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TWELVE

ARCHER

M y fingers flew over the keys, my eyes fixated on the screen before me. Writing had never been my strong suit, but I decided this was worth the attempt. I’d been coming in here for the last three days, finding a surprising solace in the words I conjured. It was easy to get lost in your imagination, and this was exactly what that was and more. Seven was in the music room by now, and Jordan would be in the gym or sketching something as he seemed to do a lot more of lately. It was the perfect opportunity for me to slip away.

The clicking of my fingers against the keyboard resounded throughout the room, glancing down at the word count, I realized I was already at twenty-thousand words. Halfway there. For some reason, that gave me a sense of pride, especially when I knew exactly what I was doing this for.

Her .

She might not approve of my tastes, but it was a gift, nonetheless. She enjoyed stories, getting swept away by an imaginative and unrealistic tale. I paid attention when I brought her to the library. I listened . She couldn’t deny me this even if she wanted to. I wouldn’t let her.

She was so oblivious to how gorgeous she was. Long tan legs, thighs that weren’t overly thick, but weren’t small either. The curve of her breasts and the glimpse of her cleavage told me they were full and would fit nicely in my hands. Her long, blonde hair that fell down her back in waves. The skirts she always wore hid her ass from view, but it was noticeable enough. She was fucking mesmerizing to look at, to even talk to. Her voice was as soft as silk and when she reacted to my touch, she was electric.

I couldn’t get enough. Not even if I tried. She’d already given me too much without even realizing it—without even having to give me hardly anything at all. She damned herself completely when she allowed me to touch her that day. When she melted into my arms and allowed my lips to travel down her neck. All she had to do to get me to leave her alone, was show me that she didn’t want me at all, but she did the opposite. And because of that, she was mine . I’d never let her go now. Not ever.

My little fucking salvation.

The moment our eyes locked for the first time, she breathed life back into me. If Seven wanted to fuck her, I’d give him that, because he was mine, too.

Reaching my desired word count for the day, I saved the file and turned off my computer. I had it locked with a pass code only I had access to. No one would bother my things; I went above and beyond to make sure of it.

Standing, I glanced around the empty room. Computers lined the back end with a desk near the front where a staff member would usually sit. This specific room wasn’t as heavily guarded since it wasn’t one many patients frequented. This was more of a room designed for hobbies, and not one for therapy.

I slipped out of the room and made my way down the hall, just in time for people to start scurrying alongside me as they made their way toward the cafeteria. Their laughter and voices erupted through the narrow space, people unintentionally brushing against me as they walked, oblivious to who the fuck they just touched. Lucky for them, I wasn’t as quick to anger as Seven and Jordan were. It really depended on the day.

My lips twitched in amusement. Jordan hated human contact, hated people in general. He was a recluse who chose to stick to himself and rarely engaged with outsiders unless he felt it was necessary. If someone did something he didn’t like, he made it known. He had that in common with Seven. Jordan wouldn’t even let us get too close to him physically. I wasn’t sure if that was past trauma or simply a preference. Considering I knew his backstory, it was doubtful that it was the former. He had no problem getting close to people when they pissed him off enough and had no problem with them fighting back. He enjoyed the contact when it was a battle.

Sadistic motherfucker.

That was part of why I loved him, though. He was different, and if he cared about you, he made that known, too, in the only way he knew how. By allowing us in. If it weren’t for me and Seven bulldozing into his life the way we had, he’d probably sit at a table all alone for lunch as he’d done before, entranced with his sketchpad and the meal that lay before him. He’d never admit it, but I think he enjoyed our company as much as we did his.

After collecting my lunch, I made my way to the table they were seated at and slipped down in between Seven and Jordan, thankful that the twins hadn’t made their appearance known just yet. They grated on my nerves on the best of days. My eyes scoured the room, hoping to find Rosalie, but by the looks of it, she hadn’t entered yet, either.

