Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
ARCHER
Well… shit.
I knew I was having a bad streak, but damn. Seriously?
She was here. In his office.
Her hair was down instead of in its usual ponytail, and she had an oversized cardigan on that slipped down her shoulder, revealing the pale skin beneath.
The same skin that I’d run my hands all over just two nights ago…
Iris’s gaze flicked to mine and we locked eyes for a brief moment, before she looked down at her hands. She was scared, and I didn’t blame her.
I remained silent as I slowly walked over to the sofa and sat beside her, trying to ignore the scent of her hair and act as if I hardly knew her.
‘How can I help?’ I said through gritted teeth.
‘Well,’ Agnar started, ‘Miss Blackthorne here is obviously a top student, however, we have an issue.’
‘And what is that issue?’ I said.
Controlled, professional…
Williams passed me a neat scotch and I took it, thankful. I took a long sip and let it burn my throat, using the subtle pain as a focus point so that I didn’t focus too much on her.
‘She’s lacking in science.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her breath catch, but she managed to keep her composure.
‘She’s scoring significantly less in the sciences than any other course – biology in particular – and it’s bringing down her overall score.’ He took a swig of his drink. ‘You must agree this is not good enough. She’s top of your class, after all, so you understand what she’s capable of.’
When I’d marked my class papers a few days ago and seen that she was on top – and not by a small margin – the pride I felt had shocked me. I hadn’t felt that way about myself before, let alone anyone else in my life.
Before I responded, Iris looked up from her hands and towards me.
‘I’m trying to catch up. I have my roommate tutoring me.’ Her voice was so unlike her own.
‘Yes, Miss Blackthorne,’ Agnar said, ‘and, as I said before, that’s good, however—’
‘If I may,’ I said, gently interrupting him, ‘Miss Blackthorne is taking a very heavy course load. Literature and Philosophy alone are two of the most demanding courses. I would know – I make my classes that way on purpose. But it’s not surprising that it has complicated performance in other subjects. ’
Agnar raised an eyebrow. I knew I should have been worried, but I didn’t care.
‘Your concern is noted, Archer. But many students manage similar workloads. Miss Blackthorne’s roommate, for starters, is taking the same number of courses and is now tutoring Miss Blackthorne on top.’
I saw Iris flinch.
‘I just need to study more, that’s all – and I will,’ she said quietly from beside me. She looked so small. So uncomfortable.
‘She has strong potential,’ I said. ‘Extra support in that subject would make all the difference.’
‘You seem very engaged in her academic performance.’
I straightened.
Fuck.
I gave myself no more than a split second to think.
‘She’s one of my students,’ I said slowly, carefully, ‘and, as you said, she’s the best in my class. I try to advocate for all of my top students – especially when I see potential that risks being overlooked.’ I kept my eyes locked on him, daring him to challenge me.
It was quiet for a moment, with just the crackling fire in the hearth for noise.
Agnar studied me for a second, and then, eventually, nodded in agreement.
My relief washed over me, but I masked it.
‘Very well,’ Agnar said, ‘I like that, Professor. This is why you have the highest-scoring subject in the school, after all. I used to think it was simply because you scared the shit out of the students.’ He laughed and raised his glass towards me. I forced myself to do the same.
‘Ah, apologies for my language, Miss Blackthorne.’ He sobered and turned to her. ‘Like I said before, it’s not an alarming grade by itself, just please ensure you try your best to bring it up to meet what you’re capable of. If you need additional help, ask for it.’
‘I will, sir, I promise.’
‘Good.’ He smiled at her and I wanted to punch him.
‘You may go.’ He got up and walked over to the door.
Iris looked at me, her big, beautiful eyes searching mine.
I gave her a small, private smile. She stood, and as she passed me her thigh brushed my knee.
I put my hand out, very quickly wrapping my fingers in hers and squeezing.
She looked back at me, but she looked sad. I let her go before Agnar turned back.
‘Good evening, Miss Blackthorne,’ I said in parting.
‘Good evening… Professor Locke,’ she replied quietly. ‘Good evening, Headmaster Draven.’
‘Have a pleasant night,’ he said cheerily, and closed the door behind her. I felt her absence as strongly as if the fire had just gone out. ‘Another drink, Archer?’
‘Please.’
He sat back down as Williams brought us two more glasses of scotch. I swirled the amber liquid in the glass distractedly.
‘Is everything prepared?’ he asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I nodded.
‘Good. Well, we know what’s next then.’
‘Yes, sir. It’ll be fine, I assure you.’
‘Great.’
Williams came over to the seating area. ‘Sorry to interrupt, sir,’ he said. ‘You told me to tell you when your next meeting was.’
‘Oh goodness, how time flies!’ He downed his drink. ‘Sorry to cut this short, Archer. We’ll need to finish this another time. I’m a busy man. I trust you’ll oversee the next few steps?’
‘Yes, no problem,’ I said. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘Of course.’
Standing, I emptied my glass and passed it to Williams. I nodded my farewell to him and headed for the door.
Ten times more stressed than when I entered.
The coldness of the corridor hit me like an icy blast.
It was late enough now that the halls were pretty much abandoned.
I set off walking at a brisk pace, and had every intention of heading directly back to Stonewall for a strong drink at the local pub, when I heard her.
‘Archer.’
I swung around.
