Pretty Lies & Ugly Truths (Ugly Truths #1)

15. Maggie

15

Maggie

A fter we both go up to bed—to our separate rooms—I stare at the ceiling, frustrated, mind reeling. I can feel myself getting more and more attached, and that scares the hell out of me. Time is closing in on us, and I don’t know where we will stand after this week. I’m quite sure, given tonight’s events, that this attraction is mutual, but what does that mean for the long term?

Although, what I feel for Archer isn’t love yet, I can feel myself falling hard and fast. That in and of itself is terrifying, but what scares me the most is that I’m not sure if Archer is capable of loving himself, let alone anyone else.

I will myself to sleep, but my mind won’t shut off, no matter how hard I try. I give up. I know I won’t rest until I talk it out. So, before I can talk myself out of it, I get out of bed and walk to Archer’s room.

I knock once before pushing the door open. “Archer— I need to talk to you…” My voice trails off as I come to a dead stop in the doorway.

A very wet, very naked Archer emerges from the bathroom. He walks out of the steam-filled room, drying his dark blond hair with a towel, and all thoughts seem to have left my brain as I stand there, mouth gaping.

“I—uh…”

A smirk appears on his devilishly handsome face. Yeah…he knows the effect he’s having on me. He makes no attempts to cover up; he just continues to stand there proudly while I take him all in—and I do mean all.

I know I should turn away, but I don’t. Instead, I watch as a drop of water falls from his hair, my eyes following its path over his tattooed abs down to his very large cock.

I knew he was big, having felt him through his sweats when I practically dry-humped him in the kitchen, but actually seeing it is a whole different story. I lick my lips, suddenly feeling parched.

“See something you like, Little Rose?” he asks. Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.

“I asked you a question. Do. You. See. Something. You like?” he repeats, voice laced with a dominance that has my core clenching.

Unable to speak, I nod jerkily, watching as his eyes darken, taking on a predatory gleam. Tossing the towel to the floor, he stalks towards me, and instinctively, I step back until my hip bumps against the doorframe. His lips curve up into a sinister smile.

“Careful,” he says, continuing his path to me. “ Remember what I said. I enjoy the hunt. If you run, I will chase you.” His words from that first night pop into my head, and I know he means it. If I were to try and run now, he would hunt me down, and for some unknown reason, that thought turns me on. A lot.

I squeeze my legs together, trying to relieve the ache that has started there.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he says, running his nose up the side of my neck, teeth nipping at my jaw.

“Yes,” I answer, my voice coming out breathy. I don’t know what it is or why, but the thought of being chased and pinned below this beautiful man as he rips pleasure from my body excites me in ways I can’t begin to comprehend.

He takes both my wrists in one hand, pinning them against the wooden frame above my head as he leans fully into me so I can feel the length of his body flush against mine.

And even though I know it’s Archer and I trust he wouldn’t hurt me, the feeling of being restrained, of being caged in this way, triggers something in my mind, and I seize up. My muscles stiffening as I disassociate, staring blankly at the wall over Archer’s shoulder.

He must sense the change, because he releases me immediately, taking a quick step back.

Oh God, what is wrong with me?

Too embarrassed to meet his gaze, I turn away. The wood floors blur as I furiously blink away the tears that fill my eyes. Humiliation scalds my cheeks and the urge to flee becomes so strong, I find myself sprinting from the room.

I don’t get more than three steps before I find myself in Archer’s arms.

“Shhh…” he says, stroking my hair. My arms wrap around his waist as I bury my face in his warm chest. “Hey,” he soothes softly. “Baby, what just happened? Where did you go?”

“I—I don’t know.” My voice comes out muffled as I speak into his skin.

“Here,” he says, leading me over to sit on his bed before pulling on a pair of black boxer briefs. The polite thing to do would be for me to look away as he dresses himself, but I don’t. I just stare at the perfect round globes of his ass before he covers it in the soft cotton.

