I Knew I Loved You

Chapter Five

~ Unraveling the Enigma ~

The pain I felt was too much to comprehend. Who was he to hurt me like this when we'd just met? What gave him the right to mock me?

"Who the hell are you, Thorn Reid Weston?" I demanded, my voice trembling with anger and hurt. The room fell silent as I confronted him, daring him to answer.

Unfazed by the slap I delivered to his face, he didn't even flinch.

"You don't know me, so don't you dare judge me!" I declared, taking a step back.

Thorn firmly grasped my hand and pushed me against the wall.

Looking up at him, I realized he towered over me, his neck positioned just inches from my eyes. The tension between us thickened, his rage palpable and escalating. My thoughts and movements became a blur, especially when he leaned in...

And his lips crashed against mine in a rough, urgent kiss.

His fervor wasn't born out of passion but desperation, as if he were chasing something elusive. His hands explored my body, seeking out the most sensitive spots. Briefly pausing to catch his breath, he then seized my lips again.

Despite the forcefulness of his kiss, there was an underlying sweetness. I trembled as his warm hand traced up my neck.

A small whimper escaped my lips as he lifted me up and threw me onto the bed, hastily undoing the buttons of his uniform.

Stumbling backward, I landed on the bed. His gaze locked onto mine, filled with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. As he removed his shirt, I couldn't help but admire the sculpted body he had painstakingly carved.

I bit my lip as he began to remove his pants, the bulge inside his boxers already prominent. This wasn't what I desired. I didn't like surrendering control. I was always the one calling the shots, but tonight was different.

As he approached me, he undressed me without hesitation.

"T-Thorn...what are you doing?" I stammered.

"This is what you've longed for, isn't it? You thought I was weak, perhaps even gay? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Ada Rhyce. Because I am also not who you think I am."

"Thorn, please..." I whispered.

Ada, what has come over you? You never beg anyone for anything. Silence that voice, Ada!

I tried to resist his advances, but his touch was overpowering, too strong for me to push away.

Thorn’s lips found mine again, and his hands roamed freely over my body. I struggled to catch my breath.

Underneath him, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the passionate touch. His hand caressed my breast while he suckled and nibbled on the other. Despite my mind screaming at me to fight back, I reveled in the warmth and intensity of his embrace.

Damn it, Ada! Don't give in. You hold the power, make them beg for your touch. You're the one in control, always calling the shots. Don't let anyone touch you like this. Stop him now, Ada! Before it's too late...

But it was too late. I stood naked before him.

He sees me. My vulnerability. My soul. I was too weak to fight it. And my body couldn't deny this desire.

In pain, I closed my eyes. I knew my swollen lips were trembling. My body shook. Thorn stared at me as I opened my weary eyes, abruptly ceasing his movements.

And then, with a sudden realization, he withdrew from me.

Thorn's expression wavered between apprehension and confusion. "Ada… You’re—"

My eyes fluttered open, my breath catching in my throat as I gasped his name.

He leaned in, his lips gently brushing against mine, his voice a soft whisper. "Don't close your eyes. Look at me."

Powerless to resist his command, I stared into his eyes, captivated by their intensity, while he continued to move gently on top of me.

He maneuvered with a fluid grace, and I lifted my hips to meet his every thrust. In that moment, I surrendered to the powerful connection between us. Yet, as our bodies moved in unison, I couldn't ignore the nagging questions in my mind. Why did I feel this strong attraction toward him? Why did my body respond with such desire?

"Sh*t, Ada!" he growled.

My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, drawn in by the mystery and depth in his eyes. The flicker of something unforgettable remained, etching itself into my memory. Thorn was both rugged and tender, callous yet kind, a paradox that eluded easy understanding. His touch conveyed the enigma that was him.

I met his every movement, reveling in the sensations that consumed me, until he found release within me. Breathless and without remorse.

For a brief moment, Thorn lingered by my side, our hearts pounding in sync. But just as quickly, the realization settled that it was all coming to an end. Struggling to rise, I found him still lying there beside me. Though I longed to cry out, to weep and blame myself, I knew it would change nothing. My own desires had betrayed my heart.

Avoiding his gaze, I clutched at my own arms, holding myself close as I sat by his side.

"I'm your first. I thought..." he mumbled.

"Well, you thought wrong," I retorted, my voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and vulnerability.

Thorn let out a deep sigh and stood up. Even though I couldn't bring myself to look at him, I sensed his eyes fixed on me.

"What now?" he asked, his confusion evident.

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

"What if...what if you get pregnant?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. I wished he had considered that earlier.

"So what?" I replied defiantly. "Does it matter?"

"Does it matter?" he repeated firmly. "Is that truly how you see things?"

I knew I took birth control pills, but I didn't want to reveal that to him. I turned to face him, summoning my courage. "Why? Will you take responsibility if I do get pregnant?"

He averted his eyes. I saw it then. The cowardice. It confirmed my beliefs about men. Once they had satisfied their desires, it was over. They would leave. They were all the same. That's why I always stayed one step ahead with men. I used my hands to pleasure them, let them kiss me, touch me, but I was always the one in control, the one who had the final say. I had never given myself to anyone...

Until now.

With a heavy heart, I rose from the bed and headed straight to the bathroom. Standing beneath the shower, I let the water wash away the physical reminders of our encounter, the stains that marred my thighs. Emerging from the bathroom, I found Thorn still waiting for me, his eyes lingering on my nakedness. I wanted to hide, to shield myself. But what was the point? He had already explored every inch of my body.

Quickly dressing myself, I felt Thorn's gaze fixed on me like a hawk, penetrating through my fragile defenses. Despite my inner turmoil and the desire to slip away unnoticed, he spoke, his voice cutting through the heavy silence that enveloped us. "I'll drive you home."

I protested, insisting that he leave me be, but he remained unfazed by my resistance. His presence was a constant reminder of the tumultuous events that had just transpired between us. Reluctantly, I gathered my books, remnants of my old life, and slung the bag over my shoulder, following him to his car.

The journey home was suffocating, filled with an unspoken tension that hung heavily in the air. Thorn's hands clenched the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip, mirroring the storm brewing within me. We rode in silence, each lost in our own thoughts and regrets.