by J. L. McCoy
“Um,” I heard Archer push back the covers and felt him slide to the edge to sit next to me. “I believe you rode home with Killian and Hagan in the Escalade. Why? Were you that drunk that you can’t remember getting home?”
I let his answer sink in and I turned to him, completely scared of what was happening to me. I was missing time, significant time, and I didn’t know how to handle it. “If I share something with you, will you promise not to hurt me?”
“Why would I hurt you, Skye?” Archer asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“I’m going to ask you to peer inside my mind and I want you to promise that you won’t hurt me if I trust you with this again,” I explained timidly. “I need you right now…and I need to know that I can trust you.”
“I promise,” he whispered, suddenly concerned. “I promise, Skye. You can trust me. What’s going on?”
I took a deep breath and turned my body to face his. He did the same and soon we were facing each other on the bed. I slowly reached out to take his hands and gently placed them on my cheeks as I leaned into him. His smell immediately bombarded my senses as his pheromones slammed full force into me. I felt my breath quicken and Archer’s eyes got wide as he took in my immediate response to him. Never had I reacted so strongly or so readily to his pheromone influence before.
“Skye,” he whispered as he smelled the reaction his pheromones gave me.
“Just read me,” I whispered back as I looked deeply into his eyes.
Suddenly to room started to wobble and tilt as Archer accessed my mind. This invasion of my memories was softer than last time. Last time, it felt like they were being ripped from me. This time, I willingly gave them up.
The first thing I saw was our fight in the living room. I saw myself walk out and I saw my swim in the pool. I saw my breakup with Jameson and my girl talk with Rachel. I saw us working, drinking, and dancing, then I saw me go to Archer’s office. I saw my conversation with Ruarc and I saw Archer and me fighting again. The next thing I saw was him kissing me and I heard Archer’s audible intake of surprise in front of me. I saw him throw me on the bed and our intense sexual episode after that. The last thing I saw was Amun’s smile before I saw myself wake up in my room.
Archer growled as he released his hold on my mind. He was breathing heavily and not from the physical exertion mind reading could cause. He was very obviously turned on. His pupils were large and dilated, his mouth hung slack, his lips were parted, and his…impressive manhood was on proud display under his thin black silk boxers.
I licked my lips and hurriedly looked up from his hips. I felt my cheeks instantly flush red with embarrassment. “So, yeah,” I breathed, trying to calm my racing heart. “That’s what I meant by ‘how did I get home’.”
“Jesus, Skye,” he breathed as he looked my body up and down. “That was incredible.”
“Calm down, lover boy,” I pursed my lips. “We’ve got bigger problems here. I’m missing a few hours in my memory.”
Archer licked his lips and shook his head, obviously trying to shake the vision of us in bed together. “I-I can’t explain that,” he sighed as he stood up. “It had to be Amun messing with you. What I saw just a few seconds ago most definitely didn’t happen. Trust me, I would have remembered that. Those positions…and the spanking…” he started, but I cut him off.
“I’m well aware of the spanking,” I waved my hand as if to erase the memory. “Do you really think this is another one of Amun’s dreams that he is controlling? If so, why have me dream about having sex with you. Why would he care to see that? Or have me experience that, for crying out loud. What’s the point?”
Archer looked down at me and frowned. “I have no idea,” he shook his head. “I don’t understand it either. Are you sure it wasn’t just a dream that you had naturally? I mean…”
“No,” I said quickly, looking down at my hands. “Er…I mean…I guess it could have been.”
Archer gently reached down and lifted my chin with his finger so that our eyes met. “Is that how you feel about me? Do you want to do those things with me?”
I blushed furiously as I looked away. “No,” I paused and then sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe. Yes?”
Archer grabbed my hands and gently pulled me off the bed. I stood in front of him and my breath hitched at the memory of our kiss in his office.
He searched my eyes, as if asking my permission, as he slowly leaned his head down to mine. I had a sudden thought and clamped my hand over his mouth, stopping him in his tracks.
“What do you remember from tonight?” I asked, deep in thought. “What is that last thing from my memory that is true?”
Archer sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned back from me. He took a step back and I dropped my hand from his mouth. “Well, um…when I was chastising you about the way you talked to Ruarc. I told you that you were hardheaded and you said that it was a gift.”
“Okay,” I nodded my head as I went to sit back down on the bed, worrying at my bottom lip, deep in thought. “So, what happened after that?”
“Well,” Archer sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. I watched as his muscles in his stomach and arms adjust and ripple as he lifted his arms. I instantly thought back to my dream and his naked body underneath me, grabbing my hips as I rode him. I swallowed hard and Archer immediately looked down at me. “You’re projecting those thoughts awfully loudly over there. If you want me to behave, I’m going to need you to stop thinking about that. I already saw it once; I can’t handle seeing it again without wanting to make that dream a reality. A man has only so much control, Skye.”
“Sorry,” I blushed and looked down at my hands. “I can’t help it.”
Archer growled and reached down to adjusted himself. I could tell that he was hard to the point of it being painful. “So, as I was saying, after I said that you were hard headed, I told you that Ruarc ultimately agreed with your request. He was definitely not happy about it, but you did provide valuable information to them about Amun.”