He raises an eyebrow when he catches me checking him out, but all I can do is shrug. The man is built like a Greek God. What can I say?

“You wanna tell me what happened?” he asks softly, taking a seat next to me on the bed.

No. Not really. I have never told anyone about what happened. I just buried it in the back of my mind where I never have to think about it. But I know that if I was going to talk about it to anyone, I could talk about it with Archer.

I’m quiet for a few minutes as I try to find my words. He doesn’t rush me; he just sits there waiting patiently.

“I just think…I would rather not be restrained. If that’s ok with you?”

“Of course that’s ok,” he says like it should be obvious. “Baby, I would never intentionally do anything you don’t want me to. Just say the words, and I will stop. Always.” I sag in relief, grateful for his understanding. “But before this can go any further, I need to know… Maggie, did someone hurt you?”

He tucks a stray lock behind my ear, softly stroking my cheek. I sit quietly, unsure how to answer. He must see something written on my face, because his eyes fall shut.

“The fact that you had to even think about that tells me more than I need to know.” His voice shakes with barely concealed rage.

“It wasn’t like that… Well, not really. I mean I didn’t say no,” I say, my voice coming out small. “I couldn’t. I was too out of it. I had too much to drink that night. But he didn’t actually hurt me—at least not more than it was supposed to I guess.”

His face softens as he takes my hand in his, stopping me from picking at my hangnails, a habit I haven’t done in years but seem to be doing too often these past few weeks.

“It was your first time?” he asks. When I nod, he looks away, muttering a curse under his breath.

“Christ,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “Baby, I am so damn sorry you had to go through that.” His thumbs swipe across my cheeks, wiping away tears I didn’t even know were there.

I think in the back of my mind, I always recognized it for what it was, but somehow, I had convinced myself that since I never said no, it wasn’t rape. I thought maybe it was my fault because I drank too much, that I allowed it to happen because I didn’t fight back, but I know that’s all bullshit.

If the same thing had happened to any one of my friends, I would be out for blood, and apparently Archer is too, because he says in a serious lethal tone, “Just say the word—tell me who, and I will make that piece of shit choke on his own fucking balls.”

I obviously have a sick, twisted sense of humor because the mental image my mind conjures of Josh with his balls down his throat makes me bark out a laugh.

“No, but—thank you.”

“Now, you busted in on me because you had something to say, so let’s hear it,” he says, placing a kiss on the corner of my mouth before leaning back.

That moment feels so long ago, I have to wrack my brain to remember. What did I come in here for? Oh right.

“Oh… I was wondering about what’s gonna happen Friday…after I go home.”

“I told you I would make sure you’re safe. So, if you’re worried…”

“No,” I say cutting him off, “Not that. I’m not worried about that. I trust you to keep me safe.” Something flashes in his eyes before he takes on a tortured expression, and I’m already mentally preparing myself for the rejection I know is coming, but I push through, needing to hear him say it.

“I meant what’s going to happen with us? Despite the circumstances, I have enjoyed being with you. I guess what I’m trying to say is that…I’m not ready for whatever this is between us to be over. ”

He doesn’t speak for so long, I can only assume he’s looking for a way to let me down easy, to soften the blow. So, when instead he hauls me onto his lap, I let out a squeal of surprise.

“Come here,” he says before wrapping his strong arms around me in a crushing hug.

“I don’t know if I’m capable of what you’re asking for. I’ve done things…” He trails off, tightening his hold as he continues to speak low into my ear. “Let’s just say—I’m not a very good person. And some of the things I have done, there’s no coming back from. You are entirely too good for me, and if I was a better man, a stronger man, I would let you go right now.”

“No—that’s not true…” I argue, trying to pull away, but he doesn’t break his hold.

“I should let you go. Trust me, you’d be better off.” My heart breaks for this man, who is so full of self-loathing that he can’t see his own worth. “I should let you go,” he says voice cracking, “but the truth is, I don't think I can.”

