AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, first, I’m going to need to call you something other than ‘big guy’ or ‘sexy monster’ or ‘gargoyle’.”
He lifts a brow. A shiver rushes through my body.
“Archer,” he says gruffly and stabs his fork into the remaining pancakes and swallows them whole.
Archer…I roll the word in my mind a little, sensing some deja vu, but I can’t quite place it. All I know is it has to do with the vision I had. For whatever reason, the warm tendrils turn into a heated current pulsing through me. I take a drink of water, hoping it will give me some cooling relief from his predatory energy filling my blood with humming desire.
“Will you give me a tour? After breakfast?” I ask, holding my breath, hopeful.
He steels his jaw and narrows his eyes. “I’m a King. Not a tour guide.”
“Please?” I purse my lips and give him my best ‘puppy dog’ face I’ve been told can liquefy steel. My old girlfriend said it’s a weapon of ocular destruction.
At least it seems to do the trick since Archer scrubs a hand down his face while huffing before his shoulders heave. He locks eyes with me and lifts a thick, warning finger. “If this is a trick to learn more about my realm so you can escape, then think again. It won’t happen.”
Oh, he’s so gruff and broody, I must have a little fun with him. “Archer…” I crack my voice and blink rapidly, willing the tears to come as I whimper. “I would never try to trick you. The mere thought that you believe I would is…oh!” I clutch my chest, laying it on thick while touching my head and fake-crying, “It hurts. Like mysoulhurts.” I bury my face in my hands and cry inconsolably.
“Good gods and great hearts, woman!” he exclaims, getting out of his chair and moving toward me. “I’ll take you on the damn tour, just stop with that infernal noise!”
I peek through the gaps in my fingers, drop my hands, and practically spring out of my chair with an exuberant grin. Histowering body overshadows mine, but I clutch my hands just beneath my chin, do a little spin, and belt out, “Thank you!” Then, I throw my arms around him. Well, not around him since they can barely make it halfway around his waist. But it’s a hug, nonetheless.
“I—what?” He shakes out his head, his whole body stiffening. But all I feel is his warmth…and a subtle bulge behind his pants. Oh, my! My thoughts stray to inappropriate territories of monster logs and R-rated adult films.
“It’s called a hug.”
His fingers dig into my curls, and he gives them a gentle yank to tip my head back. “I hope you enjoyed that little trick, Butterfly. It’s all you get when I know every one in the book.”
He’s so close, his nose could brush mine. I throw caution to the wind. After all, he already lip-locked me the previous night while he’d locked me up, so…
I lean in and kiss his cheek. Just a light peck, but I smile and add, “Not all, it seems.”
Despite his hard swallow, a muscle bounces in his jaw, and a telltale vein throbs in his neck.
“Ugh…” He releases me and braces a fist at his side. “I’m seriously going to regret this.”
When Archer heads for the door, I scurry after him, needing to hurry to keep up with his stride. Glee fills my chest, and while careless, throw-caution-to-the-wind confidence is nothing new for me, I know I am pressing my luck when I squeal, “Ooooh, can I ride on your horns?”
12
She is supposed to be my beautiful prey. Not the other way around.
EROS
Of course, I don’t let the damn little darling ride on my horns.
What I truly want to do is tie her to the bedpost, lift up that pink shift, and give her ass a few good swats to remind her who is boss. But her hug disarmed me. I’m harder than a fucking club, thanks to that little embrace of her warm flesh pressed to my stone.
She deserves to be punished, especially with her dastardly nipples and their audacity to harden anytime she looks at me or the opposite.
Her behavior last night still has me reeling.
The first time I plucked Psyche from that mountaintop, I was in this form. She’d accepted her fate and was a willing sacrifice. But I felt her fear and her horror.
Her relief over not being devoured was so great, along with her gratitude for my magic and wooing her. She had no protestwhen I came to her that sacred night. When I touched her cheek and roused her with my first kiss and then, my love—as only the God of Love can rouse a woman—Psyche opened for me. Opened her mouth, her legs, and her heart.
And Aradia…kneed me in the fucking balls!
I wince. Blood boiling, I followed her to that closet and snorted at her pitiful attempt to shut herself inside. She knew damn well I could have had her if I wished.
