Faith (The Fast Love Collection Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter
Six

Lacking in sleep meant that I wasn't functioning properly. Archer and his mates had gone all night with their little drinking fest which included music, laughing, more glass breaking and at three am, the sound of several motorcycles leaving.

Bleary eyed I thumped my way down the stairs and crossed the road, needing to vent my tired anger at my new neighbor.

By the time he finally answered the door my hand was sore from knocking on it.

Archer looked just as tired as I did, worse yet he was in a pair of jeans and nothing else. I might have been tired but I wasn't blind. Or crazy. So I might have liked the view, I could be honest and say that he could be any month of the year in one of those hot guy calendars. Maybe he could be mister December and offer himself with a neatly wrapped bow that was just covering the essentials.

A small bow. Maybe it could be too small and accidentally show something. Screw the bow, it's December. Christmas gift and all, right?

What was I thinking? I was crazy. Not with the neighbor, end of subject.

Archer was defined, taut and not as tattooed as I expected. I thought he'd be covered in them but there was only a few. The tattoos that looked like they only went to sleeve length was actually intentional. It was just where the image ended.

His chest was covered in an image of angels wings, sitting in front was a massive skull. Beneath the massive image was a silhouette side view of several motorcycles as if they were riding along with words written in script below.
Too fast to live, too young to die.

As he leaned on the door, Archer crossed his arms over his chest, his hands slipping under them which marred the view of his tattoo. It might have been before I saw too much, because I did happen to notice there was a name on one of the feathers over his heart. A name that was now hidden by his thumb.

Those weary eyes wandered down me and it was at that point that I looked down to what I was wearing. Another fine moment in the history of my life. Tiny bed shorts and a singlet top. Oh and no bra. An excellent combination when I did in fact have a lot to offer.

Suddenly it became a whole lot colder and I crossed my arms over my chest in a vain attempt at hiding my chest.

“Hey Roxy, how's it going?”

His tired and amused grin was a little annoying. I was not in the mood for the horrid name calling either.

“It's Faith, I told you that.”

“Sure thing
Roxy.
”

Archer scratched along the waistband of his jeans, catching my gaze which I knew was intentional.

“You kept me awake last night and I'm sure the neighborhood is not really impressed at your friends leaving at three am. Don't those things have noise suppression or something?”

He baulked at me, eyes wide as he scoffed a laugh.

“Good luck convincing them to do that one.”

“Whatever.” I said as I flicked my hand with derision. “Not sure if you were aware of it but this is actually an area where people live normal lives, they work and obviously need sleep. You know, keeping normal hours. So I get that it was a Saturday night but just in case you're planning on another little shindig tonight you need to remember those of us who keep sane hours.”

“Shindig?” He said with a chuckle. “How old are you Roxy?”

“Faith and I'm twenty-three.”

Archer nodded like he didn't really care and wandered into his house. I stood at the door rather stunned, unsure of what to do. Warily I peered in through the door, seeing a long and empty corridor.

Light shone through from the back door that was open, a shine sliding over the floorboards. A second later his darkened shadow appeared, walking back down the corridor.

“Here, I washed it.” Archer said as he offered my platter. “Thanks for making the salad, never had to do that before.” He muttered.

“No problem.”

His gaze lowered with a smug grin. I inwardly sighed and turned to the path, using the platter to cover my chest.

“When you're planning your next party can you keep your neighbors in mind please?”

“I did, I invited them but they left before the fun started. Maybe next time they might stay longer.”

Yeah right.

“There's another one tonight if you want to come over Roxy.” He called out as I reached the front gate of his property.

“You don't need to change or anything, just come in what you're wearing,
Roxy.
”

I gave him the one finger salute as I crossed the road, earning a laugh from him.

Eddie and James were having breakfast on the front deck, watching everything that had just happened. Abruptly Eddie stood and walked into his apartment which I knew meant he was going to the kitchen window.

He didn't like being obvious and coming over would be just that. So instead we had to talk through the window and hope that the gossip upstairs wasn't listening.

When I got to the kitchen window he was leaning on the window sill, dreamily looking up at the sky as he waited for me.

“Hey, hey girlfriend.”

