt my mouth into a smirk. “Practically and actually aren’t the same thing, Darling,” I tell her. For a moment, it looks like she forgot about our new living arrangement.

  “Are you really living at Thorne Haven? Aren’t you a little old to be living at home with your father?” Her biting tone makes me hard. I can’t help it. I love a woman with spirit. Makes it so much more worthwhile when I break them.

  “I don’t know about old, little sis.” I shrug as if she hasn’t struck a nerve. “You’ll soon see just why we haven’t left Thorne Manor, and when you walk through those doors, you will never want to leave.”

  “Is that a threat?” she gasps in shock, her mouth falling open and her pouty lips spread into a perfect O. My mind has taken on a whole new scenario of the pretty girl who’s standing in front of me. I shouldn’t be thinking about the filthy things I’d love to do to her mouth, but my mind is on a pathway straight to hell.

  “Not at all, but remember one thing, we’re all extremely close.”

  “Well, I’m not living with you. I’ll be in my own bedroom or something.” She folds her arms across her chest, which only serves to make her cleavage all the more prominent. She’s slightly curvy, and the tips of my fingers tingle to touch her, to grip her hips and hold her steady, as I lean in closer to inhale her feminine scented perfume.

  “Damien.” My name drips with need and want from the woman who just swallowed my load. I used her for my pleasure. That’s what I do. There aren’t any second chances, not in my world. “You disappeared on me.”

  “I’m busy,” I bite out, not turning my attention away from Nesrin, who’s now pinning the redhead with a glare that would certainly kill if she had the powers to do so.

  Jealous? I ponder silently.

  “But I—”

  “I. Said. I’m. Fucking. Busy.” My words are low, but they’re like silver bullets hitting her right in the chest. To the very heart of where she thought I was going to take her out for dinner and then fuck her into oblivion. I don’t do dates, and I certainly am not boyfriend material.

  “You’re an asshole,” the redhead spits. I chuckle, it’s something I’ve known my whole life. I’m just like my father. I may look like my mother, but my charming and oftentimes misunderstood personality comes from Daddy Dearest. Cold, heartless, and narcissistic.

  “Did you have to be so rude to her?” Nesrin’s voice is a whispered gasp. Shock is painted on her pretty face, and I can’t help but be intrigued by
her. Even though I’ve never met her before, this is the first time I’ve come face to face with a woman who wasn’t fawning over themselves for me.

  “Yes,” I answer simply. She doesn’t need any more information than that. I glance up, noticing the crowd moving around, watching who’s talking to whom. I notice Finn and Cassian, both have a woman on their arms, one more languid than the other, and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

  And, as the eldest brother, I take my responsibility seriously. But, sometimes, I let them do what they like. Even though they haven’t spotted me yet, I know Cassian’s going to give me grief for taunting our little sister.

  “You’re so confident that every woman in this room would drop to their knees and suck your dick. Aren’t you?” Nesrin hisses under her breath, as she leans into me, and I bask in her scent.

  “Yes, I am, because they will. When they learn my name, they’ll even fall on their back and spread their thighs for me to fuck them into oblivion, just to say they’ve been with a Thorne.”

  Nesrin stumbles backward, into someone, before she spins on her heel, but she doesn’t make it out of the room before she slams into my father’s chest. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it’s clear he doesn’t want her leaving.

  I’m not sure why she’s so shocked by my words. She’s clearly not the innocent rose I thought she was. And her fragile exterior is nothing on the strength that shimmers in her eyes and has her squaring her shoulders.

  Dad offers her a pat on the arm before he steps onto the small platform that serves as a stage. He grabs the microphone and holds up his glass of champagne. He takes in the crowd before smiling down at his new pride and joy—Marcia.

  5

  Nesrin