Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
IRIS
‘For weeks now,’ Archer was saying from the front of the lecture hall, pacing slowly, hands shoved in his pockets.
‘We have studied biological factors. We have delved into social conditioning. We have examined multiple case studies, criminal psychology, behavioral genetics.’ His gaze swept the room like a blade.
‘And today, I can happily tell you,’ he paused, ‘that our class topic of nature vs nurture, has come to its conclusion.’ A unified cheer rose from around the room.
‘This is our last lesson on the subject.’ Rory – who’d moved to sit next to me – and I, were attempting to stifle our grins.
When Rory was filled in on everything, he took it much the same way as Adora did – worried, concerned, but overall he was okay.
He was mostly worried about Headmaster Draven finding out that we were onto him, and honestly, I had the same fear now that we all knew about his involvement in the cult.
After he’d calmed down, Rory had just wanted to know how he could help us.
‘The answer to the question, nature or nurture, is not simple. You should know that by now, and if you write that it is, your final paper will suffer. The truth is, there is no definitive right or wrong answer – and as long as you make valid points and argue them well, you’ll be fine in the exam.
’ I tried to keep my eyes fixed on my notebook, pen poised, though I had long since stopped writing.
I could feel the subtle shift in him when his gaze passed over me.
‘Miss Blackthorne,’ his voice boomed, all unobscured authority. My stomach flipped when his full attention turned to me.
‘Yes, Professor?’ I asked evenly.
‘Well, since you and your neighbour like to smirk so much in my class, maybe you can answer the first quick fire question of the day.’ Rory chuckled quietly next to me and I elbowed him in the ribs.
‘If people are born the way they are,’ he began.
‘If their actions come only from their genes, what does that mean for moral responsibility?’
I swallowed. He was playing with me.
I grew warm between the thighs at the way his authoritative tone cut towards me. ‘It would mean people don’t really choose to be good or bad,’ I said. ‘If everything is decided by biology, then it’s hard to blame someone. They would just be acting the way they were built.’
He nodded once. ‘And if behavior comes only from upbringing?’
‘Then it’s about how someone was raised,’ I answered. ‘Their parents. Their school. Their environment. It would mean society is more responsible than the person themselves.’
A small pause. ‘Good,’ he said, clearing his throat.
‘That is a clear and logical answer.’ He rolled his sleeves up and crossed his arms over his chest, flexed his muscles slightly.
‘Now, stop disrupting my class,’ he said to me and Rory.
No one else would have noticed the small smirk gracing his features except for me.
‘So sorry, Professor.’ I twisted a strand of hair around my finger because I knew it drove him crazy. He inhaled sharply and averted his gaze, fast.
‘We are influenced by our genes,’ he said, ‘and we are influenced by our environment. But neither removes responsibility completely. You are shaped by many things – but you still make choices. You—’
His words were cut off by the classroom door swinging open.
A few murmurs erupted around the room as a figure emerged, heavy boots thudding on the floor as he swaggered in.
Fuck.
It was Theo.
He walked in and stood a few feet away from the teachers desk. He was even taller than I remember, almost as big as Archer. His black hair was slicked back with a few loose strands hanging down. He wore a tight fitted black shirt that showed his muscular torso and shoulders.
He looked dangerous …
Williams appeared in the doorway behind him and said pointedly to Archer, ‘Mr Whitlock’s suspension is up, Professor. He will be returning to his classes.’ And with a nod, he slipped back out, the door closing behind him.
Oh no oh no.
The look Archer gave Theo was deadly. I was expecting Theo to balk at the look, the way he did in the courtyard that time, but he didn’t. He seemed different, somehow, as he casually brushed Archer off, his gaze slowly perusing the room, as if looking for someone. Then, his eyes locked on me.
And he smirked.
‘Sit down, Mr Whitlock,’ was all Archer said. Tone quiet, calm and murderous.
Rory whispered to me, ‘I thought you said Locke kicked him out of the school?’
‘I thought he did,’ I said, panic and confusion mixing together, ‘but I guess rich arseholes like him get away with anything.’
‘Shit.’
‘Yeah… Shit.’
I felt sick knowing Theo was back in school.
The memory of him grabbing me, the pain from falling backwards on the ground, then the feeling of his breath in my face made bile rise up in my throat.
The memory of being so pathetically defenceless and weak.
I choked the thoughts back, got my breathing under control, and looked up – Archer’s eyes were locked on mine, concern written plainly on his face.
Rory cleared his throat, and Archer, realising he was staring, broke off his gaze. He walked towards the board behind him and leant against it. The room stayed quiet while he continued the class as if completely unbothered.
‘You know Dora’s going to flip her shit when she finds out that he’s back, right?’ Rory muttered under his breath, keeping his eyes facing the front.
She was so angry when I’d told her what Theo did to me, that she was pacing our dorm and plotting his death for two hours straight. Though, it was hard to take her seriously when she was in her pink pyjamas and bunny slippers.
‘She’ll be fine,’ I whispered. ‘I’ll just be avoiding him at all costs.’
‘You okay?’ he asked.
I just nodded.
It was hard to focus on the rest of the class. I felt Theo’s eyes on me the whole time, staring daggers at the side of my head.
Eventually, Archer returned to his desk and picked up his notes. ‘Your final papers are due this Monday, at nine a.m. If you are late, you will lose marks, and I will not make exceptions. Class dismissed.’
A few high fives and “whoops” sounded around us, and I whispered to Rory, ‘I think they're forgetting we still have to write an entire paper.’
