Page 64 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

Sweat beads down my back while I awkwardly give it another try. It feels too good. My chest lifts with every frayed breath. I roll my hips, carefully writhing against it.

“You’re so fucking perfect.” He kisses my cheek.

By now, he holds most of my weight as I ride his hand gripping the swan. He doesn’t interfere in any way, no more kissing or touching. He simply watches with absolute reverence as if me coming right here, right now is the most important thing in the world. As if I am the most important thing.

“Let it go, Little Dove.”

I do.

Stars burst into a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors behind my eyelids. The orgasm burns through me, leaving nothing but devastation in its path. It’s relentless as it cuts through all my defenses and bit by bit, I fall apart in his arms.

“So good.” He releases me from my binding.

My legs are jelly at this point. I drop, but he catches me before I hit the floor. A wave of ecstasy lingers at my core as he scoops me into his arms. My cheek lands on the bit of his exposed skin, and I melt into him. I’m floating, still riding the high even though he already took the swan away.

I lift my head as he takes the stairs down to the second level. He’s taking me back to my room. I should object. But what can I expect? That just because I let him do all those things to me, he would change his mind about what I am to him?

Wife.

His word echoes in my head.

I want to fight him, push him away, and tell him I don’t need his help. But there’s no point. The all-powerful Mr. Archer get whatever he wants. I let him carry me to my bed. Once I’m on top of the covers, he removes my shoes and my jeans. And then it hits me. He brought me here without my top.

“Get under the covers.” He lifts the duvet. “I want you to sleep like this. Naked. Do you understand?”

I nod and do as he says, too tired to argue with him. As soon as my head lands on the soft pillow, I doze off. My eyes flutter open, then they close, and then, I’m in my favorite dream—the one where Archer guards my sleep, filling all the empty spaces in my room with his raw energy.

“Stay away from me, Little Dove.” His hand hovers over my cheek. “I’m exactly the monster you think I am.”

“You’re not a monster.” I turn on my side, curling my body toward the edge of the mattress. When I glance up at him, he’s gone.

I sit up, my heart racing.

I look to every corner, but all I find are shadows that don’t match his. Did I dream the whole thing? I squeeze my legs together, and my overly sensitive bud reacts as if it’s ready for another round. I peek at the nightstand and all the colors dancing on the facets of the crystal swan. Tears roll down my cheeks.

Archer is real. Just like his resolution to stay away from me.

“I’m your wife, you idiot.” I punch the pillow next to me. “I’m not your enemy.”

CHAPTER16

I CAME TO WARN YOU

Archer

I pace the length of the study like a caged animal. For the past hour, I’ve tried to get work done, but I can’t concentrate. Not when Paloma is out there in the gardens, looking particularly beautiful in a faux-fur coat. Her hair is up in a ballerina bun with a few strands framing her face.

To my surprise, I don’t regret last night. For as long as I live, I will cherish the memory of her coming apart in my arms. I loved getting her off with Hunter’s figurine. I smile to myself. Of course, now it’s not his. It’s mine. Because from now on, she’ll think of that night, and me, whenever she sees the crystal swan.

The slight problem with last night is that now, I can’t stop thinking about her, tied to my bed. Now that I know what her perfect tits look like, I can’t put her out of my mind. I crave her every minute of every day.

I amble to my desk and sit in front of my laptop. The emails are piling up because I haven’t been to the office in weeks. Swiveling the executive chair around, I look out the tall windows again. She’s still out there, except now she’s following the path that leads to the edge of the property in the distance.

“Fuck.” I shoot to my feet and head out.

It’s not that I fear she may leave. I know she won’t. She loves her father too much to bring him shame by backing out on his word, the deal he negotiated on her behalf. But I do worry that she doesn’t see how dangerous the woods can be during the winter months. The snow might be deeper than it looks. And there’s also the half-frozen pond. It’s beautiful in the spring, but treacherous at the moment.

I take the door that leads to the terrace, then climb down the stone steps. She’s wandering the grounds, so even though she’s still on the path, she hasn’t gone too far. I pick up the pace to catch up to her. I stalk her for a while, admiring her grace. Since she rarely leaves her room, I don’t get many opportunities to just watch her. That’s not counting the few stolen moments I allow myself every night. Watching her sleep has quickly become my nightly routine. A handful of times, I’ve soothed her out of a nightmare. She’s a heavy sleeper, but I know my voice calms the bad dreams that invade her peace.