“Hey there love bird one.” I said as I climbed up onto the bench.

“So, give me the details.” He looked up with a grin. “They're out so you can go to town on dishing the info.”

I rolled my eyes, there was nothing to tell.

“Well I went over there in my pajamas because I was so damned tired and asked that he think of his neighbors before planning another party. He got a free perv because I was uh, rather free and easy and that's it.”

Eddie narrowed his eyes at me. “That's it?”

“Uh, yes.”

“You are slack Faith. Get to know him.”

“No thanks.”

I slid off the counter and turned back to him.

“It's Sunday bi-atch, are we still good or are you ditching me for love bird two?”

“We are good and love bird two is coming, you cool with that?”

“Of course but no booze, okay?”

He laughed and waved me off, wandering out of the kitchen.

I know it was a stupid request but after Friday night I couldn't take another night of having them two in my apartment and consuming alcohol. Sunday night dinner was going to be as dry as the desert.

Sunday was always housework day unless I had some kind of mind blowing flood of thoughts and ideas for writing. When that happened everything else stopped. But still being stuck in the dry spell I was able to do every single thing on my list.

I might be a bit of a clean freak. Waiting until Sunday to do housework was difficult, sometimes I didn't make it.

Trying to ignore Archer, I dusted the bookshelves in my study. But the problem was I still didn't have any window coverings and there was one hot body walking back and forth across his lawn. Half naked and sweaty as he mowed the lawn. Bastard. The grass did not need to be cut, it was cut the day before he moved in and had hardly grown since.

This was on purpose, I was certain of it. I leaned on the bookshelf and watched as he stopped and shut off the mower. He stood by the front steps, taking a long drink of his bottled water. Halfway through it he poured it over him, drenching his glistening body in refreshing water.

I might have actually whimpered. My fingers found my lips as I tried to restrain the noise that emanated. It felt like I was becoming more gelatinous with each passing second, my insides turning to liquid. Well, something was turning to liquid.

He went inside, leaving me just as soaked as what he was, just in different areas.

“Bastard.” I hissed under my breath. “I know you did that on purpose and screw you, it worked.”

I hated being horny and not having someone to vent my frustration on. There wasn't even a chance of convincing the terrible twosome back for another round of drunken misbehavior, Eddie and James had agreed on no more friends in their bed.

Sitting on the chair I looked at the second draw on the left hand side of my desk. Inside it was my relief when I got a little too involved in one of my more intense scenes that I was writing. Work myself up by hammering out a chapter of pure written smut and then relieving the tension with my rubbery friend.

Wriggling my way out of my bed pants, I opened the draw and pulled out the bag of essentials. I had lube in here but it was never necessary, I was always so wet that I never had any issues. There were several types in here, I'd been sent a pack by a firm who was eager for a little product placement in one of my books. I didn't think it was possible but apparently they'd named these things and I had to be very specific and ensure that I had it right.

I pulled out the cactus, a long cylinder that almost mimicked a penis except for the bumps all over it. They had soft points to them, making it incredibly pleasurable to rub in the right spots. Pushing the chair back, I spread my legs over the arms of the chair and as always, was completely grateful for the reasonably high wall below the window. High enough to hide my wandering hand and cactus, low enough to view the world that slowly passed by.

That first slide over my sensitive clit was always amazing, I breathed heavily as I settled against the back rest, closing my eyes.

“Hell yeah.” I said softly.

Over and over again I rubbed it between the folds, becoming more aroused. So aroused that I removed my shirt to fondle my breasts. Gently pulling on the nipples heightened my rising orgasm.

All I could think about was that rigid body, the jeans that were slung low on his hips, revealing that defined v over his pelvis. Those firm and strong hands on my body, holding me as he invaded me, fucking me hard. I didn't need love, I needed to be fucked, hard. The kind of kink that had him pulling my hair back as he thrust into me from behind. Feeling the crash of his skin against mine, begging him to be rough. Just a little. Just enough so that I would come hard.

I wanted to surrender to him, to be at his mercy as I offered myself freely. So long as I got my kicks I didn't care how misogynistic he was or wasn't. My own gratification was necessary, once I was satisfied then all else was inconsequential.