‘Fuck, Iris.’ I hurried over to where she was waiting for me in a small alcove down the corridor. ‘What are you doing? You shouldn’t have waited for me; someone could have seen you.’ I took her hands in mine and kissed both of her knuckles, one at a time. ‘Are you okay?’
‘No,’ she said quietly.
‘What’s wrong?’ She didn’t say anything for a moment. ‘Iris? Talk to me.’
‘We can’t do this anymore,’ she whispered.
‘Can’t do what?’ I asked, a pit forming in my stomach. She wouldn’t look at me.
‘When Williams came to me today…’ She trailed off, looking down at her shoes. ‘I—’
‘Iris,’ I said, firmly this time.
She took her hands away and crossed them over her stomach. ‘When I was summoned by Headmaster Draven…’ She paused. ‘Archer… this whole thing? It’s too dangerous. It made me realise—’
‘No.’ I shook my head, closing the distance between us. She stepped back. ‘If it’s because you’re scared, don’t be. I’ll protect you.’
‘I’m not scared.’
‘Then why else would you be saying this?’ I stepped forwards again.
‘Archer, don’t…’ She stepped back again.
‘No.’ I stepped forwards one final time, and when she did the same, her back hit the stone wall. ‘No,’ I repeated. ‘You can’t back out now because you’re worried… That was nothing, I can deal with Draven.’
‘No, Archer, you don’t understand…’
‘Then tell me.’ I braced my arms on the wall either side of her head and looked down into her emerald eyes. They were full of worry.
‘I wasn’t scared for me…’ she whispered. ‘I was scared for you.’
‘You… what?’
‘Archer…’ she breathed. ‘I don’t care what happens to me, okay? Even if I fail biology and get kicked out of school. But if something happens to you as a direct result of me? I couldn’t live with that.’
I smiled slightly. ‘You’re worried for me?’
‘Yes, which is why we can’t do this anymore.’
I lifted one of my hands and held her chin. She tried to move out of my grasp but I held her there.
‘Get off of me,’ she said.
‘No.’
‘Get off of me,’ she said again.
‘No.’
And I kissed her.
She pulled away, ‘Archer, I’m fucking serious, we can’t do this anymore.’
‘No, darling, I’m fucking serious, we’re already doing it.’ And I kissed her harder.
At first she resisted, and then, gradually, the tension in her body eased and she welcomed me in.
‘Iris,’ I pushed her flush against the wall. My hand was roaming her slender figure, dipping under her clothing.
She let out a small moan.
‘Archer…’ she panted, eyes fluttering closed. ‘Please, I’m scared for you.’
My heart broke at her words.
‘Listen to me, Iris… after the other night in the greenhouse, I made a decision. I went back to my office and couldn’t get you out of my fucking head.
I can never get you out of my head. You, Iris Blackthorne, are mine.
I don’t care if you’re scared for me… I wouldn’t even care if you were scared of me, because however you feel, whatever you feel, I will help you. Either way? You. Are. Mine.’
She was quiet for a moment, her sharp breaths coming quickly, then she grabbed my hand and pulled me further down the hall.
We quietly hurried along the deserted corridors, Iris leading the way. Eventually, she stopped outside the door to a classroom and peered in, before pushing open the door.
‘Now, Miss Blackthorne, this is highly improper,’ I teased.
‘Wow, he jokes?’ she said sarcastically, pulling on my arm. ‘And no more Miss Blackthorne – I hate it.’
‘You hate your name?’ I asked.
‘No… I don’t mind it, I just… I hate it when it comes from your lips,’ she said quietly.
I stopped her, took her hands in mine again. ‘Okay… Iris,’ I said, and kissed her forehead.
She smiled before pulling me over to the nearest desk. She pushed me up against it and kissed me in a way she never had before.
Fierce.
Wild.
Dangerous.
I took her face in my hands. ‘Iris,’ I started.
‘Shhh.’
She continued kissing me, her hands roaming my hair and pulling on the strands. I placed one hand on the back of her head, deepening the kiss, and the other on her lower back.
God she was so beautiful.
‘Hey,’ I whispered, pulling away.
‘What is it?’ she asked, panting slightly.
‘Tomorrow.’
‘What?’
‘Our date.’ I smiled at her. ‘I’m taking you out tomorrow.
Properly.’ Her brow furrowed in worry and I smiled even more.
‘Remember what I said?’ I leant forwards to whisper in her ear.
‘You’re mine.’ I felt her body shiver slightly.
‘And nothing is going to stop me from taking you away from this place. Even just for a night.’
She was quiet for a moment, until she looked up at me. ‘You’re sure?’
‘Very.’ I gently pulled her to my chest and rested my chin on her head.
‘We’ll meet off campus, just beyond the main gates.
Do you remember where the road forks off slightly down the hill?
’ She nodded. ‘We’ll meet there, and I’ll drive us down.
We’ll get the car ferry across, and then once we’re off the island we don’t need to worry about anyone seeing us.
Okay? All the other faculty live on campus and have no reason to leave during term time.
’ She pulled away and nodded again, her expression morphing into something slightly more confident.
‘Okay,’ she whispered, and the smile she gave me made my heart beat at triple speed.
‘Okay,’ I repeated. ‘Tomorrow, then. Nine o’clock?’
‘Nine o’clock.’
I realised then just how long it had been since I felt excited about something.