Seven’s piercing gaze met mine, a seductive smirk curling the corners of his mouth. He’d been a lot more interested in me lately, more so than usual. I had every reason to believe that it was because of a certain blue eyed, blonde-haired girl that had captured my attention. It was his way of staking his claim, not that he ever needed to. While I was completely enraptured by her, Seven was my rock. If he made me choose, I’m not sure I’d be able to. She might have been new, and I barely knew a thing about her, but she’d already splintered her way into my being. My obsession with her was a fickle bitch. Realistically, I knew this was insane—that she was a girl I’d only just met, but acting on what I knew and what I felt were two very different things.

I returned the smile with a tilt of my lips before moving my gaze to my plate. Today’s meal consisted of pepperoni pizza straight out of the box and had been heated in the oven to perfection. Sarcasm intended. The food wasn’t all that great here.

“How was the music room?” I asked, not bothering to glance in his direction as I lifted the steaming pizza to my lips and took my first bite. His eyes were trained on me, begging for my attention. Seven wasn’t the clingy type, and I knew exactly what he was doing. He didn’t want me to see her, but I felt her as soon as she stepped into the room. That familiar magnetic pull that was impossible to resist. But for him, I wouldn’t look. Not yet anyways.

He was silent for a few moments, his gaze searing into the side of my face. “Fine,” he clipped dryly, clearly not happy with the lack of attention I was giving him.

After a few long seconds of silence, my eyes drifted to his again. “You good?” I asked.

His lips drew tight as he assessed me momentarily. “Are you?” he countered, his jaw thrumming with tension.

“Guys,” Jordan warned, cutting through our staring contest, but neither one of us paid him any mind. Seven and I didn’t fight often, in fact it had been a rarity until more recently.

“If you have something to say, then fucking say it, Seven.” Annoyance bubbled inside of me, stirring the anger that rested in the pit of my stomach. I was already getting frustrated with his shit. He was my best friend, and this was stupid and pointless.

He narrowed his eyes, the tension thickening all around us. “You want me to say it? Fine, ” he growled, baring his teeth in a flash of anger. “I think you’re a selfish piece of shit who isn’t grateful for what he has. You always want more and it’s never enough. I think that as soon as that tramp shows the smallest amount of interest in you, that you’ll forget where you started and stick to her side like a fucking leech. I think you have it so bad that you don’t even realize just how bad it’s gotten, and I think you need to get medicated.” His chest was heaving by the time he was done, his hands gripping the edge of the table like he was afraid that if he didn’t, he might just attack me.

Fire exploded within me. His words echoing around my skull. Did he really think so little of me that he truly believed those things? This was new territory for him. Since coming here, the only person I’d shown any real interest in was him. Hell, it was new territory for me, too. I’d never been interested in two people at the same time, not like this.

Leaning forward, I kept my voice low, his mouth inches from mine. Even though he was so pissed off at me, he couldn’t hide the desire within him if he tried. His gaze darted to my lips before they fixated on my eyes again. “If you think so lowly of her, then why do you want to fuck her? Wh y do you think that you deserve to?”

“It’s her blood I’m after, nothing more,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

“Don’t do that.”

He reeled back, looking at me as if I’d grown a second head, and maybe to him, I had. “Do what?” he demanded.

“Don’t pretend you aren’t fucking attracted to her. She’s a goddamn wet dream. You’d be either blind or a liar to claim otherwise.”

My words seemed to miss their mark, because he flinched instead of acknowledging them for what they were. “Wet dream,” he muttered, mulling over my words, a look of resentment etched into his features. Snapping his gaze back to mine, they shone with malicious intent. “I’ll make her fucking wet, alright.”

Seven rose abruptly, snatching his chocolate milk from the table before storming across the cafeteria to where she sat. Just as her gaze drifted to his, he poured the liquid all over her head. Chocolate coated her light hair and shirt, splattering across her arms and legs. With one final movement, he chunked the plastic cart at the back of her head, making her flinch and turned on his heels to exit the room. Her body was tense, everyone turning to look at her. Some people laughed, while others watched her with pity on their faces.

I hung my head, my hands drifting through my hair, and I tugged relentlessly.

Jordan watched the interaction with fascination, his expression unreadable beyond that. It was almost as if he were waiting for her to make a move against him, but that wasn’t who she was. She was more like Jordan than anything from the brief interactions I’d gotten from her. She was quiet, reserved, and preferred to be invisible. She enjoyed reading where he enjoyed sketching. They were one in the same, truly.

