by J. L. McCoy
“Aye, and mine too,” the red haired man joined in.
Archer put his hand on each of their shoulders and tried to reassure them. “Gentlemen, please,” he said, looking at me quickly out of the corner of his eye. “We will figure this thing out. Until then, let us follow the guidelines and wait to hear back from An Dílis.”
With that they exited the club and Archer stood there for a few moments with his back to me. I turned around and went back to sipping my diet drink. I heard him sigh and walk over to the bar. “Were you able to schedule all the interviews for tomorrow?” he asked, sounding tired.
I played with my straw, not looking at him. “Yes. Your first one will be here at 11am,” I said and slid him the paper that contained the schedule of interviews.
“Good,” he said, sighing and sitting down on the barstool next to me. “Would you be a dear and fix me something strong to drink?”
“Of course,” I said automatically as I got up and walked around the bar. I fixed him a stout Black Sunday, minus the cola, and placed it in front of him on a napkin. He quickly downed half of it. I came back around the bar and resumed my seat. “I’m not going to ask you what that was about. That’s your business. But, I AM going to ask you if you’re okay? You seem really preoccupied and a little worn out,” I said gently, stirring my cola with my straw.
He sighed and turned to me. “I’ll be alright in a bit. I just have some things on my mind. Feeding would help too,” he said.
“Would you like me to get you a bag of blood?” I asked politely.
He chuckled tiredly and shook his head. “I require a real meal today, Skye, but thank you anyway.”
I turned my attention back to my drink as he pulled out his cell phone and hit a few numbers. “Vanessa, please,” he said, and my heart started to beat a little faster. Was he talking to another woman? After a few moment’s pause, he resumed talking. “Hello, sexy. Care to come over to the club?” he purred.
My heart beat even faster and I felt a pang of jealousy. He was inviting another woman over to the club…and he was calling her sexy. I swallowed and pretend hard not to care about their conversation.
“Mmm…I’ve been craving you all day,” he said seductively, playing absentmindedly with his straw. “Come over now. I’ll see you in a few,” he said and then hung up.
I quickly downed the rest of my drink and got up to go to the ladies restroom before he had a chance to speak to me. The nerve of this guy! Talking that way in front of me, knowing full well we were all over each other last night. Boy did he move quickly! I took a few deep breaths, hoping that they would help, but they didn’t.
I knew I had no right to be jealous. After all, Archer was not my boyfriend and I DID decide last night that I wasn’t going to get into anything with neither him nor Jameson. But still, he could have been more tactful about the whole situation. Seeing him act that way toward another woman hurt a little.
After about five minutes, I walked back out, a little calmer, but my mind wasn’t. I tried my best to shield my thoughts from Archer, but I didn’t know how good of a job I was doing. He never said anything, just sipped his drink and read the schedule sheet that I had written up for him.
I saw that his drink was low and asked him if he wanted another. He replied yes, and asked if I would also make a Cosmopolitan. I thought his drink choice was a little feminine for him, but who am I to judge? So, I spent the few minutes pouring and mixing.
I set the two drinks in front of him just as a red haired girl walked in through the front door. She had long, bottled red hair, green eyes, and was wearing a short black mini-dress and high heels. She was very pretty and young, about twenty. Archer’s eyes lit up and he stood up to greet her.
“You look gorgeous, Vanessa,” he said, pulling her in for a hug.
“You too, sexy,” she said with a big smile on her face. “I’ve missed you.”
Archer laughed and took a step back, admiring her outfit. “Did you wear this just for me?” he purred.
Vanessa giggled and then took a step closer, running her finger down his chest to his pants line. “You know I did,” she said tantalizingly. “How come you haven’t called me since last week?”
“I’ve been busy,” he replied. “But you’re here now and I intend to make up for lost time. Shall we go upstairs?” he asked, leading her back to the bar.
“Oh, yes, let’s,” she said, eyes glazing over in anticipation.
Archer walked over to me and picked up the two drinks, handing one to Vanessa. He winked at me and turned around, put his arm around her, and lead her upstairs and to his office.
I was pissed at his nerve! How dare he do something like that in front of me, as if last night meant absolutely nothing to him? I didn’t know what hurt worse…seeing him move on so quickly, or knowing that what we did meant that little to him. I felt the sting of tears and fought hard to push them back. I WAS NOT going to cry over Archer Rhys! I was just glad that I got to see the real him before I did anything I would have come to regret later.
I poured myself another diet cola and went into the stockroom to grab supplies to restock the bar shelves. I ran into Gunnar back there. He was opening up boxes containing liquor bottles and lining them up on the stockroom shelves. “Hello, Gunnar,” I said politely.
Gunnar looked up from his box. “Miss Morrison,” he relied, with a very slight smile. I guess this was an improvement from the last time I talked to him.
I smiled and grabbed a few liquor bottles and some more napkins. I made my way back to the bar and restocked the shelves, cleaned the glasses and wiped down the bar. I was going to restock and clean the second floor bar, but I didn’t want to be up there whenever they finally came out.
