Page 40 of Pretty Lies & Ugly Truths

Once I start to come down, awareness begins to creep back in at the magnitude of what I’ve done, and I wait for the shame and humiliation to set in, but it never does. Instead, all I feel is pure bliss.

The look of awe and adoration on Archer’s face making me feel beautiful, cherished, like I might be something worth keeping.

15

Maggie

After we both go up to bed—to our separate rooms—I stare at the ceiling, frustrated, mind reeling. I can feel myself getting more and more attached, and that scares the hell out of me. Time is closing in on us, and I don’t know where we will stand after this week. I’m quite sure, given tonight’s events, that this attraction is mutual, but what does that mean for the long term?

Although, what I feel for Archer isn’t loveyet,I can feel myself falling hard and fast. That in and of itself is terrifying, but what scares me the most is that I’m not sure if Archer is capable of loving himself, let alone anyone else.

I will myself to sleep, but my mind won’t shut off, no matter how hard I try. I give up. I know I won’t rest until I talk it out. So, before I can talk myself out of it, I get out of bed and walk to Archer’s room.

I knock once before pushing the door open. “Archer—I need to talk to you…” My voice trails off as I come to a dead stop in the doorway.

A very wet, very naked Archer emerges from the bathroom. He walks out of the steam-filled room, drying his dark blond hair with a towel, and all thoughts seem to have left my brain as I stand there, mouth gaping.

“I—uh…”

A smirk appears on his devilishly handsome face. Yeah…he knows the effect he’s having on me. He makes no attempts to cover up; he just continues to stand there proudly while I take him all in—and I do mean all.

I know I should turn away, but I don’t. Instead, I watch as a drop of water falls from his hair, my eyes following its path over his tattooed abs down to his very large cock.

I knew he was big, having felt him through his sweats when I practically dry-humped him in the kitchen, but actually seeing it is a whole different story. I lick my lips, suddenly feeling parched.

“See something you like, Little Rose?” he asks. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.

“I asked you a question. Do. You. See. Something. You like?” he repeats, voice laced with a dominance that has my core clenching.

Unable to speak, I nod jerkily, watching as his eyes darken, taking on a predatory gleam. Tossing the towel to the floor, he stalks towards me, and instinctively, I step back until my hip bumps against the doorframe. His lips curve up into a sinister smile.

“Careful,” he says, continuing his path to me. “Remember what I said. I enjoy the hunt. If you run, I will chase you.” His words from that first night pop into my head, and I know he means it. If I were to try and run now, he would hunt me down, and for some unknown reason, that thought turns me on. A lot.

I squeeze my legs together, trying to relieve the ache that has started there.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he says, running his nose up the side of my neck, teeth nipping at my jaw.

“Yes,” I answer, my voice coming out breathy. I don’t know what it is or why, but the thought of being chased and pinned below this beautiful man as he rips pleasure from my body excites me in ways I can’t begin to comprehend.

He takes both my wrists in one hand, pinning them against the wooden frame above my head as he leans fully into me so I can feel the length of his body flush against mine.

And even though I know it’s Archer and I trust he wouldn’t hurt me, the feeling of being restrained, of being caged in this way, triggers something in my mind, and I seize up. My muscles stiffening as I disassociate, staring blankly at the wall over Archer’s shoulder.

He must sense the change, because he releases me immediately, taking a quick step back.

Oh God, what is wrong with me?

Too embarrassed to meet his gaze, I turn away. The wood floors blur as I furiously blink away the tears that fill my eyes. Humiliation scalds my cheeks and the urge toflee becomes so strong, I find myself sprinting from the room.

I don’t get more than three steps before I find myself in Archer’s arms.

“Shhh…” he says, stroking my hair. My arms wrap around his waist as I bury my face in his warm chest. “Hey,” he soothes softly. “Baby, what just happened? Where did you go?”

“I—I don’t know.” My voice comes out muffled as I speak into his skin.

“Here,” he says, leading me over to sit on his bed before pulling on a pair of black boxer briefs. The polite thing to do would be for me to look away as he dresses himself, but I don’t. I just stare at the perfect round globes of his ass before he covers it in the soft cotton.

He raises an eyebrow when he catches me checking him out, but all I can do is shrug. The man is built like a Greek God. What can I say?

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