WHEN I KISSED ARCHER, it was like everything around me and him just kind of… faded. The noise from inside was no longer on my mind as all I could think about was that his lips were on mine and his body was so close, and it felt as if everything in the world was holding its breath as we snatched the moment.

His lips were moving against mine, soft and tender at first, before they picked up speed and became almost forceful. It’s what I needed, though. Yet, all I could think was that I needed more, more, more. Our bodies seemed to be so in tune with one another, like with each movement, we were able to slot together all the more perfectly.

His hands trailed down to my sides, and this time I wasn’t ashamed of the goosebumps he elicited. My heart thumped so intensely that I was sure he could feel it. Maybe he could hear it thrumming in his ears like I could, too.

He nudged me to the wall, so that I was now caged. Instead of feeling frightened by this thought, like I was caged like an animal, I felt empowered. Desperate and feverish, he pressed kisses to my skin, nipping every now and then. His breaths were short and quick and he stared at me with such lust and something deeper that my legs felt about ready to collapse beneath me.

I did this to him.

I was first to pull away. I breathed in a lung full of air but it didn’t feel like it was oxygen I was craving but him.

His stare was so intense, but not analysing like I’d grown accustomed to. It’s like he was really, truly looking at me. “Jolie, there’s something I—”

Somebody stumbling onto the balcony punctured the moment.

“Archer!” Someone said, and he reluctantly dragged his eyes away from my own. His arm was kept securely around me, though, a silent promise for the next time we were alone. I almost quivered. “It’s your mother!”

“What about her?” He asked, arms tensing around me.

“She’s here!” They yelled. “She’s just landed and she’s coming.”

“Oh my christ,” I whispered, looking up at him. Archer gazed down at me for a moment as the person began hurrying him along. “It’s fine, go.”

He gave me one last look, to which I gave my own encouraging smile. He took it, and turned his back, disappearing through the door and into the throng of people. It didn’t take long for him to disappear.

I watched him for as long as I could, before the gravity of the situation hit me.

My fingers flew up to my lips as I felt tingling— like the ghost of his kiss.

What have I done?

***

I’ve never seen a party get shut down so quickly.

I was on the balcony for no more than ten minutes, trying to figure out what to do and then convince myself that I didn’t need to know what to do. By the time I did finally come back inside, the only remaining signs that a party had taken place was the rubbish— cans, bottles, even a shoe here and there.

They were picked up and cleared quickly, though. It was a joint effort, and by the end of it, the place was spotless.

Noah held three black big bags in each hand. “I’ll go put these in the bin,” he said, before disappearing outside.

No sooner had he gone and we heard the distinct sound of a car outside. I didn’t know how to play the situation, but Archer and Autumn seemed perfectly capable as they regained their usual naturalness.

I was still tense.

I knew Archer’s mum wasn’t my biggest fan and maybe before it wouldn’t have bothered me all that much. But now, her liking me was important. Now that Archer and I were— what were we?

Stop overthinking everything, Jolie.

Archer must have noticed my inner turmoil because no sooner have I had a mini internal breakdown, he was behind me. His front is pressed to my back and he wound his arms around my waist, lips on my neck. I shivered. No sooner had I, I felt his lips pull into a smirk against my skin.

My reactions definitely weren’t hurting his ego.

“I’m sorry about what I said earlier,” I almost felt him say it more than I heard it.

My eyes fluttered shut at the feelings he was provoking within me.

I sighed. “I’m sorry, too. Forgive me?”

He hands gripped my hips a little more firmly, and made himself wrap around me even more. “Anything for you.”

“No one going to greet me?” His mum said from the door.

Autumn walked towards her, her sober act going well. “Mummy, we missed you,” she said into her hair, likely so she wouldn’t smell her alcohol breath.

“Mhm,” she said, model-like features scanning the room, until they landed on me and Archer. “I’m sure you did.”

“Mrs Redwood!” Noah’s voice pulled her attention away from us, which I was forever grateful for. Her face lit up at the sight of him. She let his large frame envelope her, even letting a small laugh escape her as he squeezed her tightly.

“Alright, dear,” she said, tapping his arm three times. “I’m out.”

He stepped back and grinned, looking proud. “Undefeated.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help smiling.

I chanced a look at Autumn, my heart almost melting at the way she was looking at him talking with her mother. She must have felt my stare, however, because she shook her head and replaced her faraway look with one of indifference.

Mrs Redwood’s eyes swept toward the pair of us once again. She wasn’t looking at me, that I knew just by the increased tightness of Archer’s arms. It was slight, but I was getting used to picking up on his tells. Emotions didn’t just disappear, so when he made them flee from his face, they usually released themselves in other way, like through the clenching of his fist or the tick of his jaw.

“Why aren’t you all ready?” She asked, once she and Archer had stopped having a stare down.

“Ready?” I questioned.

“We have to be at the gala in—” she checked the elegant diamond watch on her wrist. “—an hour and a half.”

Autumn shrieked. In a moment, she’d yanked me away from Archer and was hauling me up the stairs. Somehow, as we went barrelling along the corridor, she seemed able to maintain her usual grace, whilst I stumbled and tripped every few paces.

We went crashing through her bedroom door, her still dragging me along, and straight to her wardrobe. She pulled that open with equal force, and began fingering through the racks upon racks of clothes.

“Okay, okay. No need to worry.” It seemed she was saying it more to herself than me, so I kept quiet. She delved deeper into the array of clothes.

I stepped inside and seated myself on the chair in the middle, resting my elbows on the marble counter as I continued to let her do what she needed to do.