At least, when it came to my own self-love it was. In real life I was a little more subdued. Okay so a whole lot more subdued. For me, my private time, my masturbation was as kinky as I got. I fantasized about a lot of things that made me blush afterward. Dirty talk, having multiple partners, toys and my favorite, outdoor sex. The thrill of getting caught was something that drove me crazy.

I found that voicing the dirty talk just a fraction helped me, rather than listening to my own heated breath or stressing over the sounds of the outside world.

With a gasp I pushed it in, cupping my breast and molding it in my fingers.

“Fuck yeah.” I gasped.

As it began to overwhelm me, I arched my back and enjoyed the spiking pleasure.

“Holy shit.” A deep male voice crooned in the morning air.

My eyes bolted open, pending orgasm gone, obliterated into a thousand pieces as I sat up. With a wince from the pain of the stupid thing pushing against me, I pulled the bulking dildo out of me and looked out across the road.

Archer was on the roof of his house, a ladder propped against the guttering. Leaves were scattering into the air as he dropped them to the ground. He could see me. But how much? Shit, he's waving at me.

I waved back and sank my body low, sliding off the chair, groaning as I tried to figure out how much he could see.

On the roof, almost in line with my floor. I thought it wasn't possible until I thought about his words,
holy shit.
Not,
hey Roxy
. No, he saw me and was clearly astounded by what he'd seen.

Yay, the new neighbor has seen me jerking off with a frigging giant dildo. Just what I needed.

Chapter
Seven

It was late afternoon before I actually stopped and did nothing. Distracting myself was ideal, it was best to not think about the mornings efforts. It was okay, I just wouldn't ever talk to him again. I'd get some curtains or something and then I could jerk until my heart was content, never having to face my neighbor and his inane grin as he watched me like a complete pervert.

I was leaning on the bench in the kitchen, taking a moment to regroup. There was no way in hell that I was telling Eddie about this nightmare, I could be wrong and maybe Archer didn't see a single thing. I could only hope.

With the roast into the oven, dinner was slowly cooking and filling the house with a wonderful smell. The apartment was clean, I'd done a mental check list as I went from room to room to ensure it was perfect. I required perfection, anything less was an annoyance.

Everything was wiped down, washed and put away. I looked around and assessed the kitchen, nothing to be done. Going through the place again, I tried to find a distraction. I needed something. Room by room I continued to check everything and found nothing more that could be done.

“Damn it.”

I hated the feeling that I was missing something, looking down I realized I was still in my pajamas. Quickly I returned to my bedroom, changing for dinner and tidying myself up. Not only was it Eddie and of course James but my parents also came over.

We alternated Sundays, today was my turn. When my sister Saffron was in the country she'd be a part of the dinner thing as well. She was off trekking through Europe with her friends, likely to be back in about six months' time. We weren't sure, she had said that a year ago. Since then she's continued to hop from country to country and having a great time apparently.

There was a knock at the door, I looked at the clock with a frown. Maybe my parents had arrived early, it was unlike Eddie to be early for anything.

I wandered to the door and opened it expecting my parents and faced with Archer. Inwardly I just died of pure embarrassment. He offered no clue as to what he was thinking, just a pleasant smile as he held my book.

“Hey Roxy, finished your book.”

“Faith.” I said as I took the book.

I couldn't look him in the eye, feeling the flush of pink cheeks as the memories of this morning came flooding back.

“So thanks for bringing it back.” I said, hoping to close the door.

No such luck, he leaned on the frame, one arm just over his head, the other tucking the hand into his pocket.

“Sure, no problem. I took good care of it, figured it meant something to you. Is it like a first edition or something?”

“Yeah, I always get the first one that's printed, my mother gets the second and my agent gets the third.”

“Your mother reads them, really?”

I shrugged, looking at the light switch rather than to the man that I had spent a good couple of minutes fantasizing over as I rubbed my wet pussy with a bumpy, rubber phallus. My life sucked.

“A weird but proud collection. I don't think she's read them.

“Ah, okay. Not really into the mommy porn thing but I did like your book.”

