28. Archer

W hen I wake up, I am completely overheated and also slightly suffocated, and when I open my eyes and assess myself, I find the reason why. Daemon’s body is plastered against mine, our legs intertwined, and one of his arms slung over my torso, pulling me in tight. I can’t help but smirk, I knew the moody fucker would be a snuggler, not that he would ever admit that, but I could tell.

I still can’t believe I’m here, in his bed, hell, in a fucking guy’s bed really, especially when I’ve never even spent the night in a woman’s, but fuck does it feel good. After having my ass fucking ate like it was a fine dining meal, and having my throat and cock fucked and sucked so hard that I swear I can still feel it even now, I don’t know how I never realized I was attracted to guys sooner. Well, attracted to him sooner. After kissing Alexander, checking out all of my teammates, and watching a bunch of gay porn, I have come to one conclusion, it’s that there is only one guy who makes my dick hard, and that is Daemon Forbes.

A thought that should probably make me feel slightly concerned about the effect he has on me, but after three years, I’ve learned to just go with it. Now, of course I never knew taunting him would lead to his tongue in my ass, but who am I to complain about the best fucking thing I’ve ever felt? I also didn’t think it would lead to him spooning the fuck out of me, especially with his very interested dick pressing against my ass.

I’d happily stay here all day, wrapped up in his arms, especially knowing that despite what has transpired between us, he will still no doubt push me away when he wakes up. A thought that almost ruins this perfect moment, but with the heavy rise and fall of his chest pressed against my back, I find it hard to let anything bother me. That is, until my phone rings, and I feel Daemon start stirring behind me, instantly pulling away once he realizes our position.

Sighing, I lean up and grab my phone, spying my sister’s name across it with an incoming video call, and I accept it without thinking. “Someone better be dying, Rora, because there is no other reason for you to be calling me this early.”

My sister rolls her eyes. “I’m calling to prove to mom that you're not dead, asshole. You told her you’d text her when you got home, and you never did.” Fuck . I internally groan, because I did tell her that, but before I can open my mouth to respond, her stare flicks over my shoulder and she smiles. “Or maybe you didn’t text her because you’re not home yet,” she smirks, before she pulls away from the phone and yells, “He’s at Daemon’s house, Mom.” Then she comes back to me looking beyond delighted, as she coos, “Good morning, Daemon.”

To my surprise, I feel him lean up behind me, until his face takes up some room on the screen and he smiles at my sister. “Morning, Aurora,” he gruffs out, and fuck me, his morning voice might just be the death of me.

Aurora’s eyes flick back to mine with a knowing sparkle in them, as she preens, “You look pretty comfy in Daemon’s bed considering he isn’t your boyfriend, big brother.”

For fucks sake I’m going to kill her.

“And you’ll look pretty comfy in the pool, because I’m going to drown you the next time I see you,” I snarl, and I feel Daemon’s smirk press against my shoulder, as he hides his smile at my words.

“He’s with Daemon,” my mother exclaims in excitement, her voice getting closer, and barely two seconds pass, before she is shoving up next to Aurora’s face on the screen. Her eyes flare around me, before focusing on Daemon, who is now half-hidden behind my back. “Archer, Sweetheart, move your big head so I can see your bedmate better.”

For fucks sake, please kill me.

“Mom,” I groan, knowing this is definitely too much for my bedmate to handle, yet to my surprise, Daemon pushes up a little, and nods towards my mother.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Monroe,” he vows, and my head snaps towards him in shock. Who the fuck knew he could be so polite? And how the fuck does he know my mom’s name?

“Oh, handsome and polite,” my mother gleams, winking at me, before she focuses back on Daemon. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Sweetheart, I hope my boy isn’t giving you too much trouble,” she adds, winking at him now like they are in cahoots with one another.

“I’m pretty sure trouble should have been his middle name,” Daemon tosses back, not joking in the slightest, but still my mother tosses her head back and laughs, like it’s the funniest thing she has ever heard.

“Oh, I like you, I can see why my son is so smitten,” she smiles, flicking her stare back to me, and if the ground could just open up right now, I’d jump right fucking in.

“Mom, I beg you, please stop,” I plead once more, and she rolls her eyes in a manner that mirrors the way Aurora and I do the same.

