Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
GRACE
“Hey, babe.”
“Grace!” Saffron’s chipper voice rings through the speakers. “I’m glad you called. I have so much to tell you!”
“Ditto,” I say, sitting down on my bed. “Does yours have something to do with a certain handsome doctor?”
I can practically hear her grin through the phone. “It is. He’s been over three times since I was discharged to bring me food and see how I’m healing.” Her voice lowers to a whisper. “I really like him, Grace.”
“Is there a reason we’re whispering about it? He sounds really sweet!”
“I know… but I don’t want to jinx it. Also, I’m still pretty freaked out after… you know. It’ll be a while before I trust someone romantically again.”
“That’s completely understandable.” My heart aches for her. “You take all the time you need. If he’s a decent man, he’ll wait for you to be ready.”
“I hope so,” she says. “I think he’s one of the really good ones, Grace.”
“You deserve one of them. God knows you’ve been through enough shit.”
She laughs. “I know that’s true. So… what’s your news?”
My face heats at the reminder of what I called to tell her. Images of Archer between my thighs swirl in my mind, and I begin to think it’s not such a great idea. “Nothing really…”
“Oh, come on. I told you my thing!”
“Yours was cute. Wholesome. Why wouldn’t you share that?”
There’s a long pause. “What did you do, Grace?”
I scoff. “Why are you asking me like you think I did something bad?”
“I don’t know. Because you sound super suspicious?”
“I do not!”
Saffron sighs. “You’re stalling. Just tell me what happened.”
Now it’s my turn to pause. “I may have… slept with my boss.”
She gasps. “The new hot one?”
“Yes…”
“Was it good?”
I swallow hard, my face heating at the thought of all the dirty things he did to me last night. “It was the best sex I’ve ever had.”
There’s a squeal, and I have to pull the phone away to spare my eardrums. “Oh my God! I cannot believe you had super-hot sex with your super-sexy new boss! Tell me everything. Was he good with his hands? Did he have a weird orgasm face? Are you going to do it again?”
I let out a small laugh, deciding to focus on her last question. “I’m actually skipping work to go to breakfast with him. We broke apart for an hour to take some much-needed showers, and he’s picking me up at my apartment.”
“That is so cute!” she says. “I’m so happy for you, Grace!”
“Don’t get too excited,” I remind her. “He’s my boss, and this has a high probability of blowing up in my face. I could be making a massive mistake.”
“Yeah, but at least it’ll be a sexy mistake.”
“You are the worst influence,” I say, laughing. “What happened to being cautious?”
“That’s advice for me. You are young and hot and deserve to have all the young hot sex you can. Now go out and make me proud!”
I burst into a fit of giggles, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “I love you, Saf.”
“I love you too. But I was being so serious. Go. Shoo. Get ready for your date with your sexy-ass boss, have a fabulous time, and give me all the details tomorrow.”
“I could give them to you tonight.”
“Oh, honey, you better not. If you’re not lying on your millionaire boss’s bed tonight, I’ll be disappointed.”
“Saf!”
“What? It’s true!”
I shake my head, my face heating. “I’m hanging up the phone now.”
“Good! Oh, and Grace?”
“Yes?”
“There’s no need to wear lingerie. He’ll appreciate it more if you go bare.”
“Okay, byeee, love you!” I say, pressing the End Call button. I love that girl to pieces, but her lack of filter makes for some interesting conversation.
I let out a puff of air, shoving my phone into my pocket and walking to my closet. Suddenly, I regret hanging up with Saffron because I have absolutely nothing to wear.
My face heats as I take in the glorious specimen standing in my doorway.
“Wow,” he breathes, eyes darkening as he drags them slowly down my body.
I decided on a lacy bodysuit Saffron loaned me a while back that I’ve never had the excuse to wear.
It’s low-cut and pushes my breasts up in just the right way, making them look even fuller than normal.
I paired the bodysuit with a cute black denim skirt and ankle booties, wanting to look cute but not overdressed. “You look fantastic.”
He takes a step into my apartment, his presence magnetic, powerful. Archer slides his hands around my waist, his head dipping low to kiss the pulse point on the side of my neck.
“Good enough to eat.” He nips my earlobe, and I yelp, jerking back at the sensation. Archer holds me tight, moving his mouth along my jaw, leaving heated kisses in his wake.
Finally, he presses his mouth to mine, and the world shatters around me as I lose myself in the feel of him, his touch, his kiss. When he pulls away, it’s much too soon, but I’m rewarded by the sight of Archer's heart-stopping grin.
