Dangerous Love

Chapter Nineteen

Arabelle gasped at the sudden jerk she felt which pushed her into a chest. It was morning, a week after she was done with her busy work schedule. A week later Archer got frustrated because she was at her parent's house with her cousin for a sudden get-together.

The next day he snatched her for himself and locked them up in his bedroom.

She stared at the red marks on her chest and neck as he stared at her, kissing her neck softly and slowly. She shivered with another feeling between her legs.

"Archi -"

He pulled the robe down from her shoulders, her bare chest now exposed as she gasped while covering her breasts at the sudden act.

"Does this hurt?" He asked, pushing her hair aside as staring at the scratch mark near her neck.

She shook her head softly but he was too busy glaring at the little wound. He was in such a hurry to take her last night he forgot to take his watch off, resulting in a small scratch against her neck.

His finger gently touched it, observing her expression. He wanted to see if it hurt. But she frowned.

"It's just a baby scratch." Her sleepy voice made him smile but he hid it.

His hand wrapped around her waist and the other around her neck from behind. He pulled her head up as kissed her neck, making her moan.

His hand wandered up to her chest squeezing her boobs softly before leaving hard kisses on her cheek.

Arabelle was quiet, unusual to her but to him, there was something really wrong. She might be emotional, but there was no reason for her to be. Nor was she on her periods nor did she miss them this month. His  Bell was fine on the call a day ago.

"Did I hurt you?" She just pushed on his arms to take it off hers in frustration. He could trap her between them but this time he let her free.

Wrapping the robe around her body and walking some steps toward the bathtub. He stared at her back in utter sorrow fearing he had hurt her, in bed or another way.

He could see the tail tale signs of his anger and sadness build up at what she did. Archer did not want to admit it but he was truly attached to her. More than she could ever be. Every act of hers affected him.

"I am sorry bell-"

"You did nothing wrong! Why can't you understand! You've never been wrong, Archer! " He only frowned further. Walking towards his belle and holding her hands.

"Then why?"

The tears in her eyes took him back. He stepped back in shock and looked at her up and down.

"I hurt you. Show me," he said, pushing the robe off her, but she snapped him pushing back.

"Why can't you understand! You can never hurt me, Archer! Right now, I feel like if you were the bad guy I could've felt better!"

He was getting frustrated and so was she. Archer was frustrated because she didn't tell him anything straightforward. Arabelle was frustrated at something else. It's something he always does and always will do. Blame himself for every time she frowned.

Arabelle rubbed her forehead sitting on the bathtub's end.

"You have to stop beating around the bush. Tell me what's wrong. I can fix it-"

"Fix what!? My family's opinions on you !? Can you fix that Archi!? Can you stop them from telling me how dangerous you are though I know you better than anyone else!"

She was crying. Wiping her tears as she tried to speak clearly.

"I-I can't tell them how sweet you are. Every time I do they say you manipulate me-" her hiccups come in as she wipes her never-ending tears.

"Every single time I see my family, I feel like a black ship. Everyone thinks I am with someone who can hurt me. It's pathetic to say, my own family is the one making me cry every single night! Day after day-"

She paused as he stood right in front of her.

"After everything you did, all the times you visited my parents and gifted them things to be nice. They just- "

He kneeled on the ground cupping her cheeks.

"Why!? Why can't people see you? The real you?" She whispered as he rubbed her cheeks, wiping her tears.

"You are wasting your tears and energy on something you shouldn't"

She sat there as he got the bath ready for them.

"How do I tell them I love you? Every time I try, they try to pull me away from you"

"Do people around really need to know Belle? Are you seriously thinking of yourself or others? I thought it was your life. And I am disappointed that you can even shed a tear in such a useless f*****g topic"

She shook her head, shutting her eyes and standing up. Her hand reached out to his chest as she pulled on his shirt.

He tenderly watched her wrap his hand around her waiting loosely. His large robe falling off her shoulder. Her cute hands were invisible through the sleeves.

"I do it because I love you-"

"I know"

"Because I want to tell them how you really are. But they won't ever understand"

"Then why can't you keep the real me to yourself baby?"

Arabelle looked up. The sudden glint in her eyes told him she felt better already. His lips pecked hers softly and he tilted his head to kiss her cheek.

"I am really tired, Arabelle. I want to rest," she nodded. She thought he was gonna sleep. But he took off his shirt and pants, letting her robe slip off her body, and picked her up, setting her in the now full bathtub.

The warm water hit her body calming her down and she sighed.

He pulled her back after getting in and let her head rest over his chest.

"Is the water warm enough?" He asked, leaning forward and kissing her neck.

"Y-yes" she stuttered at the sudden aura around him.

