Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
GRACE
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been living in bliss. Fancy lunches with Archer, stolen kisses in his car, on his office desk, after hours at the office. And the best part—I haven't had any visits from Seven.
It’s Friday now, and I’m currently packing for a team-building work trip.
The entire company is attending—including Mr. Graves—and I want to make sure that I pack accordingly.
Apparently, the resort we’re staying at in Neon Valley is right next to the beach, which means I might get the chance to show off one of my new bikinis.
I ponder the two swimsuits laid out on the bed, ultimately deciding to pack both because I can’t decide which would be better.
I look at the clock, noting that I have about an hour before Archer picks me up. He somehow managed to get us seats in first class on a different flight than the rest of the company, meaning we’ll have some alone time before we go back to pretending we’re not dating.
My mind wanders to a memory from a few days ago.
Archer had invited me out for dinner—a really posh place with white tablecloths and three different forks—and halfway through our main course, he asked me to be exclusive.
At the time, I was so happy that I said “yes,” not thinking of the repercussions.
But Seven hadn’t shown up in a while, and Archer looked so vulnerable and incredibly sexy. How could I resist?
Plus, we’re basically co-parenting a raccoon baby. It just makes sense.
Speaking of the raccoon baby…
I pull out my phone and tap Archer's contact to send him a message.
Me
How’s our son?
In response, Archer sends a picture of Zorro eating a grape.
Archer
See for yourself.
Me
I’m dying of cuteness. I wish we could take him on the trip!
Archer
The sitter is going to take great care of him. I don’t think he’d appreciate the airplane ride.
Me
You’re right…
Archer
Speaking of planes… are you done packing?
Me
Almost…
Archer
Go and pack, angel. I’ll be there to pick you up in an hour.
With a happy sigh, I pocket my phone and walk over to my dresser, pulling open the top drawer that holds my lingerie. I haven’t had a reason to wear any of my pieces in a long time, but now that I’m going on this work trip with Archer, it’s the perfect time to pack something sexy for him.
I gaze into my drawer, debating which ones I should choose.
I think about texting Saffron for her opinion, but it’s early, and she’s probably sleeping peacefully in bed with her new doctor boyfriend.
The two made it official around the same time me and Archer began dating, and I’ve never been happier for her.
He treats her like the princess she is, and is the perfect gentleman—much like my Archer.
The four of us are planning a double date when me and Archer get back from the work trip, and I have a feeling Archer and Dr. Herrera will be great friends.
But until then, I have an important decision to make.
I’m pulling out a corset-style bodysuit when a voice breaks out behind me.
“I haven’t seen that pair. Is it new?”
I scream, the bodysuit clutched tightly between my hands as I whip around to face Seven. The serial killer stands in the middle of my bedroom, his head tilted in that eerie way that makes me shiver. There appears to be blood on his clothes and coating his gloved hands.
“What the…?” I step back, swallowing hard when he matches it, backing me into a corner.
Seven braces one hand on the wall while the other comes up to grip my jaw, smearing sticky red blood across my face.
He presses a button on the side of his mask, and the bottom half slides up, giving me a half second to take in his manic smile before his mouth crashes to mine, stealing my breath as heated sparks dance across my skin.
He grabs the front of my shirt, ripping it clean off in one powerful movement. I whimper, but he presses his lips to mine, silencing me.
“I know this isn’t for me.” His fingers pinch the lacy fabric still clutched in my hands. “Who is it for, Grace?”
“I don’t—”
“Liar.”
He reaches down to my shorts and rips them off, leaving me bare.
Before I have a chance to react, he pushes me back on the bed and settles his face between my spread legs, inhaling deeply.
Seven shoves his tongue inside to taste me, and all rational thought flies out the window as I’m lost to the intense pleasure.
“Fuck, you taste divine.” He slides his hand up to grip my thigh. “If only it was all for me…”
I blink through the haze, trying to focus on his words. “W-what—?”
He chuckles darkly, his grip tightening painfully. “I can taste another man inside you, Grace.” He lunges forward, dragging his tongue up my center, making me cry out once more.
“God,” he groans. “If you didn’t taste so fucking good, I might be tempted to get rid of you.”
I whimper as he flips me onto my stomach. He pulls his hard cock from a slit in his tactical pants and crawls over top of me, lining the head of his cock up with my slicked center. Despite how wrong it is, I moan, pushing my hips back against him, desperate to feel more.
“Who is it?” His voice is low and deadly as he pushes inside me. “Which man is dying by my hands tonight?”
“Please don’t,” I whisper. “Don’t—don’t hurt him.”
“So, there is someone,” he growls, still moving inside me. “Does he make you come like I do?”
Tears leak out of my eyes. “I—I don’t—”
“Shut the fuck up.” He covers my mouth and nose with his hand. “Come.”
He thrusts hard to the back of my walls, and I shatter around him with an ear-piercing cry, the rest of the world falling away as I give in to the pleasure he provides me.
My walls clench around him, and his head falls back with a groan, his abdomen rippling as his release floods from his cock, pulsing and filling her womb.
Seven hangs his head, pressing his mask to my shoulder as his breath comes in deep, shuddering pants. My mind reels, pleasure and regret mingling in the back of my mind, pulling at the threads of her soul.
A few moments later, Seven manages to compose himself, leaning down to whisper into my ear, “Remember to pack your plug.”
Then, like always, he disappears—leaving me breathless, shuddering, and dripping with his seed.
I lie in bed for a long time, staring at the ceiling, reeling from the rush of feelings flooding my system. I hate Seven, yet my body craves him. Needs him more than anything.
And that is so, so wrong.
I check my clock, noting it’s now thirty minutes till Archer arrives. Not wanting Archer to smell Seven on me, I take a quick shower, washing away any remnants of Seven. But when I step out, I can’t help but feel wrong. Lonely.
But that’s ridiculous. I’m about to have an amazing weekend with Archer. The man I’m supposed to be exclusive with…
I groan, guilt threatening to eat me alive as I hurry to get dressed. What would Archer do if he found out about Seven? What will Seven do, now that he knows for sure there’s another man in my life?
I gaze toward my nightstand, thinking about Seven’s last words. “Make sure to pack your toy.”
I don’t know how he’d know if I left the plug, but I’m not taking any chances.
I grab the plug out of the drawer and stuff it deep into my weekend bag, hoping as long as I bring it with me, it’ll be good enough.
I’m certainly not wearing it while I’m trying to get to know Archer or in work meetings.
Just as I’m zipping up my back, there’s a knock on my door. I open it, and Mr. Graves stands there, perfectly kempt, with a heart-stopping smile.
“Ready to go, Grace?”
I steal myself, taking his hand with a nod and a wide smile.
I hope this doesn’t damn him as well as me.