He grinds his pelvis into me and I feel his hardness, feel the size of his cock Faye was telling me about.
He’s huge.
And so hard.
I raise my hips up, wanting more friction. Arrow suddenly lifts his head, moving his mouth away, ignoring my noise of protest. He peers down at me, watching me through gentle, heavy-lidded eyes. He swallows, his throat working as his gaze lowers to my lips. He licks his own, as if wanting another taste.
I make a soft mewling noise and gently grab on to his beard, wanting him to come back to me.
Wanting more of what he’d given me. I knew he had so much more to give, and I wanted it. I wanted everything he had to offer. In this moment, nothing else mattered.
“Sweet Anna,” he murmurs, eyes still on my lips.
“Arrow—”
“I know,” he says, the two words sounding like they were pulled from his throat. “Fuck, I shouldn’t have kissed you. I was selfish, I just wanted another taste.”
Just a taste? Does that mean that it isn’t going to happen again? I don’t like that. Not one bit. He thinks he is selfish, but I want him to be. I want to yell at him.
Be selfish.
Be selfish!
I don’t care. To me, it is selfish to keep himself away from me, especially after that kiss.
“Arrow—”
“Fuck.”
Yes, please.
He gently pulls away from me then, and I don’t like it. His index finger grazes my cheek, a touch so soft that goose bumps appear on my skin. He exhales, his finger now running down my jawline. Then, he drops his hand and pushes off the bed, standing next to it and staring at me, indecision written all over his expression.
As for me, I feel confused. How could he feel what I just did and not want any more? Why is he pulling away from me? I’m not an expert on love, but I don’t think that a connection like this comes along every day. I’d never experienced it before, but then Arrow was older than me, and had loved before me. I knew he didn’t love me, but surely he felt at least lust?
His hands turn to fists at his sides.
Then I watch him, almost as if in slow motion, as he walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.
I stare at that door for what feels like an hour. I’m feeling hurt, lonely, and sexually frustrated as hell, not a good mix. Why do I keep going in deeper with him when I know it will always turn out like this? We both know nothing can happen, so why do we keep playing this game? It is almost like we come together whenever one of us gives in to their weakness, but then pull apart when that moment is over. It isn’t meant to be like that in a relationship, but that isn’t what we have, is it?
I take a long shower, ignoring my needy body. Bringing myself to orgasm wouldn’t satisfy me as much as Arrow could, so even though I’m tempted to let my fingers wander, I don’t. Instead, I brush my teeth and get ready for the day, all the while thinking about Arrow’s lips on mine. How could he just walk away? I know that I couldn’t have done it, especially as easily as he did. Does he not want me as much as I want him?
Anger fuels my next decision.
I leave my room in search of Arrow. I need an explanation, I need . . . something. Either we’re all in or all out. I can’t keep going on like this. I stop at his door and lift my hand to knock, but the door opens before my knuckles touch the wood.
Jill walks out, a satisfied smirk on her face.
My breath hitches and I try to keep my face from falling.
“He might be a little tired,” she whispers so only I can hear. I look behind her and see Arrow walk out of the bathroom as naked as the day he was born. For once, his beautiful body does nothing for me.
I feel nothing but pure pain and anger.
How. Dare. He.
I give him a look that shows him exactly what I think right now. I let the pain seep through my eyes, letting my guard down for a moment so he can feel what I’m feeling.
He flinches.
“Anna . . .” he says, reaching his hand out to me.
But I’m done.
I walk away in search of a distraction. When I find nothing, I get angrier.
When Arrow doesn’t come after me, I decide that I don’t need this shit. I don’t need to be stuck here in a club that isn’t mine, with people who care about me only because of who my brother is.
I don’t need him.
And I sure as hell don’t belong here.
I walk outside, and when I don’t see anyone, I smirk to myself. Everyone must still be sleeping—except Jill of course. Who knew whores were such early risers?
Darting my gaze around the exit, I walk briskly until I come to the fence. Making sure to lock it before I leave so no one else can get in, I slide outside and straight into freedom. I wouldn’t jeopardize anyone else in any way, and I wouldn’t take a chance with their safety. But as for me, I’m done.
D.O.N.E.
I walk up the street until I come to the main road. Sliding my phone out of my jeans, I call Lana.
“I’m escaping and I need someone to pick me up,” I say into the phone. I had messaged Lana and updated her on everything, the lockdown, Arrow, and why I was going to be missing in action. So she knows where I am, and why I’m here.
There’s a slight pause on the other end before she speaks. “Text me the name of the street you’re on.”
“Okay, ’bye.”
I hang up and text the name of the street, then press SEND. Phone in my hand, I look up at the sun in the sky. It’s a beautiful day and freedom never felt sweeter.
Who needs Arrow?
That was my last thought before everything went black.
I WAKE up disoriented, my body resting on a soft mattress, my wrists tied together above my head.
Where am I?
My eyes flutter open as I stare at the ceiling, momentarily confused. What happened?
A man clears his throat and my body stiffens, my heart racing with fear. I slowly look toward the far corner of the room, at the man standing there, casually leaning against the wall. I’ve never seen him before in my life, and I have no idea what he wants with me now, but I know I am in a lot of shit.
Why did I do something so stupid? The Arrow situation was messing with my head and my common sense, and now I am fucked.
Great going, Anna.
“Good morning, sunshine,” the man says with a smirk.
I open my mouth to scream, but faster than lightning, he’s on me, covering my mouth with his hand. “I’m not going to hurt you, okay?”
I nod.
Isn’t that what they always say? How do I play this one out? I don’t know. I need to be smart about the situation, because I know that the wrong move can have deadly consequences.
Like my ending up dead.
Yeah—the stakes are kind of high.
He removes his hand.
“I won’t hurt you, I promise,” he cajoles.
Right, like I’m supposed to believe him.
“The bump on the back of my head says otherwise,” I grit out, licking my bottom lip. My mouth is dry and feels like I haven’t had any water in a long time. “Who are you? And what do you want with me?”
He stands there studying me. “Wind Dragons sent a shipment up north that we tried to intercept. Two of my men were captured. You, my dear, are all I need to make sure my men make it out of there alive.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. What did he mean I was all that he needed? Was he going to trade me—or do something to me?
“What are you going to do with me?” I ask in a small voice, my lower lip trembling slightly.
He tilts his head to the side, watching me with an intense expression on his face. “You won’t be hurt, Anna, as long as you listen to what I have to say.”
I consider what he’s told me. Rake has taken two men? To do what to them? Teach them a lesson for messing with his stuff? He never did play nice with others.