baby come on home
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'Cause I get down on my knees
Oh, I pray that love won't die
And if I always try to please
I don't know the reason why

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Archer's words lingered with me for the rest of the week. I couldn't get the thought out of my head. Why didn't he take me if he could? I sat at one of the tables at the usual diner, waiting for my order to come. It took all of my strength not to call him and ask for an explanation, as I went through my messages and my e-mails.

He had stopped texting me. I hadn't heard from him since Monday, and it had all been work-related. I missed him like I missed air, and it was difficult to walk past him as if we didn't know each other. Mr. White's lingering, tired eyes would still look at me, but he wouldn't dare to break the silence between us. I knew he thought he was respecting my decisions, but I wished he cared enough about me to break his own rules.

Friday was as lonely as I had anticipated, but at least I had Tina's farewell party and something else to look forward to. When Tina's departure was announced, Paul became extremely upset. He clearly didn't want her to leave, and he spent the entire week treating her as he should have done a long time ago. Was this what I would become? A "too late" kind of girl?

I swallowed as tears welled up in my eyes, trying to get back control of my emotions. Come on, Audrey. Looking in the mirror, I told myself. You're no longer a little girl with a crush. But I knew I was. He stopped us and took responsibility, and all I did was throw a tantrum and leave him because he wouldn't pick me.

"I'll be there in ten." These were my first words after picking up Tina's phone call.  

I took another look in the mirror. My long, dark red dress complemented my auburn hair curled up in a bun. Its heart-shaped neckline revealed just enough chest to be acceptable. A slit on the right side of the skirt exposed my pale, slim leg. Silky white gloves reached my elbows and covered my arms. I didn't wear much make-up, so my freckles were on full display. My serious expression was softened by a natural blush, but the red lipstick made me look a little sexy, even slightly mature for my age. I wished I looked good enough for this to be my revenge dress, but you could see through the sheer layer of foundation that I was tired and that my eyes were reddened from all the crying and the lack of sleep.

"Hey..." Tina's voice was light and comforting in some way. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Tina, of course I'm okay. Let's get wasted, it's your last week with us." I forced a smile, and she must have thought I was convincing because she stopped digging and started the car. We arrived at our destination in just ten minutes. Paul took care of everything, and he decided to rent a mansion just so Tina could be treated like a princess and feel like he was doing everything he could to get her. She kept ignoring him, so it wasn't working.

We got out of the car and met with Paul at the entrance. He led us through the party, which had everything: drinks, a pool, and a rooftop terrace with a view. It reminded me of the last time Mr. White got all over me on the balcony. Then I turned to my left and saw Archer and his father approaching us. I tried as hard as I could to keep a smile on my red lips and to focus all of my attention on the younger White.

"Hey." I greeted Archer. "Good evening, Mr. White."

"Wow, Audrey, you really dolled yourself up, huh?" Archer's compliment made me nervous because I could feel his father's gaze on me. "Are you trying to impress someone?"

This guy. I wanted to strangle him there and then. He knew what he was doing, and it worked because Mr. White cleared his throat and remained silent, as if awaiting my reply. "I'm not going to find a boyfriend if I always wear my dull suits, am I right?" I played along, smiling with amusement. I didn't care anymore.

"Audrey, can I have a word with you for a moment?" He finally spoke. His voice was raspy and exhausted, much like mine. It drew me in like a magnet, and I felt almost compelled to stare him in the eyes. Those mature, gray irises. I nodded and waved at Archer, flipping him off when Mr. White wasn't watching. He laughed, and I caught a sad expression on his face before turning to face his father.

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I could only see his back, and perhaps it was time to get used to it. We passed through a crowd of strangers before he guided me into a room at the far end of the house. He never touched me and barely looked at me until we were alone. He finally relaxed his muscles in his naturally formal posture once the voices faded into the distance. I stood in silence, enraged by his behavior when it was his fault that we were in this situation. Because, yes, I could see how furious and frustrated he was.

"Is this your way of getting back at me, Audrey?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. White. Did you need something?"

