Twenty-One
"K ALIMERA, MIKRí MOU ."
Acheron's husky voice as he woke her, the toe-curling kiss that followed right after, and even the way his strong arms clasped her body as he rolled Pippi on her back...
It had only been four days since she had started sleeping in Acheron's bed, but everything was so devastatingly familiar now. Four days , Pippi thought drowsily just before succumbing to the billionaire's passion, and yet so much of her life - so much of herself even - had changed.
As the movement of Acheron's lips started moving with unconcealed urgency, the thought of pretending she had the ability to resist him didn't even cross her mind. His tongue entering her mouth was all it took these days for her body to respond, and the moment his hands roamed over her, the possessive dominance of his touch made her flesh all too submitting, her breasts swelling to fit his palms and her nipples puckering for his kiss.
Every night, he would teach her to make love, and she would listen and learn, over and over, the master educating his eager pupil until all inhibitions had been shed and her own hands exulted in their right to touch him.
Acheron had pretty much made sure of that, with the way he held nothing back every time Pippi mustered the courage to pleasure him. The look on his face, the sound of his groans, the feel of his big, hard body jerking at a mere brush of her fingers - all of it went to her head until there was no space left for doubts or fears.
Acheron Simonides hungered for her.
And this time, there was nothing to keep her from indulging him.
" Theo, Pippi." Acheron's voice turned hoarse as Pippi pushed him to his back. She climbed up to him until she was straddling his hips, and her lips curved in a Mona Lisa smile at the way his dark gaze intently followed the sway of her breasts under her nightshirt.
"You're getting too damn good at this," he muttered.
"And you're complaining?" she asked teasingly.
"Hell, no." His guttural tone had her laughing, and Acheron shuddered at the sound. "Even your laugh turns me on—-" He stopped speaking when he saw Pippi slithering down his body. "Fuck." And then he felt it, her mouth taking the entire length of his manhood. "FUCK."
He strove to control his pleasure, but the way she sucked and stroked his dick already had Acheron's balls tightening in mere minutes. His beautiful Pippi was blowing him like making him cum was one of the top to-dos in her checklist, and all the blood in his body rushed to his head at the delicious thought.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
He could already feel it coming...
"You gotta let go now, baby..."
But this only made her suck harder on the head of his cock.
"FUCK."
He managed to raise himself on his elbows just as a massive shudder racked his body, and as he watched her swallow every drop as if she couldn't get enough of his cum - it was just too fucking much.
Acheron found himself gripping her head as he shoved his cock all the way down to her throat, over and over until he was all spent and unable to remember feeling anything but the moist warmth of Pippi's mouth.
Minutes that felt like years must have passed when he felt his still-erect manhood slowly slip out of her mouth, and Acheron pried his eyes open.
Pippi had risen to her knees, strawberry-blonde locks cascading down her shoulders and her shapely breasts threatening to spill out of her loose nightshirt. He saw her lick her lips, as if savoring the taste of his cum—-
Now that , he thought, was just plain fucking hot.
"I've just been thinking and reflecting..." Pippi's openly laughing gaze was in direct contrast to the natural sultriness of her kiss-swollen lips, and the contradiction beguiled him beyond words.
"You know you've 100% corrupted me, don't you?"
"Have I?"
Acheron deliberately feigned skepticism, and his lips twitched when Pippi shot him a droll look at his words.
"Like there's any possibility you could still have doubts...when I can do this..." Pippi gently pressed her index finger against the still-wet slit on the head of his cock, and the billionaire groaned with renewed need.
Having his shy little Ms. Jones turn into a sassy siren in bed was something Acheron could never get enough of, and knowing that she only showed this side to him...
The whole world would have to go to hell first before he allowed another man to see Pippi this way, Acheron thought savagely.
"I think you've turned me into a slut, Mr. Simonides." The words, uttered in a throaty murmur, had him yanking her close, but this only had mischief dancing in her bright blue eyes even as she tumbled down on him, palms landing on his naked chest in an effort to keep herself upright.
"You're driving me crazy, woman," he growled.
