14. Fourteen
14
FOURTEEN
MILA
" W hen did you get back?" I asked anxiously as I trailed behind him.
"Just now."
He flicked on the light in my room, his figure consumed by black from head to toe. Even his face had smeared black camouflage paint all over it.
"Where the hell did you go dressed like that?" I questioned him, trying to hide the fear in my voice.
"I had something to take care of in the city," he replied coldly before brushing me off and stripping off his clothes without a second thought.
I watched as his blood-soaked garments hit the floor. The crimson stains smeared across his neck and face giving him an otherworldly appearance. My mind raced with questions. "Whose blood is that?" I finally managed to choke out.
He ignored me and continued undressing. When he headed toward the bathroom, I followed.
I found myself lingering in the doorway, my curiosity overriding any sense of self-preservation. The white tiles were stark against the dim lighting, accentuating the contrast between his darkened figure and the crimson stains that marred his skin.
"Seriously, whose blood is that?" I demanded again, unable to contain my growing concern.
He sighed heavily, an air of weariness hanging around him like a shroud. With a hint of reluctance, he turned to face me, the harsh overhead light casting eerie shadows across his features.
"It's none of your business," he said cryptically.
Stepping closer, I reached out tentatively to touch his forearm. "Tell me," I demanded. "Whose blood is that, Archer? Did you kill someone with that knife you just used on me? What happened? I don't hear from you for four days, and then you show up covered in someone else's blood and want to hold out on the details?"
In a blink of an eye, he was on me.
He moved fast.
Faster than I could have anticipated.
Crushing me against the bathroom wall with a force that knocked the wind out of me. A picture fell off its hook and shattered on the unforgiving tile floor. His body was against mine, and I stared into his eyes, the darkness within them mirroring the chaos swirling in my mind.
"Listen carefully," he hissed through clenched teeth, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "I told you, it's none of your concern. If you want to be with me, you mind your business.”
Struggling to speak, I managed to gasp out a plea. "Archer, please...you're hurting me."
For a moment, I saw a flicker of regret ripple across his face as if he were battling an internal struggle. But it quickly vanished, replaced by a mask of cold indifference.
"I warned you not to pry," he growled.
Archer's cold eyes never left me as he calmly undressed and stepped into the shower. I stood there, feeling the sting of tears pricking my eyes.
If I were anyone else, I would have let something like this send me running for the hills. My heart pounded in my chest as the realization hit me. I was drawn to his danger like a moth to a flame, reveling in the pain and thrill it brought. But deep inside, anger boiled within me at his deception.
Grabbing at my last shred of dignity, I marched back to my room, determined to uncover the truth the only way I knew how. Retrieving the box hidden under my bed, my fingers trembled as I pulled out the lingerie and slipped it on. As I caught sight of myself in the closet mirror, a surge of desire and fury rippled through me. Turning off the lights, I crawled into bed and faced the wall, wrapping myself tightly in my comforter as I plotted my next move with fierce resolve burning in my chest.
The sound of the shower turning off signaled his return to the bedroom. I could feel him watching me, contemplating whether he should join me or leave. The mattress shifted as he climbed in, and a devious smile spread across my face. His hands trailed up my bare leg and to my stomach, pausing as he touched the lace of the lingerie.
A low groan escaped his lips as he pulled me toward him, the heat of his breath caressing my ear as he whispered, "Are you pretending to be asleep, little rabbit?"
Ignoring his words, I played along.
Two can play that game.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Mila," a dark warning left his lips, but I didn't falter.
"I'm just following your instructions," I countered coyly. "I think your words were, ‘You better be wearing this when I get back.’ But if you don't like it, I can take it off."
I couldn't help but smirk in the darkness as my words hung between us, a thin veil of lies draped over the truth. I knew what I was doing, and I was willing to push the boundaries of whatever our relationship was to get answers.
He chuckled darkly, the brazenness of my comment adding to the intoxicating mixture of lust and danger that had been building between us. His hands moved to my hips and pulled me closer, his hot breath still on my ear, and whispered, "I love it when you play hard to get, Mila. "
Before I could reply, he captured my lips in a searing kiss that left me breathless and wanting more. His lips tasted of salt and a lingering hint of the camouflage face paint he wore in the city. As he pulled away, his eyes were dark with hunger and desire, and I could see the battle being waged within him. The need to claim me, to dominate me, and the desire to tell me every dark secret he held close to his black heart.
