He slammed his lips into hers.

It wasn't a kiss—it was punishment. A bruising, hard crash of mouth against mouth. One that stole the breath from her lungs and left her blinking in shock.

Adina shoved at his chest with all her strength. She stumbled backward, her back hitting the shelf behind her with a soft thud. She panted heavily, her lips red, bitten, and raw from the force. She stared at him like he'd grown two heads.

This was the second time. The second time he would kiss her.

She swallowed hard, shaking her head as anger bubbled inside her. What was he playing at? She might have no backbone, be so weak, but she still had respect for herself. She couldn't continue to put herself through so much emotional pain like this.

"You didn't mean that," she muttered, her voice unsteady but firm. Her eyes locked on his, watching the war happening behind them. The rage, desire, guilt, all twisting into one, each fighting for dominance.

She swallowed hard. She was right. He didn't mean it. Or if he did, it wasn't for the right reasons.

And she wouldn't let herself be straggled along. No— she wasn't going to hurt herself in such a way.

"You didn't mean that—Please don't do things you don't mean. You'll blame me. You'll curse me…" she paused, looking at him, waiting for something…

What it was, she didn't know.

She looked away for a second and turned to leave again—but his hand caught her arm again, firmly.

He turned her around, "Don't—" he began, or maybe he didn't say anything at all. Maybe it was just the sound of him…the ragged breath, the tremble in his touch, the desperate way his fingers curled around her wrist.

"Don't speak for me. You have no idea what it is that I want. That I mean…"

And before she could move, before she could breathe, he yanked her back to him and crushed his lips against hers again.

This time, there was no hesitation.

He shoved her behind the rows of shelves, a sharp gasp escaped her lips and his tongue slid into her mouth, he groaned hard, like he was restraining himself, like he needed to hide this madness from the rest of the world.

She whimpered as her back bumped against the wall of books, the sharp edge digging into her as he devoured her mouth like a starving man.

His hands tangled in her hair, pulling just enough to make her gasp.

His hands didn't stay still, he roamed her body like he needed to memorize her body. Like he didn't trust himself to ever be this close again.

One hand at her waist, gripping tight. The other sliding up her back, tracing her spine.

She shivered internally, a moan escaping her lips. Not a single thought in her head. No— they were all consumed by him.

Her body was soft, softer than he imagined and her lips, oh they were heavenly….they were soft, and sweet, just like he remembered.

He had forced himself to forget how she tasted, how her body melted in his hands. How easy and pliant she became just from a kiss.. and now here he was doing the same thing without a single thought in the world.

A moan escaped her lips and he gripped her tighter, his veins straining against his skin. He could feel the blood pulsing in his ears. His Lycan throbbed with need from within. And him—oh he wanted—he wanted to take and take until she had no more to give…

And gods help him—he just might.

A breathless moan slipped from her lips again, and Thorne damn near lost control. His grip tightened, fingertips digging into her waist as if he could pull her into him—into his skin, into his bones.

He growled, the sound vibrating between them as his tongue swept across her bottom lip again. He didn't care about the world. Didn't care about duty, control, or what this meant.

All that existed was her. Her soft skin, Her mouth, swollen and glistening. The taste of her tongue, the sweetness of her moan, the arch of her body into his—

"Is someone back there?" An unfamiliar voice called out. A woman, clipped, curious and so near.

Adina stilled, her whole body went rigid as the sound of footsteps drew near.

"Hello…" the person called out again. "I could've sworn I heard something." The person muttered.

Adina pushed Thorne back, but he didn't budge— he stared at her for a brief second then yanked back, heart pounding, lips parted and raw. His chest heaved heavily like a man who had just sprinted through a war zone.

The woman stopped right in front of them and Adina recognized her. She was one of the concubines. Her gaze flickered from Thorne to Adina whose eyes were wide with panic, her face flushed, hair disheveled, lips swollen and slick.

"Y-your majesty. It is you—" the concubine smiled wide the second she saw Thorne. It was like all sense of reasoning in her flew out.

Then her gaze shifted to Adina and she frowned. "What are you doing here with your—"

"His majesty asked me to bring a book for him but I took too long." Adina blurted out before her brain could stop her.

Thorne glanced at her, his eyes blank at the lie she just told.

The concubine hummed in understanding, she opened her mouth to speak but Thorne cut her off.

"What are you doing in here so late?" He asked and a wide smile took over her face.

She tucked her hair behind her ears shyly. "I came to read. I've heard his majesty likes women who are well read…" The concubine stepped closer.

"I could recommend a few good books if His Majesty is interested," she said with a soft laugh, biting her bottom lip as her eyes raked over Thorne. She didn't even spare Adina a second glance. "Maybe… something romantic?"

Adina cleared her throat, "Umm…please excuse me." She said.

Thorne looked at her, his hand jerking out, ready to pull her back—But the concubine grabbed his arm first, her body pressing against his.

"Your Majesty…" she purred.

And when Thorne finally looked back to his side

Adina was already gone.