Once I’ve shut the door I take in my reflection. A freshly fucked glow pinkens my cheeks. My eyes are alight. They shimmer with life, with affection. My lips are plump from kissing, from being kissed. But it’s my tanned flesh that causes me to intake a sharp breath.
Dotted over my breasts, on my stomach, and hips are blue and purple bruises. Love bites. Giggling, I turn to find one on the curve of my ass. I haven’t had these since I was a teenager. Since . . . Archer.
“Where are we going, Arch?” He’s strong, beautiful, and he has made me feel safe when he’s around. We’ve been running for a little while on the grounds of the orphanage, but he hasn’t told me where we’re going. His hand is gripping mine possessively, and even though it should scare me, it only instills need inside me.
It’s my sixteenth birthday today, and he said he’s planning to get us out of here. He’ll be eighteen soon. And I can’t wait to be with him all the time. Last night was scary. They took me into one of the rooms. The doctors told me it was a test, to make sure I’m healthy. They prodded and poked me with needles until my body was sore all over.
I haven’t told him yet, because I know if Archer finds out, he’ll do something stupid. I don’t want him to. I need him here, where I can lie in his arms. So, I stay silent about what happened. When we finally stop, I notice a small clearing where there aren’t any cameras. We can’t be seen.
“Surprise,” he says. The smile on his face lights his eyes. They shimmer with affection. With love. My heart expands in my chest. The emotion sitting in my throat makes it difficult to swallow. “I thought we could celebrate your birthday alone.”
“But,” I start, glancing behind us to find we’re far from the house, and the small space he’s found is indeed hidden from the guards who walk the perimeter. “Why do we need to be alone?” I question, turning my gaze back to his.
“Because today, I’m going to show you something special. I’m going to show you how much I love you.” His words cause butterflies to flip-flop in my belly. He helps me onto the small blanket he’s set out then joins me, leaning in to plant kisses on my neck and on the curve of my small, teenage breasts.
“We’ve . . . I mean, we’ve . . .” I don’t know what I want to say as I stumble over my words.
“Shh, sweetness. I’m going to love you,” he coos, calming my nerves but never stopping the racing heart that seems to pound away in my ears like the beat of a drum. Gently, he nudges my tank top down. His mouth finds my small, rose-colored nipple. His teeth graze along the hardened peak, causing me to whimper.
Dark eyes pierce me as he settles himself between my thighs. I can feel his hardness pressing against me where I need it, where I ache for it. But he doesn’t take himself out. He merely moves down my body, licking and kissing. When he reaches my stomach, he sucks the soft skin into his mouth so hard I cry out. His teeth bite down harder than I thought someone could without sucking my blood too. When his mouth pops off with a loud smack, I watch in awe as the bruise turns a bright red.
“You’re mine now. Marked,” he utters. The words cause my pussy to pulse around nothing. His fingers normally fill me up, but he hasn’t taken my virginity. He told me it’s precious. I need to keep it for him until we’re free.
“I love you, Arch,” I murmur as he moves his face between my splayed thighs. That’s why he told me to wear a skirt. He shoves it up around my hips, his fingers tugging at my blue cotton panties as he pulls them down my thighs.
“I love you, sweet girl,” he rasps. His mouth lowers onto my wet entrance, lapping at me like a thirsty dog. He licks, suckles on my clit, and taunts me by pushing his tongue into the hole that’s so wet for him. He growls like an animal as my body spasms around him. “That’s it. Come for me, Mara.” He coaxes my wetness, drinking me like a glass of water, like his sustenance.
My eyes roll back when his fingers open me, when his tongue delves deeper as if trying to inhale every drop of me, as if he’s trying to draw my soul out and devour it. I’ll gladly give it to him, offering it as a sacrifice for the love he’s offered me.
“Buttercup?”
The word drags me from the memory of my first orgasm with Archer’s mouth on me. The way he made me feel as if I was flying.