Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
IRIS
He wrapped his hands around my ponytail and pulled. Hard. Forcing my face towards him, he kissed me again, deep this time. My lips parted for him, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, making me feel things all over my body. I moaned quietly.
‘Shit, Iris,’ he panted. ‘Lie back for me.’ I moved my body forwards and laid back, resting my head on the pillows. ‘That’s it. Good girl.’
I shivered, and it wasn’t because of the cold.
‘Do I need to be quiet?’ I whimpered.
‘No,’ he growled, ‘No one can hear us down here.’ He angled his body over mine, putting one hand on the blanket either side of my head, trapping me there. ‘Besides… when I’m through with you, there’s no way you’ll be able to stay quiet.’
Need began pulsing through me at his words.
He leaned down and began kissing me. Hard and fast, as if we were running out of time. Instantly, I melted. Fiery explosions setting off in my mind. My breathing grew heavy and quick.
His hand began roaming my body. His fingers were cold on my skin as he dipped under the silk of my blouse. He traced gentle circles on my stomach, slowly travelling up and up. I inhaled a sharp breath as his fingers found the curve of my breast and squeezed hard.
‘Fuck,’ he murmured. ‘I’ve been wanting to feel these for a long time.’
He kept exploring, and when his nimble fingers found my nipple, I whimpered. Grabbing it between his thumb and forefinger, he began teasing it.
‘Shit,’ I gasped. My back arched slightly off the ground, my head tilting back on its own accord.
‘You like that?’ Archer murmured into my neck, before biting the skin there sharply, eliciting another moan from me.
‘Yes,’ I breathed as he pinched again – even harder this time.
He pulled back and I instantly felt the loss of his heat against me. I opened my eyes and sat up slightly.
He was removing his jacket, discarding it over the back of the bench. He rolled his sleeves up – never once looking away from me.
He strode forwards… very slowly.
A predator eyeing up his prey.
His eyes glowed in the light from the candles. Shadows dancing over his face. He looked strong. Powerful.
And I was completely at his mercy.
He knelt at the foot of the blanket, wrapped his hands around my ankles, and pulled me forwards roughly so I was no longer propped up by the cushions.
‘Put your hands above your head,’ he said. The words were quiet, but there was no mistaking the command in his voice.
Hesitantly, I did as he asked.
‘Good.’ He stalked closer, and positioned himself above me again. His lips gently kissed the skin at my collarbone.
My breath was shaky with anticipation as I whispered, ‘Please.’
He gently closed his hand around my neck, so my face was tilted up towards him.
‘What do you want, Iris?’ My name on his tongue almost unravelled me entirely.
‘I—’ I tried to speak, but his hand squeezed around my neck, cutting my voice off. The action made my whole body tremble, my eyes fluttered closed. I gasped. Struggling to get air in my lungs. ‘I need… you…’
‘What was that?’
He was toying with me, like a cat with a mouse in his clutches. The heat slowly growing between my legs grew to a burning need, spreading rapidly through my very being.
‘I… need… you.’ I managed. ‘Archer… please.’
‘Fuck,’ he groaned. I could feel his erection rubbing against me. ‘Say my name again.’
‘Archer,’ I whispered, but it came out as a needy whimper.
He made a growling noise and removed his hand. I greedily gulped back air, my eyes watering.
Then his hands were at my stomach, tugging at the hem of my blouse. He slowly pulled it up, revealing all of me – inch by inch, as if he were savouring every second.
He paused as my breasts emerged from beneath the silk. I hadn’t worn a bra, and he seemed to be pleased by it, his eyes shining with a menacing glint.
He pulled my blouse up further, as if to undress me, but he stopped just as the fabric was hovering over my face. He gathered the soft fabric together until it formed a makeshift blindfold, and placed it over my eyes, pinning my arms above my head and plunging me into complete darkness.
I breathed deeply, adjusting to my lack of senses. The world was silent for a moment, and then suddenly I felt his hands dip under the waist band of my skirt.
He paused, then made a low grumbling sound.
Suddenly his mouth was at my ear. His whisper sent shivers all over my body.
‘Next time, you will not wear these,’ he said, pulling on the band of my knickers. He released the elastic and it snapped back into my skin. I gasped at the sudden sting. ‘Do you understand?’
I nodded. My breathing was so fast.
‘Do. You. Understand?’ he repeated.
‘Yes,’ I breathed.
And then I screamed as his fingers sank inside me.
It hurt for the briefest of moments until utter bliss took over. Before I knew it I was thrusting into his hand, begging for him to go deeper. The feeling enveloped me. Hot, desperate desire claiming every inch of me and my body.
‘That’s it…’ he groaned. ‘Well done.’ His voice was low, and then I felt his mouth on my breasts.
‘Oh…’ I shook, body bucking slightly at the sensation. ‘Fuck,’ I panted, as his tongue sucked, flicked and bit at my nipples, sending waves of euphoria to every corner of my world.
My existence.
Meanwhile, his fingers slid in and out so fast. He took control of my entire body. Claimed me as his own.
I was nothing but a slave to her master.
His spare hand clamped down on my wrists, securing them together, and I fell apart entirely.
I could barely move, I just lay there, letting him have his way with me. Loving how utterly at his mercy I was.
