by India Kells
Of the other doors in the apartment, one was an office, and the other was closed, but unlocked. When she switched the light on and saw that she had found Archer’s bedroom, Zoe started laughing. Clothing was scattered over the floor, it was the least tidy room in the entire apartment. And in that way, they were the same. She had the bad habit of leaving her clothes where they fell until laundry day. One by one, she picked up his shirts, pants, and socks, and put them all in a pile in the corner. However, his bed was neatly made. And what a nice bed. Big was the word. And it looked so fluffy. Tempting. But first, she wanted to pick something to wear. One of his shirts was tempting, but it wouldn’t be very comfortable. She rummaged through the closet without finding anything suitable. Dropping her towel, she turned to a tall chest of drawers. On her third try, she found a t-shirt similar to the one he had ruined at the bar. That would be perfect.
“That’s the best view in town.”
Jumping out of her skin, Zoe whirled around, a hand on her heart. “Damn, Archer! You scared me to death. Again!” And at the sight of him, hands in his pocket, the collar of his tuxedo unbuttoned, his hair just ruffled enough to tempt her, her heartbeat picked up for a completely different reason.
Ever so slowly, he walked toward her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling fine now. Way better.”
He never stopped walking. “Good.” And he cupped her cheeks, crashing his lips to hers.
All the despair inside her, all the love for him filled every part of her body, making her hot and needy. This was certainly the last time he would see her in that light, as who she wished to be for him. There was no way of knowing what could have been. So right now, as there was still time, she would be with him as she always dreamed of.
His hands cupped her buttocks, bringing her entire body against him. His shirt buttons scratching her nipple, rubbing her skin. His touch was rough, and she wanted more of it, she wanted him naked too. Fumbling, she half unbuttoned, half tore at his shirt, while his lips turned her anxiety and fear into distant memories and ashes. Zoe moaned against his lips and breathed the exhale of air from him as her fingers finally touched his torso, her fingernails scraping a little.
When his hands came to cup her breasts, she let her head fall back, enjoying how he pinched her, bringing a little pain in the pleasure of his caress. Starving for him, Zoe went to unbuckle his belt and pants, letting them fall to the ground.
Archer stepped out of them and returned to devouring her mouth. Zoe let herself be guided toward the bed. Only when the backs of her knees touched the comforter did she let go of him and crawl onto the bed. Out of reach only for a second, Archer’s face broke into a wolfish smile, ready to prowl. In one swift movement, he was on the bed after her, and Zoe was more than willing to be captured by the man. His muscles rippled as he moved over her body, his eyes not breaking contact. His warmth, the sheer weight of him was an addiction as she opened her legs to welcome him.
He pulled back and looked at her with his amazingly handsome face, skimming his fingers around her face. The tenderness mixed with the lust, was all-consuming. Zoe, biting her lips, ran her fingers over his ribs, and he wiggled, allowing her to push him on his back.
Straddling his hips, she didn’t allow him to scowl at her, and as he was about to retaliate, she started moving, her slick core rubbing against his hardening member.
“You never play fair, Miss Somersby.” Even if his voice was accusing, the amusement was clearly there.
“Well, you’re a big and strong man, what else can a feeble woman do?”
“Feeble?” Now he smiled. “I still have to see that.”
Zoe licked her lips and decided to bring the man to his knees, metaphorically speaking, as he was lying down in the bed already. Ever so slowly, she kissed him and used her lips to then draw a deliberate path over his mouth-watering body. For the first time, she decided to fully take advantage of that playground, caressing, scratching, pinching, licking every fascinating part of him, until she felt him restless under her ministrations.
Now with her cheek rubbing his hip, Zoe circled his cock with her fingers, his girth quivering under her grip.
“Zoe…” Lost in a sigh, she almost didn’t recognize her name. His hips undulated a little, clearly seeking more. Back on her knees, she went to take him in her mouth when he rolled her on her back again. Pushing her thighs wide, he started to rub the same way she did, brushing insistently against her clit.
