Chapter 18
DENVER
I don’t know what came over me, but the idea of being chased by Archie, being caught, like an actual rabbit on a hunt, sprang into my mind, and I couldn’t let it go. It sparked something dark and needy, something that wasn’t born of fear and chaos.
I want to run and be pursued. I want to be caught while safe and not in danger.
It feels like taking something back that was stolen from me. The idea of being followed was suffocating and made me feel powerless, but this is different. This is my choice. My chase. My rules.
For the first time, being a rabbit isn’t a weakness. It’s being in control.
Archie’s eyes flash, and I see the way his body shifts into that primal jungle cat.
He’s ready to chase, and I’m ready to run.
I shift on my feet and bolt into the darkness, the branches brushing my cheeks as I run.
The scent of the peaches thickens as I inhale longer, deeper.
I feel alive, knowing he’s behind me, trailing after. Stalking.
I can’t hear him, but I can feel him. I know he’s there, gaining on me, giving me time while knowing that I will never make it past him.
I turn quickly to my right and burst through into a different row of trees. The moon is hanging high in the evening sky, lighting some of my way, but I trip a few times, falling against a tree trunk and scraping my arm. The pain is profound, but it’s also grounding in a way I didn’t expect.
And the fact that Archie doesn’t stop the chase and make me feel like I’m fragile and can’t handle it means everything.
I twist down another long aisle of peaches, and then I feel strong arms wrap around me. The air is pulled from my lungs as my legs are lifted off the ground, and my throat vibrates with the soft cry Archie pulls out of me.
I struggle, like an animal caught in a trap, but he holds on to me tightly.
His breath puffs against my neck, his chest vibrating against my back as he buries his nose in my neck like he’s scenting me.
Then there are teeth, sharp and biting against my pulse point, and then his hand snakes around to the front of my pants, cupping my cock.
It’s hard, ready, and I moan as the leaves tremble above us.
Falling back against his shoulder, Archie’s teeth sink into the skin of my neck with a proper, stinging bite as he works the waistband of my linen pants down, exposing my throbbing cock behind tight lace panties. He’s working me over so good, taking from me, giving me just what I want.
What I need. This is so different from what I’ve experienced being chased and caught.
This is perfect.
His tongue licks across my neck as he tugs the panties to the side, and then he curls his fingers around my bare cock, and the sensation is almost too much. I’m so fucking close, I don’t know how long I’m going to last.
“Archie,” I beg aloud, unsure how clear my words are or how loud. But I don’t care. “Please, I need you. Fuck, make me yours.”
He rumbles something against my neck as I reach my arm around and slide my fingers through his hair, turning my head slightly so he can kiss me as he starts to jerk me fast and hard.
And he doesn’t hold back. He fucks my mouth with his tongue in time with the way his fist shuttles up and down my cock, and when I feel the sparks of orgasm flaring to life, it’s on a loud moan.
My body shakes so hard my teeth rattle, and the world tilts as I spill onto the dirt, christening the earth here with something that feels a little bit like making love. Different, yes. Feral, and needy, and wild. And very much us.
When I finally come down from the high, Archie pulls his lips away from mine, and my eyelids flutter open, my gaze meeting his. His pupils are blown out, his eyes dark and needy.
I want to give him everything he wants. Without reservation and no hesitation. I am his, and I need him to know that. Pulling up my pants, I turn to face him, touching his cheek gently. He leans into it like a cat, and I stroke his jaw.
‘Want back home?’ I ask, and he nods. I’m not surprised. I know he feels safest in his basement room.
He stares down at his messy hand with the smallest wrinkle in his nose, so I bring it up to my shirt, wiping it off. I know he doesn’t like the feel of drying cum on his skin.
‘Bring me home,’ I sign when his hand is clean.
He gives me a look that I know now is gratitude, and he kisses the shit out of me, making my toes curl. ‘You want stay longer?’ he signs between us.
I shake my head. ‘No. Want you and bed now.’
He sighs, all the tension in his body gone, and he turns to lead the way back, keeping close to me. My legs are slightly unsteady from the orgasm and the adrenaline that surged through my system as he chased me down, but on his arm, I don’t lose my footing.
