Adina couldn't stop smiling.

Her cheeks ached from how long the smile had been on her face and even now, hours after the game ended, she still felt that high humming through her.

She loved winning. Victory tasted like sweet wine, and the celebratory dinner had only amplified it. Everyone had cheered when Lord Levi announced her as the MVP of their team. She was also given a special necktie for the winning team, and since she helped their team win, Levi chose to give it to her.

Kora had raised her cup in a dramatic toast, and even Gamma Mason, who had sulked because his team was just one flag short of winning, told her she did a good job.

It felt absolutely amazing to be told she did a good job, and it would've been an even bigger win for her if Thorne was there.

But he wasn't. She hadn't seen him since that time in the cave. Not once. Not during the walk back, not in the hall, not even when she stole a quick glance at the high table. He was gone.

He and the beta actually, and so she believed there was some work that needed to be done. Her body buzzed with excitement at the thought of seeing him. She wondered if she should stop by his office but then shook her head; she didn't want to be a nuisance.

Feeling still excited but tired from the win, Adina made her way into her room. She stepped into her room, still humming a song Kora had coined after they were announced winners, fingers going for the tie at her waist when—

Suddenly she's slammed against the door, knocking the breath out of her. Adina gasped from the sudden thud.

The scent hit her before anything else, and her knees buckled instantly.

"Y-your majesty," she stammered breathily.

He crowed her against the door, large hands holding her waist. "Call me by my name, Adina," he said hoarsely and whimpered.

Her eyes fluttered open, heart pounding. "Thorne…" she whispered, barely able to say his name as her hands gripped his shoulders.

He growled, the sound vibrating against her chest as he pressed his body flush against hers. She could feel him—hard.

"Did you have fun today?" he murmured, voice low and deep, lips brushing her ear. "Letting Levi touch you?"

Adina whimpered. "No—I didn't mean—"

"But you let him," Thorne cut in, one hand sliding down to grip her thigh, hiking it up around his waist. "You chose him. You let him put his hands on you while I stood there. Watching."

Her mouth opened to speak, to explain… not like there was anything she could say, but he didn't give her the chance.

"Do you enjoy making me mad, Adina?" he hissed, dragging his nose along the curve of her neck. "Is that it? You want to see what happens when I snap?"

Adina could barely breathe, her body trembling against his. "I-I wasn't trying to—"

His hand wrapped around her throat, not tight, just enough to make her whimper. He tilted her chin up until their eyes met.

"Get. On. Your. Knees."

Adina dropped without hesitation. Her knees hit the floor, breath shallow as her eyes locked onto the bulge straining against his pants. He was already hard.

Her fingers trembled as they reached for the buckle of his pants, but Thorne didn't let her; he slapped her hands away and did it himself.

Slowly, he undid his belt. The sound of the leather sliding free made her thighs press together involuntarily. Her breath hitched when the zipper followed.

His cock sprang free, and her lips parted on instinct, eyes taking in the sight of him. Thick. Hard. Veins throbbing along his shaft like he'd been holding back for hours.

"See what you do to me?" he murmured, brushing the head of his cock against her lips. "You think you can smile at him. Let him touch you…"

She whimpered, lips brushing him as she whispered, "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not," he said, voice low and savage. "But you will be."

Her breath caught.

"Open your mouth," Thorne ordered, his fingers threading into her hair, gripping tight.

Adina obeyed instantly, her lips parting as her eyes never left his. Her lips stretched around him, cheeks hollowing as he pushed deeper.

"Just like that," Thorne growled, tightening his grip on her hair. "Take all of me."

"You wanted to tease me?" he gritted out, beginning to move. "Wanted to make me watch him touch what's mine?"

He thrust deeper, rougher now, and Adina whimpered. Her nails dug into his thighs, and every time he pulled back just slightly, her tongue licked at the sensitive underside of his cock.

"Look at you…" he rasped. "On your knees. Mouth full of the cock, choking, eyes teary and red," he rasped, slowing just enough to drag out each syllable, each thrust. "You look perfect like this."

Adina choked around him, drool slipping from the corner of her mouth as she tried to keep up, her eyes flickering up to meet his.

Thorne growled, hand fisting tighter in her hair as he pulled back, letting his cock fall from her mouth with a wet pop. A string of saliva connected her lips to the tip, and he wiped it across her cheek.

She barely had time to breathe before he pulled her up and slammed her back against the door again. He hiked her skirts up, and the cool air had her shivering internally.

"T-Thorne," she moaned.

He parted her ass apart, groaning. "Fuck… look at you dripping wet for me." He dragged two fingers along her slick folds, gathering the wetness before shoving them deep inside her without warning.