An hour had passed when Archer and Vanessa finally made their way back downstairs. Archer was fully dressed but that didn’t mean much. Vanessa had a look of pure ecstasy on her face. Her eyes were glazed over and she had a silly grin. I turned back around to the bar and rolled my eyes, trying to keep my mind blank. I really hated the fact that Archer could read my every thought. I definitely did not want him to know how I felt right now.
I heard him walk her to the door and kiss her goodbye. “That was so good,” I heard him say to her and she giggled. I heard her ask him to call her soon and she left.
I turned around just in time to see him saunter back up to the bar and take a seat beside me. He smiled irritatingly and was just about to say something to me when I cut him off. “Is there anything else that you would like for me to do? I already restocked the bar and cleaned it,” I said, a little impatiently.
He smiled mischievously at me and thought for a second. “No, I believe I have everything I need,” he said, smugly.
“Good,” I said getting up from my seat and retrieving my messenger bag. “Then I’m calling it a day.” I quickly threw the messenger bag over my shoulder and started stomping out toward the back door. Suddenly, Archer flashed to stand in front of me. “And, just where do you think you’re going?” he asked.
“I’m leaving Mr. Rhys,” I said, trying to walk around him.
He moved to stand in front of me again, blocking my way. “I didn’t say you could leave.”
I sighed impatiently and crossed my arms over my chest. “I just asked you if you had anything else for me to do and you said that you had everything you need. So, like any intelligent person, I took that to mean that you didn’t have any work for me. If you don’t have any work, I’m going home,” I said, tightly.
He crossed his arms over his chest and smiled smugly down at me. “You’re jealous,” he teased. I rolled my eyes and tried to go around him once again, but he moved to stand in my way. “Just admit it and I’ll let you go,” he said with that stupid smug grin.
I was starting to get really mad. I took a deep breath and blew it out. “And just what would I have to be jealous of, Archer?” I asked, trying to control my temper.
He took a step forward and reached out to touch my face. I jerk
ed my head back and out of his reach. “I believe you’re jealous of Vanessa,” he said simply.
I laughed bitterly. “I could care less what you do, and with whom.” I tried once again to walk around him, but it was no use. I was thoroughly pissed at this point. “What the hell is your problem, Rhys!” I said, raising my voice.
“You’re my problem!” he said, equally as loud, pointing his finger at me.
I scoffed, threw my messenger bag down on the floor, and my hands up. “And just what the hell have I done to you, Archer, huh?” I demanded.
He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated and turned back to me. “What haven’t you done,” he growled.
I was just about to answer him when he suddenly grabbed my arms and pulled me up against his hard body, kissing me fiercely. At first, I struggled hard to get away. I squealed and stomped on his foot, but it didn’t make any difference. He had his arms locked around my waist and he wasn’t letting go.
After a few moments, his kisses grew gentler and he pulled away, letting go of me. I raised my hand to slap him but he caught it midair. He growled in frustration and, holding that hand above my head, he roughly maneuvered by body backward and up against the wall. I tried to slap him with my left hand, but he caught that too, and held it up against the wall, above my head with my other hand. We were both breathing heavily, his face inches from mine.
He leaned forward and ran his nose up the side of my neck, taking a deep breath in. “God, you smell so good,” he growled.
“Bite me and I’ll stake you, asshole,” I growled back, struggling against his hold.
He kissed a trail from my clavicle, up my neck and to the back of my ear. It felt so good and I tried hard to stay angry at him.
“Let me go, Archer,” I said, between frantic breaths.
“Not until you tell me that you’re jealous of her,” he whispered, nuzzling my hair.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my burning desire for him. “Being jealous of your date would imply that I actually care about you, Archer. And, I don’t,” I said, a little unsteadily.
He brushed his lips over my neck and took a deep breath in. “I can smell how much you want me, Skye. It’s pointless to keep pretending.”
“Go fuck yourself!” I said roughly, mad at my body’s complete transparency.
He threw his head back and laughed. “I like it when you’re feisty,” he said, eyes burning into mine, his body pressed firmly against me. “Tell me that you want me as bad as I want you,” he whispered, kissing my jaw line.
My knees suddenly felt weak and my heart raced out of control.
“Tell me,” Archer said, his lips almost touching mine.
“I…I..,” I whispered, losing some of my fight.
He smiled and closed the small distance between our lips. He kissed me hungrily and I couldn’t help but kiss him back. He was an expert in that department and there was no use fighting it. My mind was saying one thing, but my body another. He held both of my wrists in one hand above my head while the other roamed my body. A small moan escaped me, betraying what my mind was saying.
He let go of my hands, grabbed me by the waist, and dragged me around the corner into the equipment room. He kicked the door shut behind him and quickly took off his shirt. I stood there in the middle of the room, eyes wide and chest heaving. Archer slowly walked up to me, a look of absolute desire on his face. He ran his hands slowly down my chest, to the bottom of my shirt and lifted it off over my head. I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know what to say or do. Part of me wanted to yell at him and run from the room. But the other part, the one in control right now, wanted me to throw myself into his arms and let him have his way with me.
