30. Archer
Chapter 30
Archer
I answer my phone, not because I want to, but because Leo has called me seventeen times and if I don't answer soon enough, he's going to show up to my apartment to bother me with whatever it is he wants. He doesn't call just to talk; Leo calls because he needs something, this time being no different than the last.
"What do you want?" I put him on speaker and continue typing away on my keyboard, hoping I can get this over with and be done with him.
"I need a favor."
I laugh. It's short and blunt and the sound almost surprises me. "No."
"Archer, please, listen."
"No." I cut him off. "You listen to me. You're lucky I don't shoot you in the leg for what you did last night. You pretend like you care, like you're my brother, and you let her get that close to him ."
The image, replayed in my mind, makes me want to rip my fucking hair out. The Manor brothers are our enemy, and he knows this. Why would he be stupid and let him near her? Unless he's dumber than I give him credit for.
"She was in no danger, Archer, you're being dramatic."
I laugh again. "Dramatic? The guy you're trying to get a favor out of? Why don't you call someone who actually cares, Leo, because I can't be bothered? You don't deserve my help, and honestly, I'm sure whatever it is, you had it coming."
"Listen, Arch, I'm sorry, okay? Is that what you want to hear? I'm fucking sorry. I fucked up. I should have kept a better eye on her, but I'm telling you, the situation was under control. The second I saw him next to her, I went over there."
"I saw you on the fucking camera, Leo. It took me less time to get across town on my fucking bike than it did for you to walk across the room, and you only did it when I showed up and handled things myself. Don't pretend like you were on top of shit, you fucking prick." I hover my finger above the red button, ready to disconnect the call.
"Archer, I wouldn't ask if I had another choice. I got robbed."
I set my hand on the desk and stare at the phone. "What?"
"Yeah, this girl I went home with last night, she stole my?—"
"Hang on," I interrupt him one more time. "You didn't go home with Grace, you know, your fucking date?"
"Grace and I aren't exclusive. She's cool with it. But yeah, I went home with this girl last night, woke up, and she fucking robbed me. Can't you do that thing you do and find her? She was there at the gala, jet-black hair, tiny little thing, black dress."
"I'm hanging up now." I press the button and hang up on Leo, not wanting to hear another word that comes out of his mouth. If he would have gone home with Grace, none of this would have happened, and if he hadn't let Blake Manor get close to London, she probably would have been there to advise him against fucking some stranger. It's his fault he got robbed, and knowing him, it's something that’s easily replaceable. Between all of us siblings, we have enough money to buy anything we could imagine, except the pride he lost when his date got the best of him. If anything, more power to the mysterious woman who got the upper hand on my asshole brother.
I drag my hands through my hair, annoyed that I let Leo interrupt what I was doing and taint my already frustrated mood. I can't quit thinking about Blake, his hands on London as she danced with him at the gala in the dress I bought her—the dress that was meant for me. I've never been a possessive man, but with her, I find it hard to be anything else.
Rising from my computer chair, I go to the kitchen, open the fridge, which is pretty fucking bare, and close it again. I distract my mind with a glass of water, chugging it down and washing the cup, returning it to its home in the cabinet before wiping the water droplets out of the sink.
I stare at the wall separating me and London, and wish like hell I could see through it. I've wanted so badly to break in again and install cameras, but I knew if she found them, she'd never forgive me. She's caught on to the fact that I've surveilled her, but hasn't figured out the specifics, and if she did, she might go out of her way to avoid the things I can track.
"Focus, Archer," I tell myself, steadying my hands on the counters and bowing my head. "Think of anything other than her."
I had been doing so fucking well, avoiding her every chance I got, timing when I left my apartment so I wouldn't run into her. I’m still watching her, but only to make sure she’s safe and that nothing has happened to her. With Joe Vito still alive, there will always be a threat to her life, and it’s my job to keep her safe. I never intended to interrupt the gala last night, even though I was supposed to be London's date, but when I saw her with him, I couldn't allow her to get tangled up with such a man. It’s already bad enough she was involved with me, I couldn't let things get worse.
I didn't mean to say yes when Blake asked if I was her boyfriend, but when the question came out, the answer followed, taking us all by surprise. Maybe in a different world it would have been true, and London wouldn't have reacted the way she did when she heard me admit it.
A scream lets out from London's apartment, my heart almost lurching out of my chest quicker than I can move. I rush out of my front door, not caring that I'm not wearing a shirt, my jeans and boots hopefully being enough for whatever threat is on the other side of the door. I twist the handle to London's door and the second I realize it's locked, I hike my foot up and kick her door with enough force to blast it open, then barge into her apartment.
She yelps again, clinging to the towel around her body, her hair wet and hanging in loose ringlets on her shoulders. "What the fuck, Archer?"
I do a quick sweep, ready to snap the neck of whoever might be in here, only I don't find anyone other than London, who is gawking at me like I'm the intruder.
“Who’s in here?” I ask her, my gaze still roaming her apartment.
“You are.”
“I’m not messing around, London. Who the fuck is in here?”
She steps toward me, her hands clenching her towel. “Archer, you idiot, you’re the only one in here. And you broke my front door.”
It takes me far too long to conclude that London is telling me the truth. “Then why did you scream?”
London sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers. “Because of a spider.” She motions around the space. “One of which you probably scared into hiding with all the commotion. My door, really? You couldn’t pick the lock; you had to kick it in? What’s wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?”