Rosalie turned her head, her eyes clashing with mine before they flicked to where Jordan sat beside me. When they returned to me, there was a fire blazing within their depths that I could feel even all the way over here. They glistened with unshed tears and humiliation. She wouldn’t let this go, and I didn’t want her to. Seven wouldn’t hurt her. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he knew I’d never forgive him.

Rosalie stood, her posture rigid. It was then that I noticed how much he’d poured on her. Not a single drop went to waste. It clung to her body, clothes, and hair, the excess dripping onto the floor as she moved. Her friends all looked at her with concern, but she wasn’t paying them any mind. Her attention was focused solely on me and Jordan. I figured she’d bolt from the room, unable to handle the pressure of being the center of attention. But this girl never ceased to amaze me. Instead, she started directly for us, her hands clenched at her sides, and pure fury written into her angelic features.

Everyone seemed to watch with rapt attention as she moved, but if she noticed them, she didn’t let on. When she finally reached our table, she stopped, her gaze darting between the two of us. Jordan leaned back in his chair, his eyes assessing her in a way that I wasn’t sure I liked.

“What the hell was that?” she demanded in a shaky voice.

Jordan was the one to answer her. “Looks like Seven just poured his drink all over you.” He smirked.

She huffed, clearly not impressed with his straightforwardness. “No shit. We had a deal.” She was seething, and it was probably the hottest fucking thing I’d ever witnessed. But her words were what pulled me out of the trance I was in.

Flattening my palms against the table, I glanced over at Jordan in confusion. “A deal? What the hell is she talking about?”

“And I’m keeping my end of it,” he drawled. “What’s your point?” His gaze never wavered from hers, and he purposely chose to ignore me which set me off even more.

“ That’s keeping your deal?” she snapped. “He embarrassed me in front of everyone.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not your daddy and I’m not going to baby you. I agreed to keep you safe under the conditions we agreed upon. Did he threaten your life?”

She hesitated, her shoulders dropping a fraction as she came to terms with whatever secret they were on that I had no idea about. “Well…no, but he?—”

“Did he physically harm you?” he continued, not giving her a chance to finish her sentence.

Huffing as if she were a scolded teenager, she folded her arms over her chest. “No,” she bit out again.

He shrugged. “Then I haven’t broken my promise to you.”

Annoyance ebbed away at me, eating me from the inside out. “Anyone care to fill me in on what the fuck you guys are talking about?”

Rosalie’s eyes met mine, a war waging within them. My gaze drifted over the cut on the side of her face, confusion drilling a hole through me. Her chest moved up and down in rapid succession. She was pissed, and I didn’t blame her. Seven was out of line. I couldn’t help but feel like this was my fault. He was mad at me, so he took it out on her. That wasn’t going to fly with me.

Neither one of them answered me, which irritated me further. An inside secret between the two of them. When had they had a moment alone? At night? Was he interested in her, too? That thought had unease coiling around my gut. Jordan would ruin her. The fact that she trusted him enough to make a deal with him pissed me off. How could she trust him , but not me?

I knew Jordan well enough to know that he’d be her downfall, even if it wasn’t his intention. It was a part of who he was. He didn’t love women. Not his aunt, not any of his past conquests, and certainly not Rosalie. He didn’t even know her. The only woman he’d ever loved from what I knew of him, was his mother. And she was dead.

Jordan’s voice pulled me from my inner turmoil. “You might want to go get cleaned up.” His lip curled in disgust as he raked his gaze down her drenched body. “Milk starts to spoil relatively quickly.”

Her nostrils flared in response, but she seemed to know better than to pick a fight with him. She shot me one last scathing glare, before turning on her heels and marching out of the cafeteria, leaving her food, and friends behind.

I sank back in my seat, confusion tumbling through my body as I sifted through all the different possibilities. Jordan wouldn’t tell me shit, that much was clear. At least, not until he was ready to on his own terms.

Maybe I could get her to talk, though. Unless part of their agreement was non-disclosure.