Archer stood there for a few moments staring at my heaving chest. He bent down and softly kissed the tops of each ample mound. I grabbed a fist full of his hair and jerked his head up to meet my face. He growled and seized my mouth with his, kissing me passionately and deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he cupped my rear with both hands and lifted me up. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist as he slammed my back up against the wall. He ground into me as I moaned into his mouth.
He ran one hand up my outer thigh, under my skirt, and to my waist. Archer started fumbling with the band on my tights, trying to pull them down, and it brought me momentarily back down to earth. “We can’t…we shouldn’t,” I whispered.
He growled, but never stopped his attempt to remove them. Archer moved from my mouth to my neck, kissing and biting my sensitive spot there. I threw my head back and moaned again, trying very hard not to grind my body into his awaiting hardness.
“Okay, Archer. We have to stop,” I said, unwrapping my legs from his waist. “We can’t do this.”
He sat me down on the ground and looked down at me. “Let me make love to you, Skye,” he growled with need.
With the sudden distance away from his body, and his vampire pheromone influence, came my returning common sense. “Archer, no. We can’t. I can’t. You just had sex with that other girl, and I’m not like her. I’m not going to be your quickie. I’m not like that,” I said, turning around and finding my shirt.
He came up to me and encircled my waist from behind. “I never had sex with her,” he said softly in my ear. “She was just a meal, my love. I pay her for her blood.”
I turned around, incredulous, and yelled at him. “Then what was the show all about, Archer? You made me believe that she was more than just a hot meal!” I grabbed my tank top and threw it on.
Archer crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me smugly. “I wanted to see if you still had genuine feelings for me,” he said simply.
My mouth opened in shock. “This isn’t a game, Archer! I am a real person and I have real feelings, damn it!” I stomped around him and opened the door.
Once out in the hall I grabbed my bag and turned to face him as he was coming out. “No matter how I feel about you, Archer, I shouldn’t act on those feelings. I CAN’T act on those feelings.” I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “You’re my boss AND Jameson’s maker. Being with either of you will just complicate my life more than it needs to be.”
I walked up to him and looked deeply into his eyes. “I can honestly say that I have never wanted anyone more, physically, than I want you right now. But, my mind is saying one thing and my body another. I shouldn’t get involved with someone when I feel so conflicted. It’s just not meant to be, Archer. Your relationship with Jameson is something I never want to interfere with again,” I told him silently. “He is your child, and I am your employee. It’s just way too messy. It’ll end in disaster and I can’t have that happen. I really need this job. And besides, you are both a part of my life now. I’d like to make sure it stays that way.”
I softly kissed him on the cheek and turned to leave. “I’ll see you Thursday night at Drop Kick’s,” I called over my shoulder as I opened the back door and stepped out into the evening sun.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I had so much built up sexual tension that I desperately needed to channel into something else. I quickly stopped by my house and changed into my work out clothes. I drove the ten minutes over to the gym and hopped on the treadmill. I ran for eight miles and still felt frustrated, so I decided to hit the bag a few times. I went into the boxing room and gloved up. I was kicking and punching away at the bag when I heard a voice behind me speak.
“You’ve got really nice form,” the man said.
I turned around and saw a man about my height wearing baggy red basketball shorts and a white tank top. He looked to be about my age and he had a buzz cut and green eyes. His muscular arms were covered in tattoos and he had a nice smile.
“Uh, …thanks,” I said, stopping the swinging punching bag.
“Would you like me to hold that for you?” he asked politely.
“Yeah, I guess. If you want.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Did you want to take a turn?”
He chuckled and walked over to me. “Sure, but I’l
l go after you,” he said, walking behind the bag and holding it for me.
I did a few roundhouse kicks, combo punches, side kicks, and knee jabs. The guy held the bag steady for me the whole time. After twenty minutes or so I had burned off most of my frustration. I was sweating profusely and my muscles burned, but in a good way. I stepped aside, took off my gloves and stretched.
The man walked over to me and smiled, impressed. “Man, you’ve got some power behind that little body.”
I shrugged my shoulders, coming out of the stretch. “Yea, I guess. Thanks for holding the bag for me. Would you like me to hold it for you now?” I asked, willing to return the favor.
“That would be great, if you don’t mind,” he said, picking up a set of gloves and gloving up.
I got up off the floor and made my way back over to the bag. “Ready,” I said, once I was positioned behind it and had a firm grip on either side of the bag.
He started off doing some simple punch combinations at first. By the way he was hitting the bag, I figured him to be just a boxer. Soon, he was doing spinning back kicks and roundhouses. His technique was flawless. After his set, he went over to the bench and stretched. “Thanks for partnering with me,” he said, stretching his hamstrings.
“Anytime,” I said, meaning it. “Your technique is amazing. What do you practice?”
He smiled and looked over at me. “I mostly do Taekwondo, Judo, and Krav Maga, but I enjoy boxing every now and again too.”
“That’s awesome. I have a weekly Krav Maga class that I go to with my best friend,” I said, grabbing my towel and wiping off the sweat.
We talked a bit about where we practiced and which studios were the best. He seemed to like it as much as I did. “So, what’s your name anyway?” he asked me as we were walking out of the boxing room.
“It’s Skye,” I said, looking over at him. “What’s yours?”
“Gavin,” he said, holding his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