I close the space between us, not because I want to, but because I can’t control myself. I need her more than I’ve ever needed anything, and I hate myself for it. “Do you ever shut up?” I ask her, my hand hovering next to her face.
“Make me,” she says, her eyes looking up at me through her lashes.
I tuck a strand of her wet red hair behind her ear, her skin so soft and smooth. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“Kiss me before I change my mind,” she tells me.
It’s just the approval I require to erase any remaining air separating us. My lips come crashing down onto hers, and they’re just as greedy as mine. London doesn’t hold back, reaching up to put her arms around my neck, her towel slipping off her body, her bare chest pressing against me. I lift her into the air, wrapping her legs around my torso and backing us into the front area to kick the door shut as best I can, not for a second breaking from our kiss. She moans into my mouth and the sound goes straight to my aching cock. My hand roams her body, and hers tangle in my hair—tugging, pulling, driving me fucking wild. She reaches for my waistband to unbutton my jeans and slides her hand into my pants, gripping my dick.
“Fuck,” I mutter against her and swirl my tongue along hers, desperate to feel her, all of her, as much as she’ll let me. I move us to the wall, her body pressed on mine, her hand stroking me.
She breaks away first, breathless. “Fuck me, Archer.”
“I want you to come first,” I tell her and roam my mouth over her cheek, down her neck, and suck along her collarbone, biting the sensitive skin gently.
“I said fuck me .” London grabs a fistful of my hair and drags my lips back up to hers, parting them with her tongue.
I keep hold of her with one arm and take my cock into my palm with the other, sliding it over her wet pussy, teasing her a few times before shoving straight into her, watching as her head tilts back and her eyes close, her mouth making the sexiest sounds.
London relaxes onto my shaft as I pump into her, hard and deep, her tits bouncing between us. “Fuck, Archer,” she moans and tightens around me.
“Touch yourself, little tornado.” I hold her hips, letting the wall support her back, giving her a bit of room to put her hand between her legs. “Show me how you like it.”
She complies, her fingers gliding over her clit and around my cock that’s pounding in and out of her. London bites her lip, and I fuck her slower, not wanting this to end. I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am, but I didn’t realize how badly I missed her until I was buried in her pussy, a place I’d like to die in, as morbid and terrible as that sounds.
London glances up at me, her eyes staring straight through me. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?” I ask her, unsure of what she’s referring to. “I’m fucking you.”
“No, you’re not. You’re making love to me. Stop.”
I slow my pace even further.
“That, right there, you’re looking at me like you love me. Stop.” London continues to circle her finger over her clit, her pussy tensing around me, enjoying this even if she isn’t willing to admit it herself.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.
“Bagels,” she blurts out.
I stop moving immediately. “Did I hurt you? What’s wrong?”
With one arm still draped over my shoulder, she tugs at my hair. “I told you to fuck me, big boy. Now, either fuck me, or put me down.”
I take a steadying breath and consider her words carefully, and the boundaries she’s put in place, choosing the only option that ends in her satisfaction. “Fine.” I thrust into her, hard and deep, repeating the motion until we’re both panting and covered in sweat, my cock spilling into her as she climaxes on it, her pussy throbbing. I fuck her all the way through her orgasm, milking every last quiver that rattles through her body.
She exhales and lays her head on my shoulder, kissing my chest gently. “That was unexpected.”
I hold her against me, one arm around her waist, the other gripping her thigh, my forehead resting on the wall. My cock twitches in her tight, soaked pussy, and I wish I could remain here, not just inside her, but with her, where I can make sure she remains safe and out of harm’s way.
“Sorry about the spider,” I tell her. “I can look for him and kill him.”
She breaks away immediately, her hands cupping my cheeks. “You will do no such thing.”
“What?” My brows pinch together.
“Never ever kill a spider.”
“I’m confused. I thought you were afraid of them.”
"I mean, yeah, who wouldn't be, with all their creepy legs and creepy eyes. That doesn't mean they deserve to die, though. If this is ever going to work, we must be a catch-and-release household."
My heart skips a beat, and my eyes dart up to meet hers.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” she blurts out.
“What did you mean?”
“I, uh.” She wiggles her body. “Put me down.”
Carefully, I slide my still partially hard cock out of her and lower her onto her feet. “What did you mean, London?” I button up my pants as she rushes over to get the towel that fell off her body, covering herself up like I didn’t just fuck her a minute ago.
“I hope you’re going to fix that.” She points to the door.
“I will, I promise.” I shove my left hand into the pocket of my jeans. “Are you going to ignore my question?”
“I need you to do me a favor,” she says, catching me off guard.
"Anything," I tell her, hoping she understands the lengths I would go to for her.
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her—I’d kill for her, hell, I’d die for her.
“I need you to stop stalking me.” Her request renders me speechless, my mouth parting but words not coming out. “You have to stop following me, watching me, tracking me. Whatever it is you do, Archer, it has to stop.”
I shake my head slowly at first. “No.”
“You said you’d do anything for me.” She hugs the towel around her body tighter.
“Anything but that.” Is she out of her mind? I can’t quit, because the second I do, something could happen, and how could I live with myself if I was the reason Vito finally got to her. Things have been tame since she’s been here but that doesn’t mean it won’t change. But I guess I could spend more time tracking him and less time on London. I could still check in on her and somehow respect her wishes to be left alone. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her…
How can she ever trust me if I go behind her back?
But how much does her trust matter when things are already broken beyond repair?