Page 72 of The Devil's Hunt

I could tell he was on edge, and I instantly regretted mentioning his father. I could see there was some tension between them, and I felt guilty for ruining the good time we were having. I let it be, turned toward the boys and Maddie, and integrated myself into their conversation. When Kai and Maddie started making out, Theo moved closer to me, and Archer moved up to talk to the driver through the window, giving him instructions.

"Don't let it get to you. It's not personal." Theo gave me an apologetic smile and nodded toward Archer when he saw the confusion on my face. "I overheard him telling you about his father. The weight of our legacies can be suffocating. That's why The Hunt is so important. It's our chance to escape from it all, to live in a world that isn't all bad. And to find someone who shares our sentiments in this life, someone who could potentially be our wives, helping us carry this burden. That's worth it all."

"I'm sorry neither of your Chosens survived The Hunt," I lamented, squeezing his hand gently.

He placed his hand over mine. "Thank you, Mila. But after seeing how Archer looks at you, I won't settle for anything less. But you'll let me know if you decide Archer isn't the one, eh?" he winked, giving my shoulder a nudge.

"You'd be my first call," I grinned, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

Theo was gorgeous in his own right, and I'd be lying if I didn't say there was a part of me drawn to him. Even though I loved Archer, and he was the one I wanted, I wondered what it would be like to be with them both. Theo had this natural charm, one that he didn't have totryto have. He was quieter than the other two, but so observant. He was always in the background assessing the scene. Undoubtedly, hesaw a lot more than he let on. Theo always had a way of making me feel at ease, even when things were complicated.

When we arrived at the venue, crowds of people were already arriving in their designer gowns and tuxedos.

Archer moved back over to me, and we waited for the others to leave the car before following them out. Archer stepped out first and then held his hand out. I accepted his hand and carefully stood up, letting my dress fall gently around me. We walked hand in hand up the stairs while cameras flashed around us. Archer could sense my discomfort, and he gently wrapped his arm around my waist and held me to his side. I gave him an appreciative smile, and together, we stopped at checkpoints to smile for the cameras.

Inside, the venue had been turned into a real-life carnival, complete with belly dancers writhing on stage, their half-naked bodies adorned with glitter and jewels. Trapeze artists in tiny bodysuits flew above us, their acrobatic feats made even more dangerous by the fire breathers performing below them. Bright lights and flashy displays assaulted my eyes while loud music and the smell of alcohol filled the air.

The tables were arranged in a perfect circle, surrounding the stage where my father and the other candidates would soon deliver their speeches. Waiters weaved through the crowd, offering trays stacked high with crystal flutes of bubbling champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres. As I mingled with the other guests, Archer's eyes constantly scanned the room, his body tense and ready for any sign of his father's presence.

There was no shortage of scantily clad women pushing their tits up while talking to him, and I rolled my eyes as the current blonde with big fake lips was touching his arm and laughing at something he said. Maddie came up, seeing how annoyed I was, and gave the blonde a disgusted look.

"I brought you a drink. I thought you might need it."

"Oh, you're a saint." I grabbed it from her and downed it.

"Don't let those vultures get to you," Maddie said, reading my thoughts. "They feed off powerful men like Archer and your dad."

I grabbed another glass from the tray of a passing waitress and chugged it, feeling the warmth of the liquid give me a little pep in my step. "You know what, Maddie? You're right. I'll be right back."

Maddie slapped my butt. "Go get her, tiger."

I practically threw the empty glass at the waiter and stalked over to Archer. I crashed my body against him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and crushed our lips together in a fierce kiss. He responded immediately, pulling me even closer as his hands roamed down my exposed back and gripped my ass possessively. Our tongues battled for dominance, and I moaned wantonly as he explored every inch of my mouth. The blonde woman sneered in frustration, but I was too consumed by desire to care about her judgmental gaze. What started as a simple power play left me breathless and wanting to sneak off into a dark corner with him.

When we finally broke our kiss, the blonde was gone, and Archer only had eyes for me.

Mission accomplished.

"Careful, little rabbit. We wouldn't want Daddy seeing me defile his precious daughter in front of all his campaign donors," he breathed against my lips.

"Maybe I want them to watch." I gave him a sweet, teasing smile.

Archer's eyes darkened, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd and up the stairs. He didn't slow down until we reached a hallway cordoned off with a black velvet rope. He lifted me over it, yanked me behind a pillar, and sat me on a window ledge.

"I have a present for you."

"Another one?" I asked, curious to see if it was another piece of jewelry.

"I wanted to give it to you earlier, but I ruined the moment, and I'm sorry. My father is adifficultman, and I'm afraid once you meet him, you'll decide you don't want to be with me."

"I don't care who your father is. I care about you, Archer King."

"Where did you come from?" He asked, biting his lip and staring at me like he was going to eat me alive. "Spread your legs."

"What?" I gasped.

"Spread your fucking legs."

My eyes widened, but I obliged, parting my legs as far as my dress would allow. I gripped the edge of the window sill and slowly lifted my skirt to reveal my black lace underwear. Archer's breath hitched as he examined me, his eyes dark with desire. He pulled out a small velvet bag from his pocket, and when he opened it, he pulled out a curved, pink, silicone vibrator. He slid his hand in the front of my underwear and ran his fingers through my soaked slit. I leaned my head back against the window and moaned as he pressed his thumb against my clit.

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