by Louise Rose
“Don’t anyone ever tell you that’s a really bad pick-up line?” I say, going back to my game of Spot Archer.
His hand moves to rest on my lower back, tugging me closer to him and pulling all my attention his way. I want to tell him to let go, but I don’t.
“Loads of times,” shrugs Romy. “I figure that my charming personality will make it work one day.”
“Oookay.” Just what I needed. Another Academy arsehole. “Have you seen Archer? I need to leave.”
“My dumb pick-up line isn’t that bad, is it?” Romy asks, looking crestfallen. “Shit. The whole point of my throwing this party is so I had an excuse to talk to you. If you’re going to leave, I might as well tell everyone else to go home too.”
I did a double take. “You threw this party for me? Isn’t that a bit over the top? We go to the same school. Why don’t you just talk to me there?”
“I tried, remember?” Romy replies. “You made it very clear you weren’t interested. I wanted a chance, any fucking chance, to get you to look my way. Hell, I would make the whole of King Town into a circus if that’s what it takes.”
I laugh despite myself. “For someone called Romeo, you’ve got a lot to learn about women.”
“Why don’t you teach me?”
The twinkle in his eye tells me maybe I am the one about to learn something.
Chapter Fourteen
Ivy Archaic
Romy takes my hand and leads me away from the dance floor to a door with a security guard standing in front of it. The guard nods at Romy, opening the door for us and closing it again once we have walked through. The second it shut the music became muffled, suggesting the door is a lot thicker and heavier than it looks.
We walk together down a short corridor and through another door which opens up to a large room. There is a bar to one side which looks even better stocked than the one in the main hall. In the middle of the room is a conversation pit lined with sofas and lots of scattered cushions.
“Drink?” Romy offers. “And then maybe you can tell me what has pissed you off?”
Realising I have left mine back at the bar, I nod. I could use a drink. I have no intention of telling Romy anything about Declan and really, it’s my fault. Declan and I aren’t dating, we have no claim on each other and I have no right to be mad.
But my heart calls him a traitor and thinks differently.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll fix you one of my special cocktails.”
Romy goes behind the bar and grabs a few bottles, liberally pouring liquid into a mixer.
I go to the conversation pit and sit down, sinking into luxurious, soft cushions.
“Here you go.” Romy sits next to me, handing me a glass with a multi-coloured drink in it, a layer of yellow turning green and then blue. He holds up his own drink, and we knock the glasses together. “To the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“We’ll see about that,” I murmur, keeping my gaze on his as I take a sip. Romy is really a sexy guy. A sensation of flavour explodes on my tongue from the first sip. “Oh. My. God. This is incredible! What’s in it?”
“That would be telling.” Romy tapped the side of his nose with a cheeky grin. “Let’s just say I put a few things in that I had a feeling you might like. I invented it just for you. I will call it a Beautiful Ivy.”
“You had to do it, didn’t you? You had to fall back into cheesy.” I shake my head, secretly flattered he is going to so much trouble.
“What can I say?” Romy shrugs. “Most chicks dig it.”
“I think you’ll find most ‘chicks’ are humouring you,” I correct him. “I mean, anyone who can throw a party like this whenever they like is bound to have gold diggers throwing themselves at them. Add in your sexy ass and pretty face…you could say anything and girls would still jump into bed with you.”
“It’s so hard being me.” Romy dramatically places the back of his hand against his forehead. “Having to sleep with all those gorgeous women, never knowing whether they want me for my money or my enormous cock. It’s a tough burden, but I do my best to bear it.”
I laugh despite myself. Yes, he is cheesy and arrogant, but there is also something very charming about Mr Navarre.
“But enough about me,” says Romy. “I want to know about you, Ivy Archaic, woman of mystery. No one even knew there was an Archaic heir and suddenly you show up at the Academy, all sexy and alluring.”
“Sexy? Me? Hardly.”
“Oh, Ivy. You shouldn’t put yourself down. You’ve got eyes a man can lose himself in and a body…” He lightly runs the back of his hand across my exposed tummy. “Legs for days is not the word. The moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to get to know you better, but do you have any idea how intimidating you are, Ivy?”
“Right. I’m supposed to believe the school’s literal Romeo is too afraid to approach me?”
“That first day of school, when I saw you standing outside waiting for your driver, I felt like my life had changed forever. You had an aura about you that spoke of power, confidence, a self-assurance the other girls at school like to pretend they have, but inside they’re just scared little girls. Not you. You’re all woman. You know exactly what you want and you’re going to get it. Why would I kid myself you’d want someone like me? With my reputation, you’d be forgiven for thinking I would break your heart, but I promise you, Ivy. I only want to possess it. Take it as mine.”
I know he is spinning me a line. I know he can’t possibly mean what he is saying, but when Romy takes the glass from my hand and sets it to one side, I let him. When he leans forward to kiss me, I feel like he is doing exactly what he says he would–taking my heart as his.
All thoughts of Declan and his girlfriend are gone. My complicated feelings about Archer are the last thing on my mind as Romy gently kisses me, lightly nibbling my lips and then working his way across my jawline to kiss me behind the ear. Whereas Declan and Archer kissed me like they wanted to claim me, Romy kisses me like he wants to treasure me.
