Page 56 of The Devil's Hunt

"They fuck you? Please tell me why you get to live my dream life. I am so jealous!"

"It has been really amazing, I'll admit." My cheeks burned, and I looked away.

Lacey's laughter filled the room, and I couldn't help but chuckle with her. "Oh, Mila. I'm so glad you told me. I'm always here for you. But please don't skimp out on the details. I'm so jealous you get to go to all the parties."

"Well, Archer said I could invite you to the parties if you want to come."

"What! Of course, I want to come. Are you kidding me? I love you so much. You're the best friend ever." She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me off the chair. I winced, grabbing my leg, and shepulled back, concern flashing across her face. "Did I squeeze too hard?"

"No," I reassured her. "I fell when Archer washuntingme and hurt my leg."

"Jesus, Mila." She looked me up and down, assessing the skin she could see. "You look like someone beat the shit out of you. And your neck. You're definitely going to have to tell Loverboy to cool it on the neck."

"Tell me what?" Archer's voice caught my attention. He casually walked into the kitchen, like he had been standing there the whole time. Somehow, I knew he didn't go far, and it wouldn't have surprised me if he had been outside the door, listening in the whole time. He stood at the counter, a smirk playing on his lips.

He was definitely listening.

"That you should chill on the biting," I smiled, turning to face him. I loved the way he looked at me; it was like he would devour me at any second.

"Not a chance." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. "Everything good in here?" he asked, testing the waters.

"I still don't like you. But if Mila does, I guess I can play nice," Lacey joked, but I knew she was half-serious.

"I'll take good care of her." He kissed the side of my neck softly, sending warmth through my stomach. "I need to go take care of some things with the boys. Do you want to stay here until I get back?"

"Actually, I need to get home and catch up on some homework. I can go home with Lacey."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Text me when you get home. Don't forget to take your meds with you."

"I won't," I replied, smiling up at him. He pressed his lips against mine, hugging me tightly.

Grabbing my medications, Lacey and I walked out of the house and to her car. I did my best to hide my limp, but I knew she could see it. For right now, she chose not to say anything more about it. Evenwhen I caught her glaring disapprovingly, I pretended not to and inched my way into her car, gingerly sitting down. Once we made it home, I cleaned the blood off the bathroom floor and showered. Lacey made BLTs for lunch, and we sat and ate, talking about how intense Archer was, but how safe he made me feel. I knew she was protective, and I appreciated her even more for it. She was the sister I wish I had, the sister I chose, and even though I could never tell her most of everything Archer and I did together, it was nice knowing that I didn't have to lie about us being together.

I was happy, for the first time in a long time.

22

TWENTY-TWO

MILA

Ispent the rest of the day catching up on homework and trying to move around as much as possible, hoping to aid the healing process. By night's end, I was exhausted, and my leg hurt. I showered, took the medications Gage had prescribed me, and curled up in bed. It wasn't long before the pain medications sent me reeling into a state of euphoria. My whole body was relaxed, and my head was spinning. I had never really experienced the high of opioids. The only other time I had been on them was when I was younger and had my wisdom teeth removed.

As the warm embrace of the medication settled over me, I drifted into a hazy, dreamlike state. Colors bled together, forming swirls of vibrant hues that danced across my closed eyelids. The pain in my leg became a distant echo, drowned out by the warmth that enveloped me.

"Are you high, little rabbit?" Archer's distant and muffled voice floated through the thick fog of my mind.

I nodded my head, or I thought I did. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I imagined it or not. The boundaries of reality and fantasy blurred, and I was submerged in a world that felt familiar and foreign. I felt the weight of his body on the bed next to me and the touch of his hands,his lips, and his fingers as he touched me everywhere and nowhere at once.

His lips traveled down my neck, nipping at my collarbone, as his hands drifted into my underwear, where he slipped his fingers inside me. I gasped as the sensation of them moving in and out sent goosebumps across my bare skin. My body twisted and writhed under his touch, slipping in and out of consciousness. His mouth left kisses along my stomach as he pulled my underwear down. The mixture of cold air and his hot breath had me trembling. His tongue danced across my skin, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. And when the wet warmth of his mouth wrapped around my clit, licking and sucking my sensitive skin slowly and deliberately, I almost came right there.

Every bit of contact between us felt more intense, like the only nerve endings receiving signals were those he touched. His tongue replaced his fingers as he lapped up my arousal and moved it back and forth inside of me. I moaned and moved my hips up, doing everything I could to bring his mouth closer to me. My body was a vessel for his touch, a puppet controlled by his skilled fingers and mouth. I reached down, grasping for him, needing to feel his skin against mine to ground me in this surreal anguish of bliss. His hand found its way to my face, his fingers gently grazing my cheeks and chin, tracing the line of my jaw until he finally wrapped them around my throat, his grip firm but tender. I gasped for air, the pain in my leg a distant memory, overpowered by the raw emotion coursing through my veins.

Iwantedthis.

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