“I’m done playing, love. I want to hear you scream too much.” And with a masterful twist, he moved up and pushed himself into her quivering sheath.
And she did scream. Her need for him was too high at the moment, consuming her body. Nothing was enough, as if she was starving, her lungs burning for air. Her hands grabbed his shoulders, snaking around until she fisted his hair, pulling hard so his lips were on hers again. His movements weren’t tender and sweet, but hard, punishing, seeking their combined pleasure. The wicked friction, the pounding bordering on pain, wasn’t even enough. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she could have all of him, until all that was her vanished.
“Zoe, love.” His voice breathy and hissing, forced her to open her eyes. Archer watched her, his body on a mission of wringing all she could offer him, of all the pleasure she could ever feel.
Eyes locked with hers, he pushed her knees up a little, opening her even more, and when he plunged inside her this time, the newfound angle, and his pubic bone bumping into her exposed clit, made her gasp for air.
“Archer!”
He nibbled on her lips and she felt him shiver, her hands ran down his back, partly caressing, partly scraping. When she cupped his ass, Zoe tried to convey her urgency, her need for the climax he perversely kept out of reach. She squeezed, and she bucked, until he finally relented.
Well on her way to climax, Archer moved again, and rolled her onto her side, spooning her. His movement was swift when he opened her leg and slowly pushed his cock deep into her once more. The sensation of being penetrated so deeply, so fully, was heavenly. Understanding her need, his arm came around her hip to cup her mound, a finger, and then two, parting her folds and rasping against her clit. The sensation made her bow against him, and Archer sank his teeth into her shoulder. The mix of sensations, the intensity of how she felt for him and the pleasure exploding inside her made her shout his name.
Archer didn’t stop his movements. He increased the pace, a low moan coming from him until she felt him tense. Zoe orgasmed once more as he poured himself inside her and gentled his touch against her oversensitive mound.
Both were breathless, and, knowing she made him lose his cool and collected attitude, gave her an additional high. Archer gathered her even more strongly in his arms, his lips skimming over the bite on her shoulder. Zoe let herself soften in his embrace as he slipped out of her and found a more comfortable position. There was nothing else to be added, nothing else to be said.
Zoe felt rung out, empty, but so filled with joy at the same time. It was the first time in her life she’d ever felt happiness. After all the struggles, the hardship, the fear and the sacrifices, she was content. It was so rare, so precious, she couldn’t fall asleep. Archer was holding her, his heat surrounding her, until his body slowly relaxed as he went to sleep.
Ever so slowly, she shifted to look at his face. It was the first time he’d looked so peaceful. He would always look dangerous, lethal, even in slumber.
For a long moment, she memorized his beloved face until she couldn’t delay going to the bathroom. When she returned, Zoe noticed that her phone was still in her room. Her only intention was to take it back to Archer’s room, but when she checked, there was a message. From Beatrice.
Close to the threat. Will secure Lucas tomorrow morning. On it.
And there it was. No more decision, no more hesitation. Her eyes went to the box containing the syringe on the bed. There were only a few hours before sunrise, and she had to act fast.
Chapter 29
Zoe was finishing lacing her boots and closing Archer’s computer in his office when she heard a muffled groan from the bedroom. Making sure she had her cell phone in her pocket, and a few other items, including the rest of the sedative, she was ready to go. And as she expected, the groans turned into enraged roars.
When she entered the bedroom, the man she loved was as she left him; solidly duct-taped to one of the kitchen chairs. Naked, but that wasn’t her initial intention, so she had draped the bed sheet over his lap. Just moving his unconscious form from the bed to the chair without hurting him was a feat, and she soon decided not to try and dress him.
What stunned her the most was the amount of blood around him, spilled on the cream carpet at his feet in a glistening pool. The red still trickled from his body to the floor. Zoe supposed that this amount of fake blood made of ketchup and colored corn syrup would take quite some time to dry, and almost felt sorry for the cleaning crew.