And I don’t know which is better.
But I don’t want him to stop.
I lightly moan as he carries on dropping light butterfly kisses all over my face and neck, making me feel crazy with need for him. I desperately wanted to kiss him, but when I try, he puts a finger over my lips.
“Not yet, my beautiful Ivy,” he smiles. “I want to show you how you make me feel, drive you as wild as you drive me. This is your time.”
He caresses the back of my head, suddenly grabbing a handful of my hair. Pulling my head back, he continues to kiss my neck, as his other hand found its way under my top. Cupping my breast, he groans.
“Just as I suspected. No bra. You really are a wild one, Ivy.”
I gasp, as he expertly plays with my nipple, running his thumb over it in erotic circles. I can feel myself becoming wet, my pussy clenching in anticipation.
I can’t just lie back any longer. I have to have Romy and screw the consequences.
Sitting up, I push him away a little. Taking off my jacket and top, I casually toss them to one side and straddle him, loving how he grins. I feel his erection straining against his trousers as I lean forward and kiss him, hard. Our tongues meet, and I groan, rubbing my groin against his as I run my hands through his hair.
Maybe it’s the alcohol. Maybe it’s a rebellion against being locked up by my father. Maybe I am just pissed off that everyone is trying to control my life and nobody gives a damn about what I want. I was never this forward with guys, but right now, I want, no, I need to feel Romy inside me, to have something which is mine and mine alone.
To be wanted.
I reach down and start to undo his trousers, wanting to see every inch of him. Romy helps me, quickly struggling out of his trousers.
Wow.
He wasn’t just saying it. He really does have a big cock. His erection stands proud, large, and firm, waiting for me to mount him.
I begin to undo my trousers, when we are interrupted by
a loud banging on the door.
“Ivy! I know you’re in there, Ivy! Let me in!”
“Archer!” I pale, feeling a guilt crawl up my chest even though it doesn’t make sense. Crossing my arms, my father’s minion bursts through the door to find me topless with Romy.
And if looks could kill, we would be dead.
Chapter Fifteen
Ivy Archaic
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to interrupt?”
Romy casually sits up as if this is just a normal conversation and we weren’t half naked. Pulling his trousers up, he leans over and picks up my top, handing it to me so I can cover up.
Turning my back to Archer, I pull it on, running a hand through my hair in a vain attempt to tidy it up.
Archer ignores him, striding over to me. Grabbing my arm, he snarls, “Come on, Ivy. It’s time to leave.”
“Ow!” I pull away from him, he doesn’t let me go. He doesn’t hurt me, but the anger in his eyes frightens me for just a moment.
“You shouldn’t treat a lady like that,” Romy says. His tone is light, but there is a definite sense of underlying menace.
“Or what? You’ll call your guards?” Archer shakes his head. “I’ll deal with them like I did your friend on the door. Ivy is under my protection, not fucking yours.”
“No need to call the guards. I can take care of things just fine by myself.” Romy got out of the conversation pit and strode over to Archer, the two of them squaring up to each other in preparation for a fight with me right next to them both.
“Woah, woah, woah.” I hurry to put myself between the men. “This is all getting out of hand really quickly. Archer, why don’t you just get out of here? I didn’t ask you to be here.”
“No, but your father did and I’m duty bound to protect you, even from yourself if need be.” Archer doesn’t look at me, his gaze firmly squared on Romy, who seems to be finding everything hilarious. His amused grin never slips and I know this is more than just about me.
“Ivy’s more than capable of taking care of herself as far as I can tell,” Romy replies with a glance at me. “She needed a break from the noise of the party, so I offered to let her hang out somewhere quieter.”
“I know. Milly told me Ivy had a headache, so I came to take her home. It’s my job to protect her. Ivy, if you’ve got a headache, you’re better off home in your own bed. Believe me, the last place you want to be is in his.”
“I think that’s up to Ivy to decide,” Romy growls. “From what I can tell, she seemed perfectly happy with me.”
“That’s because she doesn’t know you like I do.”
Archer takes a step closer to Romy, practically stepping on my foot.
“E-nough! Both of you!” I put a hand out to both their chests, pushing them away from each other. “Jesus. Can you guys tone it down a little? You’re like dogs fighting over a bone and neither of you seem to give a damn what I think.”
Romy opens his mouth to say something and I glare at him.
“Neither of you.” I repeat. “As it stands, I have to say the mood is well and truly ruined, wouldn’t you, Romy?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Archer,” Romy mutters sulkily.
“So why don’t we take a rain check?” I reach out and squeeze his arm. Maybe it’s a good thing Archer had interrupted us. Things had been moving pretty fast and it isn’t a bad thing to take time to get to know Romy better before we take things to the next level. “It’s my eighteenth birthday next week. Come to my party?”
“I wouldn’t dream of missing it.” That familiar twinkle comes back into Romy’s eyes.
“Cool.” I turn to Archer. “If you’re ready to leave, I want to go home. You’re right. I do have a bit of a headache.”
