Page 79 of Ruthless Legacy

I cock my head as I hold his attention. “We’re done, so it’s not a matter of sharing.”

Archer makes me jump when he steps up into my space and pushes me back against the alcove. “I say when we’re done, Scarlet. And you and I are far from done. We both know it will be my face between those smooth thighs of yours tonight and it will be my name you’re screaming. I intend to rip that dress off you later and remind you who owns you.”

I hold my head high, even though it brings our lips dangerously close together. “Not happening.”

He smiles. It’s a smile that oozes confidence and certainty. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but your body tells me a different story.” He runs a finger down the centre of my chest, setting it on fire as he goes. “Your breathing has quickened.” He places and palm flat on the centre of my chest. “Your heart is racing.” His grin widens. “And I bet if I had a feel under this dress, you’d be wet for me.”

Growling in frustration, I try to push him off me, but the brute doesn’t budge an inch. “Save all your dances for me tonight.”

I don’t get the chance to tell him he’s the last person I intend to dance with as he strides off into the crowd, leaving me breathless, frustrated, and turned on. I hate how my body reacts to him. I neck my Champagne back and, composing myself, I venture into the room to find Vee.

Unfortunately for me, when I find her, she’s with Rafe and Archer. The three of them huddled together like they’re conspiring. “What are you three plotting?” I ask, sneaking up on them and making Vee clutch at her chest in surprise.

“Finally! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Verity pulls me into a hug. Her vanilla scent engulfing me. She’s wearing a floor-length dress in a pale blue lace-overlay. It clings to her petite frame, and it looks amazing on her. “Eliza, you look fucking gorgeous. No wonder Archer’s in a pissed off mood. He knows he’s going to have competition for your attention tonight.”

Archer snickers and swirls the amber liquid in his glass. “I think we all know that’s not true.”

“Anyway, enough about him. What were you three talking so seriously about?”

Verity eyes Rafe, and she thinks I don’t see him shake his head. I’m not going to lie. It hurts when they exclude me. No matter how many years I live here, I’ll never share the closeness that these four do. I’ll always be on the outside perimeter of their tight little group. “Nothing worth your time, my girl.”

“Want to go for a walk around?” I ask her, gesturing with my head to the room behind us. “You can point out who I need to avoid tonight?”

Vee laughs. “Everyone. You need to avoid everyone. Well, except us four, of course.”

“Talking of you four, you’re missing a musketeer. Where is Seb?” I ask, noticing his absence and looking around the room to see if I can spot him flirting with some socialite blonde.

“Uh, he’s with our parents somewhere. He’ll join us shortly.” Is it me or does she seem cagey about me asking after Seb? I am about to ask her if she’s coming with me when I’m tapped on the shoulder. I turn with a smile plastered on my face that flattens the minute I see who it is.

“Chester. What can I do for you?”

With a drink in his hand, he comes to stand beside me, placing an arm over my shoulder in a gesture that feels a little too familiar to my liking. I look across at my friends to find a stone-faced Archer fixated on his arm.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?” he asks me, pointing with his drink at the three of them.

“Oh, err, sure,” I reply, giving him a puzzled look. “This is Verity, Archer and Rafe.”

Chester nods his head as he silently assesses each one. “Ah, yes, the Aces of the school. I’ve heard a lot about you all and seen a little too much of you Archer.” He grins and winks Archer’s way.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Archer asks him with an icy undertone to his voice. I can see the tightness in his jaw that tells me he isn’t happy.

“Oh, you know,” he leans forward slightly, bringing me with him, “the sex tape. I guess Eliza here was shielding most of your body. The same can’t be said for hers though, hey?”

He looks down at me and grins, and I don’t miss the fact that his eyes linger on my cleavage. Creepy fucker. “I think the whole of the Bay got a good look at Eliza’s bouncing tits.”

I do a sharp intake of breath and react quickly, standing myself in-between Chester and Archer, who has just stepped forward into his space.

“Don’t,” I tell him, placing my hand on his chest. “Archer, look at me, please.”

He resists for a minute, but when I clear my throat, he pulls his death stare from Chester to look at me.

“It’s not worth it. Chester is trying to get a rise out of you.” Seeing that Archer isn’t going to cause a scene, I turn on my heels and glare up at a smirking Chester. “Why don’t you run along and cause trouble somewhere else? Oh, and Chester, if I were you, I wouldn’t try to piss me off, otherwise I might just pay you a visit in the night and cut your balls off.” I end my threat with a sickeningly sweet smile. “Now kindly fuck off.”

Chester remains unfazed and smiles down at me. “I’ll be seeing you later, sis.”

“I am not your fucking sis,” I mutter as I watch his retreating figure.

“That boy is Satan, dressed in a tux.”

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