Chapter Twenty-two

ARCHER

I caught up with Mia later in the morning. Being a Saturday, she wasn't in lessons and was having a rare bit of time to herself, watching TV. I hated how hard she and Tim had to work, but I couldn't do everything and keep a roof over our heads.

"Can I talk to you?"

She instantly paused the show she was watching and sat up straight, alarm in her eyes. "What's happened? What's wrong?"

"Everything's fine," I assured her, sitting down. "Why would you think it wasn't?"

"Because you never ask that. You just say what you have to say. What's up?"

"I wanted to let you know that Ollie and I—that we're kind of together."

Her face almost glowed with happiness. "Seriously? I mean, of course seriously because you're never anything else, but that's awesome. Though, what do you mean, ‘kind of'? Are you, or aren't you?"

"We are, but I'm not sure what it means."

"Ollie really likes you," she informed me. "So, as long as you don't mess it up, it means you're together."

How did my teenage sister know more about this stuff than me?

"Can I tell Lacey? We had a bet about it."

"You did what ?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, but you're kind of obvious when it comes to Ollie. Which is unexpected because you're inscrutable about everything else. I guess I've never seen you with anyone before." She wrinkled her nose. "That's weird, isn't it, at your age?"

"I've been a bit busy," I said defensively.

"Oh, God, Archer—sorry." Her eyes filled with guilt. "You've had me and Tim, and the family, and the forge, and—"

"And I could have made the time if I'd wanted to." I interrupted her swiftly. No way was my life her fault, and I'd never wanted to be without her and Tim. They weren't a burden. It was everything else that was.

I hastened to clarify. "I didn't want to bring anyone into the life I lead. The headship is pretty all-consuming." Which left me wondering how Ollie and I could fit together. I only knew that I wanted us to.

"Does being head have to be like that?"

"Anyway, I just wanted to let you know," I said, evading her question. There were things she didn't know, things I'd never tell her. "Is there anything you want to ask?"

"Can I get an allowance for ear plugs?"

" Mia ."

She grinned unrepentantly. "I'm glad for you," she said.

As she hit play on the TV remote, I swallowed, my throat suddenly aching. The love in her voice… I pressed a swift kiss to the top of her head before I left, hoping she could feel how much I loved her.

I was pretty certain my talk with Tim wouldn't go so well.

OLLIE

I caught a bus out to near June and Chris's, and walked the last part of the way. I'd asked Archer how I should dress for this, and he'd been firm that I should wear whatever I wanted. "But if it helps you feel more comfortable, June will be dressed like a Hollywood A-lister, and the rest of them will probably be in jeans, depending who she's invited."

When I arrived, June ushered me inside. Instead of taking me through to the garden, she invited me to have a seat in the so-called breakfast room. I crossed the room to the sofa, my feet sinking into the thickest carpet I'd ever walked on, and belatedly realised I should have removed my boots.

"Oh, that doesn't matter at all," June said when I apologised. "It's what carpets are for. Now, tell me, Ollie, how are you getting on at the Court?"

"It's fine," I said. "I'm helping Tim in the garden."

"Ollie, good to see you again." I glanced at the door to find Chris standing there, loosening his tie. "I took off early from work for the party," he said as he entered the room and pressed a kiss to June's cheek on his way past.

I was glad to get confirmation there was a party and I hadn't misunderstood. But where were the other guests? I was sure June had told me to turn up at three.

"I'm sorry, I think I'm early," I said, wondering if it would be too rude if I excused myself and came back at the right time.

"Not at all," June said with another of those wide smiles that looked—not fake, exactly, but not happy. "Chris and I wanted to spend some time with you and get to know you."

They couldn't do that at the party? Normally, I loved chatting to people and finding out more about them, but this felt weird.

"So how are things at the Court?" June pursued. "I have the impression Archer's been taking up your time rather."

How was I supposed to answer that when prior plans with Archer had been my excuse to decline two other invitations from her? "I mean, we're a little way out of Winchester there, so I've spent a lot of time with Archer and Tim and Mia," I said at last. "But Archer's said he'll make sure to bring me with him each time he visits the family."

"That's something, I suppose," June said, sounding as if it was the absolute bare minimum Archer could do. "Though if you were staying with us, it would be very different, Ollie."

Yes, because I'd be straight on the phone to Mr Shaw, begging him to let me go home. I was uneasy at these almost-criticisms of Archer. It felt disloyal not to defend him, but I didn't want to make matters worse between him and them, and I had no idea what the problem was. A diversion was called for.

