Page 16 of Fallen Legacy

When I wake in the morning, my cheek is resting on a warm body. I open my eyes and the first thing I see is his naked chest. It’s not a bad way to wake up, if I didn’t hate him like I do. I tense when I realise he is stroking his fingers up and down my right thigh, causing goosebumps as he goes. For a second, I just enjoy the feeling. I pretend that nothing bad has happened between us. But it has. He lied to me and manipulated me for his own gain. He wanted to use me in some twisted revenge plot, and I am a means to him getting his fortune and his legacy when he turns eighteen. Just like Wilbur, he is out for what he can get from me.

“Can we go home today?” I ask him. My voice is dry from the night’s sleep.

“We’re here until Monday morning, Scar. So, you can fight me every minute of this weekend and have yourself a thoroughly miserable time, or you can just accept that you’re here with me and just live in the moment.”

Taking a deep sigh, I lift myself up off his chest and sit up, looking down at him. “I’ll take fighting with you every time.”

He closes his eyes and releases a throaty chuckle that sends a shiver all the way down to my sex. I can’t deny how truly magnificent he looks right now. This is the Archer I like. The one who is relaxed and undone, with morning bed hair and all that skin on show that just begs to be touched.

“What are you thinking?” he asks me, his eyes finding mine and pulling all my attention.

“I’m thinking that it’s a shame you fucked up, because it’s moments like this that I remember why we were good together,” I admit to him, my heart clenching in my chest.

He sits up, and it brings him up into my personal space. He runs his thumb and forefinger under my chin. “We can be good together again, Scarlet. Me and you against the world.” He leans in and gently but barely runs his lips over mine and when I don’t pull away, he cups the back of my neck and places his lips firmly on mine. I don’t push him away. I wrap my arms around his neck and climb into his lap and I kiss him back like he is the oxygen I need to breathe. Why does this have to feel so bloody good? Why does it have to be his kisses that set me on fire and make me forget who I am? Before the kiss deepens, I climb off his knee. I can’t go here again. I’ve felt bone-deep heartache before, and I can’t survive it a third time. It will destroy me once and for all.

“You can fight this, but we both know we’re inevitable,” he whispers into my ear before he climbs out of the bed and leaves me in a mess of jumbled thoughts and conflicting emotions.

* * *

Archer cooks again.He makes us a full English breakfast, complete with mushrooms and hash browns, and I eat the lot. I am ravenously hungry this morning, but then it’s hardly surprising given I threw up my food last night. I let myself pretend for a minute that this is what married life between us would be like. Just the two of us, tucked away from the world, enjoying each other’s company. If only that were true. The reality is a lot different, though.

“Go get dressed. We’re going out today,” he tells me as he takes my plate and walks over to the dishwasher.

“We are?”

“Yes. I’ve brought you some sturdy boots, as we’ll be doing a lot of walking today.”

“You can go walking. I’m staying here. You might be able to force me away with you, but you can’t force me to do things with you, Savage,” I tell him, leaning back in my seat and waiting for his reaction.

He stops what he is doing, and for a second he doesn’t react.

“If you want to play this game, then we can, Scar. You can get dressed or I’ll just throw you over my shoulder and take you hill walking in nothing but that t-shirt of mine you’re wearing.”

“You wouldn’t,” I reply, my voice uncertain.

He turns and faces me, and I can tell from the look on his face that he means every word. Scraping my chair back abruptly, I stand to my feet and glower at him for a second before I turn and head upstairs. As I climb to the first floor, I can hear the fucker chuckling away to himself. Bastard!

I huff and puff as I get dressed, getting more and more angry at this situation. Being in his company twenty-four-seven is too hard. I can’t do this, and I’m pissed off that he has forced this on me. Typical, pretentious rich boy, just thinking he can force me to spend time with him.

* * *

Archer leadsthe way up into the hills and even though I am a reluctant walking partner, I must admit it is beautiful out here. The sun is shining and whilst it’s a little nippy; the scenery is breath-taking.

“Are you going to tell me where we are?” I ask him as we stop to have a drink.

“Scotland.”

“Wow. I’ve never been to Scotland before.”

He looks out at the rolling hills around us. “Me and the boys and Vee come up here every Christmas break and have some time away from the parents. We finish the week by seeing in the New Year in Edinburgh. Hogmanay in Edinburgh is special.”

“Your parents don’t all mind you leaving the family celebrations to come up here?” I ask, surprised. There is no way my parents would have let me miss out on all our Christmas and new year family traditions.

Archer shrugs his shoulders. “Rafe’s parents rarely stay home beyond boxing day and my dad is usually away on business or holidaying in Monaco with his buddies.”

I nod as I study him. I don’t think Archer has any idea what it is like to grow up in a normal, loving family. His father may be alive and well, but he may as well have been an orphan. “What about your grandad?”

He bobs his head. “Yeah, he’s usually around, but he’s never really been into Christmas that much after grandma died.” He screws the cap back on his water bottle. “When I have kids, I’m going to make sure I’m with them throughout the holidays. I’ll bring them up here and we’ll go sledging and build snowmen.” He clears his throat and offers me a tight smile.

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