"Am I?"
It was her turn to sound skeptical, and the irony wasn't lost on him. "Well played, Ms. Jones." Acheron's tone was pleasant, but the gleam in his eyes promised retribution.
Uh oh, Pippi thought, but like all idiots were, she was more excited than frightened.
"And so to reward you, it would only be fitting to return the favor..."
His fingers found its way under her shirt as he spoke, and Pippi stiffened.
Oh dear Loooooooooooord....
It was Pippi's turn to lose her mind as his fingers found the creamy slit between her folds. "Oh God. Oh God, Acheron. It's so—- ah!" Two of his fingers had thrust deep into her without warning, and she couldn't help arching her back even as her knees sank down on the bed.
"Ride me," he rasped.
"Yeeeees." She practically scrambled to do his bidding, riding the billionaire as he so explicitly commanded her. Her every thought was focused on obeying him...and her man knew this. He knew, and the knowledge threatened to mess with Acheron's head all over again.
Theo , but he loved how biddable she was in bed, loved how she responded so freely. He loved just about everything she did - the way she bounced on his fingers, the way she sobbed and begged while her hips moved wildly in a desperate attempt to get his fingers to break past her hymen—-
Acheron, please.
Please.
I just want it so bad!
But his grip on her hips didn't ease, and because she was no match for either his strength or the expert movement of his fingers, she was soon crying out, her whole world turning upside down at the acute, ardent force of her climax.
Minutes, the exact number of which completely escaped Pippi, must have passed by the time Pippi gradually reclaimed her senses. She heard the sound of the shower running and knew she should be doing the same. If she didn't get moving now, there was every chance they would be late for—-
"Your panties are on the floor, Pip."
"AAAH!" Pippi sat up with a cry of shock, and she was aghast to see Mynt and Rue's nosy heads poking into the room from the doorway. "Y-you..." But words failed her, and Pippi simply ended up glaring at her sisters. "Privacy please!"
But the two only ignored this and came traipsing in.
"Here you go," Rue said oh so helpfully as she picked up Pippi's underwear from the floor.
Pippi could feel her face turning red even as she snatched the offending garment from her baby sister's hands. "Thank you." She shot them a pointed look. "Now, can you go?"
But these words were also ignored, with a sly-looking Mynt asking with great interest, "You do it a lot, don't you?"
"Oh my God, guys!"
It was at this point that Acheron came out of the shower, and to his credit, the billionaire simply took everything literally in stride. His hair wet and his body naked save for the towel wrapped around his hips, he crossed the room to stand next to Pippi and greeted her sisters like it was normal for them to show up in his bedroom. "Morning, ladies."
"Morning, Acheron," the two simultaneously chirped with cheerful smiles.
"Anything I can do before I kick you two out of my room?"
"Yes, there is," Rue said without hesitation. "Do you think I can intern in your company this summer?"
Pippi was aghast. "No, you cannot!"
Rue grinned. "Good thing I was just joking then."
As Acheron held the door open for Rue, he turned to Pippi's other sister in askance. "Mynt?"
"Just one question," was the rather earnest reply.
"Fire away."
"Is it true Pippi's still a virgin?"
" Ne ," Acheron answered. "But if it were up to your sister earlier, I might have to answer in the neg—-" A dainty foot slamming extra hard on his toes had the billionaire halting mid-sentence with a wince.
Pippi relished the pained expression on Acheron's handsome face. Good! But because she also wasn't the type to take any chances, she quickly turned to Mynt with a determined smile, saying, "We've both overstayed our welcome, don't you think?"
Mynt suddenly found herself being dragged out of the Monarch Room. "B-But—-"
"Shut up or you won't have an allowance for an entire month," Pippi threatened under her breath.
"Pippi's right, Acheron," Mynt declared without missing a beat. "We have overstayed our welcome. Sorry about that!"
She even managed to put on a forlorn look, but as soon as Pippi pulled the door shut on an amused-looking Acheron, Mynt couldn't help grinning. "You do realize I'm old enough to get what he said, right?"