Returning to my food, the cheese suddenly tasted bland. I knew that had everything to do with what had just happened and nothing to do with the food itself.

After lunch, I made my way into the girl’s bathroom, knowing that’s exactly where she’d be unless she took a five-minute shower. As expected, the sound of the water filled the room, pushing out steam that wafted through the vicinity and fogged the mirrors adjacent. There were curtains, but they did little to hide the bodies of the people behind them. My gaze snapped to her silhouette, the curve of her hips capturing my attention. I couldn’t see everything, but the shadow of her figure was enough. She tilted her head back, her long hair falling against her lower back. With the new position, her back arched as she worked her hands through her hair and her chest became more prominent. I could see the curve of her breasts, even the shadow of her nipples.

Fuck.

My dick twitched beneath the constraints of my jeans, begging me for a better glimpse of the woman within the shower. I’d initially followed her in here to speak with her, but my eyes were glued to what I could see of her body. Even from where I stood, propping my hip against the wall out of sight, she was visible to me.

My gaze drifted to her clothes that were strewn out on the bench and my lips curled as an idea struck me. Striding forward, I gathered her clothes and her towel in my arms, taking them to the opposite side of the bathroom. I placed them on the counter near where the toilet stalls sat and hurried back to resume my place against the wall. I watched as her hand slipped between her thighs, cleansing herself. She had no idea she was being watched, and that just made this hotter.

After a few moments, she turned the water off and stepped out, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion when she realized her towel wasn’t where she’d put it.

My breath rushed out of me at the sight of her. Her breasts were a decent size, a low D-cup if I had to guess. Her ass was bigger than I’d imagined, the skirts she wore doing it no justice. I grabbed my cock, adjusting it as it stretched painfully against my boxers.

Rosalie’s eyes fell to the vacant bench and her back straightened. I didn’t bother hiding when she started glancing around the room, her blue irises widening when they landed on me. A smirk tugged at my lips, a flush running up her body and she hurriedly snaked her arms over her chest, hiding them from view.

“W-where are my clothes?” she stammered.

I pushed off the wall and slowly made my way toward her. Even from here, I could hear the shake of her voice as she stumbled back, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

My voice was rawer than expected when I replied, the unmistakable desire lacing through my tone. “Don’t run from me, Rosalie.” She froze, recognizing the need in my words. Her face was flushed pink from the shower and nervousness; it traveled over the top of her breasts, drawing my gaze to them.

When I reached her, I gripped her arms in my hands, tugging them away from her body and placing them at her sides. Her breath hitched audibly, her wide eyes searching mine.

“Has your boyfriend ever seen you naked?” I asked. It was doubtful that he had, because if he saw what I did, there would be no way for him to turn this down, not unless he simply wasn’t attracted to women.

“No,” she whispered.

Stepping into the heat of her body, I brushed her damp hair away from her shoulders. “Fuck.” I breathed heavily. “His loss.” I meant that with every fiber of my being. Because what her boyfriend didn’t know—what she didn’t know—was that she was no longer his. From the moment I laid eyes on her, she’d become mine. I’d do whatever was necessary to prove that to her, and to make sure he got the message as well. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Rosalie. I don’t think you realize how much.”

Her voice shook as she spoke, her eyes darting behind me like she expected someone to come in at any moment, but no one would. Even if they did, I wouldn’t move. “What are you doing in here?” My eyes darted to her chest, and I ran my hand along the outside of her arm, moving it upwards until I reached the side of her breast. Her breathing grew heavier when I took that same hand and brushed my thumb over her nipple. She went rigid, but her nipple hardened regardless, giving away her desire. “Don’t,” she begged in a breathy plea. “Y-you can’t.”

“Because of him?” I asked, referring to her boyfriend that wasn’t even man enough to stand up for her yesterday. I mean, he tried , but he ended up walking out, leaving her to me and Seven. Worthless bastard.

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t have to. I knew that was exactly the reason. If he wasn’t in the picture, she’d probably let me touch her. That thought scared her more than anything and she wasn’t willing to admit it.