Mouth taped, Archer was pulling at his bounds, twisting with all his might, but she knew it would take a bit more time to set himself free. His eyes were volatile, full of fury and hurt when they looked at her. Time was running out and there was a lot for her to say before leaving.
Swallowing hard, Zoe came as close as possible and kneeled on a clean patch of carpet before him.
“I’m sorry for all of this. Believe it or not, this was necessary. I can’t explain everything in detail, but I’ll leave enough breadcrumbs, so you and Beatrice can connect the dots.”
Archer shook his head violently probably demanding that she free him or remove his gag.
“I can’t free you now. You can’t interfere with what I have to do. And if I hear your voice... I may start lacking courage.”
His eyes lowered to his bloody body. “Don’t worry, you’re not hurt. As you probably can smell, it’s the best I could do to fake blood on such short notice. It’s a good thing you have a well-stocked pantry.”
He was breathing hard, nostrils flaring, his body so tense, Zoe was glad to have used extra tape.
“Listen well. I need to leave before sunrise. What I’m going to do is a gamble. And the only solution I’ve found to keep you and Lucas safe. Ellen, she’s the mole we were searching for. She’s working with Finch. She told me she’s his sister. I don’t know if it’s true or not. When we were in the restroom at the Planetarium, that’s when she said that Finch wouldn’t contact me using my phone as he was aware I was being tracked. She was the messenger. She told me that my last assignment was... to kill you. And bring him the proof before sunrise. And to help me out, they gave me a sedative to inject you. I only used half of it though. I was too scared of harming you. I hoped that all those threats would end up being nothing and Beatrice would call and say that she had neutralized the threat against Lucas. Last night, after we made love, I checked my phone and Beatrice had sent me a text, saying that she was still searching. You will never agree with me, but I knew I had to make a decision. I’m good at puzzles, you know that now. Let’s hope I’ll’ be good enough to fool Finch, although by my calculations the survival rate is quite low. My aim is to stall him until Beatrice has neutralized the man after Lucas.”
At her words, Archer yelled at her. Hanging on to her resolve, she continued.
“Cynthia was killed by Ellen, or more probably by men hired by her and Finch, but she was the one who attempted to crack your servers. Not to plant a virus, but to upload false data. Once you get free, that should be your first order of business. I suspect if they’re done, their next call will be to the FBI and that would be bad news for Blackwood Corporation.”
His eyes swirled with fury and Zoe was tempted to look away.
“Sorry about the mess, but I thought that giving pictures of your murder to Finch would help me gain more time. A messy deal, but the sedative knocked you out pretty bad, allowing me to prep you. With the bad lighting and shaking hands, he should believe me for a little while at least. That should allow more time for Beatrice to uncover Lucas’s menace and for you to plug the holes and correct the errors on the servers. Oh, another thing. I’m gonna steal your car. I found the keys, and I need a fast ride. I’m sure the police will give it back to you once it’s all over.”
Archer was eerily still now, looking at her with despair in his eyes.
“Last point of order. On your desk in your office, I’ve left papers. You’ll find a letter describing everything I’ve done, how I did it and taking the blame for everything. I signed it, just to make sure you and Blackwood Corp come out as innocent. Use it.”
Archer groaned, but she didn’t stop talking as what she had left to say would tear her apart. “I left my will with it. I don’t possess much, but I’m leaving everything to my brother. I’ve also signed every possible form I could find giving full custody of Lucas to Beatrice.”
Now he was screaming at her from behind the bounds, the chair shaking as he was trying with all his might to get free.
“I’m so sorry for all I’ve done to you. None of it is your fault. It’s all on me. You are an amazing man, don’t forget that and live. Don’t shut yourself off again. Be happy. That’s all I wish for you.”
His muffled shouts would haunt her to the end. Slowly, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead one last time, rubbing her cheek against his hair. “I love you, Archer. Be happy, my love, and forgive me.”