“How do crepes sound?” he asks, brushing his lips against mine.
“I love crepes!”
“I heard about a spot that makes the best ones. I have a table waiting for us there, and three other restaurants just in case you were in the mood for something else.”
It’s like I won the lottery. “That’s sweet of you. Crepes sound great.”
At that moment, my stomach growls, prompting Archer’s grin to widen. “We’d better not waste any time.”
“Oh my God, this is heaven!” My eyes roll back as a moan echoes in my throat. I just had the most delicious strawberry crepes in my life, and though I’m stuffed, I can’t help but shove more into my mouth. “I can’t believe I didn’t know about this place!”
Archer stares from across the table, his dark eyes trained on my mouth as I take another large bite. “I’m glad you like it.”
I gesture to his half-eaten plate. “Do you not like yours? We can switch!”
“I’m hungry for something else.” The way he says it has heat coiling low in my belly. I shift in my booth, all too aware of the blush creeping up my neck.
“Here.” I pass my fork across the table, aiming for his mouth. “Try mine.”
Obediently, Archer opens his mouth, taking the bite of food I offer. His lips slowly wrap around the fork, and he pulls back, never taking his eyes off me as he chews and swallows.
“Well?”
“Everything tastes better when you’re feeding it to me,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s not fair.”
I giggle. “How’s that not fair?”
He doesn’t smile. “Because you’re ruining me, and it’s supposed to be the other way around.”
Before I get the chance to ask what he means, a strange man steps up to our table, making me momentarily forget about Archer’s strange words.
He looks to be somewhere in his mid-fifties, with a thick gray beard and a full head of salt and pepper hair—though, it’s more salt than anything else.
He’s dressed in a crisp white button-up and black slacks, with his muscles clearly defined through the sheer fabric.
Despite his age, he clearly takes care of himself, and with his strong jaw and striking blue eyes, he’s the definition of a silver fox.
“Excuse me for interrupting,” he says, ice-blue eyes fixed on me, and me alone. “I was wondering if I could have a moment alone with—”
“What in the fuck are you doing here, Viktor?”
I flinch, turning to Archer with wide eyes.
For a second, I’m convinced he’s been swapped with a different person—unable to reconcile this vicious man with the one I was just having breakfast with.
His expression is twisted in fury, his words dripping venom, laced with a kind of malice that sends a shiver of fear down my spine even though it’s not directed toward me.
“Archer…”
Archer blinks, quickly schooling his expression. He clears his throat, his eyes creasing with an apology. “Excuse me, Grace. I was just… surprised…” With a glower, he turns his attention back to Viktor. “How can I help you, Viktor?”
Viktor's icy gaze shifts between Archer and me. “I need to talk to you about… some business. Alone,” he adds pointedly.
“Can it wait until later?” Archer’s voice is low, deadly. “It would be rude of me to leave Grace alone just to talk to you about business.”
“It’s okay!” I don't want to cause any problems. “You can talk to him. I have to run to the restroom, anyway.”
Archer nods, but a muscle is ticking in his jaw as he stands to pull out my chair. I hurry to the restroom, unable to catch what Viktor says under his breath as I round the corner.
I take my time washing my hands and fixing my hair in the mirror, and by the time I come back to the table, Viktor is gone, and Archer is wearing the easy smile I’m accustomed to.
He pulls out my seat, but I can’t shake the uneasy sensation that has come over me.
“So… who was that? You didn’t seem to like him very much.”
Archer stiffens, but when I turn my head, he’s still wearing his easy smile. “He’s an old friend. We don’t see eye to eye on certain… things.”
He takes his seat, then takes a bite of his crepes like nothing had happened. But I still can’t shake this uneasy feeling.
“He said he wanted to talk about business. Does he work for LoveBytten?”
Archer shakes his head. “Different company. We used to work together, so he wanted my advice on a project he’s working on.”
I frown. I guess that makes sense, but something still doesn’t add up. “You worked with him here? In Moriton? Didn’t you fly here from overseas?”
Archer’s face goes slack, but it returns to normal a heartbeat later, leaving me to believe I might have imagined it. “I did. It’s not my first time being in Moriton, though. I worked with Viktor years ago.”
“And he wanted your advice now?”
His jaw ticks. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Archer was getting irritated. “Yes. I guess he heard I was back in town.”
“It’s weird how he tracked you down here, though, right? I mean, there’s no way he’d know you’d be eating here at this exact hour.”