Instead of accepting her request for me to stop, I cupped her breast instead, enjoying the way it overflowed in the palm of my hand. Her hands snapped out, gripping my biceps, but she didn’t push. She just squeezed.

“Archer, please,” she begged.

Fuck. I needed her so badly it hurt, and I could see the warring emotions written in her expression. She needed me, too, even if she wouldn’t admit it. I came in here for answers, but I got swept away in the sight of her. I was a fucking goner now.

“Tell me to go away,” I muttered, wincing as the words fled my lips.

Her breath hitched as I tightened my grip around her breast, my thumb grazing her nipple as it had done before. “What?” she asked in confusion, swept up in the mere feeling of my hands on her body.

“Tell me to go away. Actually fucking mean it. I’ll stop everything right this instant. I’ll leave you alone. Tell me that you don’t want this at all.” I wouldn’t force this on her if she genuinely didn’t want it. That wasn’t who I was. I wanted her to want me back, and if she didn’t, then so be it.

Her lips parted, and for a moment, I thought she might actually do it. The conflict was written all over her face. She was torn between what she felt and what was right. We weren’t right. I knew that and didn’t care. She had a boyfriend, she was innocent, she was kind . She was everything that I wasn’t—that I’d never be.

“Y-you can’t touch me like this,” she said at last.

“Wrong fucking answer.”

I backed her into the wall, a gasp slipping from her lips. I moved my hands to her waist and lowered my head, taking her nipple in my mouth. Her back arched instantly, her breaths permeating the room. My tongue flipped across the pebbled bud, causing her to whimper, but still, she made no move to push me away. She didn’t know me well enough to want me as a person, but she also wasn’t willing to give up this kind of chemistry, either. I made her feel things she’d probably never felt before. It terrified her and was exhilarating to her all at the same time.

I wouldn’t fuck her because I knew it wasn’t what she wanted—knew that she wasn’t ready. But I could still breathe life into her with my touch alone.

“Archer,” she gasped out, my name sounding like heaven on her lips. “Please stop.”

“Tell me to go away,” I growled before swiping my tongue over her breast again.

Her hands moved up my arms and traveled over the hard planes of my chest where she attempted to push me back. “I can’t,” she admitted. “But I also can’t let you do this.”

Finally, I straightened my back, staring down at her. “Is it because of him?” I asked again.

Guilt flickered across her features, hating what she’d just allowed me to do, but this wasn’t on her. It wasn’t her fault. “Yes.” She dropped her gaze, but that wasn’t going to fly with me. Tilting her chin up with the crook of my forefinger, I stared her in the eye.

“Where was he when you needed him yesterday?” I demanded.

She reeled back as if I’d slapped her. “He—he…” she trailed off, pursing her lips before glaring at me. “He’s not a confrontational person,” she defended.

“Every man is confrontational when it comes to something they truly want.”

“You’re saying he doesn’t want me?” she countered in disbelief. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Even though I heard the words, I could see the hesitation written all over her face. She was a virgin, so he obviously hadn’t fucked her. With how responsive she was to my touch, it was easy to believe that it wasn’t her decision.

“I didn’t say that. But if I was him, I would have already fucked you. If someone posed a threat to our relationship, they’d pay for it. You’re settling for him; I can see it in your eyes. You want so badly to be wanted—to be desired, and he isn’t giving you what you need. Sex is a part of a relationship. It strengthens it. Without it, you’re missing out on a huge portion of what makes a relationship thrive.”

I didn’t give her time to mull over my words. I smashed my lips against hers, reveling in the feel of them pressed to mine and the scent of her skin. The intensity of my mouth against hers told her everything my words didn’t. This had now become her decision. I’d talk to her, touch her, but I wouldn’t give her what she wanted until she asked for it. This time, she parted her lips and let me kiss her back. As much as that made my heart rate accelerate, I knew it was because she’d decided that this would be the one and only time she allowed it. I also knew that minds could change, and I’d give her the space she needed, but only for a few days.

I pulled away first, confusion flickering in her eyes at my sudden departure. “Your clothes are on the counter near the stalls.” With those parting words, I turned my back and exited the room.