"I'm enjoying Winchester," I said, and started telling them all about my shopping trip, my impression of every single shop I'd been into, how beautiful the cathedral was and that I'd seen the Roman city walls, or what was left of them.

Chris's eyes glazed over, but June pretended to listen. When I paused for breath, she dived straight in. "It sounds as if you've had to cram a lot into a short visit, and you haven't even seen all the military museums yet. Would you like to stay with us for a while? It would be far more convenient for exploring the city and for seeing the rest of the family. I understand you don't drive, so I could take you for days out to visit some of the places around here." She tilted her head, and her smile looked somehow condescending. "I'm sure Archer means well, but he's not giving you the experience the moot had in mind."

Probably not. The moot had almost certainly not expected me to end up on my back under Archer, being thoroughly fucked.

"That's very kind of you," I lied. "But my head of family wouldn't like me staying with someone who wasn't head of family."

June's lips thinned, and when I glanced at Chris to avoid her disapproval, his face had turned red and a vein in his forehead was visible. I'd obviously blundered badly with what I'd said, but I didn't know how.

Thank God the doorbell rang then—the first of about thirty-five dragons arriving for the garden party. Conversation turned general as we all moved into the garden.

It had been weeded and mown until it looked more like a fake film set than something with real plants. Very unlike the Court. Under a pergola, a table groaned with the weight of cakes and sandwiches.Instead of letting me eat, June gave me a cup of tea and escorted me around the garden, introducing me as if I were royalty, while Chris trailed in our wake.

"It will be so lovely to have another family we can get to know," she said, and although there were some polite murmurings of agreement, I didn't miss the way some of the older dragons looked less enthusiastic. Which led me to think again about the purpose of this visit. While I understood the idea behind striking while the iron was hot, arbitrarily sending individuals to stay with families when neither had prepared for the eventuality seemed kind of stupid. And of all the things Abimelech Mortimer was, stupid wasn't up there.

Before I had a chance to follow that train of thought, June was asking me how large my family was, how spread out we were, what Tunbridge Wells was like, and I scarcely got to drink my tea for all the talking I had to do. I couldn't say I got to know any of the Talbots any better because June never left my side and involved herself in every conversation. It was as if I had an overdressed probation officer beside me all afternoon. Nick, who'd been so flirty when I met him before, hadn't had a chance to do more than eye-fuck me from a distance. Which was just as well—I had no interest in anyone except Archer.

After a couple of hours of purgatory, the guests finally began to leave, just as Archer arrived. I'd never been so pleased to see anyone in my life.

"Archer!" It came out a little too excitedly, but sue me—he looked amazing in tight faded jeans and a long-sleeved grey t-shirt that clung to his biceps.

He didn't come straight to me but wandered around the garden, chatting with people as he went. Tension kept his shoulders rigid. He didn't like it here. Yet another thing we had in common.

June's attention was finally off me as she watched Archer, and I wasn't the only one to notice. Nick moved closer and raised inviting eyebrows. "Want to do something more fun than this later?"

"Thanks, but I'm busy later."

I should have been a bit more conciliatory given I was here to make friends, but I didn't want Archer to think I was flirting. Not when he was finally making his way across the immaculate lawn to my side. Archer glanced at Nick, and a curl of smoke rose from his nostrils as he placed his warm hand in the small of my back. Nick paled and fled.

As for me, my knees practically gave out. Possessive Archer was something I hadn't known I wanted before this afternoon. But oh my God, the only thing hotter than Archer was Archer getting possessive over me.

As I smiled at him, I couldn't help but see Chris, who was standing close to Archer. Chris's eyes were narrowed as he studied the way Archer was touching me, and I guessed the fact we were together was about to become common knowledge among the family.

"Ready to get out of here?" Archer asked, before nodding coolly to June and Chris.

"Always," I replied with more truth than tact. Then I remembered the manners my parents had tried to drill into me and turned to June and Chris. "Thank you for a lovely afternoon. It was so good to meet everyone."

"Our pleasure. We must do it again," June said. "Archer." She inclined her head, while Chris's stare at Archer could have burned through steel.

"Make that never," I muttered as we made a quick detour to where I'd left my shopping.

"I'm sure your family are all very nice, but oh my God, June ," I said, once we were safely out of earshot. "I didn't get to know any of them. It was like she was superglued to me the entire time."

I loaded my bags into the car boot he'd obligingly opened for me.

"Did you get everything you need?"

"Think so." I got into the passenger side and did up my seatbelt.

"It's a bit late now, but it occurred to me when I was driving over here—why don't you ask your parents to send some of your things from home? It would be a lot cheaper."