"Get what?" Pippi tried to bluff her way out as she marched past Mynt.
"Oh, come on." After sprinting to beat her sister to the stairs, Mynt started climbing the steps backwards so she could continue teasing Pippi. It was just so fun to see her eternally pragmatic sister act like the most lovable ninny where Acheron Simonides was concerned.
"Just admit it, Pip." Mynt's tone was sly. "You're obsessed with the man."
"Am not!"
"Yes, you are, and there's nothing wrong about feeling that way. You're a girl, he's a boy, and that's how virginities are lost—-"
Having reached their room, Pippi threw a pillow at her sister, but a giggling Mynt was able to duck in time.
"Fine, fine. Just admit this at least - he's fantastic in bed, isn't he?"
"Oh, for the love of..."
"Okay, okay, another question then."
Mynt was still smiling, but this time Pippi detected a faint trace of worry in her sister's gaze.
"He makes you happy, right?"
Oh.
"I know he's an impossibly good catch, but then...you're a Jones, and it's in our blood to attract the most desirable men—-"
"Who, more often than not, also happen to be the least trustworthy," Pippi finished with a grimace.
Mynt's expression turned anxious. "Is that your way of saying Acheron's a jerk like the rest?"
"Of course not!" Seeing her sister breathe a sigh of relief made Pippi realize rather guiltily just how much her happiness meant to Mynt and the others. Which was something she should have known from the start , Pippi thought with a mental wince, only she had been too busy making out with Acheron to notice.
"It's that Amelia woman, isn't it?" Rue grumbled. "I've been following the news, and I know that woman's still leeching off him, living in his apartment—-"
"Rue." Pippi felt obliged to give her sister an admonishing look. "The woman's been through a lot, and more than that, she was instrumental in helping Acheron leave the gang... alive. "
"So?" Rue's tone was challenging. "Doesn't mean he has to pay her back for the rest of his life, does he?"
"It's complicated, okay?" And even more complicated was the fact that she had, despite all of Acheron's constant overtures, refused to let him talk about Amelia with her. The other woman needed him. She got that loud and clear already, so what else was there to talk about?
"At least tell us you're happy," Mynt said. "Swear it."
Choosing her words with care, Pippi said slowly, "This is going to sound totally clichéd, but..." Pippi met Mynt's gaze with a wry smile, adding, "Seeing Acheron get along with you guys is the one thing that's guaranteed to make me happy. So you tell me. Am I happy?"
Mynt's face broke into a wide smile. "Beyond reason."
All's well that ends well , Pippi tried to convince herself later on as she stood under the shower, the memory of Mynt cheerfully telling her to hurry up and join them for breakfast still on her mind.
On one hand, what she had told her sister was no lie. Nothing made her happier than seeing Acheron and her family treat each other with wonderful familiarity.
But on the other hand...
A frisson of fear crawled down Pippi's spine, and she found herself shivering despite the blast of hot water jetting down her body.
There had been too many unspoken truths between them lately. Acheron was keen to talk about Amelia, but she wasn't letting him. Pippi knew she should tell the billionaire about her decision to accept an extended post with Gareth Evans, but she had neglected to do so.
With her sense of foreboding only growing worse with every day that passed, Pippi couldn't help thinking it was only a matter of time before trouble started brewing.
And she was right.
When Pippi finally came down for breakfast, she was about to join everyone in the dining room when she heard Acheron excuse himself from the table to take a call. Instinct, or perhaps more accurately, it was that special sense of intuition women were all born with - whatever it may be was enough for Pippi to halt at the foot of the steps, silent and still as she watched Acheron open the front door.
As he stepped out of the house, she heard him say, "Amelia..."
Just that.
Another woman's name.
But oh, the way he said it.
He had never used such a voice with her before.
So much tenderness.
Just so damn much...that her heart broke under its weight, and pain made everything crystal clear.
I love him, Pippi realized with shock.
I love him.
Acheron.
I love him.
I've always loved him.
Acheron came back to the house and was startled to find Pippi standing at the foot of the steps, a blank expression on her face. "Pippi?"
