Page 98 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Is it?” He cups my face. “When you first came here, I waited for you to demand I take you back to finish the other seven performances, but you never asked.”

“You would’ve let me finish?” I meet his gaze.

He isn’t disappointed that I didn’t want to dance again after I came here. Making Swan Queen was the ultimate dream. But then, it was tainted by the auction. Everything I ever wanted, everything I ever worked for, culminated in Dad selling me off to the highest bidder. It’s by sheer luck that Archer was there to save me from Dad’s friends.

“I would have.” He pushes a strand of hair away from my face. “Not right away, of course. You could barely walk after you finished the last act. You were wonderful that night, by the way.”

“Maybe I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to repeat that level of perfection the following night.” I let out a sad chuckle.

“Or maybe you were afraid to go back to the theater.” His gaze darkens and fills with hatred. And I just know he blames the whole thing on Dad.

“Can we talk about something else?” I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to keep those memories at bay. But they’re there waiting to flood my mind at the slightest provocation. “I don’t want to think about that night.”

“Tell me how you felt. Get angry. At me or them. I don’t care. Just don’t keep it all inside.”

Suddenly I’m aware of how naked we both are. My nipples are hard peaks against the cold air in the room. I make to get off him and get under the covers, but he wraps his arms around my waist and keeps me in place. I don’t want to think about Dad and how alone I felt in that moment—how I dropped to the floor at his feet, and he just left me there.

“He doesn’t deserve your love, nor your sacrifice.”

“I was so scared when Dad fetched me from my dressing room.” My voice is barely above a whisper. Talking about it makes it real. And I don’t want it to be real. “And then all those men looking at me like I was some prized pig.” I wipe my cheek. “They’re all dad’s friends. Did you know?”

He shakes his head, pursing his lips. “No, I didn’t.”

“I never knew they thought of me that way. All those times I sat on their laps when I was a little kid, they were thinking vile things about me. How is that possible?”

“And for that, I will never forgive myself. I put you through all that. You were right to hate me when I brought you here. I should’ve helped you when you asked. I wanted to protect you.” He kisses me, and there’s so much he’s not saying. “I thought that if you saw your father for what he was, you would?—”

“I would what? Stop loving him? I can’t do that, Archer.” I swallow my tears. “He’s my dad. The auction was horrible. But I don’t regret it because I was able to save him.”

“Yeah, I see that now.” He scoffs. “You would do anything for him, including marrying a stranger. They were right. I should’ve let you be when I had the chance.”

“They? Your family?” I run my finger along the edge of one of his scars, peeking below his shoulder. “Do they know why you had to marry me?”

“They do. But my family is not the problem.” He takes my hand and kisses it. “You don’t have to worry about them.”

“Then what is the problem?” I tunnel my fingers through his hair.

“Me.” He furrows his brows. “In time, you will learn that I’m not worthy of you.”

“Don’t say that.” I press my lips to him. “You’re everything to me.”

“I can’t be.” He rolls to his side and pins me under him.

His mouth finds my breast, and I’m spiraling again. The weight of his body on top of me washes away all the bad memories. What does it matter anymore how we got here, if in the end I get to have him? I get to be with him like this. Always.

“I want you.” I grip his cock, and he hisses.

“I want you too.” He swells into me, capturing my mouth.

“I still need to ask you for one thing.” I push at him to get him to stop.

“What is it?” he asks without losing the slow pace of him sliding in and out of me with languid strokes.

“Can I get my phone back?” I brace my hand on his chest.

“Why would you need a phone?” He braces his hands on either side of me, hovering over me. His breathing is ragged as he considers my request.

“So I don’t feel like your prisoner. So I can talk to people.” I meet his gaze.

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