"Yeah, but I don't want Mum or Dad going through my stuff. I don't want them in my room, near my treasure, and I sure as hell don't want them going through my chest of drawers and finding my sex toys."

Archer had been looking in his mirror prior to pulling out, but at that he glanced sharply over at me. "Sex toys?" His eyes glinted in a way I recognised from last night. "Would you care to elaborate on that?"

So I did, the whole way home. In my enthusiasm, I forgot completely about June and Chris's weird invitation to stay with them. "But the purple butt plug is my absolute favourite ," I was telling him as he turned into the Court. "I swear to God, every time I sit down wearing that thing, I see stars."

He pulled into his usual spot and sat there after turning off the engine, his nostrils flaring. "Damn it to hell, Ollie, the kids are home, so I can't haul you up to my room right now."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before asking for details of my wonderful vibrating dildos and my very well-used butt plugs."

He lunged at me and kissed me, whether to shut me up or because he couldn't help it, I didn't know. All I knew was that the power, the need in that kiss had me squirming as I wound my hands into his hair and kissed him back with everything I had.

His hand was resting on my thigh, his fingers playing with my inseam for a moment before he slid his hand higher to press against my cock. I grunted and pushed against his hand as his tongue explored my mouth. God, I wanted him.

Eventually, he drew back, leaving me breathing heavily and hard as hell.

"I'm going to check my forge," he said. "Alone."

"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?" I smirked at him, pleased to have caused that crack in his self-control, however temporary. "In that case, I'm going to go and shout at your demonic doves until my boner disappears. I may be some time."

Watching him disappear at a fast clip had me feeling powerful for once. I didn't really think he was going to jerk off, not when we'd be going to bed together in a few hours' time, but knowing I'd had that effect on him? That felt awesome.

ARCHER

For the first time, I didn't want to be in my forge. I wanted to be with Ollie, exploring his body while he told me how he used his dildos, before proving to him that they were nowhere near as good as the real thing. Or maybe I could get him some new ones and watch him use them…

Letting myself into the workshop brought me back to reality pretty damn quickly as I remembered all the work I had to do in the next few weeks. Some crypto-millionaire who'd bought a castle in Scotland wanted several pairs of swords to hang on the walls. It had been a long time since I'd made a sword, and back then it had only been for fun, because who doesn't want to make a sword? Remastering the techniques I would need was going to take me longer than I could charge him for. Perhaps I should have refused the commission, but I thought he might want more from me in the future or recommend me to his rich friends.

I set out what I'd need to start the first swords tomorrow, and locked up behind me. No need to do so now Tim and Mia were older, but it was habit.

Turning away, I noticed Tim's garden store was open, and I crossed the yard to look through the door. He was cleaning his tools. We had different interests, but the care and detail he brought to his gardening reminded me of my work in the forge.

"Hey," I greeted him.

He glanced up before returning his gaze to the spade he was wiping, giving a grunt in acknowledgement.

"I wanted to let you know that Ollie and I are together." I didn't want to hear Tim's opinion, so I continued without pausing for breath. "I've been thinking about your friends coming to stay. If Mia can spend a couple of days staying with Lacey, it would be fine."

He looked up, shocked. "Really?"

"Why not?"

Tim bent his head again over his spade and scrubbed at a non-existent piece of dirt. "What changed your mind?"

"Ollie did. This is the obvious answer, but I didn't realise until he suggested it."

He scrubbed harder and wouldn't look at me. I'd said something wrong, but I didn't know what.

"So you're only doing this to please your toyboy."

Breathe, I told myself. Breathe and do not rip your own brother's head off. When I could open my mouth without roaring at him, I said, very steadily, "Ollie is a guest of this family. You will show him the respect he deserves."

"Like you have, you mean?" Tim's eyes were furious, and I didn't understand why. "The minute he was through the door, you had him in your bed. And now you're pulling the head of family crap again, just like you always do."

"It may have escaped your notice, Tim, but I am the head of this family—"

"And you never let us forget it!" He was standing now, shouting at me. "You're full of shit and you don't even know it." He pushed past, his shoulder jostling mine, and I realised how much he'd grown. He'd turned into a man without me noticing.

I didn't react. Couldn't react, because his words as he left froze me to the spot. They weren't a man's words, they were those of a hurt little boy. "I should have gone with Mum."

I was left alone, breathless and hurting. And confused. I still didn't know what I'd done that was so wrong. All I'd done, every decision I made, was to protect this family, protect Tim. Yet he hated me for it.