"You're mad?" She paused. But he stayed quiet. Gathering up the courage to ask again she stared at her hair over her chest and twisted it between her fingers slowly.

"You're mad aren't you," she whispered.

Just getting a hum for her reply.

"A-at least answer me" her fear was raising up the level faster than a bullet train.

"Yes," he said softly, biting her ear lobe, making her cry out lightly.

"You are so gullible Arabelle," she tried to say back, but she knew he was true.

She stared at herself in the mirror, drying her wet hair. Archer walked out of the bedroom to receive a call. She could hear him talk from the living room.

The sudden fear of losing him because of her own mistakes made her run to him and hug him tight.

But she stood still, thinking why he never doubted her with anything. Because he knew she loved him. If there was anything breaking them up, it would be her overthinking.

Archer froze, closing the door and staring at his girl. She was looking out the window in a silk nightdress. A frown upon her face.

"Come to bed ?" She felt his body press against her back giving her the assurance that he wasn't gonna leave her alone tonight.

"I'm sorry. I-I ruined your mood". He sighs, pulling her to bed. He leaned on his bed frame as she sat near facing him.

"Who were they, whatever they said"

She assumed that her own family was a wall between her future and her wishes. 

"Doesn't matter-"

"Arabelle"

She cleared the throat of the lump which settled in as she saw his face. It was clear how angry and invested he was in finding out who was behind such kind of talks.

"M-my cousin. He-he just said a few things and then they asked me to reconsider marriage..and my mom kinda just stopped them but-"

She was right. He was angry.

She looked at him, pressing her hand over his chest and looking for a glint of assurance that he was okay. That he wasn't that mad at what happened.

To her dismay. He started out the window, his face void of any emotions but his eyes said everything his face didn't.

"Archer, can you forget about it? Please?  My family comes from a very backward background. They don't understand who you are. They just heard things and -" she paused.

"My mom and dad are the only ones who understand. But aunts and uncles can be overbearing sometimes. They think I am forced into being with you"

She whispered, letting her hand slip down his chest, tracing his thick skin and the fresh tattoos he had gotten.

She admired them, even in situations where he was visible radiating furry, she admired how relaxed he looked.

She would be cursing if she heard his family speak about her in such a way.

Arabelle didn't want him to know she planned on staying quiet. Never let him see how stupid her family was. She was ashamed and angry. Her anger kept her from telling him at first but she knew he had to know.

He needed to know that some people just didn't like her being with him.

He was once from a different world. But now she has become a part of it. He deserves to know who spoke of him in such a disrespectful manner. In turn, disrespecting her.

"I am not angry at you" she heard him even before he confirmed it. That hand over hers made her pull the cover aside and sleep next to him. She hugged him kissing her neck once before staring off into space.

"Care to tell me why you look like you are about to hurt someone?"

"Oh ya, your cousin." She chuckled.

His lips laid a slow and soft kiss on her head before they both closed their eyes and fell asleep.

The next day she found herself alone in bed. The maid came in with her breakfast letting her know Archer was on his way to his office for work.

She had worked too, but he always woke up early for work so he could come back home before late at night to get things done here.

The traffic after the evening always annoyed him.

"Thank you," she thanked the maid for taking a shower and wearing her spare clothes from his closet.

Walking towards the gates and calling Caroline to meet up after work, she made sure to let her mother know she would be home later for lunch. Her mother was getting emotional because of the coming wedding date.

She never thought Arabelle and Archer would last. Archer was strict and cold in their eyes. To think their bubbly girl fell for a cold man like him was like a movie but with a harsh reality.

Arabelle smiled walking at Caroline who now had dyed her hair strawberry blonde. There was a minute of disbelief in Arabelle's face when Caroline started laughing at her face.

"You like my new look?"

Arabelle nodded, hugging her.

"Why? This was so random," they walked towards their favorite restaurant hand in hand as Caroline smiled.

"I have been busy with work and studying more for the future. I just wanted a break, I saved more than I anticipated this month and had some money to myself. I thought, "Why not?"

Arabelle laughed.

They ordered their meal as they talked about the big day when Arabelle explained what happened last night and with her cousin.

Caroline was angry and disappointed to see how rude her family could be towards the man who helped her parents more than twice in different situations. It was sad for her to see her best friend in such a situation.

"It might be rude for me to say this. But it doesn't matter how your family acts, at the end of the day. Archer has all the control here. He can cut them off from your life if he wants to. But I suppose he doesn't because of you"

Arabelle thought hard about it.

Was it because of her that he never cared about any rumors? Was it because he just didn't care. He never did. He always made sure she was happy. It was silly of her to think he would leave her just because of all this.