Page 109 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“What?” I step away from him. “I married Archer for you. To help you.”

“You broke your promise to me. Do you remember?” He winces.

Dad raised me all on his own since I was four years old. He gave me everything a girl could want. And in return, he only asked that I stay pure. He wanted me to stay above everyone else in my ballet company and not indulge in something as basic as sex. I was twelve when I made him that promise, so it was easy to keep. Even after I started dating Hunter, it was still easy. Hunter wanted the same thing as Dad—he wanted me to stay a virgin.

But then I met Archer. And keeping that promise became an impossibility. I told myself that it was okay to want him so much because we were married. But now I see that I fooled myself into thinking that I could have him. I broke my promise. Dad is right to be disgusted with me. I broke my promise to him.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.” I wrap my fingers around my left wrist and squeeze. “I thought that’s what you wanted. Please forgive me.”

“I want to forgive you.” He studies my features. “You were always my most precious possession. But now he’s tainted you. You like being his little whore, don’t you?”

“Daddy.” Tears stream down my cheeks. “I’m sorry I let you down.”

“Just leave.” He lets his head roll toward the window and the city lights.

I stand there in the middle of the cold room as the buzz in my head grows louder. I can’t stand the cacophony of angry voices, hurtling insults at me. Suddenly, I’m back in the theater with all those men sneering at me, calling me a whore. They were right. What else could they call me? I did exactly what Dad said. At the first opportunity, I let my desire for Archer take over.

Tears blur my vision as I dart out of Dad’s suite and sneak into the one next door. The bed is unmade, but it’s empty. The patient must be taking a walk or maybe getting tests done. I rush to the locker next to the bathroom and pull out the bag with their personal effects. I dump the contents on the bed and rummage through them. The patient is a woman who seemed to have come here from some sort of fancy dinner.

Her designer gown is silky to the touch, and it still smells of expensive perfume. In a smaller bag, I find a Cartier watch and a pair of emerald earrings. I grip both items in my fist, wiping my cheek with the back of my hand.

You like being his little whore, don’t you?

Just like her.

Dad’s resentful words ring in my head. My body trembles as I stuff the watch and earrings in the bodice of my dress. I take a few seconds to put everything in the plastic bag then toss it back in the locker. But despite the small release, I still can’t breathe. I need the real thing.

I turn around to leave and run into Archer’s chest. His body immediately engulfs me, and I can’t move as I look up at him. I shouldn’t want him this much. But I can’t help it. I don’t know how to contain this incessant need I have of him.

“Come with me.” He wraps his arm around my waist and ushers me out of the hospital room.

At the end of the hallway, he holds a door open for me, then gestures for me to go on. I stroll into the bathroom, pressing my hand to my stomach to feel myself breathing.

“What is it?” I turn to face Archer.

“What the hell happened with the Senator?” He scans my face, and then, the rest of my body. “Do you do this a lot?” He points at my cleavage with a leather strap hanging out.

“No.” I stuff the Cartier back inside. “It grounds me.”

“Give it back.” He puts out his hand. “Everything you took.”

I glare at his hand, realizing that he’s not shocked. He’s genuinely concerned but nothing else. My brother Chuck is the only who knows about my bad habit. For years he’s kept my secret, but not once did he make me return my spoils.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because.” He wipes a tear pooling in the corner of my eye. “It’s wrong to steal, Little Dove. Especially from a dying woman.”

“What?” I gasp. “I didn’t know.”

“Well, I don’t know either. But how about you just hand it over.” He could reach into my dress and grab everything, but he wants me to surrender.

“I’m sorry.” I fish out the watch and the earrings.

“Is that it?” he asks.

“Yes. That’s it.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Stay here. I’ll be back.” He bends down and kisses my lips.

---