“So he agreed?” I asked, surprised. “I get a guard?”
“Yes,” Archer said unhappily. “You may have your pick of the ones that are currently guarding us, if you still wish to move. You will be provided with two so that you are always guarded, day and night. Ruarc will send our replacements soon after.”
“Thank you,” I said gratefully, but part me of felt sad at the thought of leaving Archer’s house. After having that dream, I was no longer as furious with Archer as I had been. My attraction to him was deeper and my desire was scorching hot. Realizing this left conflicting and confusing feelings in my heart. I was still furious at him for what he and the others did to me, but I guess you can’t have hot and amazing dream sex with someone and not feel a little something for them afterward.
“So, uh…what happened after that?” I questioned as I tried to hide the conflicting feelings deep down so he wouldn’t see them.
“Well, you said thanks, poured up a glass of scotch and left,” he shrugged his shoulders. “It was pretty uneventful. I came out of my office a few minutes later and you were sitting at the bar downstairs drinking your drink, not saying anything to anyone. When it was time to go, you grabbed your stuff and got into the Escalade with Killian and Hagan and when you got home you went to your room and shut the door. That’s the last I saw of you until just now.”
“Where’s Styvi Nix?” I asked, suddenly worried. “She wasn’t in my bed when I woke up.”
“Jameson has her,” he explained gently. “You went to bed without so much as a glance her way. So, Jameson took her upstairs and she’s sleeping with him. She has really taken to him.”
My brow furrowed with the confusion I felt. “What? I would have never just ignored Styvi and I definitely wouldn’t have gone to bed without her. I don’t understand. That isn’t like me.”
“I agree,” Archer sighed tiredly, running his fingers through his hair again. “You had been acting kind of strange at the bar before
we left; not talking to anyone and all, but I thought it was because you were still mad at everyone. You were also pretty drunk, too.”
I bit my bottom lip as I evaluated my sobriety. It had only been a few hours since my last drink. With the amount of alcohol I had consumed tonight, I should have still been intoxicated; at the very least, feel buzzed, but I wasn’t. I was stone cold sober.
“I’m sober,” I whispered as I looked up at Archer. “I’m completely sober. I shouldn’t be. I don’t get it. What the hell is going on with me?”
“I don’t know, love,” Archer shook his head and shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
“Are you sure Amun didn’t infect me with something?” I asked, suddenly terrified at the thought.
“I’m positive, Skye,” he said as he pulled me into his arms and comforted me. “Hunter, Trey or I would have caught it when we read you. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know you aren’t infected with something. I’m sorry I thought you were a Trojan Horse. It’s my fault you are so worried about that. I should have never said anything.”
“Asshole,” I whispered as I leaned into him and buried my head in his neck. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know,” he whispered as he softly kissed my temple and squeezed me tighter. “I know, baby.”
We were quiet for a few minutes as we contentedly sat together, me in his arms. After a while, Archer spoke up. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you not asking my permission to bring your animal into my house,” he said quietly.
“Oh, I didn’t forget,” I smiled tightly and sat up. “I called you from Drop Kick’s to ask your permission, but you were otherwise engaged, remember? I figured that if you could have a bitch with you, so could I.”
Archer sighed and looked down at me. “That was just work. I provided my business associates with a few escorts to accompany us to a club that they wanted to go to. The girl you heard on the phone was just that, a girl. I like women, my dear,” he said with a wicked glint in his eyes as he studied my face. I chuckled and he took that moment to lean in and try to kiss me.
I stood up in a hurry, my hormones screaming angrily at me, and bid him a good night. I heard a sexually frustrated growl as I hurried out the door before closing it.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Part of me wanted to throw the door open, run back in there and have my way with him, just as I did in my dream. I bit my bottom lip, refrained, and made my way to the front of the house. I silently climbed up one side of the double staircase and made my way to Jameson’s room. I knocked quietly and a few seconds later, a sleepy eyed and bed-head ridden Jameson opened the door. He was wearing my favorite pair of blue silk boxers and I quickly looked back up and into his face.
“I’m uh…sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could get Styvi Nix from you,” I whispered quickly. “I hate sleeping without her.”
Jameson looked confused, but ultimately agreed. He opened the door wider and allowed me to enter. I heard her soft snore coming from under the covers and determined that Styvi was curled up in Jameson’s bed fast asleep. My heart constricted at the sound and I couldn’t bear to wake her. Styvi hated being woken up; I should have thought of that before I came up here.
Jameson must have seen the sad but determined look on my face, because he quickly spoke up. “You can sleep in here, if you want, so you don’t have to wake her.”
I looked up at him and shook my head. “I can’t sleep in the same bed with you, Jameson. We just broke up remember? It would be too weird and confusing for me.”
Jameson’s brow furrowed at the mention of our break up. He ran his fingers through his shoulder length, silky brown hair and sighed. “Of course I remember. How can I forget? I meant that you could have my bed and I’ll take the couch. I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
I could tell that my words had hurt him and I started to apologize, but Jameson cut me off. “Let me just throw some pants on and I’ll be out of here.”
