Page 43 of Cannon
Earlier, Kingston had made a promise to kiss the lipstick off me. And he can. But right now, my senses and mind are filled with Archer.
“Yes, but I want to tell you something first.” I pause, my mind turning over a detail about myself I want to share. “I think it’s totally hot that you like to explore.” My breath hitches as his brow quirks up. Shit, he’s so close, if I yanked on these suspenders…
“What am I exploring?”
I catch the corner of my lip with my teeth, then slowly release it, letting the skin drag free as I search his eyes. “Your sexuality. I like that you’re… uninhibited. The way you put your hands on me. And the way you don’t mind watching.” I breathe out and he inhales like it’s a hit of a drug. “I like the way you ask for what you want—how fucking dirty it is sometimes.” My chest expands with air, and I pull his body closer, inch by frustrating inch. “I wanted you to know. I like all of it.”
“I get caught up in the moment. Hot. Fiery. Like this.” His lips slam down on mine, taking exactly what he wants. He presses forward, closing every bit of space between our bodies, and his hand slips back to cradle my head. He angles it so he can do whatever he wants to my mouth. Soft caresses from his lips are intermingled with lust-filled strokes of his tongue and heady moans. I let out a whimper as he sucks my lower lip into his mouth.
How can I be so turned on by a kiss? My heart thumps hard in my chest, pushing heated blood through my body. I hear it in my ears, feel it creeping up over my chest and neck before it lands in my face, flushing it with warmth.
And Archer’s cock, right here in the middle of the hallway—while that sordid auction continues on—is as hard as steel against my stomach. He groans, pressing into me. “Fuck, Elliot. I told you this once before, but you make me so goddamn hard. I want to experience every inch of your body. I want to take my time with you. Drag my tongue over all your most sensitive parts. I want to feel these fucking lips around my cock.” His hot gaze pierces mine from under hooded eyes. His tongue slips out to slowly slide over his lower lip. He drags in a ragged breath. “Peaches, you have no idea the dirty, filthy fucking things I want to do to you.”
I blink up at him, feeling dazed and flustered by his naughty words even though I’d told him I liked it moments ago.
“I want to fuckin’ watch how Cannon and Kingston are with you, too.” He swallows hard when I don’t respond after several beats.
I’m not shocked. Archer can tease me all he wants, act like the funny man… but when it comes down to it, I see him, and I appreciate his straightforwardness in the way he shares his desires.
“Can you handle all that or am I freaking you out?” he murmurs.
I draw in a breath, letting my chest expand, then I let all the air rush out. “There’s very little you could do that would freak me out.”Really only one thing.I glance toward the ballroom when a loud cheer goes up. I seriously don’t want to think about it in the middle of this craziness. Instead, I bring my thoughts back to him and me, letting my mind wander to that day when we were alone together in his room. I bring my lips within a hair’s breadth of his and whisper, “Whatever we want, right?”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
I nod, scraping my teeth over my lips, which are definitely in need of a touch-up. I let Archer’s suspenders go and flick away a piece of nonexistent dust. “I’d better use the bathroom so we can get back in there.”
Slowly, he nods, those beautiful gray eyes of his locked on me. “I’ll be waiting right here.”
* * *
Alone in the bathroom,I sit down to pee and ponder the insanity of the dirty deeds we’re witnessing tonight. But I do see now why there’s a rule that no one is allowed to say a word about what goes on here. Someone would probably end up getting arrested at the very least.
Apparently, this other brotherhood has zero qualms about hosting parties and events in their home. I guess I’m kinda glad that my dad was a brother at Hawthorne Hall and Bainbridge didn’t exist when he attended KU. This raucous display has been some of the craziest I’ve ever seen, like something right out of a seriously obnoxious frat-boy movie. They’ve auctioned off sorority girls for charity—not for going on dates with them, either.Oh, no.This is money donated to a cause in exchange for sexual favors.
My brain still doesn’t want to wrap around the idea ofwhythese girls would be so willing, but they aren’t me, and I do believe at least part of the obvious answer lies in whatever magical ingredient the bartender added to the drinks in the pitcher he’s been serving them all night long. They’ve definitely been into it, that much has been exceedingly obvious. Kingston also had a good point—however ridiculous I think it is. For them, part of what they’re here for is the notoriety they’ll claim for being with these freaking rich boys. I still don’t quite get it, but I guess I’ve come up with semi-logical explanations.
Besides… maybe I shouldn’t be so harsh with my opinion, considering what I’ve been up to lately. My face heats as I remember those guys taking that first sorority chick out of the room with them. My initial, gut instinct wasOh, that’s crazy, what the hell is she doing?But then… isn’t that kind of the game I’ve been playing with my guys? Maybe she’s simply doing what she needs to do to reachhergoal, the same way I am to accomplish mine, never mind that those two goals are nowhere near alike.
I never know which end is up with Kingston, Cannon, and Archer. I can only assume my behavior matches up with my true purpose. But I’m beginning to think maybe I’m a little messed up in the head, too. Nick’s shitty treatment has colored the way I think I should be treated… and my dad’s acceptance of it? What if I want these guys to want me—all of them—because Nick said no one ever would?
Disturbed by my thoughts, I finish up, wash my hands, then dig in my bag for my lipstick. I take a quick second to reapply, my mind already focused on getting back to Archer so we can watch the remainder of the chaos. I reach for the knob to open the door, but it won’t budge. “Archer?” I raise my voice high enough that he should be able to hear me, but there’s no response. Frowning, I yank on it again, pulling with all my might. “Archer!” With my last tug, it pops open, and I stumble backward, running into the wall behind me. All the breath in my lungs exits with a gaspedwhoosh.
“Whoa! What do we have here?” One of the guys Kingston had pointed out as a Bainbridge brother—a blond who was not one of the ones up on stage—glances from me to his buddy with a sleazy smile.
The second guy with thick black curls snickers. “Looks to me like we have a late entry to the auction. A wild one, too.” He grabs at me at the same time the other guy does. Together, they drag me from the bathroom and into the hall.
Icy cold fear slices through me.Where is Archer?
“Stop! Let me go!” I wrench my arms this way and that, but I can’t seem to break free of their hold. My breath heaves from me in shallow fits and starts, and I thrash around looking over each of my shoulders in turn. My eyes dart everywhere, searching for Archer, but really, for anyone who’d be capable of helping me.
And these lunatics laugh their heads off, all while restraining me between them.What the fuck is wrong with them?
“Calm down, honey. It’s not like this isn’t for a good cause,” the dark-haired guy admonishes me, his head cocking to the side as he narrows his eyes. The crazy thing is he sounds like he believes the bullshit he’s spewing.
“I don’t understand. I’m here as a guest,” I grit out, glaring at their leering smiles.
“Yeah, tell that to your brothers. They’re the ones who told us where to find you.”