"H-Hey."
"Do you mind if we just have breakfast on the way?"
Why, Pippi wanted to ask. Is it because you're in a hurry to go to Amelia? She badly wanted to ask the question out loud, but she bit them back, not out of shyness but because she was scared he would say 'yes.'
Acheron was relieved to see Pippi nod, and he tried not to be too visibly hasty as the two of them bid goodbye to her family. He thought he had done a rather good job at it, too, and he was right. But even so, Pippi's family still knew something had changed - something had gone so horribly wrong - and it was all because of the dreadfully blank look on Pippi's face.
Her sisters looked at each other, all of them waiting for just one to speak, to find the courage to say what they all felt and feared.
But none of them could.
Inside the car, the billionaire became preoccupied texting instructions to Charlie. Amelia had sounded too hysterical over the phone, and he was afraid she would seriously injure herself this time. He needed his secretary to find the best rehabilitation clinic, one preferably close by and unfailingly discreet.
They were only a few blocks away from the office when Acheron realized something was different.
Rather, Pippi was different, and he became guiltily aware of how he had unintentionally ended up ignoring her for almost the entire ride. "Pippi?"
"Mm?"
She was unusually stiff, her blue eyes unreadable, her silence reminding him of how she used to distance herself with silence and sought safety behind the absence of words.
But for that to happen now...
It didn't make sense, Acheron thought.
Because that would mean she was trying to protect herself from something, and he couldn't think of anything in her life right now that could hurt her.
"Is something the matter?" he asked finally.
Pippi could only gaze at him mutely. There was so much to say. So much. But she wasn't certain at all that this was the right time and place to say them, wasn't even sure if she should say them. Because what was the point if he didn't love her?
Acheron frowned at her continued silence. "Say something, mikrí mou. "
Oh, how she wished she could.
I love you, Acheron.
But would he believe her, since the words would seem as if they were coming out of the blue when in truth they had been there all along, and she had just deliberately turned a deaf ear to them?
I love you so much.
But what if saying it would only pressure him to lie about his own feelings?
I love you.
Oh God.
Who could've ever predicted this day would come, and she would be near tears just because she wasn't able to say the words?
Acheron reached for her hand and was stunned to find it cold. "Something's obviously wrong," he said grimly. "Is it your family? Has something happened?"
Pippi managed to shake her head. "N-No."
Monosyllabic Pippi was back , Acheron thought, and his frown deepened. "Something's clearly wrong," he said gently, "but I can't help if you don't tell me about it."
But by then, the car had already reached the basement, and before he could ask Wickham to give them a moment alone, Pippi was already reaching for the door handle while she mumbled her thanks to the other man. She thanked Acheron as well, but he didn't miss the way she studiously avoided his gaze.
Pippi turned to watch the car drive out of the basement. Please don't leave. Please. Please. Please. But these words she also swallowed back, not wanting to force him to stay.
The sudden change in her behavior still nagged at Acheron, but his phone had started to buzz, and all thoughts of Pippi had to be set aside when he saw it was Wickham calling him.
"What is it?"
"She knows about Pippi."
Acheron stiffened. "What do you mean?" But even as he spoke, a part of him already knew.
"I'm not sure how. I've never let her leave the apartment, and she hasn't had any chance to get on the computer or hold a phone. But she knows."
Acheron remembered how hysterical Amelia had sounded over the phone earlier, demanding that he come to her now and even threatening to kill herself if he didn't show up. She hadn't mentioned anything about Pippi then, but that was just like her, with the way she always ignored what she didn't want to see. Physical pain she had learned to handle, never flinching or crying out, barely even blinking no matter how much the old man had beaten her.
But when it came to facing the truth, she became fragile and vulnerable, throwing tantrums or wallowing in self-pity to get her way, and when neither worked, she would numb herself with drugs until she felt nothing.
No matter how much he had begged her - fight for us, leave him and come away with me -
She had always said no.
I'm sorry.
I can't.
It's too late.
Even when time and time again other people would end up failing her, she would rather believe in everyone else but him.