I watched as he fished some jeans off his floor and pull them on. He grabbed his pillow and an extra blanket from the end of the bed and silently left the room. I felt terrible for kicking him out of his room and tears began to sting my eyes. He was still so kind to me even though I had dumped him earlier in the night. I sniffed, trying to put the memory out of my head as I crawled into bed.
Being in Jameson’s bed, and smelling his scent, brought on a flood of unwanted memories for me. I remembered all the times we laid in here and talked about life; all the times we made passionate love.
I turned on my side and cuddled up to Styvi as I tried unsuccessfully to push the memories away and fall back asleep.
*****
I awoke a few hours later to scratching at the door. I sat up in bed and saw Styvi Nix pawing to get out. She never did that and I figured she had to go to the bathroom, so I got up, dug through Jameson’s drawers and found a pair of his sweats to throw on.
“Okay, girl,” I yawned tiredly. “I’m coming as fast as I can.” She barked and turned around excitedly in a circle. It was very apparent she wanted out of this room.
I opened the door and she immediately ran out and down the stairs. I slowly, sleepily made my way down and into the family room. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Styvi on the couch next to Jameson. He was slowly petting her head, obviously haven been woken up by her arrival.
“Come on, girl,” I whispered to her. “Want to go outside?”
She looked back at Jameson then lay down beside him with a sigh. I felt my mouth drop open in shock. Styvi Nix didn’t want to sleep with me; she wanted to sleep with Jameson.
Jameson looked over at me and shrugged his shoulders before pulling her closer and closing his eyes.
Son of a bitch, I thought unhappily. I’ve been traded in.
I frowned as I looked at the clock on the microwave. It was 8am and there was no way I could go back to sleep now. So much for sleeping late on my Sunday morning. I was kind of hurt by her actions, but I shrugged them off and went to make myself some tea. I quietly put the kettle on and retrieved a mug and a bag of Earl Grey from the cabinet.
As I waited for the water to boil, I looked over at Jameson and Styvi. She looked so content to be in his arms and I remembered feeling that way once myself. Did I make a mistake by ending our relationship? I frowned at second-guessing myself and shook my head. No. He’s a vampire. You’re done with vampires remember? Trouble and pain?
I sighed as I went over to check the kettle. It was just about to start whistling, so I cut the heat off and poured the hot water into my mug. I didn’t want to disturb Jameson, so I took my mug outside to enjoy it by the pool.
As I sat down on one of the loungers, I saw Hagan across the yard on his rounds. I silently nodded my head to him and he returned it with a small smile.
“So are you going to train with me this morning, or are you still too butt-hurt over what happened to you yesterday?” Hagan called over to me with a smirk on his face.
I knew he was trying to get a rise out of me, get me mad enough to want to fight him, so I just smirked back. The truth was, yes I was still hurt by what they did to me, but I understood better today why they had to do it. That still didn’t take away or lessen the pain, helplessness, and anger I experienced at their hands
“I’ll meet you downstairs in 20,” I said plainly before taking another sip of my tea.
Hagan nodded and resumed his patrol of the grounds.
When I finished my tea, I went to my room and changed into my workout gear. I put on tight black spandex capris and a yellow sports bra and threw my hair up into a tight bun. I had learned over the last few weeks to do this because sometimes Hagan liked to incorporate hair-pulling into my training when it got in his way. After enough times, I learned to secure it tightly to my head.
I brushed my teeth quickly then left my room. As I tiptoed past Jameson, I heard him and Styvi both lightly snoring. That brought a smile to my face as I walked into the foyer
of the house and hit the buttons on the access panel to gain entry into the basement.
I was first to arrive, so I immediately started warming up. I stretched my muscles thoroughly using various techniques I had learned over the course of my training. I quickly found that my standard yoga poses and hammy stretches weren’t going to cut it for this level of physical activity.
I was practicing roundhouse kicks on the punching bag when I heard Hagan speak.
“Your form has really improved, Morrison.” I turned and saw him descending the stairs two at a time.
I stopped the swinging bag and walked over to the practice mats a few feet away. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“I think we’re going to work on your punches,” he said as he cocked one eyebrow at me. “That display yesterday in the family room with Archer was a disgrace. I was embarrassed for you. Your delivery was laughable.”
“Hey!” I huffed unhappily. “It was in the heat of the moment and I was beyond pissed at him. I didn’t even know what I was doing until I was on him. It’s not like I planned the shit nor had any thought to spare for my form. I wanted to kill him and that’s all I saw.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he growled as he picked up the focus mitts and slipped them on. “You fought like a screaming child who was in the throes of a temper tantrum and you’re better than that! I didn’t teach you to fight with your emotions, Morrison, I taught you to fight with your head. If I ever see you fight like that again I’ll kick your ass myself.”
I hung my head as I bit my bottom lip. I was angry at his words, but he was absolutely right. I did fight like a rabid child. I fought wildly and without thought which went against everything Hagan had been trying to teach me. “I’m sorry, sir,” I said, looking back up at him; fierce determination and focus in my eyes. “It won’t happen again.”
“Good girl,” he said sternly as he stood in front of me. “Now, remember your form and let’s go.”