“Thanks. You read it rather fast.”

“I like to read and when a book grabs me I just can't put it down.”

My eyebrows raised as I nodded slowly, still trying to avoid his gaze. It felt like his eyes were burning into me, I wanted desperately to look up at him but I couldn't face the scrutiny.

“So is there like another one? The ending seemed like it was left open for a follow on.”

“Uh yeah, there's two more in this series. Did you want to read it?”

He nodded and I stupidly looked up at him. Archer offered nothing that would make me think he'd seen me, just a plain face as he waited for me to move.

“Sure, okay.” I whispered, still completely mortified.

He followed me to the bookcase and watched me as I put it back onto the shelf. Could this get any worse? Possibly, maybe I'd left the cactus on my desk. Fear gripped me as my eyes darted around the room. Refraining from a groan of relief, I realized that I'd put it away before I put my clothes back on and crawled out of the room. I did not want him to see me and so I was on my hands and knees, avoiding all of the windows until I reached my bedroom.

Archer turned to look at the books, running his fingers over the spines.

“Is this the next one?”

“Yeah.”

“Sure you're okay for me to borrow it?”

“Yeah, it's cool.”

He chuckled as he looked at me, dragging the book from the shelf. There was a certain awkwardness that I couldn't get past, it was me and I knew it. He was being a gentleman and not saying anything. Smooth Archer, real smooth.

“Oh my gawd.” Eddie crooned. “Are you coming to dinner too Archie?”

I looked beyond the bulky man in front of me and saw not only Eddie and James but my parents as well. Oh what fun. My mother was great for making assumptions.

“Archer.” He grunted as he turned around.

“Faith.” I said under my breath rather smugly.

His eyes narrowed with a playful smirk, hopefully conceding defeat in his little Roxy game.

“Oh of course you are staying for dinner. One more won't matter will it Faith?”

Eddie looked at me with his cheeky, wry grin. Almost daring me to refuse him.

“Sure. Stay if you want.”

“Faith darling that is no way to invite a guest.” The bastard continued.

I was going to kill him as soon as I could figure out where to dump his body. The backyard was an option, I'm sure I could con Elise into helping me. Ken would sit on a deck chair with a beer and watch as two women dug a really big hole in the ground, offering his advice and not bothering to help. It didn't matter, so long as it was big enough to stuff a traitor into then it was fine by me.

Archer slid into position next to me, looking rather smug with himself. James was grinning, my parents were confused. They were faced with a man in my apartment which was odd.

“Fine.” I sighed. “Archer did you want to stay for dinner? But you can't right? Because you said that your friends are coming back tonight.”

“Actually I was just joking. I was planning on kicking back with a good book but seeing as you so kindly offered, I'd love to stay.”

Like he was in cahoots with Eddie, the bastard smiled at me.

“Great.” I said which kind of sounded like a groan.

I began to wander to the kitchen, my mother grabbing my arm.

“Aren't you forgetting something?”

“Probably. Am I wearing pants?”

“Yes dear.”

With her eyes she tried to indicate something about the new figure in the room. Eyebrows raising, eyes darting and face crinkling, all while trying to move as little as possible.

“Archer, these are my parents Roxanne and Peter. That's Archer, he bought the house across the road.”

I left them to do their greeting thing, Eddie followed me into the kitchen.

“I am going to kill you.” I muttered.

“Oh Faith you could never harm me. You know you love me far too much to do that.”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Lucky for you.”

Eddie started to remove the plates from the cupboard, putting them onto the counter with a heavy sigh.

“So why was he here anyway?” He whispered.

“He was returning one of my books that he borrowed last night.”

“Oh, okay.” He frowned as he took a moment to think about it. “Did he really read it? You write chick books, he didn't read it did he?”

I shrugged as I leaned on the bench beside him.

“He said he did, wanted to read the next book so I guess he really did read it.”

“Huh.” Eddie said quietly.

Dinner on a Sunday in my apartment was almost a ritual, habits formed easily and rarely did we vary from it. I would put the food into bowls and platters, Eddie would ferry everything from the kitchen to the table while my parents organized where everything went. Then with the last of what food was waiting to be brought out, I would venture from the kitchen.