‘Don’t remind me, I’m so swamped.’
‘Dora’s helping me revise science later. Do you want to join us? Late-night study cram?’
‘Are you sure you’re not going to be busy studying elsewhere?’ he laughed.
I bonked him with my workbook.
Everyone packed up quickly, and Rory gave me a wink before heading out. I pretended to organise my bag.
Once the last couple of students had filtered out, I started down the steps.
‘No meandering, Miss Blackthorne. I have things to do,’ Archer said as I approached.
I scoffed. ‘Oh, so you can’t even spare five minutes for a poor student in need of assistance from her professor?’
He feigned annoyance but couldn’t hide the small smirk playing on his lips. ‘I suppose I could spare a little time… depending on what assistance she needs.’ His eyes darkened as he walked over to me.
‘I—’ He scooped me up into his arms, and I let out a squeal. ‘Archer!’
‘Shh,’ he said in a gravelly voice. He walked us over to the nearest desk in the front row and threw me back against it.
I gasped at the impact, breath flying from me.
He was on me a second later. All heat and passion.
Explosive and desperate. His hands ripped at my clothes, my hair, and I moaned into him.
He stood back up, gripped my thighs hard, and pulled me towards him so that I was right on the edge of the desk. Trailing his fingers slowly – so slowly – up my legs, my breathing became rapid, and the heat between my thighs turned to molten lava.
‘Archer,’ I moaned, and he slapped his hand painfully over my mouth.
‘Be quiet,’ he whispered, all authoritative demand. With his spare hand, he lifted my skirt and felt around for the panties that weren’t there. He groaned to himself. ‘Mmm, that’s my good girl.’
He pulled his palm away and fiddled with his belt buckle. A moment later he’d unfastened it and was sliding it off. He clenched the leather in his fist. ‘Sit up.’
I obeyed instantly.
He slowly walked around the desk, trailing his fingers lightly across my collarbone, my shoulder, as he walked.
My whole body trembled with anticipation, lighting up at the feel of his wandering hands on my skin.
When he disappeared behind me, he reached one hand around my neck, squeezing gently, then he moved to my chin.
He tilted my head up slightly and whispered, ‘Open your mouth.’
Slowly, I heard the sound of leather unravelling, I parted my lips slightly.
His fingers trailed up further and I felt them in my mouth, I sucked on his index finger and he groaned into my ear, his breath making me shiver from head to toe.
He used his fingers to force my lips wider, and a moment later I felt something in my mouth – the cool material of his belt.
I gasped as it pulled tight.
He fastened the metal buckle behind my head with swift fingers. Nimbly adjusting the straps on my cheeks so I couldn’t speak.
He moved back to my front and looked down at me, sitting on the desk before him.
‘My beautiful girl,’ he whispered. His hand reached out to grab my neck with such force I struggled to get a breath in.
‘Now no one will hear you moan my name.’ The corners of his mouth turned up and he stroked my cheek.
‘Tell me you love me,’ he purred. I moaned, unable to get the words out.
‘Oh fuck, Iris,’ he said. ‘I will never get used to the sight of you like this. All mine.’ I tried to grind against him and he laughed.
‘You want me, is that it?’ I moaned again. ‘Tell me you want me.’
I tried to tell him. I tried to get it out between the leather in my mouth. ‘Mmmm…’ I pleaded.
‘Will you be quiet, my good girl?’
‘Mhm…’
One of his hands stayed firmly clasped around my throat, while the other inched back down to where my pants were missing. ‘I love you, Iris.’ He bit my earlobe.
I tried to say it back, but he knew I couldn’t, and he grinned at me.
‘Now hush,’ he demanded, as two of his fingers played around my entrance, teasing me.
‘Wow…’ he smirked. ‘Already so wet for me, aren’t you?
’ he said, before he suddenly plunged up inside me.
I wanted to scream, and plead, and beg for more.
I wanted to tell him I loved him, and that I wanted him inside me right now more than anything on this planet.
His fingers thrusted in and out of me so fast I saw stars.
I reached my pinnacle so quickly I was panting, fingers trembling in his hair, pulling at the strands, scratching down his back.
He just thrusted faster and faster. The leather rubbed against the skin on my cheeks and I savoured every moment.
I screamed as I came, Archer’s palm and fingers joining the belt in my mouth and covering my nose, shutting off my voice, my breath, muting my climax and the waves of bliss that accompanied it.
I shook as I rode the waves, eyes tearing up from pleasure.
I looked into his stormy gaze and it made me climax again, locking eyes with him as he held me through it all.
‘You’re so perfect,’ he whispered into my ear after I’d finished shaking, the pleasure almost too much to bear.
He walked behind me and undid the buckle.
The belt fell from my face with a thud and he came to stand in front of me.
His thumb stroked gentle circles on my cheeks where there were no doubt marks embedded in my skin. ‘So perfect,’ he repeated.
‘I love you,’ I gasped, getting my breathing under control. ‘I love you, Archer.’
He kissed me gently. Softly.
The clock on Archer’s desk chimed and we both jumped.
‘Shit,’ he breathed, plucking his belt from the floor and putting it on as I fixed my hair and ran a hand over my face.
He grabbed me again, hands tangling in my hair at the back of my head to hold me still.
‘Tonight. Ten. Our greenhouse. I love you, Iris.’ He squeezed his eyes shut and kissed my forehead. He was gone by the time I’d stood up.