Page 29 of Pretty Lies & Ugly Truths

“M-m-maybe,” I stammer, confused.

“You’re wrong. The problem isn’t that I don’t enjoy your touch,” he whispers low in my ear before taking my lobe between his teeth, biting down almost to the point of pain before abruptly pulling back leaving me a panting mess sagging against the wall.

Icy rage quickly replaces his desire, and all traces of warmth are now gone from his voice when he continues.

“The problem is, I enjoy it,Too. Damn. Much. I dream about having your hands on me day and fucking night,” he says, tugging on his hair. “I crave you so goddamn bad, I’m driven to such distraction, that I’m unable to remember just why you canneverbe mine.”

I open my mouth—to say what I don’t know—but he keeps going before I can get a word out.

“I told you, my sister died. What I didn’t tell you was, she was murdered. The bullet that killed her was meant for me. My little sister is dead because of me!” he roars. “Don’t you see? I don’t deserve your comfort. I don’t deserve your touch. I am not a good man and once this is all sorted out, you would do well to stay as far away from me as possible.”

With those parting words, he turns abruptly, storming down the hall before disappearing into his room, leaving me alone, flustered and confused as hell.

11

Archer

Iswear, if I wasn’t one hundred percent certain she didn’t know about the cameras throughout the house, I would think this woman was trying to kill me. I have been locked in my office for most of the day, trying to get some work done, while a certain redhead has been busy driving me out of my mind.

Maggie is on the back porch twisted up in some crazy yoga move that shows off her flexibility but doesn’t look the least bit natural.

I mean, seriously, how can a person bend that way?

I watch as she moves into another position. This time, her perfect ass is high in the air, back arched as she looks towards the sky. The brilliant afternoon sun shines from behind her, illuminating her silhouette and highlighting all her gentle curves as she moves fluidly through her poses.

She is wearing one of those spandex workout topsthat look more like a bra than a shirt and skintight yoga pants that leave little to the imagination.

I palm my hardening cock through my slacks as images flood my mind of her on her hands and knees, back arched in pleasure while I fuck her from behind.

I open the top drawer of my desk, taking out the light blue panties I held onto weeks ago. I should have thrown them out with the rest of her soiled clothes but like a fucking creep, I kept them.

Undoing my belt and zipper, I reach in, pulling out my straining cock before wrapping the soft silky material around it. Watching as she moves her limber body through a series of stretches, I slowly glide the silk up and down my length, groaning aloud as I imagine it’s Maggie’s tight little pussy.

She turns, her breasts now thrust forward towards the camera, and all it takes is a few hard tugs before I erupt, coming so hard I see fucking stars.

Disgusted, I clean myself up before reaching over and ripping the plug from the wall, effectively closing down the feed.

Enough.I have to stop torturing myself this way, because everything I told her last night was true. I’m not a good man. I’m a monster. It was because of me that my family has been ripped apart. My greed and lust for power was what led to my sister’s demise.

Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money. We weren’t dirt poor, but I know my parents struggled. My stepdad was a great husband and father but a shittybusinessman, and when he passed, he left us with nothing but a mountain of debt.

At the ripe old age of eighteen, I was thrust into becoming the man of the house, and I blame the stupidity of my youth for what I did next—turn to the one person I never should have trusted: my biological father.

Walter Rhodes came from a wealthy family, and as owner and CEO of Rhodes Corp., a large investment firm, he had the means and the responsibility to help our family. In my eighteen years of life, my mother had never taken a dime from him, and I felt he owed us.

Although our relationship had always been strained, I figured he’d give me some low-level position where I could work my way up, all while still being able to provide for my family. Little did I know that while Rhodes Corp. appeared squeaky clean from the outside, under the surface, corruption reigned.

It started off small, money laundering, running drugs, weapons...that kind of thing.

He tried to ease me in slow. It wasn’t until two years later that he gave me my first hit: one of his old business partners that had a penchant for little girls.

My father may not be morally sound, but there are a few lines even he would not cross.

I always thought taking a life would be hard, but as I stood over that spineless piece of shit while he begged for his life, I found it surprisingly easy. No…I had no qualms about ridding the Earth of men like him.

I felt unstoppable, like a God. I became drunk withpower—that is until my sister paid the ultimate price for my hubris.

Suddenly needing to get out of here, I snatch my keys and wallet off my desk, only to run smack into the one person I am trying to avoid.

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