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One of Archer’s friends came running into the room with a white shirt in his hands. He threw it our way, quickly turned on his heel, and left the same way he came.
“Put this on,” Archer ordered.
Taking the shirt from his hands, I noticed it smelled just like Archer. Expensive and woodsy.
I was surprised by Archer’s nurturing side as he helped me sit up. I slipped the shirt on and was buttoning the last button when Coach Sanders and another woman walked into the room.
“Mr. Cole, surely you know you’re not allowed to be in here,” Coach Sanders said with disapproval.
“Am I not supposed to help when I hear a fellow student in crisis?”
Coach Sanders’ nostrils flared as she crossed her arms over her chest. She said nothing. Did he really rule over this entire school?
The nurse checked me over while eying Archer like he might reach out and grab her at any moment as he sat on the wet floor next to me and scowled.
“I don’t think you have a concussion. Just a bad bump on the head. If you feel nauseous or your headache gets worse, you should have someone take you to the ER. Do you want me to call your parents to come pick you up?” The sweet nurse asked.
“No, thank you.” I wasn’t going to tell them what happened. Who knew what they’d do then? They’d probably ask what I did to deserve it, knowing how strained our relationship had become lately.
“I’ll take her home.”
Great. All I needed was for him to know where I lived. I would rather walk home naked than spend any more time with him.
“You’ve definitely become a fine and upstanding citizen lately, Mr. Cole,” Coach Sanders said, eying the two of us.
“That’s okay. I can drive myself.” I stood on shaky legs and nearly toppled to the floor. One strong arm circled around my waist, righting me.
“I’ll drive you,” Archer challenged in his cool voice, letting me know there was no other option.
Why he thought he could tell me what to do, I had no idea, but for now, I wasn’t going to fight him. I was too busy trying to figure out what happened in my throbbing head.
“That’s probably a good idea,” the nurse said, pursing her lips.
What did it say that even the staff here didn’t argue with Archer?
Everyone gave me a few moments to get dressed, which I was thankful for. Something deep inside of me I’d never encountered before, ached to keep Archer’s shirt on, but I fought against it. Especially when I stepped outside to find him leaning against the wall with his chest exposed to me. He only wore a pair of black boots with his black slacks that accentuated his toned abs. Maybe this should be the new dress code, although we wouldn’t get anything done if all the guys walked around shirtless.
“If you don’t want me to fuck you against the wall, you should stop looking at me like that.”
I didn’t think he’d actually do it, but I wasn’t going to chance it. Removing my gaze from his perfect body was harder than it should have been, but I managed somehow.
We were quiet as we walked side by side through the vacant halls. I wondered what time it was. How long had I been unconscious?
The moment we stepped outside, I turned on him. “Do you have any idea why anyone would attack me? Is this some kind of crazy initiation?”
“The only person who gets to induct you is me,” he growled as he pulled out a key fob. The car beeped as we approached. How stupid was I that I was getting in the car with someone I barely knew? Someone who had already put those long, tan fingers around my throat the first time he spotted me.
“And who made you the king of Saint Sebastian?”
“I did, and don’t you forget it.”
CHAPTER FIVE
ARCHER
I ground my molars together as I drove home. I could still smell her citrusy scent. Lincoln’s name flashed across my screen. For a brief second, I thought about declining him, but answered before the call went to voicemail.
“What’s up?”