Slowly, the pleasure built. It grew larger and larger with every thrust of his fingers, every stroke of his tongue. I couldn’t take it anymore.
‘Archer…’ I pleaded. ‘Archer, I need you.’ My words came out as a groan, my eyes watering at the intensity of him. ‘I need you. Please.’ I was actually begging.
He lifted his mouth from my breasts and kissed me.
‘Not yet, darling.’
‘No… I need…’ I pleaded between pants. Did he not understand what he was doing to me?
He kissed me again, gently. ‘I’m not taking you here, like this.’
‘What do you mean?’ I managed to ask, my voice sounding almost like a sob.
‘Iris… when I take you, it won’t be on the hard stone floor, and it won’t happen when we have to leave each other afterwards.
’ He thrust his fingers inside me again and I gasped.
He groaned when I tilted my head back, so close to climaxing.
‘When I claim you – which trust me, I will – you will never be able to breathe another man's name again. You’ll be completely mine. Therefore, I want you to be sure. As there will be no going back, do you understand?’
I screamed as my climax hit me. Wave after wave washed over me, I called out his name again and again as I came, as stars danced in my vision, and the hot, burning desire crescendoed within me.
I’d never felt anything like this before. Never allowed myself to.
I lay there, bare and panting, and felt Archer lay down beside me, his warmth seeping into me.
‘You,’ he whispered, ‘are beautiful, Iris.
He pulled my blouse up over my head, allowing me my sight back. I looked at him. His dishevelled hair, sharp cheekbones and strong jaw.
He was the beautiful one, I thought.
For a long time, we stayed there in the greenhouse, leaning against the soft pillows and listening to the rain grow heavier outside.
The moonlight shone through the glass above us, creating little silver pools on the ground.
I liked that we didn’t need to speak to each other continuously – happy just to be in each other’s company. It was comfortable.
Natural.
He poured us another drink each, since we had both spilt our previous glasses. I had laughed when he showed me the dark wine pooling in the cracks of the stone floor beside us.
The butterfly had come back, and I rested my head on Archer’s shoulder as we watched it flit between the flowers and vines, so graceful in its beauty.
I sat up, resting my back against the stone wall so I could face him. ‘Where are you from?’ I asked.
‘Oh, here and there.’ He took a slow drink, eyes on the glass.
‘I mean… where were you born? Where did you grow up?’
He shrugged. ‘Somewhere you wouldn’t know.’
‘You’re not a very open book, are you?’ I joked.
‘Where are you from?’ he asked.
I let out a short laugh. ‘Nice deflection.’ I leaned back. ‘A town called Aravine. Long way from here. I moved south to Merihall when I was eleven, though.’
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘Why’d I move?’ He gave a small nod. I hesitated. ‘My dad—’ My voice caught. I took a sip of my drink as if I could prolong having to say the words. ‘He died.’ I looked away, my eyes starting to sting.
His fingers found my chin and turned my head back to face him. ‘I’m sorry.’ His eyes were so sincere, so sad.
‘It was a long time ago,’ I replied.
‘The death of a parent stays with you, though,’ he said quietly after a moment.
Oh.
‘I’m sorry, Archer.’ I took his hand in mine. ‘Who did you lose?’
‘My mother.’ He looked pained, his eyes so haunted. ‘Sorry, it’s not something I find easy to talk about,’ he whispered.
‘That’s okay.’ I smiled sadly. ‘I understand.’
Suddenly, he sat up, fast. He checked his watch and mumbled, ‘Shit.’
‘What is it?’ I asked.
‘It’s almost midnight. I need to go.’
‘Oh, you need to leave? Now?’
‘Yes.’ He stood up. ‘I’m so sorry, Iris. If I could stay, I would. I completely lost track of time.’ One corner of his mouth tugged up. ‘You make that easy.’
I smiled and took his outstretched hand. He helped pull me to my feet. ‘Where do you need to go?’
‘I have a meeting.’
‘A meeting? Now?’
‘Yes, with Agnar. I mean… Headmaster Draven.’
‘But it’s the middle of the night,’ I thought aloud.
‘I know,’ he shrugged. ‘It’s because he likes his meetings with whiskey.’
‘Can he not drink his whiskey in the early evenings?’
Archer nodded. ‘You’d think so, but he’s my boss, so I can’t really say no.’ His hand rose to cradle my cheek. ‘I really wish I could stay longer.’ His eyes held mine. ‘Leaving you, Iris… it’s hard.’
I nodded. ‘I know.’
His smile faded completely as he said quietly, ‘I wish I could walk you home.’ Something in my heart cracked.
‘I understand that you can’t, and that’s okay,’ I whispered.
‘I hate it,’ he replied.
We stayed quiet for a moment, just holding each other, until Archer broke the silence.
‘I want to see you again, properly.’
I tilted my head slightly. ‘What do you mean, properly?’
‘I mean, let’s go out.’
‘Archer,’ I said sadly, ‘we can’t do that.’
‘No, we can’t do that here,’ he said. ‘So, let’s leave. Get off the island for a night.’
‘Archer…’ I breathed. ‘How—’ I took a step back and looked up at him. He looked so sincere. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Deadly.’