“What’s this party for then?” I asked.

She disappeared into the racks. So, I could only hear her voice saying, “It’s the biggest one of the year for Archer.” I gulped.

“How come?”

She poked her head out. “Loads of big investors go to this one. And if you can nab one of them, you’re sorted for years and years.”

I gnawed on my lip. “Just how big?”

She pulled a dress from the side. “A few hundred million,” she said, eyes raised to the ceiling in thought. She waved her hand. “Something like that.” Again, I gulped. “Don’t worry, though, we’ll have you looking even more perfect than usual.” She handed me the dress in her arms. “Here,” she said with a wink. “I think red is really your colour.”

“How expensive is this?” I asked as I hoisted it over my bum and wiggled it up to sit where it should. It was a little tight, but not uncomfortably so.

“A lot,” Autumn answered from the other side of the door. “But what’s more important is that it fits.”

I opened the door, letting her see me in it.

Her eyes looked at every part of the dress, making me squirm slightly. She restored them to my face, a large smile taking over her’s. “You look absolutely stunning, Jolie.”

The dress was hugging, that was for sure. It clung to every part of my body, whether I wanted it to or not, and its plunging neckline left very little to the imagination. Even so, I felt pretty. It was the first time in a while that I’ve been able to look at myself, head on without shying away, and admit that yeah, I looked bloody good.

I slipped my mum’s ring onto my finger, holding it for a moment as I thought of her at home, all alone. My tummy clenched uncomfortably.

“Ready to go?”

Archer stopped by the bedroom door as I turned around to fully face him. I had to swallow a gasp at his appearance. Yes, I’d seen him in a suit before but my god, I didn’t think I’d ever get over the sight of it. Made up entirely of long limbs and sharp features, any suit he put on seemed to look like it was made for him and him only.

“Jolie,” he breathed, coming over and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and away from my face. “You look beautiful.”

He really needed to stop saying stuff like that or I’d probably jump him right then and there.

“Not so bad yourself,” I said back, just as low and husky as he had.

“Yeah, yeah, she looks good, you look good blah blah,” Autumn said, looking stressed enough as it was as she ran around picking up stuff she would take with her, and that was before she realised she wasn’t wearing any shoes. “Now let’s go!”

“Aut,” I said. She turned to me. I looked down. “Footwear might be nice?”

“Shit, shit, shit.”

***

With everyone ready, it didn’t take that long to get to the place. Archer and I had gone in one car, whilst Autumn, Noah and Mrs Redwood went in another. I wondered for who’s sanity this arrangement was for. Perhaps us all.

We got out, Archer going around the car to open my door and holding his hand out for me to take. I did, relishing in the skin on skin contact.

I almost didn’t notice the continuous camera flashes. Okay, maybe I did. Just because they made it very difficult to see where I was going, and just about blinded me. But I followed Archer’s lead and pretended to be unbothered as he wove our fingers together and we walked, side by side, into the building.

“Would you like a drink?” Archer asked when we went in, taking my jacket from me and handing it to an awaiting concierge.

I nodded. Just as he turned round, I called, “Archer?” He turned to face me again. I walked up to him so we were almost nose to nose, and hooked my fingers into his collar. He raised his eyebrow but made no protest as I brought him down to me. Pushing up onto my tiptoes, too, I pushed my lips against his. “Your tip.”

He looked amused. “I haven’t got you a drink yet.”

“Well, hurry up then,” I said with a smile, my cheeks probably crimson as I noticed a few people looking our way. Let them stare.

He chuckled and went on his way.

I probably looked like a lovestruck loser as I watched him go.

“Jolie,” Mrs Redwood said, coming up to me. “We haven’t spoken since I’ve got here. I hope it’s not intentional?”

“Of course not, Mrs Redwood,” I said, a little startled at how silent she’d managed to be when she approached me. “I suppose we had to rush around quite a bit.”

“I suppose,” she said, swirling her flute of champagne. “That’s an awfully gorgeous dress you’ve got on.”

I looked down, a small smile playing on my lips. “Yeah,” I said. “It’s not something I probably would have picked myself, but I’m glad someone encouraged me to put it on.”

She looked up to the bar, where Archer stood.

“Excuse me one moment.”

I felt guilty. Had I said something wrong? Had I just dropped Archer in it somehow?

I followed after her, wanting to be sure her purposeful, menacing steps weren’t my fault, especially if she was about to take it out on Archer. She placed her glass on a tray as she passed, effortless.

“Jolie,” Autumn said, looping her arm around my own and pulling me in the opposite direction. “I can’t get over how incredible you look.”

“All thanks to you,” I said honestly, but craned my neck to see Mrs Redwood stop before her son. He turned around to her, my glass in hand. By the scowl on his face, deeper than usual, it was clear whatever was about to unfold would not be, by any means, pretty. “One second Autumn.”

I side stepped her and wormed my way through the people milling about.

I was close enough to hear snippets of their spat now.

“First you buy her a uniform and now a two hundred thousand pound dress!” My footsteps faltered. I stopped completely. “How far are you going to take this? Are you insane?”

Autumn came to stand beside me.

“He bought my uniform?”

She looked from me to the scene not too far away. The pair of them were both giving as much as they were receiving, faces scrunched into the exact same expression of fury. Each was practically glowing red by this point.

“Jolie, darling,” Autumn said, returning her gaze to me with her eyebrows furrowed. “I thought you knew.”

 

 

 

a/n: oh my fucking god. we’re at 100k!! I can’t express how grateful I am. actually love you all so much. really couldn’t have done it without your guys’s support. can’t thank you enough x