“My son finally stops throwing his seed far and wide, and a mother can’t be excited?” She claps back, looking at Daemon and nodding her head at me like I’m ridiculous, and the fucking traitor smiles at her.

“I’m never coming home again,” I pointedly tell her, and again she rolls her eyes.

“Always so dramatic, just like your father, oh wait until I tell him how handsome your boyfriend is,” she sighs wistfully, and yep, I’m ready for Satan to come and claim me and drag me straight to hell.

“I’m disowning all of you,” I snap, hanging up the phone, but not before I hear the sinister cackles of both my mother and sister.

Tossing my phone back on the nightstand, I cringe, as I turn back towards my fucking bedmate, who is now watching me silently with a soft smirk. “So, your whole family knows about me?” Daemon asks, cocking his head to the side, and fuck, I feel even hotter than I did when I first woke up.

“They know your name from coming to my games, don’t flatter yourself, Forbes,” I lie, my cheeks now burning, and he nods along, not buying my bullshit for a second.

“Hmm, should I be worried I invited a stalker into my bed?” he purrs, pressing me back into his mattress and closing his hand gently around my throat, his thumb toying with my pulse point.

“I’d be more worried about the gift basket that my mother will inevitably be putting together for you now,” I tell him truthfully, and his smirk softens.

“I like her, she seems great,” he whispers, something sad flashing across his eyes, and it’s at this moment that I wonder about his own mom more than ever before.

“She is, I’m lucky to have her,” I reply gently, wishing he would open up to me, but not wanting to push him too hard.

“Yeah, you are,” he replies, before pulling away and rolling onto his back, and the cold he leaves behind almost kills me.

I’m not stupid. It’s not hard to see that whatever Daemon has been through has affected him massively, and that’s not even taking into account the scars that stain his skin. No, it’s the lack of his own mother’s presence, it’s whatever his father is in prison for, and why he doesn’t talk to his brother, all of it no doubt fucking him up in ways I can’t even comprehend. Like he said last night, he knows people's limits, but I’m pretty sure when it comes to him, I don’t have any.

Knowing that he probably needs some space after last night, I shift to get out of bed, only now remembering I am still naked, and grab my boxers from the floor. “I should probably check in at home before Alexander sends out a search party,” I say softly, and finally his smirk returns slightly.

“I doubt it would take him long to find you,” he replies dryly, and I nod with a laugh, knowing he’s right, yet still feeling awkward, as I slip back into my clothes while he just watches me.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you later?” I ask hopefully, desperate for him to say yes, yet all he does is nod slowly, as if he isn’t sure how to respond, and I bite my lip to stop myself from begging, as I turn on my heel to leave.

I make it all the way to the top of his stairs, before I turn and storm back to his room, startling him, as I move towards him and grab him by the back of the neck and slam my lips to his. He reacts instantly, kissing me back, and we go until we are both panting and breathless, and my cock is once more begging for his attention.

“See you later,” I say without question, and he nods more firmly this time, licking the remnants of our kiss from his lips, and this time when I leave his room, I am feeling a little more sure of us.

When I make it back to the house, I am surprised to find Alexander already awake and sitting at the breakfast bar, and just as I am about to ask what the hell he is doing up so early, I hear the tell-tale moans of my captain’s girlfriend. I guess Nova and Maddie are at it again. The two of them are so fucking obsessed with each other, I’m surprised they can still fucking walk. And I’m sure that fucker Harper is probably doing the same with his girl somewhere.

“Well, if it isn’t the dirty stop out,” Alexander says by way of greeting, pouring me a cup of tea, when I so desperately fucking need coffee, and I roll my eyes at the dick.

“And how do you know I’m not just getting home from the city?” I ask, and the British fucker scoffs a laugh, as I pour myself a coffee and take a deep swill.

“Because your car has been sitting in the driveway since last night,” he replies, sipping his tea with a smug smile, before he asks, “Well, did it hurt? When Daemon topped your ass?”

I choke on my fucking coffee.

“What makes you think I was with Daemon?” I ask, even though I know damn well he knows exactly what’s been going on with us. The fucker probably realized it before we did. “And why the fuck would you just presume I’m not the top?” I add, totally offended, and Alexander only laughs.

