Page 50 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Like what?” Her hungry gaze drops to my lips, and that’s my undoing.

I bring her mouth to meet mine and kiss her the way I’ve been dying to do since the last time she was in my arms. I switch her wrist into my left hand and slide my right one into her hair and make a fist. A moan escapes her as she rolls her hips into my erection. Pulling her hair to expose her neck, I move down to suck on the soft spot behind her ear.

“Archer.” She moans. “I want to touch you.”

“No.” I shake my head, as I continue down to capture her taut nipple with my mouth. Her sweater is in the way, but I can still tease the hard bud with my tongue. “If you touch me, I will lose my resolve.”

“What?” She presses her forehead to mine.

“We’ll be married only in name.” I fist her hair tighter to make her look at me. “Do you understand?”

“Why?” She pants a breath.

“It’s better that way.” I clench my jaw.

“Let go of me.” Her eyes shoot daggers at me.

I bury my nose in her neck and take in her scent and the taste of her lips. With ragged breaths, I manage to find my composure again and slowly release her.

Tears pool in her eyes as she climbs off me and settles on the seat as far away as possible from me. I want to explain to her that this is all for her own good. That if I let my desire for her win, she’ll be lost along with me. I can’t drag her down into the darkness. It wouldn’t be fair to her.

The limo pulls into the driveway. As soon as the tires roll to a stop, she sits up, wiping her face. I can’t tell if she realizes her home is only a few miles away. Not that it matters. Come tomorrow that property will be mine too. Even if she manages to escape the mansion, she has nowhere to go.

“Mary Jane is our head of housekeeping.” I open the door.

“Our?” she asks.

“Come on.” I offer her my hand. “I’ll introduce you.”

I take her hand and help her climb out. She’s wearing slippers, which will do nothing to protect her from the gravel that stands between the driveway and the front door. I bend down and swoop her into my arms again.

“It’s bad luck if you enter the house on your own,” I whisper in her ear.

“Is that so? Or are you afraid I might make a break for it and go home to my father?” she retorts.

“I’m not afraid.” I glance down at her. “I know you won’t run. You love your father too much. You would never do anything to jeopardize his well-being. Am I wrong?”

She looks away. After a breath, she shakes her head no in response to my question.

The door opens for us and I cross the threshold with her in my arms. Fisher, Jacob and Gardenia greet us with somber faces in the foyer. It’s a little after three in the morning. They knew I was coming home tonight after the auction. What they don’t know yet is that I ended up placing the winning bid, and now, Paloma and I are married.

“Paloma.” I set her down gently. “I’d like you to meet my family.” I point at them. “Fisher, Jacob and you already know Gardenia.”

They all wave politely doing a terrible job of hiding their shock of seeing Paloma here with me.

“Everyone.” I take Paloma’s hand in mine. “I’d like to you meet my wife.”

“Your what?” Gardenia stomps her foot. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” She turns to Fisher. “Dad, say something.”

“I thought you had decided against it,” Fisher says calmly.

“And then I decided against that too.” I stand my ground.

“No.” Gardenia wipes her cheek, stepping toward me. “You can’t marry her. You can’t. You didn’t.”

“It’s already done.” I put my hand on Paloma’s waist.

“You bastard.” Gardenia slaps me hard across the face then bolts for the grand staircase to my right.

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