Page 116 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

I turn on my back to stare at the ceiling. For a moment, I’m startled to find Archer on his side of the bed, wide awake. He stayed with me. My chest fills with warm honey, and suddenly I feel giddy. I was wrong to think that I could keep my distance and be the kind of person Dad wants me to be. I can’t do that. I belong to Archer. Anything else that contradicts the one undeniable truth hurts.

“Good morning.” He shoots a quick glance at me, a smile playing in the corner of his eye.

“Good morning.” I suppress a smile. “No early workout today.”

“Not today.” He releases a breath.

The air shifts with a raw charge. I can’t stand to be this far away from him. Turning on my side, I tuck my arm under my head and study his features and his physique. The covers barely come up to his navel, so I get a full view of his muscled body and chiseled profile. I must’ve looked ridiculous saying no to a man like him last night.

I smile, burying my face in the pillow.

“You’ve come to your senses then?” he asks, his intense blue gaze focused on the ceiling.

How does he always know what I’m thinking. “Am I so obvious?”

“I’m so addicted to the hunger in your eyes. When it isn’t there, I notice.” He turns to look at me.

The lust I see written all over his face hits me like an avalanche. I want to tell him that I didn’t stop wanting him for a second. But then, I’ll have to tell him about Dad, and I don’t think that’s something he can understand. Dad is only trying to protect me because he doesn’t know Archer the way I do.

“He wants me to be something I cannot be when I’m around you.” I suck in a breath. “I need you to touch me. Does that make me a bad person?”

“It makes you your own person.” He moves to his side to face me.

His eyes and lips are a little puffy from sleep. He’s impossibly good looking in the morning. But the thing that makes him utterly irresistible is that he stayed in bed for me. Despite what he witnessed last night at the hospital, he’s still looking at me like I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. If he’s addicted to my desire, then what am I for him? I’m more than addicted to him. What is there beyond addiction? Madness?

“He doesn’t get to decide if that version of you is good or bad.” His gaze softens. “I want to see you wet.”

“Archer.” I laugh at the change of direction, rolling onto my back. I don’t even know what he means, but the fury of my desire is already taking shape in my core, clouding my senses and my mind.

“Shower.” He throws his legs over the side of the bed. “Now.”

Being in bed with him is my new favorite thing. When he gets up, I open my mouth to protest but then stop mid-sentence to watch him cross the room naked—he’s all loose-hips and long muscled legs. I groan into my pillow because of course I’m going to follow that man into the shower. Father doesn’t get to tell me what to do anymore. He lost the right to demand my devotion when he sold me to Archer. It shouldn’t be so black and white. But he made it that way.

When I stroll into the bathroom, Archer is already in the shower stall. Steam hangs from the mirrors and glass door. It’s like we’re up in the clouds. I reach for the hem of my T-Shirt and pull it over my head before I join him under the warm spray.

“You wanted me to teach you about sex?” He presses my back to his chest and bends down to nibble on my shoulder. “Let me show you all the ways you can take me, Little Dove.” He walks me to the wall and presses me to it until my nipples pebbled against the cold tile. “Fuck, you look so perfect like this.”

I brace my hands on the wall for support as droplets of oil pelt on my back. Looking over my shoulder, I focus on his wet hair and his broad shoulders. “What are you doing?”

“You like this, don’t you?” He massages my back, his hands gliding down the length of my spine. With each stroke, he goes farther down until his fingers reach my ass. He splits me open, teasing my butthole. “Tell me.”

“Yes.” I let my head hang, surrendering to the subtle pleasure of his fingers in my back entrance. “Archer. Not there.”

“You don’t like it?” He kisses my cheek as he squirts more lubricant on me.

“I do. But.” Words leave my head when he inserts two fingers inside. It’s so tight, but I need more.

“But what?” He continues to massage my butt cheeks with his free hand as he glides his two fingers in a gentle motion.

I shake my head because I don’t exactly know what my objection to butt sex is. It’s different than when he takes my pussy. He’s gentle and soothing the way he’s working me to get me to adjust to the pressure. He continues the process of running his free hand all over my back and even my breasts, while inching inside me a little more.

“You’re so ready for me, Little Dove.” He sucks on the cord of my neck, then turns my face so he can capture my mouth. Water drips from his hair down to my face while our wet and slick bodies rub against each other. “Take in a breath and hold it.”

I nod and do as he asks while he adds even more lubricant to the top of my butt and his cock.

“Let it go,” he orders as he guides his erection into my ass.

It hurts at first, but then it doesn’t. It feels too good. “Omigod. Archer.” I reach back to cup his face.

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