the fuck almost killed me with a drug overdose, then slit Drew's throat and delivered a human heart to the doorstep? Yeah. I'm okay killing that guy." My tone was flat and uncaring, but that was what extended periods of fear and paranoia did to a person, wasn't it? Dampened the shock factor and blurred the line of morality.
"I'm so turned on right now," Kody informed us, and Steele threw a spoon at him. "Hey!" he protested, catching the spoon before it hit his face. "As if you're not."
Steele just laughed and shook his head. "Go and get dressed. Hellcat can't miss any more classes, so if you're late, we're going without you."
Kody rolled his eyes but left the kitchen to change out of his sweaty workout clothes anyway.
"I'll pull the car around," Steele told me, then left the kitchen as well.
Just like that, Archer and I were alone again.
Neither one of us made any attempts at conversation, finishing our breakfast and coffee in silence. When I was done, he got up and carried both our plates and mugs to the sink.
I started to move past him to leave the kitchen as well, but he stopped me with a firm hand on my waist, reeling me in and crushing me against his hard body.
"Archer..." I warned him, but he wasn't listening. His strong grip on my waist boosted me onto the counter, and his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that promised so, so much more than I was currently offering. Bastard was going to test my resolve on the ice-out, that was for sure.
When he bit my lower lip, I almost caved. It was scary how fast he’d learned all my weaknesses.
"Kate..." he replied in a low groan, mocking me as my hips rocked forward, grinding my denim-covered crotch against his hard length.
"Dammit," I hissed, breaking away from his lips with monumental effort. "You're gonna be the death of me, Archer D'Ath."
The laugh he gave me in response was a sound I could easily become addicted to. It was totally relaxed and... dare I say, happy? It was scary and intoxicating. I wanted more.
"Finally," he muttered, stepping back and letting me down from the countertop. "You're finally getting an idea of how you've been slowly killing me these last five months." He ruffled his fingers through his hair, messing it up in the most delicious way. "I've got to hit the gym this morning, but I've got a class this afternoon. Can I drive you home?"
I smirked at him and shook my head. "And convince me to suck your dick while you drive again? Keep dreaming, Sunshine. I'll see you on campus, though." I smacked a kiss against his lips and hurried out of the kitchen before he could break my resolve any more.
The second I was alone with my thoughts, though, worry and paranoia started creeping in again. Was Scott somehow involved with my stalker? Had it been him all along? I just didn't believe it. Even when the evidence suggested otherwise.
Time would tell, though, so long as I managed to stay alive long enough...
36
Bree slammed her drink down on the table, coughing as she choked a bit. She flapped a hand at me to indicate she wasn't dying, then took a few deep breaths.
"Say that again," she demanded, staring at me like I'd grown three heads. We were having a quick catch-up in the dining hall between classes, knowing full well we couldn't really gossip with Kody and Steele breathing down our necks at lunchtime.
I sighed, tugging on one of my Dutch braids. "I know. It's looking pretty suspicious, huh?"
Bree frowned, shaking her head. "What? No, not that shit about Scott. I've been thinking he was up to something ever since that whole phone-tracker bullshit. Repeat what you just said about Archer!"
My cheeks heated. I'd glossed over that section of events. During the weekend I'd just told Bree that I was caught up doing shit with the boys, and she hadn't questioned it further. But just now, in getting her up to speed on Scott, I'd let slip that I'd, uh, made amends with my husband.
"Well, there goes one solid reason to annul the marriage," she commented with a concerned frown. "Now that you’ve fucked him and moved in with him. Like, it's archaic and total bullshit, but not consummating a marriage is, like, a legit reason for annulment. But... it kinda sounds like that boat has sailed now, huh?" Her frown shifted into a wicked grin.