My parents always sat on the length of the table when Saffron was around but with just Eddie and myself, we all took a side of the table.

But things had changed. James was here and of course, Archer. When I emerged from the kitchen and saw the seating arrangement, I nearly dropped the platter of meat.

I smiled and put on my pretend happy face, all the while I was quietly annoyed. One of these devils, or possibly all of them were conspiring against me.

My parents were at each end of the rectangle table, Eddie and James on one side and Archer on the other. My seat was already determined and it was right beside Archer.

Dinner had started off rather noisily as people passed the platters and bowls, then as they started to eat the room quietened.

“It's rather quiet.” My mother said as she cut through the baked potato. “Maybe some background music?”

“You don't like my music.”

“I'm sure there's something reasonable to play quietly.”

Archer was grinning, trying not to laugh.

“What?”

“You should put on what you were playing on Friday. She did a great rendition of Home Sweet Home. Put it on and show them.”

“Screw you.” I muttered and got up from the table.

I tried to hide the searing red cheeks as I stood at the cabinet, flicking through the play lists. He'd seen it, where he was I don't know but he'd seen me singing in front of the window like a complete fool.

Archer's comment had caught my mother's curiosity and now she was probing for more information. To his delight, Archer was regaling them of what I had done.

Now I was in trouble for climbing on the desk. I got the same old lines, if I fell there would be no one to help me, no one would know. Except someone would know. It might not be for a few hours but Eddie would have eventually figured it out.

But that wasn't good enough. I had to be more careful, I had to ensure that I was always safe and climbing on things was not safe. I sat and listened, saying nothing. In my mind I was digging a bigger hole, one that would fit Eddie and Archer.

Everyone had piled the food onto their plates but Archer's plate was loaded a lot more than anyone else. Clearly he had a healthy appetite.

I made lots of different types of vegetables because there were so many varying preferences. My father didn't like potatoes but loved peas and carrots whereas my mother loved potatoes. Eddie wasn't fussed on a few things but ate broccoli as if his life depended on it. James was reasonably easy going with his selection, I did note that he didn't touch the carrots but everything else was in small helpings.

Archer? Well he waited until everyone had their turn at the bowl and then scooped large helpings of everything.

My parents said nothing but I could see their amusement. Having raised two daughters they had never seen the likes of a growing young man before even if Archer was fully grown now. Past boyfriends of Saffron and myself had always been a little freaked out at the prospect of dinner with the parents and ate little bits of everything that was on their plates.

I guess considering that Archer is not a boyfriend might have been beneficial. He didn't have to worry about their scrutiny.

My father was an intimidating man but nowhere near as intimidating as what Archer would have known in his days of being in a motorcycle club. No wonder he wasn't freaking out, this was probably the most normal thing he's ever done.

Dinner with civilians. Do they call us that or something else? I had no idea and I didn't know if I could ask Archer without getting that mean face again. It was so hard, I had so many questions and I couldn't ask any of them because it might be crossing a line.

“So what do you do for a living Archer?” My mother asked.

Silence hit the table, Eddie looked at me with slight panic.

“Mechanic.”

“Oh that's great.” She said so cheerfully. “Faith needs a good mechanic.”

“Mom!” I said rather shocked.

She looked at me rather confused.

“Well you do darling, the one that you go to is a rip-off.”

“It's under warranty, I don't have much choice.”

Her mouth twisted with derision as she looked down at her plate. After loading the fork and eating the food, she spoke again once the food was swallowed.

“Competent is better than being ripped off, isn't that right Archer?”

“Absolutely Mrs Harlow.”

“Oh please, Roxanne is fine.”

Archer smiled at her and I swear she nearly dropped the cutlery in her hands. It was pretty sad but I can't say as I blamed her.

Even though he'd only come over to return a book he was wearing a reasonably nice shirt and clean jeans. It was almost like he'd made an effort for something so trivial.

I looked over at Eddie who was surprisingly quiet. Things didn't exactly add up and I was suspicious. Archer comes over at the right time, dressed nicely. Eddie, James and my parents are earlier than usual and it happened to be within a few minutes of Archer's arrival.