Page 56 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Nothing that should concern you.” He cocks his brow. “I’m sure you already noticed, but the east wing is shut down for renovations. Stay out of it, the structure is not sound.”

“What happened to it?”

“A fire.” He deadpans. “Just stay away from it. I don’t want you to get hurt. Plus, there will be men coming in and out most mornings.”

“Right. And you didn’t pay to share me with the world.” I repeat his words from last night.

Even if he’s letting me out of my room and buying me clothes, I still feel like a prisoner.

He prowls toward me until my body is caged between him and the wall. “That’s correct, Little Dove. I’m glad you finally understand. No one else can have you but me.”

“You don’t have me, Archer.” I lift my chin with a defiant air I don’t feel.

“Is that what you think?” He lowers his hand until the backs of his fingers tap against my sex.

My breath hitches, and I’m painfully aware that if he goes deeper, he’ll know I’m already wet for him. I don’t have enough experience to control how my body reacts to his. It’s not fair that he has this much power over me.

“You think that just because I haven’t claimed your pussy, that you’re not mine?” He applies more pressure. “Answer.”

“I don’t know.” I shake my head, while tears brim my eyes.

He rewards my response by palming my aching bud. The friction feels glorious. Inside, I’m dying to writhe against his hand until I find my release. But I refuse to give him the satisfaction of rejecting me once more.

“I bet you taste sweet,” he whispers in my ear. “Maybe I can have just one kiss.”

He glances down so I don’t miss his meaning. He wants to kiss me there. A ribbon of desire spirals like fire right where his hand is rubbing my clit. I bit down on my lip until I taste blood, fighting to keep my composure. I want to scream his name and ask for more. But what I want, he’s not able to give. I know that now. He’s determined to keep me but never claim me.

And then he does the unthinkable. He drops to his knees, pulls down my pants and open mouth kisses my bare pussy. His tongue thrusts forward, pushing past my folds.

I tunnel my fingers through his soft hair, while my left hand lands on his back. He tenses and he’s on his feet, holding my wrist, in one fluid motion. There’s an expression of pain and sadness on his face that guts me.

“Why won’t you let me touch you?” I murmur.

“Dinner tonight.” He sucks in his lower lip, savoring me. “Wear the red dress.”

Before I can react to his demand, he opens the door and shuts it behind him. My head falls back and hits the wall. I cry out in frustration. How can he leave me like this, exposed and completely unsatisfied?

He’s got another thing coming if he really believes that leaving me stewing in my own desire is going to get me to agree to have dinner with him.

I hope his patience is as good as his self-control.

Because he’s going to be waiting a long time.

CHAPTER14

I WOULD RATHER STARVE

Archer

The din of cluttering utensils fills the silence in the dining room. For the past half hour, since I gave the order for Mary Jane to begin the meal service, no one has said a word. Even Gardenia, who is usually a chatterbox, has decided to keep quiet tonight. She chews her food carefully. She thinks I don’t notice how she exchanges glances with Jacob and Fisher, but I do. They’ve all taken to walking on eggshells around me.

I’ve become the elephant in the room in my own fucking house.

After several attempts throughout the day to get Paloma to join us for dinner, I couldn’t get her to agree. Short of dragging her downstairs—something I considered at least five times in the last hour—and plopping her on the empty chair to my right, I don’t know what else to do.

Her life at the mansion can be pleasant if she wants it to be. But she’s set on staying locked up in her room and avoiding all contact with me. At least she’s right on that bit. Staying away from each other is the best thing we can do. I lick my lips, then clench my jaw because I can’t taste her anymore. God, I want to bury my face in her pussy again and fuck her all night until my name is all she remembers. Until Hunter is completely erased from her mind.

She won’t wear my wedding ring either. She would rather keep his crystal swan by her side. It took all my self-control not to smash it against the wall when I saw it in her room. When I returned it to her on opening night, I did so thinking I would never see her again. I gave her back the Swan as a goodbye of sorts.