He clenched his jaw and stared at me, his gray eyes filled with rage, jealousy and yearning. As he approached me with his usual strict, perfect posture, I couldn't quite decipher his thoughts.

"You won't talk to me."

"I followed you here, didn't I."

"Audrey."

"What do you want me to say, mh?" I raise my voice, feeling tears build up again.

Mr. White stilled, watching me weaken in front of him. "I couldn't do it."

"Yes, you could." I mumbled. "Archer told me you could have any woman you want."

"It's not that simple." He ran his hand through his hair. I could tell he was trying to stop himself from doing something. "Archer can't forgive his mother for what she did."

"But you can, whatever she did, and for that you're losing me." I completed his thoughts as I tried to turn around and leave him there. He caught me on time and grabbed my wrist, forcing me to face him once more. His desperation mirrored mine. "Let me go."

"I can't go another day without you, Audrey."

"I'm sure you'll find a suitable replacement in no time."

"You know that I only want you."

"Oh, bullshit, Hector!"

He pushed himself onto me, his lips seeking mine. My mind went blank as the wet touch of his mouth erased all of my dark thoughts. His grip on my wrist loosened, and he let go. "Don't..." I whispered, but the damage had already been done. His tongue pushed its way between my teeth, and I couldn't resist him any longer. I felt the throb between my legs and my whole body felt pleasure when he placed his palms on my hips.

"Come back to me." He inched away, but stayed close enough for me to feel him.

My eyes saddened. "No." After a long pause, I returned my gaze to his. "Don't you understand?" I paused, raising both of my arms to place my hands on his chest. My lipstick was smudged all over my lips, and his presence made me feel intoxicated. "I can't give you the kind of relationship you want. I want to break your rules over and over again."

He wouldn't say anything and I was too aroused to let my rational side take over. I slowly stepped away from his arms and backed up toward the bed, never taking my eyes off of him. My slender hands quickly moved to the left side of the zipper and dragged it down. "And if you also break the rules tonight, Mr. White..." I removed one sleeve at a time.  "...you will become as greedy as I am." Then I released the dress. It dropped to the ground and draped around my feet. My chest was visible but my bottom half was concealed by laced black lingerie.

"Or just stay there and watch me." He was watching me. I could feel his eyes on me as if he was touching me everywhere. His glances traveled on my body and I wondered if he liked what he saw.

I didn't care anymore. I wanted him to feel as desperate as I was and there was no stopping now. I stepped away from my dress, leaving it on the floor. Slowly, I fell on the bed. The sheets were soft and silky. I looked at the ceiling, finding out just now that there was a mirror there. I didn't look at him, but I could hear his steps.

"I've been watching you all along." He whispered, breaking the silence. My breath was beginning to accelerate and my heart skipped a beat. That was Mr. White's effect on me. I parted my legs to give him a good view. As our eyes met again, my left hand cupped my right breast, slightly squeezing it. My other hand started hovering my body until it brushed against the hem of my panties, slipping in after a little teasing.

He leaned forward, tightly grasping the footboard of the bed. He panted, his breath growing hot. I didn't have to look down to see that he was aroused. When the tip of my fingers pressed against my clitoris, I moaned, and a rush of physical delight made my legs tremble. "Mr. White..." I whimpered his name, gasping for air and frantically rubbing the tips of my fingers against the small button until I was almost at the edge.

"Don't come." He ordered. "I want to taste it."

He pressed one knee to the mattress and grabbed one of my legs in his big, experienced hand, tossing it over his shoulder for easy access to my wet entrance. Then he dove in, tracing with the tip of his tongue the length of my pink lips and reaching my pulsing clitoris. He ate me with hunger, sucking on me while his other hand searched for my breast to hold onto. I was going insane, gripping the sheets and unable to stop my hips from moving to somehow facilitate him.

"I'm..." I sat up, desperately reaching out for his hair with my hand to try and pull him away. He showed no mercy at all, as he fought back against my hand and continued to suck on me, tasting my orgasm as I came in his mouth. My body was shaking and spasming, and the breast he was holding had marks of his nails all over it. 

"Delicious." His comment made me blush, as he lifted his head to look at me. "But I'm not done with you."

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