And without another glance, Zoe almost ran out of the room. Everything in her crumbled, but she had to keep it together. Reaching the front door, she swung it open to see Lance’s surprised face with his fist raised about to knock. Zoe only reacted and leaped into his arms, as if fleeing from something. And with the tears on her face, it was easy to be convincing. Naturally, Lance opened his arm, as if to catch her. Hidden from view, she grabbed the case and quickly opened it before inserting the syringe in his thigh and depressing the plunger.
Jolting, Lance pushed her away, looking at his leg before turning to her. The expression of surprise and incredulity tore at her. In a matter of seconds, the sedative took effect and she saw the big man sway as he took a few steps in her direction. He looked like a falling tower, and Zoe couldn’t let him hit the floor face first. As he stumbled inside, Zoe did her best to catch him, but even if she was not a slender girl, she barely broke his fall and instead was knocked down on the floor under a massive and unmovable blanket of muscles.
Zoe couldn’t even breathe and had to put all her strength into rolling him over. Heaving hard, her head spun from the effort. Taking a spare dishcloth, she used it to cushion his head with it. At least he would be comfortable. Archer was dangerously silent back in his room, and she forced herself to move.
Taking the elevator to the private garage, Zoe looked around and saw a couple of luxury cars, and in the corner, Archer’s Harley. With the car key in her hand, she pressed the unlocking button and was rewarded with flashing lights. An Aston Martin Vanquish S. Not surprising she knew the model as Lucas loved foreign cars with a passion since he’d seen a James Bond movie. Gleaming black, the ride looked dangerous and powerful, like its owner. Zoe opened the car and hope she would get the hang of it quickly, and not hit any innocent bystanders in the process.
The controls were slick and to the point, especially the ‘Start’ button which reassured her. The engine roared and the dashboard blinked like a Christmas tree. Used to driving trucks and jeeps, it took a more delicate hand to steer it out of the parking space, and the gear shift was very sensitive. As she circled around, reaching the exit, she arrived in front of a closed garage door. Did she have to get out of the car to open it? Pushing her panic down, she looked around and saw a panel about a foot away. Inching forward, she fumbled over the controls before finally opening the window. The panel didn’t have buttons, or hole for a key. Checking Archer’s key ring, she saw a black round chip and slid it over the panel. A green light blinked, and the garage door immediately opened. Zoe sighed, relieved.
It was still night, but the sky was slowly lighti
ng up as she turned onto the street. The GPS was programmed, even if she mostly remembered where she had to go. Leaving the business district, taking out her phone, she sent the pre-recorded messages prepared for Beatrice and Gabrielle. That way, she would send a team to Archer’s apartment to take care of him and Lance.
As she rounded the corner, Zoe hit the gas, making the car leap into the deserted streets. And as a final bow to her old life, she opened the window and threw away her phone.
Chapter 30
El Diablo looked even gloomier at sunrise, deserted by its rowdy, shady crowd. There were a few cars parked close to the door, and one man outside, probably on guard. Being Finch, she wouldn’t have come here alone and without protection. Being Zoe, she was stupid enough to do exactly that. Or maybe desperate enough.
She parked the Aston Martin, locking the doors, even though it wouldn’t make any difference if someone in this neighborhood wanted it bad enough.
Head held high, she took a few steadying breaths and squared her shoulders. She would be damned if she’d show any weakness now that she was so close to her goal. Walking past the doorman, ignoring him really, Zoe entered the bar, now dark and silent. Shadows moved, and a few lights came on, enough to see at least ten men present, but nowhere could she see Finch.
With fragile resolve, Zoe examined her surroundings and was about to turn away and leave when one man came forward. She recognized him immediately. He was the Hellhound she had seen, the one who brought her flash drive to Finch. He was his usual slimy self, and it wasn’t a wild guess to believe he hadn’t showered since the last time they had met.