Page 74 of Hunt Me

Either way, it soothes me in a way I don’t expect.

His fingers trail another touch along my jaw, then down my still-tender throat before pulling all the way back. Our eyes meet for a short second, and then he turns and walks off, and I let the fatigue nipping at my heels finally claim me again.

I wake up a short while later to the feel of someone watching me, but I know exactly who I’m going to find when I open my eyes.

Archie is staring down at me, his head cocked, his eyes slightly hooded, curls damp from his shower. He’s wearing a gray shirt and black pants, and he looks dangerous, exactly the way I’ve come to like him.

Our gazes meet, and he inhales deeply. I can’t hear it, but I can see it in the movement of his chest, the way it sucks in before he lets it all out.

I lift a lazy hand. ‘You okay?’

He nods and wets his lips, then tugs the sheet off my body, exposing me to the cool air. My nipples harden almost immediately, and it’s then that I notice the bulge in his pants.

I spread my legs, inviting him to come closer. To touch wherever he wants. He presses his hands to the mattress, then crawls forward, catlike and hyperfocused on his prey. Our lips hover inches apart.

I can’t help but reach up and cup his cheek, grazing my fingers through his five o’clock shadow and basking in the way he leans into my hand. The more I’ve come to know him, the more I realize he doesn’t like being touched by most people. It feels like a privilege to be able to do this. To have him enjoy it.

To crave it.

Taking my wrist, he kisses the inside of my palm and then lowers his face to my neck. He brushes his nose up against my skin, taking in a deep inhale, and his chest rumbles with a hum as he lets it out. No words are needed in this moment. He knows what I want, and I can feel the desire he has for me. It’s clear with the slight tremble in his body and the way his hard cock is pressed against my own.

He nibbles his way across my skin, and I groan against the faint sting, my hands trailing down his back and rucking hisshirt up to skim along his warm skin. He basks in this like I do, and then he turns his head to take me in a rough, feral kiss.

Our hips shift against each other in frantic movements. It almost feels like desperation or fear, like if I’m not careful and I blink for too long, I’m going to lose him. I hate that thought—I hate the way it scares me. I hate the way it makes me uncertain when everything else Archie has done keeps me so fucking grounded.

But I know that if I lose him, I will never find something like this again. Archie is special in more ways than one, and I plan to keep him around as long as possible.

I tug at his shirt, and it bunches around his neck, making me whine with need. He must understand what I want because he breaks the kiss and pulls the shirt over his head, tossing it aside. His curls are rumpled, his cheeks tinged faintly pink as he stares down at me.

‘You in pain?’ he asks.

I reach between us and cup my hard cock. ‘No. Want you.’

His gaze darkens as he sees my hard length straining behind the lace fabric of the panties.

He gives me a dangerous, sharp smile before reaching into his pocket and pulling out the knife he keeps there, slashing carefully at the lace as it falls away from my skin.

One more pair ruined by him, but it’s hard to give a shit. I like the way it leaves me entirely bare, and I tremble slightly in anticipation of what’s coming next.

‘Beautiful,’ he signs.

I sigh, biting my lip as his finger circles around my nipple, taunting me. Toying with me.

‘You still need rest.’

My face falls, and I purse my lips. ‘I’m fine. I want you.’

He cocks his head. ‘I didn’t say I wouldn’t fuck you. I will. But you won’t move.’

I gasp as he slips off the bed and stalks toward the large armoire against a wall. Yanking the door open, he bends over, and I lean up to watch him as he pulls a handful of scarves out of a drawer.

He strides toward me, his free hand yanking his boxers down and freeing himself from the confines of clothes. There’s a visible trail of rich auburn hair going from his belly button to his dick, and I find that my throat has gone dry.

‘What you going to do?’ I ask, feeling my cock thicken with desire.

He drops the scarves on the bed near my head.

‘Fuck you,’ he says.