Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ARCHER
Her brows furrowed when she heard that the ferry had been cancelled due to the storm. Her cheeks became rosy when I told her she was stuck here.
With me.
I smiled. God, I feel like I’ve never smiled so much in one night.
‘Tab, please, Keir,’ I said, and my friend slid the bill across the bar. ‘Iris, why don’t you grab the coats and I’ll meet you by the door?’ She nodded and slipped away.
‘Hope you’re being careful, mate.’
I turned back to the bartender. ‘I am,’ I whispered, ‘but I would appreciate your subtlety.’
‘Always, Locke, but…’ He hesitated.
‘What is it?’
‘Well…’ He exhaled. ‘Is it worth it? Risking everything you’ve worked for?’
I didn’t even need to think. ‘It’s worth it.’
He leant forwards to shake my hand. ‘Then good luck to you, mate. You know I’m here if you need anything.’
‘Appreciate it.’ And I turned to leave.
Iris was waiting by the door, bundled in her own coat and holding mine. She passed it to me as I approached.
‘Where are we going?’ she whispered.
‘Home,’ I said.
The rain hammered the pavement, the wind tearing down the street. Iris laughed – a warm, beautiful sound – as we stepped out from the warmth of the pub and into the rain.
‘Well, he was right – it got worse,’ she shouted, her voice half-lost in the rain.
‘It must have waited for us,’ I joked, pulling my jacket tighter, already soaked through. We walked quickly – close enough that our hands occasionally brushed – across the square.
‘How far?’ Iris shouted.
‘Not far at all,’ I said. ‘In fact…’ I took her hand in mine and pulled her to a stop. ‘We’re here.’
We stopped in front of a narrow door with chipped paint. I pulled a key from my pocket and unlocked it, gesturing for Iris to go inside.
‘This is your house?’ she asked, eyes wide.
I nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get you dry.’
The stairs up to my flat creaked as we entered, and Iris stopped when she reached the landing, turning to look at me.
God, she was beautiful.
Her hair – still in its usual ponytail – was soaked through, sticking to her neck. Raindrops clung to her eyelashes, and she blinked them away. I drew in a sharp breath as I looked into her bright eyes.
I’d told her earlier that green was my favourite colour – because her eyes were the most stunning thing I’d ever seen.
Before I knew it, my fingers were lightly brushing her cheek, my other hand finding her waist. I pulled her close, and she let out a quiet gasp.
‘Archer…’ she murmured.
My name on her lips at that moment did something to me. A burning desire from deep inside snapping the last of my honour. One hand on her back, my other under her legs, I scooped her body up, lifting her into my arms.
She let out a small squeal.
I used my boot to kick open the door to my bedroom, crossing the threshold before putting her down.
Without giving her a second to speak, I pushed her back against the wall.
She sucked in a breath as I wrenched the fabric of her skirt up.
I kissed her neck, trailing my lips from her collarbone to her ear, before my teeth nipped sharply at her lobe.
Her breathing hitched and she tilted her head back against the wall.
She liked it rough, I realised. My cock throbbed desperately.
While still kissing and biting at her neck, I moved my hands to her front and started work on the buttons of her jacket.
A second later it was on the floor.
Another second and her cardigan followed.
Then my coat.
I pulled back to look at her – she wore a thin, black-lace vest top which hugged her perfect figure, and as my eyes trailed over her body, I noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra – her nipples peaked from the cold.
‘Fuck, Iris,’ I breathed. ‘You’re such a tease.’
‘You like it?’ she whispered into my ear.
A low growl slipped from my throat as I pushed her harder against the wall. I took her chin in my hand and forced her head up to look at me.
‘You’re in trouble now,’ I said, my voice low and quiet.
She had the audacity to smirk.
‘You think I’m joking?’ I asked, grip tightening.
‘I hope you’re not,’ she said, seriously.
Shit, this girl will be the death of me.
‘I’ll wipe that pretty little smirk right off your face.’
She just tilted her head innocently to the side and batted her eyelashes at me.
‘Fine,’ I said. That does it. I released her jaw and stepped back before quietly, calmly, adding… ‘Get on your knees.’
For a moment she hesitated. Then, like the good girl she is, she slowly lowered herself to the ground.
I backed away slowly and positioned myself on the leather armchair in the corner of my bedroom.
‘Crawl to me,’ I said slowly.
At first she didn’t move, ‘What?’
Her voice was quiet. Nervous.
Good.
My expression didn’t change. ‘You heard me.’
Slowly, hesitantly, she leaned forwards. From this angle I could see straight down her vest to her perfect tits. Putting her palms flat on the floor, she began to crawl. A few seconds passed and her long ponytail fell down over her shoulder.
‘Slow down,’ I ordered, and she obeyed. Her eyes never left mine.
Fuck, I thought I’d never get over the sight of her. On all fours, crawling to me, completely at my mercy. I had to work to keep my breathing steady.
As she approached me, I began to unbutton my trousers.
‘Iris,’ I breathed, enjoying the sound of her name on my tongue. ‘Tell me – have you ever sucked a dick before?’
Slowly, she shook her head, her eyes widening the subtlest amount. My dick grew larger at her obvious trepidation.
‘Well, we’re about to fix that,’ I said slowly. ‘Here, I’ll show you.’
I placed one hand gently behind her head, wrapping my fist around the base of her ponytail, and with my other, I moved my trousers down, revealing my throbbing length to her. If she was intimidated by the size, she didn’t make it known.
My good girl.
I reached up and trailed my thumb over her bottom lip. She shivered at the contact.
‘Open your mouth,’ I whispered.
Obediently, she parted her soft, pink lips. She had such a perfect mouth.