"Are you ready to give me answers then?"
"If you want answers, you'll have to earn them," he whispered roughly, his breath sending goosebumps across my skin. He pulled away from me, leaving me panting and craving more. I knew I needed to keep pushing, so I played my cards carefully.
"And how do I earn those answers, Archer?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, the darkness in his eyes never leaving mine.
He traced the line of my jaw with his fingertips. "You want the truth, Mila? You want answers?"
I nodded, my heart pounding as I waited for his response.
"You need to trust me. Completely and without question," he said softly, his voice low and seductive.
"I already do," I whispered.
He smirked. "Oh, I don't think you do, not completely. But that's okay. We'll work on that. You need to give up control. Let me take the reins. Surrender to me, and I'll give you the answers you want."
I hesitated, my eyes widening at his demand. The thought of surrendering control to him was daunting, but I wanted the truth more than anything.
"Okay," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "I'll trust you. I'll give you control."
Archer smiled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "That's my girl," he murmured, pulling me close and sealing his lips to mine in a feverish kiss. His hands sank into my hair, pulling me closer as his tongue tangled with mine, tasting me thoroughly.
When he finally broke the kiss, his breath was ragged, and his eyes were dark with hunger. "Now," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's see what you're made of, Mila."
"Alright then," I said, bringing my hands up to slide his wet hair back from his face. "Tell me what I need to do, Archer." I bit my lip, feeling a thrill of fear and excitement course through my veins.
He laughed, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "I always knew there was a little devil hiding inside you, Mila. Tonight, I will show you just how powerful that devil can be."
It was then that I realized there was something in my mouth.
It was fruity and disintegrating on my tongue.
Archer's smirk grew wider, his eyes dark with desire. "Swallow."
I did.
"Wh-what did you give me?" I asked him, my head spinning, and my body felt weightless.
His eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I'm going to push you, baby. I'm going to test your limits. See how far you're willing to go for me."
The world around me seemed to slow down as I felt the effects of the pill taking hold of my body.
He had drugged me.
"But why?" I managed to ask, my voice wavering as I tried to maintain control.
Running his fingers through my hair, he kissed my cheeks. My neck. My bare chest. "Because trust, Mila, comes with consequences."
As the room spun around me, my mind blurred, and darkness engulfed me. I tried to fight against it, but whatever he gave me was too strong. I felt his arms around me, lifting me from my bed as if I weighed nothing. My limbs felt like dead weight, and I slipped in and out of consciousness. I vaguely heard the sound of the door closing, and then we were in the car. I tried to stay awake, but I was rapidly losing the fight. My eyelids felt like they were weighted down by bricks.
Archer spoke softly to me, his voice low and comforting, but I couldn't make out his words. Panic surged through me as I realized I was at his mercy .
I was entirely under his control.
I tried to speak, but my voice was altered, my words slurring together in a way I couldn't quite understand. I struggled to move, feeling my muscles weaken, my limbs growing heavy as if the seat beneath me were weighing me down, a labyrinth of sleep and sedation calling me toward unconsciousness. My eyes were heavy, my mind foggy. Yet, even in this state, I could feel the heat of his body pressed against mine, his breath lingering on my skin as he carried me somewhere.
Archer's words echoed in my mind. "Trust comes with consequences." I was supposed to trust him completely and without question. Now, as my body succumbed to the drug, I realized the severity of my mistake. I had let my guard down, falling into his trap, and I had no idea what to expect.
In my weakened state, I saw the world around me blurring, the colors and shapes lost in the haze of the drug. I tried to call out, but my voice had abandoned me, and the darkness took hold, engulfing me in its web of sedative. The world spun and twisted, and I felt myself slipping away, my consciousness slipping into the abyss. I fought against it, but it was no use. The drug had taken hold, and I knew I was at his mercy.
As I drifted to sleep, I could feel his breath on my skin, his arms wrapped around me protectively, and his heartbeat steady and strong. I knew whatever awaited me in the darkness beyond my consciousness was far from safe. I had trusted him completely, and now I had to face the consequences.
As I sank deeper into the abyss, I prayed I would survive whatever my devil had in store for me.