“Everything all right, boss?” The security guard who’d been protecting the entrance to Romy’s private room stumbles through the door, one of his eyes swollen shut and blood pouring from his lip. Glancing at Archer’s hand, I see the bruises there and a bit of dried blood. Shit, he did that?
“For now,” Romy coldly replies. “We’ll discuss your failures later.”
I narrow my eyes. There is an edge to Romy’s voice that jars with his usual Casanova charm. Clearly, there is more to him than his womanising ways, and I really feel stupid for falling for it. I should know better. He is an heir.
And the heirs in this town are nothing short of ruthless.
“Let’s get out of here.” Archer takes my arm, gentler this time, and leads me out of the room. I turn to wave goodbye to Romy, who blows me a kiss before sketching an elaborate bow.
“Isn’t Milly coming with us?” I ask, as Archer heads straight out of the building and towards where we’d left the car.
He shakes his head. “She’s having fun. I’ll come back for her later. If she needs a ride sooner than that, she can always call for a driver. Right now, you’re my number one priority.”
“How sweet,” I sarcastically reply, as Archer holds the passenger car door open for me before going round to get behind the wheel. “I can almost believe you cared if it wasn’t for the fact my father’s got some weird hold over you.”
“Actually, when it comes to Romy, it wouldn’t matter who your father is. I would be warning you to steer clear anyway.”
Archer avoids looking at me as he fires up the engine and reverses out of the space.
“Why?”
Archer ignores me, switching on the radio and turning it up so loud conversation is impossible before speeding away from the warehouse and towards the Archaic part of town.
I lean over and switch off the music. Archer goes to put it back on again, but I put my hand over his to stop him. Even a simple touch of our hands sends goosebumps through me.
“I’ve got a headache, remember?”
Archer huffs, but leaves the radio off.
“Besides, I want to know what you’ve got against Romy. Surely it shouldn’t matter to you who I hook up with? My father wants me to build connections with the other houses. If that means I have some fun along the way, what’s it to you? I know he slept with your girlfriend, but it’s not like there’s anything going on between you and me.”
“Steph wasn’t my girlfriend,” Archer insists. “But that’s not why you should stay away from Romy.”
“So why should I?”
Archer shakes his head. “Romy’s got a habit of leaving broken hearts wherever he goes. I wouldn’t want you to be another one of his conquests. You’ve been through enough already.”
“Oh, Archer. Don’t tell me you care? It’s almost as though you’re jealous,” I joke.
A nerve in Archer’s cheek twitches, but he doesn’t say anything.
Maybe he is jealous.
“Tell me something about you growing up. I don’t know you well and you’re the only person who knows everything about me,” I reply.
“I don’t know everything about you,” he counters, but he sighs. “What do you want to know?”
“Anything. Everything,” I honestly reply.
“I’ve lived in King Town my entire life and Milly is my only full-blooded sister. I have three other siblings but none of them live with us,” he starts to explain to me. “My dad loved my mum, and she made him a better person. I grew up in a house full of laughter and joy. We were always dancing, mum said not to dance when there was music was a waste.”
He smiles, lost in the memory, and I smile with him.
“She died when I was thirteen when her car blew up with her inside of it,” he softly tells me and my heart hurts for him.
“Archer…,” I whisper.
“It took dad a year to find out it was one of his many lovers. She was jealous and wanted my mother’s place,” his voice is so cold and empty, spitting with anger. “She was taken out, of course, and I’ve never forgiven my dad for it. It was him that caused her death.”
“Leaving King Town in a way caused my mum’s death. If she had stayed, she could have gotten better treatment,” I admit,
and I’m so angry at her. Why didn’t she come for help? What is so bad about this town that it is worth dying and leaving your daughter for? “I’m mad at her…she left me when she could have stayed. Even if it meant coming here.”
“You didn’t grow up here. For people like me, leaving here is a dream worth dying for,” he tells me.
“Do you want to leave?”
He doesn’t answer me even as we get close to my house. “I used to when there was not much here to stay and fight for. Things have changed.”
I feel his eyes on me, but I can’t reply to him. Things have changed for me, too.
Chapter Sixteen
Ivy Archaic
“Morning, Declan.”
My music partner has the good grace to look embarrassed when I walk into class the Monday after the party. I made sure my hair is nice and wavy today, and I have a tiny bit of makeup on. I need to be confident to get through this.
“Oh, hey, Ivy. Look... about the other day…”
“It’s okay.” I shrug. “You wouldn’t be the first guy to turn out a total waste of my time, but I’m working on you being the last.”
The truth is, I cared. A lot.
After Archer took me home, I stayed up all night thinking about everything. I have been in King Town a week and already my life is way more complicated than it had ever been. Archer had done me a favour by walking in on me and Romy. Much as the guy is cute, I was on the rebound and if I had slept with him; I would have regretted it the next day. But there did seem to be a chemistry between us and I know I want to get to know him better so that if there is a next time, it is based on a deeper connection than a bit of alcohol and hurt feelings.
Thinking about Archer makes me wonder what is going on in his mind. The guy is moody and mean and working for my father. He is my kidnapper, for crying out loud. He is the whole reason I am here. Is some kind of sick Stockholm Syndrome making me have feelings for him?