“Please, Archer, we both know you reek of bottom energy,” he sighs, finishing his tea, and immediately pouring himself another cup.

This prick.

“What the fuck is bottom energy?” I ask in outrage, and now it’s his turn to roll his eyes.

“A top wouldn’t have to ask,” he muses, sipping his tea, and moving his focus back to the newspaper.

“I hope Satan himself spawns you the girl of your dreams,” I spit, before snatching away his newspaper and flinging it across the room.

“At least she’d be hot,” he replies with a shrug, before nodding his head towards a large red envelope sitting on the counter.

“A courier dropped that off for you this morning, it’s from your mother,” he tells me, just as we hear our captain’s loud fucking grunt through the floor, as he finds his release.

“How do you know?” I ask, slipping off my stool and moving to grab it, and he smiles.

“Because I opened it and read it, of course,” he responds without remorse, and I roll my eyes at the prick again, reopening the already opened envelope, pulling out all the information for my mother’s charity event next week, and spreading it out across the counter.

Her company always throws a huge fundraising event at the beginning of every year, and it’s always a huge hit. The theme for this one is The Carnival, and from the plans she has shown me, I know it’s going to be fucking huge. Especially since they have rented out a huge manor, with adjoining maze, and enough land to house a small amusement park. I always love attending, but I think this year will be bigger and better than ever.

“Well, seeing as though as you’re already all up in my fucking business, do you want to come?” I ask Alexander, flicking my stare back up to his, but he is already shaking his head.

“As much as I would love to spend some time with the lovely Claire,” he sighs, emphasizing my mom’s name like a fucking dick. “I, in fact, already have plans to spend a few days seeing my parents, and catching up with some old friends next week, since they were busy over Christmas.”

I nod because now that he says it, I remember that he already told me this, and as I open my mouth to respond, Nova appears with a smug smile plastered across his face. He nods his head at me in greeting, a blush-stained Maddie tight on his heels, wearing only his jersey, and I can’t help but smirk as he leads her to one of the stools.

“Well, good morning, lovebirds,” I coo, sipping my coffee, as I glare knowingly at my best friend’s girlfriend, who stares at me right back. “It certainly sounded like my captain was giving you a good workout, Princess,” I add with a smirk, and now it’s Nova’s turn to glare, but of course his girl doesn’t back down.

“Oh, your captain always gives me a good workout, Arch, but I’m more interested in who you were working out with, considering your bed was empty all night,” she tosses back with a sweet, sardonic smile, just as Nova slides her a cup of coffee.

“Yeah, Gray, it’s not like you to have sleepovers with your conquests,” Nova adds, and I spy Alexander smirking into his fucking teacup from the corner of my eye.

“Says the one who now has permanent fucking sleepovers, like a whipped fucking puppy,” I snap back, and Nova only barks a laugh, as he rounds the counter, and pushes between his girlfriend’s thighs with a smug fucking smile.

“And I’ve never been happier,” he purrs, grabbing her throat in the same way Daemon does to me, tipping her head back before plunging his tongue in her mouth and kissing her senseless.

I roll my eyes, more than used to their fucking bullshit in the last few weeks. The two of them are like dogs in heat, fucking anywhere and everywhere, and from the sounds coming from his room every night, it shows no signs of stopping. I’d find them insufferable, if I weren’t so sick with fucking jealousy.

“Well, as much as I’d love to stay and watch the free show, I need to shower,” I grunt, downing the rest of my coffee and dumping my mug in the sink, moving to leave.

“Your bed buddy didn’t let you shower?” Alexander asks, with a knowing smirk, and I give him the finger, as I storm towards the stairs.

“I hate you all,” I call out, making them all laugh.

“Love you too, buddy,” Nova calls out to my back, before I hear Maddie squeal, and Alexander scold them about not fucking on the counter again.

Why is everyone in my family fucking crazy?

Heading to my room, I make quick work of showering, before throwing myself down on my bed and replaying every second of last night in my head. It was progress for sure, but how do I get from where we are now, to somewhere like where Nova and Maddie are at? Especially when Daemon is the most closed off person I have ever fucking met. I need him to give me more than just his fucking body, otherwise we will never fucking work.

But how do I get him to open up to me, without all the walls he has built around himself falling apart completely?