Sleeping With The Devil

Chapter Eleven

The weeks that followed the assault on the Irish were surprisingly quiet. Too quiet, Archer thought, as he leaned against the bar in the Nameless MC clubhouse, nursing a glass of whiskey. The Irish hadn't made a move since the night they took out their leadership, and while the silence was a relief, it was also unnerving. Archer knew better than to trust it. In their world, peace was usually just the calm before the storm.
The Nameless had spent those weeks regrouping, healing from the wounds they'd sustained in the fight. Their fallen brothers had been mourned, and new blood had been brought in to fill the ranks. Two new prospects had joined the fold, young men eager to prove themselves in a world that demanded nothing less than total loyalty and dedication.Archer watched them now, the prospects busy with their duties, eyes wide with the thrill of being part of something bigger than themselves. They reminded him of himself at that age—eager, hungry, and a little too naive. But they'd learn soon enough. The life they had chosen was brutal and unforgiving, and there was no room for innocence.He took a sip of his drink, the burn of the whiskey a familiar comfort. The weeks of healing hadn't been just physical for him; they'd also been a time of reflection. Farrah had been by his side more often than not, her presence a balm for the wounds that ran deeper than any bullet or knife could inflict.Their relationship had changed in those weeks, the distance that had once existed between them slowly dissolving. They were growing closer again, the bond they'd shared as children reasserting itself in new, more complex ways. Archer had found himself opening up to her in ways he hadn't expected, allowing her into the parts of his life he'd kept hidden from everyone else. She'd been there through his recovery, helping him in ways that went beyond tending to his physical injuries. She had been a steady presence, grounding him when the darkness threatened to swallow him whole. And he had started to realise that he needed her, in a way that went beyond simple affection or lust. Farrah was a lifeline, and the thought of losing her, of pushing her away again, terrified him more than he cared to admit."Archer." Viper's voice pulled him from his thoughts.Archer looked up to see his friend standing beside him, a half-smirk on his lips. "What's on your mind?""Nothing important," Archer replied, setting his glass down. "Just thinking.""Thinking, huh?" Viper chuckled. "That's dangerous.""Don't I know it," Archer said, though there was no humour in his tone.Viper studied him for a moment, his smirk fading into something more serious. "You've been different lately.""Different how?""I don't know. Less... closed off, I guess." Viper shrugged. "It's not a bad thing. Just different."Archer didn't respond right away. He knew Viper was right. He had been different, ever since Farrah had come back into his life in a meaningful way. She had a way of breaking through the walls he'd built around himself, and while it was unsettling, it was also something he couldn't seem to resist."I guess I have," Archer admitted, his voice low.Viper nodded, his gaze shifting to something behind Archer. "She's good for you, you know."Archer turned to follow Viper's gaze and saw Farrah across the room, talking to a few of the club members. She laughed at something one of them said, the sound carrying across the room and making Archer's chest tighten with something he didn't want to name."Yeah," he said, almost to himself. "She is."Viper clapped him on the shoulder, the tension in the air breaking as he grinned. "Well, don't get too soft on me, Prez. We've got a reputation to uphold."Archer snorted, the corner of his mouth lifting in a rare smile. "Don't worry about that."As if on cue, a woman approached them, her hips swaying as she moved through the room with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what she wanted. She was a regular around the clubhouse, someone who enjoyed the company of the Nameless MC and the excitement that came with it. Her eyes locked onto Archer's, a sultry smile playing on her lips as she came to a stop in front of him."Hey, Devil," she purred, using the nickname that had stuck with him over the years. "You look like you could use a distraction."Archer raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Viper, who simply shrugged, his grin widening."Maybe I could," Archer replied, his voice low and rough.The woman's smile widened as she took a step closer, her fingers trailing down Archer's chest. "How about we find somewhere more private?"Archer hesitated for a moment, his mind flashing to Farrah across the room. But the thought was quickly buried under the familiar pull of desire, the need for a release from the tension that had been building inside him for weeks."Lead the way," he said, his voice steady.Viper's grin widened, and he gave Archer a knowing look as the woman took his hand and led him toward the back rooms of the clubhouse. Archer followed, his mind already shifting into a different mode, one that pushed aside the complications of his emotions in favour of something simpler, something more primal.The room they entered was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of whiskey and smoke. The woman wasted no time, turning to face Archer as she pushed him back against the wall, her hands roaming over his chest and shoulders."Take it easy," Viper said as he followed them inside, closing the door behind him. "We've got all night."Archer's gaze flicked to Viper, a silent understanding passing between them. This wasn't the first time they'd shared a woman, and it wouldn't be the last. It was a way for both of them to release the tension that came with their lives, a way to connect in a world where connection was often fleeting and dangerous.The woman's lips found Archer's neck, her teeth grazing his skin as she pressed herself against him. Archer let out a low growl, his hands gripping her hips as he pushed back, the familiar heat of desire coursing through him.Viper moved behind the woman, his hands sliding up her sides as he kissed the back of her neck. She moaned softly, her body arching between them as they worked in tandem, their movements fluid and practised.Archer's hands slid under her shirt, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside as he claimed her lips in a rough, demanding kiss. She responded eagerly, her hands tugging at his belt, her fingers deftly undoing the buckle.Viper's hands moved to her breasts, squeezing and kneading as he nipped at her shoulder. Archer watched the way her body responded, the way she melted between them, and for a moment, he allowed himself to get lost in it, to forget everything else.They moved to the bed, their bodies tangling together in a heated frenzy of lips, teeth, and hands. The woman moaned and gasped, her voice filling the room as Archer and Viper took turns exploring her body, pushing her to the edge over and over again.Viper's lips found Archer's ear, his breath hot against his skin as he whispered, "You've still got it, Prez."Archer smirked, his hands gripping the woman's hips as he pulled her against him, his voice rough with desire. "Don't you forget it?"The night stretched on, the air thick with the scent of sweat and sex as they moved together, lost in the moment. It was a dance they both knew well, one that allowed them to escape the harsh realities of their lives, if only for a little while.But even as he lost himself in the pleasure, a part of Archer's mind remained distant, detached. This was a distraction, a way to burn off the excess energy that had been building inside him. But it wasn't enough. Not anymore.When it was over, the woman lay between them, her breathing heavy as she drifted off to sleep. Viper stretched out on his side, a satisfied grin on his face as he looked over at Archer."Feel better?" Viper asked, his voice low.Archer didn't answer right away. He stared at the ceiling, his mind already shifting back to the thoughts he had been trying to avoid. Farrah, the Irish, the future of the club—none of it had gone away. If anything, it felt more pressing now than ever."Yeah," he said finally, though the word felt hollow.Viper seemed to sense it too, his grin fading as he studied Archer. "You okay, man?"Archer took a deep breath, his mind settling on the one person who had been at the forefront of his thoughts for weeks. "I'm fine," he said, though he wasn't sure he believed it.Viper didn't push, just nodded and closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the night finally catching up with him. Archer lay there for a long time, his mind racing even as his body ached for rest. The release had been temporary, a fleeting moment of pleasure in a world that was anything but easy.As the room grew quiet and the weight of sleep began to pull at him, Archer knew one thing for certain: the distractions weren't enough anymore. Not when there was so much at stake, not when Farrah was waiting for him, offering something more than just an escape.