Page 33

Desire alive in the air.

I’m not sure if the corset I’m currently constricted by just tightened on its own, but I’m feeling a little swoony at hearing those words, especially with the husky way he said them.

His need is for me and it’s hot.

“Archie, will you please look at me?”

He scoffs. “You aren’t ready to see myweapon, my Lady. It will only drive you away.”

My eyebrows lift like an elevator heading to the top of my head. “Yourweapon? Are you bigger than Pennie… or is that rude to ask? I mean, you are huge and so your equipment is probably huge too, but if it were dangerously huge, likeweaponish, Pennie’s pool could probably fix me right up, couldn’t it?”

Archie begins to turn but then forces himself to remain against the wall. “Lady Bianca, I think your sultry tone is unwise. Your presence here is absolutely unwise. Just head back to the castle and enjoy the others. I’ll leave just as soon as it is safe for me to do so. I’ll never allow my family to suffer because of me.”

I blow out a breath and glare at his ginormous back and rippling muscles. “I’ve barely met you all and I already know that if you leave, your family willneverstop grieving, so I don’t want to hear another word about you leaving, not ever again.”

He slumps into the wall. “I can’t do this.”

“Just do one thing. Just turn toward me. Look at me. Talk to me. I know it hurts, but if you can talk to me and explain things, then we can figure out a solution.”

“There is no solution!” he storms.

“Not with that attitude!” I storm right back.

“My attitude?! You’re worried about my attitude when I’m a threat to your well-being? Bianca, your self-preservation instincts are sorely lacking.”

I huff. “That’s probably true, or maybe theywere, but I’m officiallyovertrying to protect myself from living my life the way I want. And I want to see you. Right now. I’myourLady Bianca, according to the others, and Icommandyou to show yourself.”

Archie shakes his head but then surrenders, slowly turning toward me and revealing a body made of defined, bulging muscles and incredible power. When my eyes dare to dip lower, I can’t keep my jaw from dropping.

His fully erect cock is enormous, but I expected that. What I didn’t expect were the tusks—two freaking tusks—wrapping around the head of his cock. Dang.

A second later, he lunges toward the bars that separate us, his eyes wild, his control gone. He reaches through the bars, his hands extended, grasping at the air between us.

I’m too in awe to back away, even though I probably should. He can’t quite reach me, but I feel the breeze he creates as he tries.

“Archie,” I purr at him, suddenly a stranger even to myself. “If you want me, you’re going to have to tell meexactlywhat you want to do to me.”

Chapter25

Archie

Rut. Rut. Rut.

No thoughts.

Just sensations.

Power.

Desire.

Blinding need on fire.

Claim.

Bianca.

Her words don’t register, though I distantly notice her lips moving. She says it again. Whatever she said.