Page 27 of Tether
I chuckle, imagining Archie trying his damndest to end the phone call while Mauve chats his ear off. “I’ll give her a call back shortly. My apologies you had to endure such a conversation.”
He waves me off. “I quite like Miss Mauve, she’s an animated character. Let’s not tell her I said that, though.” He brings his gloved finger up to his lips.
“Your secret is safe with me, Arch.” I give him a wink, and he straightens his posture.
“Very well, Miss Ren. You have a visitor waiting in the entryway, a gentleman caller.”
“Oh?” My eyebrows raise in question. “Thank you, I’ll take it from here.” I flash him a grin, and he nods, leaving me to my guest.
Continuing my descent to the foyer, I still when I see a set of hazel eyes watching me approach. In his hand is a bouquet of the brightest pink carnations I have ever seen. I grimace, but try my best to hide my distaste for the hideous things.
“Reed, you shouldn’t be here,” is all I can manage to say.
“I’m here to apologize. I had no idea what transpired at the academy. I heard Madison and her friends talking about what she did and pestered her to tell me exactly what happened. Had I known earlier, I would have stood up for you; I would have confronted her. You didn’t deserve to be treated so poorly.” He gives me a shaky smile.
“I brought you these.” He hands me the bouquet of flowers. “I wasn’t sure which were your favourites, so I bought the ones I thought were the prettiest.”
Taking the flowers from his hand, I give him a weak smile and lean in to smell them. It’s the thought that counts.
“Thank you, Sullivan. That was thoughtful of you.”
I set the flowers down on the credenza by the doorway. He takes two strides towards me and wraps me in a hug.
“Can we just go back to how things were yesterday morning? I don’t want to lose you, Gravenhurst. I’ve really come to like you.” He offers me a warm smile, and whatever resentment I had towards him slowly begins to melt away. It wasn’t his fault, after all. Though I do question the company he keeps.
I bury my head in his chest, taking a deep inhale of a rich cologne I can’t quite name. He brings his hand to my chin, tilting my head back and places a soft kiss on my lips. I feel exposed standing out in the open at the threshold of the entryway, where everyone can see us. He wraps his arms around my waist, and I take a moment to peer over his shoulder and out the front door. My eyes scan the garden gates, where I feel a tug within me that I’m choosing to ignore. My heart belongs here, within the arms of the man who makes an effort to show me that he cares.
“Come with me,” I take his hand, leading him up the staircaseto my bedroom, where we can have a moment alone, away from anyone who may stumble upon us.
The door clicks shut behind me, giving us privacy to talk. Reed’s eyes scan the room, lips slightly parted, as I keep my back pressed against the door. I’m about to offer him some coffee, but when his eyes return to me, there’s nothing but heat simmering behind them. He strolls towards me with a mischievous grin tugging at his lips, and I know all too well where this is going. I tip my head up, quirking a brow. “What unholy thoughts are you conjuring up there?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He smirks. Reed snakes his arms around my waist and spins me around in one swift motion. Pressing his lips roughly against mine, he slowly walks me backwards towards the bed.
He kisses me with such ferocity, I need to pull away to catch my breath. It feels different when our lips connect this time. Like he’s eager to bring us together as one. His need for me fuels my own desires, so I let him take the lead and follow his movements. He lays me back on the bed, our bodies clashing in the heat of the moment. I’m getting swept away by the familiar scent of earthy notes, with a mixture of rich leather. My eyes snap open, and a sudden panic rises within me when I realize why that scent is so familiar. Reed continues to pepper kisses down my neck as I peer over his shoulder, searching my room for any indication that Loxen was here, but he’s nowhere in sight. It’s just the two of us and the sounds of our rapid breathing.Get out of my fucking head.
Deepening our kiss, I cling to Reed, tightening my thighs around his waist and tug his body down on top of my own. I can feel him grin against the small of my neck as he trails his fingers along my exposed thigh. His touch is cool, sending goosebumps down my arms. He kisses the tops of my breasts, continuing down to my stomach, stopping only inches away from my pussy, with only the thin fabric of my dress between his mouth and myflesh. He lifts his head, his eyes clashing with mine, and I nod, urging him to continue.
Reed slides my dress up my thighs and removes my panties, dragging the deep red lace down my legs and discarding them on the floor, leaving my pussy bare for him. He dips his head between my thighs, and my back arches from the mattress like a bowstring pulled taut, as his warm tongue glides over my swelling centre. My eyes snap closed, relishing in the pleasure building within me, when a sudden flicker of a handsome face fills my mind.Loxen.My body stills.Why am I thinking about Loxen right now?Of all the moments I could have that arrogant man invade my thoughts, this one should be at the bottom of the list.
“Everything okay up there, Gravenhurst?” Reed’s voice brings me back to the moment, and I realize I’ve gone stiff as a board.
“Oh God, yes, I’m sorry. Come here.” I pull his body back to mine and kiss him as hard as he had kissed me before. He grinds his hard length, strained beneath his slacks, into me, the friction causing a wince of pain against my skin, feeling as if it is rubbing me raw.
“Take your pants off,” I whisper, and he doesn’t waste a moment of time removing his clothing. My dress is still bunched up on my waist between our bodies, but it doesn’t seem to faze Reed in the slightest. He kneels before me on the bed, stroking his hard cock in his hand while staring at my wet centre. His free hand glides up my stomach, finding the neckline of my dress and tugs down on the fabric, freeing my breasts from their restraints. I feel exposed under his stare, lying mercilessly under the weight of his hard body.
“I’m going to fucking ruin you, Gravenhurst.” His eyes darken, and for a moment, I feel like his words are an actual threat.
Without waiting for my response, he lines himself up at myentrance and plunges his cock deep inside of me. I gasp at the sharp intrusion, the sudden thrusting so quick, but I don’t say a word as he continues to pump his cock and I tighten around him. My thoughts once again drift to Loxen. Would he have plunged inside of me like an animal? Or would he take his time, whispering sweet nothings in my ear? Telling me that I’m an exquisite creature while learning the ways to touch me, the ways that make his name roll off the tip of my tongue. Guilt consumes me.
I should not be thinking about Loxen while Reed’s cock is buried deep inside of me. Just as I am about to ask Reed to stop, a blur of movement catches my attention near the bedroom door. I tilt my head to the side slightly to see the devil himself leaning against the mahogany trim, a glare so devious in his eyes, I can’t tell if it is filled with lust or pure hatred.
“Oh my God!” I scream, and Reed chuckles.
“You like that, Gravenhurst? My cock fills you so well. Do you like the way I feel moving inside of you?”
Loxen quirks an eyebrow, and I see a grin tug at the corner of his lips.
“YES,” I shout. “Oh God, Reed, yes, I want more.” I tighten my grip around his neck.
