Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Once the jacket’s gone, he starts to pull up my T-shirt. I have to draw the line there, crossing my arms over my chest again. I’m not shaking this time, even though my nipples tighten to the point of pain, and my skin flushes hot when I imagine him looking at my naked body. “I can manage the rest, thanks.”
He accepts this with a slight smirk. “Got it. I’ll find you something to wear. All you have to do is soak in the tub and wash off the grime of that life.”
That life. What other life is there?
Right after he leaves the room, I quickly undress. I almost leave my underwear on just in case he comes back, but decide it’ll to be useless anyway. As I sink into the steaming water, I can’t help but wonder what else Archer has in store for me.
6
Archer
Why do I feel like I’m getting this all wrong? Why is she so scared of me?
Well, that’s a stupid question. I did kill someone in front of her. A fact that I keep forgetting about. Something I definitely shouldn’t forget but do because Madison is taking up all my thoughts.
I hate that she feels like she has to cover herself up in front of me. Like she’s got to be on her guard. She doesn’t realize that I would never hurt a hair on her head, doesn’t know I would kill someone for causing her pain.
Just then, I realize how deep my obsession has gone, which is extremely alarming since I’ve only known her for a day.
Somehow, I manage to wait a while before knocking on the bathroom door. Just a gentle tap with my knuckles before I push the door open. Good girl, not locking the door on me. Though, it wouldn’t keep me out, either way.
She ducks in the water until it’s up to her chin. Still hiding. I leave a pair of sweats, a T-shirt, and socks on a stool next to the tub. “You can put these on once you’re finished. And here.” I pull a couple of towels from the linen closet and leave them for her, too.
“Thank you.” Her eyes are so wide, bulging like they’re about to fall out of her head. And they only get wider when I crouch next to the tub.
“What do I have to do to prove myself to you?” I reach out, taking a wet strand of hair—like gold now that it’s wet, darker than usual—and tuck it behind her ear. “When are you going to believe I only want to keep you safe? You need protecting.”
“Do I?” It’s hardly a whisper.
“Yeah. You do.” I want to do a lot more than touch her hair, but what matters right now is keeping her calm, like soothing a scared rabbit. So, I stand instead. “Take as long as you want. I’ll make you something to eat.”
“I don’t—”
“You haven’t eaten today. At least, not much.” I leave her there before she can argue anymore and go to the kitchen. I’m glad to find cold cuts and fruit in the fridge. Though I worry. Does she like cold cuts? What’s her favorite kind? Does she have allergies? I need to find these things out so I can stock everything she likes. I wish there had been more time to prepare, but what’s the alternative? Letting her go back to that apartment? I don’t think so. Not ever again.
By the time she’s out of the tub and dressed, looking like a little kid playing dress-up in Dad’s clothes, I’m carrying a tray of sandwiches and milk. “Come on.”
“Where are we going now?” Instead of answering, I lead her to the master bedroom at the end of the hall, facing out over the street.
“Wow.” It’s a breath, nothing more. She freezes in the doorway, looking around with her mouth hanging open. “This is gorgeous.”
She’s gorgeous. This is just an apartment. “My father bought it for me. He made sure we were all taken care of, my brothers and me. I didn’t wanna live in the family mansion anymore.”
“Why not?”
There isn’t enough time to explain why I needed a little space for myself. Just the fact that she’s so into the apartment and thinks it’s something great tells me she’s always lived the kind of life I’m trying to get her away from. “Here. Eat.” I leave the tray next to the king-size bed and wait for her to sit down.
She starts slow, but it’s obvious how hungry she is. One or two tentative bites, and all of a sudden, she starts wolfing it down. I have to hold myself back instead of reaching for her and pulling her close and telling her she’ll never be hungry like that again. She’ll never have to be afraid or lonely or so exhausted from working three jobs.