“I guess he happened to be eating here, saw me, and came over.” He scoops up another bite, rather aggressively. “Why are you so worried about this, Grace?”
“I’m not worried. Just curious. It’s weird.”
“It’s not weird to get approached at a restaurant by an old friend.” He blinks slowly, his shoulders tensing as if he’s putting a lot of energy into something. “Your crepes are getting cold.”
But I’m not hungry anymore. I don’t know why, or about what, but Archer is lying to me. I’m sure of it. “I think I’m full, actually.”
He tilts his head. “Grace… is something wrong?”
“No.” I let my eyes fall to the table. “Not really.”
“Liar, liar…”
My head snaps up, all the blood draining from my face. I’ve heard that before. But where…? Before I can figure it out, Archer passes his fork across the table, pushing a bite against my lips. “Open up, Grace.”
I do, chewing slowly around the mouthful. I’m anxious all of a sudden, my skin crawling. And I know it has to do with that strange man who came to our table.
I try to relax and enjoy the rest of our date, but that unease swirling in my gut never goes away. When Archer drives me back to my apartment, I can’t find anything to say, and we spend the drive in rare, uncomfortable silence.
As he’s parking the car, a text notification pops up on the car screen, displaying a text message.
Dorian
Need you for cleanup at 55 Botson Ave.
I whip my head toward Archer, but he doesn’t seem to be reacting. Weird.
That text was strange, but I can’t think of what it could be in reference to. Pushing it to the back of my mind, I lean over to give Archer a kiss goodbye, then head up to my apartment.
I’m sitting down on my bed when the lock on my front door clicks. Immediately, my muscles stiffen, my body reacting before I even set eyes on him.
A moment later, Seven steps into my bedroom, dressed in his all-black tactical gear, with that eerie, expressionless red mask strapped to his face. And judging by the severe set of his shoulders, he is not happy with me.
“Hello, Grace.”
“Seven.” I dip my chin, trying not to show how scared I am. Or how turned on. “What do you want?”
He laughs, a cruel sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “I’m surprised you have to ask. You’ve been bad, Grace. Very, very bad.” He steps closer, his erection clearly visible through his pants. “You know what happens to bad girls, don’t you?”
I nod, biting my lip as heat coils low in my belly. “Yes…”
“Yes? Then why did you do it?” He reaches up, cupping my face in his gloved palm.
“Why do you have to make me so angry? I don’t want to punish you, but your actions make it so I have to.
” All the while, his thumb traces gentle circles along my cheekbones, softening his deadly words.
“You want to be daddy’s good girl, don’t you, Grace? ”
“I… I do,” I whisper, my thoughts on self-preservation.
“Then why,” he whispers, “Did you let him touch you? Why? When you belong to me?”
I swallow hard, fear gripping my windpipe. “I… I don’t know who you’re talking about—”
“I saw you.” His hand snaps down to grip my throat. “Together. Laughing. Touching.” His other hand reaches down, teasing the hem of my skirt while the other tightens around my throat, making her lightheaded. “You are mine, Grace. Say it.”
“I… I…” Seven trails his fingers up my thigh, stopping at the apex to tease my entrance. “I…”
“Fucking say it.”He pushes a finger inside me up to the knuckle, and I gasp, overwhelmed by the sensation, the pure bliss of having him inside me.
“I’m yours,” I whisper, hating and loving how it sounds rolling off my tongue. Seven adds another finger, curling them against the spot that makes me come undone. He fucks me savagely, and before I know it, I’m coming on his hand.
As I’m coming down, he leans over me, whispering sweetly in my ear, “I’m going to rip that fucking IUD out, and then I’m going to breed you. I’m going to fill your needy little womb time and time again, and make you mine forever.”
I whimper as he pulls his fingers out of me, leaving me cold, empty, and wanting. Seven presses his palm to my stomach, and then, like all the other times, he disappears.
I lie there for some time staring at the ceiling, reveling in the pleasure still running through me. I think about how Seven said he’s going to breed me, and despite how it should make me feel, I find it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, it's kind of exciting.
But then a thought pierces through the fog of my waning pleasure, and my euphoria is replaced with bone-chilling worry.
Seven knows about Archer.
If I keep things going with Archer, Seven is definitely going to kill him. There’s no question about it. He’s proved time and again he’ll destroy anything or anyone that would come between me and his sick obsession with me. The only problem is, I might be in too deep to get out.
I’m so fucked.