Page 19 of Power
Except maybe with Alice. She brings out a longing in me that goes past the need to hurt her. I want to make her scream but then soothe her. I want to watch her cry and then hold her. The thought of anyone else that close to my body makes me shudder with revulsion, but not her. She incites a fearful passion in me that could potentially accomplish extreme damage if interfered with.
It brings my thoughts drifting to what Archer did with her earlier. It should enrage me that he moved too far, too fast, but all it does is excite me. Seeing her climax all over his fingers was a revelation. One that made me know I have to pleasure her with my body to witness that intense vulnerability again.
With a soft groan, I close the laptop. I can’t focus on the work in front of me.
I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the thoughts before they consume me. Bailey’s protection is my responsibility, even if she needs protecting from Archer.
I can’t help but question why she has let him get so close so quickly. She is too trusting. She doesn’t understand the consequences of getting too close to someone like Archer, like us. It will come eventually, it is inevitable because of who she is, but right now, she should be wary. Instead, she has fallen down the rabbit hole with a vengeance. Archer has weaved his magic over her, and she has fallen on her ass. He has unlocked a desire in her that I believe was previously unknown. She needs his praise, his approval. In that fantastical way he has, he has made her worship him within a few short hours. Only Archer could elicit such a response from someone. No matter what they have between their legs, he can bring anyone under his influence with a brush of his hand, that wicked twinkle in his eye, the cadence of his melodic voice, and the praise.
Oh, the praise.
He is a master.
A masterpiece.
I stare around my workspace, my chest constricting in frustration. Bailey and Archer haunt my thoughts, and I can't shake the feeling of wishing I had the power to give her the security and love she desires. Her eyes look to me for reassurance, yet what she finds is only fear and submission. A strange thought that I would like to change this dynamic, crosses my mind, yet I am unable to make sense of it.
“Finn.”
Owen’s calm voice draws me back from my thoughts.
“What is it?”
“Laura is missing.”
“Missing?” He has caught my full attention. “How so?”
“She didn’t show up to work today and upon investigation, didn’t make it home last night.”
“Curious.”
“Find out what happened between her leaving here and her home.”
“Isn’t that your job? You are the one with eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I’m distracted.”
“By Alice.”
“She is showing signs of…”
I narrow my eyes. “Of what?”
“Spiraling. Archer is being aloof with her, and it’s completely thrown her. She is panicking. I need to make sure she is okay.”
I sit up, curiosity thoroughly piqued. “Aloof? How odd. His role with her is to engage.”
“He’s changed the game once already. For some reason, he is changing it again, and it is concerning.”
“Do you want me to find out why?” I can see that is what he is angling for. It’s not that Archer doesn’t take him seriously, he does, but when questioned, Archer can have a temper that can be frightening to some, arousing to others. Sometimes it’s best to send in the one who doesn’t give a shit which way he swings. I get it.
“It’s not as urgent as finding out what happened to Laura. If Gryphon has anything to do with this, I don’t envy him when Archer finds him.”
“Agreed,” I murmur, my heart thumping at the level of violence that will occur. “Leave it with me.”
He nods and turns to leave but then pauses. “I will figure out where Bailey’s head is at.”
I don’t comment. I have nothing to say on the matter. The kid is wildly in love with Alice, watches her every move. It’s not surprising that he has picked this change of game up already. I just hope that Archer knows what he is doing, because if we lose her before we get her, it’s going to get ugly, and for once, I don’t feel happy about that.