I push against his chest, and he finally loosens his arms. I turn in his lap to straddle his hips, holding his face between my palms, the same way he has held mine so many times.

“I can’t speak to the things you’ve done, but trust me when I say, you have done more for me in these past few days than anyone else ever has. You make me feel beautiful, cherished, like I’m worthy of being loved. It’s because of you that I’ve been able to take my first full breath of air without feeling like I am drowning. You are a good man, Archer. At least, you are to me. ”

Before I can even finish speaking, his lips are crashing down on mine, taking my mouth in a clash of teeth and tongue. His hand comes up to gently wrap around my throat in a possessive hold.

“Is this ok?” he breathes against my mouth.

“Yes. Please…more,” I whimper as I start to rock my hips, needing something to help relieve this ache. He grips the fabric of my t-shirt between two fingers.

“Take this off,” he commands, and I reach down, pulling it over my head. Archer runs his hands up my sides to just underneath my breasts, leaving a trail of goosebumps everywhere he touches.

“So fucking perfect,” he says right before he leans forward, sucking on my nipple, using his teeth to rake across the hardened nub, sending shooting bursts of pleasure straight to my clit.

Flipping me onto my back, he kisses a path down my belly until he reaches the waistband of my pants.

I lift my hips, allowing him to drag them down my legs, leaving me in only a pair of plain cotton panties. With the way he looks at me, you would think it was expensive lingerie.

“You still bleeding?” he asks in that deep gravelly voice, and I nod, my cheeks heating. His gaze drops down to between my legs, and he bites down on his full bottom lip. My God, if that isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“You have one of those things in?” he asks, eyes flicking back up to meet mine.

I’m assuming he’s talking about the discs he bought me. They say you can have mess free sex with one in— not that I would know. There is no way my ex would ever have considered doing anything like that. But the heated look in Archer’s eyes, however, lets me know he has no such hang-ups.

“Yes.” My voice comes out husky.

“Can I?” he asks, fingers hooking on either side of my underwear, making his intentions clear. After waiting for my consent, he slowly slides them down my body before crawling back up, positioning his face between my legs.

“Wait,” I say, and to his credit, he stops immediately, looking up from between my thighs with hazy, lust-filled eyes. “I just…never—no one’s ever.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Do you mean no one has ever gone down on you before?” he asks in disbelief, and I shake my head.

“So I get to be the first man to taste this perfect pussy,” he says before running his warm tongue up my center. My back bows off the bed. “Mmmm…fucking delicious,” he breathes against my sensitized flesh before bringing his mouth back to my center, his tongue circling my clit.

“Oh God!” I cry out, and he looks up at me, grinning like the devil himself, mouth glossy with my arousal.

“Not quite, but I bet I’ll make you see him before I’m done with you.”

He dives back in, licking and sucking until I’m panting, bucking against his face. The pleasure is so intense, I’m not sure I can take anymore. My orgasm builds quickly, but even though I’m right on the edge, I just can’t seem to get there .

As if he can sense I need something more, Archer’s hand reaches up, pinching one of my nipples hard, and I shatter.

“Archer,” I call out his name as I come, back lifting off the bed as wave after wave crashes over me until I’m spent and boneless on the bed.

He crawls back up over my body, kissing me sweetly, and I can taste myself on his lips. He wraps me in his arms and instinctively, my body curls into his, my head resting over the only blank patch of skin on his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat lulling me to sleep.

“Why did you leave this spot empty?” I ask, pointing to it. He gives me a look I can’t interpret.

“It’s the space closest to my heart. I suppose…I’ve never had anything important enough to me to put there.”

“Mmm… Well, I hope one day you do,” I reply sleepily.

I’m so tired, but I try to fight it, not wanting to waste this moment with him, but my eyes refuse to cooperate.

Just before I drift off, I swear I hear him say, “I think I already have.”