Adina cried out, her head falling back against the door with a dull thunk, her legs trembling as his fingers moved inside her, curling just right.

"Still gonna tell me Levi didn't get you worked up?" Thorne grunted in her ear, pumping his fingers faster. "You were this wet when he touched you too?"

"N-no," she gasped, hips bucking against his hand. "Only you—only ever you."

He growled in satisfaction, pulling his fingers out just to lick them clean, his eyes locked on hers the entire time. Her breath caught at the obscene sight, her thighs clenching instinctively.

"Good," he muttered. "Because I'm the only one who gets to taste you."

Before she could reply, he dipped his head low. She barely had time to catch her breath before he dropped to his knees behind her, spreading her thighs apart with those big, bruising hands.

Then his mouth was on her, his tongue licked a bold stripe up her slit, groaning like a man starved. He devoured her like she was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted, and in that moment, she was. His tongue moved with purpose, licking, sucking, teasing her clit until her legs were jelly.

She clawed at the door, moaning his name like a prayer. "Thorne—please—"

He pulled back just long enough to growl, "Beg louder."

"Please!" she gasped. "Please don't stop—"

He didn't. He sucked her clit into his mouth, tongue flicking mercilessly until her cries became desperate. His hands gripped her thighs, holding her open, keeping her still as her orgasm hit her.

She screamed, shuddering against the door, nearly collapsing as her body convulsed.

But Thorne wasn't done. He stood up behind her, one hand gripping her waist as he guided his cock to her soaked pussy.

"You teased me," he growled, voice wrecked. "Now take your punishment."

Then, he slammed into her. Adina screamed.

The stretch, the fullness, it knocked the air clean out of her lungs. Thorne didn't give her a moment to adjust. He pulled back and slammed into her again roughly.

Her cheek pressed against the door as he held her hips tight while he thrust into her like he meant to ruin her. And maybe he did. Maybe that was exactly what she wanted.

"Still think you can make me jealous and walk away?" he snarled against her shoulder. "You think I'll let any other man put their hands on what's mine?"

Adina whimpered. "No—n-never again—I swear—"

He thrust harder, each word punctuated by his movements. "You. Don't. Get. To. Swear. Anything."

Her knees buckled again, and Thorne caught her easily, wrapping an arm around her torso and yanking her back against his chest. He was so deep now, she could barely breathe, could barely think.

"You belong to me," he growled in her ear. "Say it."

"I-I belong to you," she gasped, eyes fluttering shut as her second orgasm began to build fast.

"Louder."

"I belong to you!" she cried out, her voice breaking as he thrust harder, pushing her right over the edge again.

"Fuck, Adina…" Thorne groaned, his control slipping as her orgasm milked him. He turned her around, lifting her by the thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, arms around his neck, barely holding on.

Their lips crashed together, hot, messy, consuming.

Thorne groaned against her mouth. "You want to act like a brat?" he panted. "Then I'll fuck you like one."

He thrust up into her, and she screamed his name again. Her fingers tugged at his hair as she bounced on him, completely at his mercy.

"Say it again," he ordered. "Who do you belong to?"

"You!" she cried. "I belong to you!"

"That's right," he growled, thrusting into her so hard the door rattled behind them. "And no one else."

He grabbed her ass, using it to guide her rhythm, his eyes locked on hers. Sweat clung to their skin, and when he felt her walls fluttering around him again, he snapped.

With a final thrust, Thorne groaned her name like a curse and came deep inside her, hot and thick.

They stayed like that for a long moment. Adina's head rested on his shoulder as he leaned against the door, his arms still locked around her like he never wanted to let go.

"Still smiling?" he rasped, voice wrecked.

Adina giggled. "Only a little."

Thorne chuckled softly. "You're not done being punished," he warned, brushing her hair from her face.

"Oh?" she whispered, teasing.

"No," he said, carrying her toward the bed. "Not even close."

_________

The next morning, Thorne woke up with a smile on his face.

Adina was still fast asleep, tangled in the sheets. Her hair was a mess of curls against the pillow, lips parted, cheeks still flushed. She looked soft. Peaceful.

He leaned in slowly, brushing a stray lock away from her face, his chest tightening with how damn right it felt to wake up beside her.

He was just about to press a kiss to her temple when the voice came.

"My King." Caelum's voice rang through the mind link, urgent and low.

Thorne's brow furrowed instantly. No interruptions, he'd told them. No contact unless the palace was burning.

"I told you not to disturb me unless it was dire," he snapped mentally, already sitting upright. "What could possibly be so important that—"

"Forgive me, my king… but overnight—Elara attempted to kill herself."