The euphoria of everything has settled by the time we get into the house, and I’m a little less unnerved when we find Milo home, sitting at the kitchen table with his laptop, surrounded by small sample packs of dried cat food.
My eyes catch on his laptop screen, and I see a page open to a familiar man’s social media photo album.
He quickly closes the laptop before I can get a good look and stares at me.
‘What are you working on?’ I manage to ask, feeling my cheeks heat for snooping.
He stares at me and says nothing as he pries open a large plastic bag and places some zip ties inside. Then he reaches for the duct tape and a slip of fabric.
I glance over at Archie, who is drying his hands off, and then back to Milo, who is still watching me.
‘Steal,’ he signs, and I open my mouth to ask what he means, but Archie is pulling me toward his room.
‘What was that?’ I ask when our backs are turned and he can’t see me.
‘Don’t worry about it. Milo is weird. Just ignore.’
That makes me laugh as our feet carry us into the basement.
I mean, yeah, but Percy and Archie aren’t the epitome of normal either.
They’re enigmas. I don’t understand them at all, and I’m pretty sure Milo was putting together some kind of kidnapper kit.
I should probably be worried, but I can’t bring myself to care.
A light flickers on, snapping me out of my thoughts, and Archie points to the bed.
‘Lay down. Rest.’
‘I don’t want to rest. All I’ve done is rest.’
He gives me a look. ‘I don’t care. You need to heal. Bed. Now.’
The way he says it has my heart thundering in my chest, and after a short forever of debating whether or not I want to be defiant, I shuffle to the bed and climb under the still-messy covers I left a few hours ago.
He stares at me as I get comfortable against his pillows, his head cocked to the side, and he wets his lips like he’s making another decision. ‘Clothes off,’ he finally signs.
I bite my bottom lip and do as he says, letting him help me pull my pants off.
My heart gives another hard thud, and I wriggle out of the linen pajama pants I took out of his drawer and the threadbare T-shirt with no tags. When I’m completely naked except for my panties, he nods.
‘I need to shower, then I will join you. Rest,’ he tells me again, and I feel my eyes closing. I needed the chase, but it did me in, and while all I want is to stay awake and bring him pleasure, I don’t think I can.
But Archie seems to get that. Instead of walking to the bathroom, he crosses the space between us, pushes hair back from my forehead, then lays a kiss to the corner of my mouth. I feel breath on my cheeks like maybe he’s spoken. Or maybe it’s just a sigh.
Either way, it soothes me in a way I don’t expect.
His fingers trail another touch along my jaw, then down my still-tender throat before pulling all the way back. Our eyes meet for a short second, and then he turns and walks off, and I let the fatigue nipping at my heels finally claim me again.
I wake up a short while later to the feel of someone watching me, but I know exactly who I’m going to find when I open my eyes.
Archie is staring down at me, his head cocked, his eyes slightly hooded, curls damp from his shower. He’s wearing a gray shirt and black pants, and he looks dangerous, exactly the way I’ve come to like him.
Our gazes meet, and he inhales deeply. I can’t hear it, but I can see it in the movement of his chest, the way it sucks in before he lets it all out.
I lift a lazy hand. ‘You okay?’
He nods and wets his lips, then tugs the sheet off my body, exposing me to the cool air. My nipples harden almost immediately, and it’s then that I notice the bulge in his pants.
I spread my legs, inviting him to come closer. To touch wherever he wants. He presses his hands to the mattress, then crawls forward, catlike and hyperfocused on his prey. Our lips hover inches apart.
I can’t help but reach up and cup his cheek, grazing my fingers through his five o’clock shadow and basking in the way he leans into my hand.
The more I’ve come to know him, the more I realize he doesn’t like being touched by most people.
It feels like a privilege to be able to do this. To have him enjoy it.
To crave it.
Taking my wrist, he kisses the inside of my palm and then lowers his face to my neck.
He brushes his nose up against my skin, taking in a deep inhale, and his chest rumbles with a hum as he lets it out.
No words are needed in this moment. He knows what I want, and I can feel the desire he has for me.
It’s clear with the slight tremble in his body and the way his hard cock is pressed against my own.
He nibbles his way across my skin, and I groan against the faint sting, my hands trailing down his back and rucking his shirt up to skim along his warm skin. He basks in this like I do, and then he turns his head to take me in a rough, feral kiss.