‘Further,’ I said darkly.
Moving back to hold my cock in one hand, I slowly pulled her head towards me. She adjusted her mouth as I filled her, further and further, letting me move her head back and forth – gently at first. I moaned deeply at the pleasure, tilting my head back against the chair and closing my eyes.
Fuck, she felt so good.
The pleasure increased and suddenly I couldn’t take it anymore.
Gripping her ponytail so tight my knuckles turned white, I forced her closer, slamming myself into her.
She let out a small squeak, but I didn’t stop.
I angled myself so I could better thrust into her.
She gagged lightly as my cock hit the back of her throat, but she never tried to pull away.
Eventually, her hand rose up and she wrapped her fingers around my cock.
I gasped when I felt her tongue against my length and she took over – fully in control now.
‘That’s it,’ I panted. ‘That’s my girl.’
She moaned into me. Another lap of her tongue.
A squeeze of her fist around my cock. I released her hair and felt for the ribbon I knew was holding it in place.
When I found the end, I teased it loose and then pulled.
Her ebony waves cascaded around her shoulders, down her back, and fell into her face.
‘Iris,’ I said, easing her face up. I wiped my thumb over her mouth again. ‘Stand up.’
She said nothing as she stood.
‘Go and sit on the bed.’
She did.
I shook my trousers and boxers off, abandoning them by the chair as I silently stalked her over to the bed.
She sat quietly on the very edge of my king sized four poster, waiting for me.
She gasped as I knelt down between her legs, but I simply undid her boots and pulled them slowly from her delicate feet.
I then ran my hands up and down her legs, caressing her skin, before hooking her stockings in my fingers and pulling them down to her ankles.
I threw them to rest on the floor by her shoes.
I stood and unbuttoned my shirt, sliding it off and letting it drop to the floor.
‘Sit back,’ I said. ‘Against the headrest.’
She did as I said, manoeuvring her body – now only wearing her top and teasingly short skirt – into the centre of the bed, and leaned her back against the headboard.
I walked round to the base of the bed and leaned forwards. Gently, I wrapped my fingers around her ankles, before pulling forcefully, giving her no choice but to lay down. When her head hit the pillows she gasped and the sound made my cock throb.
‘Are you ready?’ I whispered as I climbed onto the bed, trapping her body under mine.
‘I’ve been ready for a long time,’ she whimpered.
I breathed deep.
‘Shit.’ I leaned forwards and kissed her. It was intense and electric. ‘Put your arms above your head,’ I groaned against her skin. ‘Now.’
She did as I said. Her head tilted back against the soft pillows.
I grabbed the ribbon from where I’d thrown it onto the bed side table, and ran my fingers over the smooth silk.
‘Do you trust me?’
‘Yes,’ she murmured, barely perceptible. ‘Please…’
Slowly and purposely, I wrapped the soft ribbon around her wrists. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she realised what was happening and I pulled tight on her restraints.
‘Archer—’
‘Be quiet,’ I said, while caressing my fingers over her stomach. I lifted her bound wrists and hooked the ribbon over a decorative post on the headboard.
Her eyes looked so innocent in that moment that I had to hold myself back. As much as I knew I wanted her – her body, her very being – I knew I couldn’t waste this moment. I needed to savour it. Savour her.
‘Please,’ she said. ‘I need you.’ Her bound wrists strained above her head. Her body shook with need.
I groaned in her ear. ‘I love it when you beg.’ I lifted the fabric of her skirt up and pulled gently at the hem of her panties. The noise that escaped her made my cock throb desperately now.
I couldn’t wait any longer. ‘Savouring it’ be damned.
I thrust into her without warning, her back arching at the pressure, a whimper coming from her lips. She tried to move before remembering she was restrained, and her eyes rolled back in her head, eyelashes fluttering closed.
She panted softly as I thrust in and out of her, faster and faster.
‘That’s it,’ I said. ‘You’re doing so well.’ She moaned in response and I came fully undone. ‘Tell me you're mine,’ I growled.
‘I—’ The word turned into a gasp as she took me deeper. ‘I’m yours.’
‘Again,’ I demanded.
‘I’m yours, Archer,’ she panted as she threw back her head with a blissful moan as her own climax drew near.
I slid my hands under her vest and cupped her breasts. She arched into my touch. I lowered my mouth and sucked, my tongue flicking against her nipple, and moved my hands to run through her loose hair.
As the sensation within me built with each pounding stroke, I pulled away to survey her, laying before me, messy hair splayed around her head, legs wide – she looked like my own personal feast.
My lips crashed into hers. Her skin, so warm against mine.
‘Fuck, Iris,’ I growled into her mouth. ‘I’m so fucking close.’
I bit, nipped and licked at her neck, my release pounding through me, hard and fast. She screamed in equal pleasure, and that sound alone sent me over the edge. I roared as I came, plunging my full length inside her.
A feeling I’d never even dreamed of enveloped me – body and soul.
It was bliss.
She was my bliss.
‘Iris…’
I kissed her over and over, every inch of me burning as we both rode out the waves of our climax. Sweat beaded on Iris’s perfect face, her eyes looking up at me through her long lashes. Silence fell as we simply held each other, panting softly.
I maneuvered my body so I was lying next to her. She turned her head to me and I cupped her cheek in my palm, and kissed her again. This time it was slow. Gentle. Tender.
As my breathing slowed, I gently traced patterns on her stomach with my fingers.
‘I’m yours, too.’ I told her, quietly. ‘If you’ll have me.’
She was silent for a moment, a look of subtle astonishment flashing in her eyes, before slowly, so slowly… she smiled.
If I had been standing, that smile would have sent me to my knees.