Author's Note: Hey! Thank you for being patient with me, and I hope that you like this installment! Since I'm in school again, I'm going to be uploading only once every two weeks because I have 4 hour labs and 3 lab reports a week on top of regular studying and testing so I hope you understand. I love taking a break and working on this story in my spare time so there's no shortage of love here, just time!

All disclaimers from previous chapters still apply.

"You beat me, and I even gave you short notice," Jones laughed, sliding into a booth that Archie claimed, starting them on a pitcher of beer.

"You forget that I live within walking distance of this place now and I figured I would get here early to get you settled in right away. It seemed like a pitcher would be a good place to start."

"I fucking helped you move, I just thought you would be playing video games in your boxers or something, I wanted to get the drinks."

Archie clinked the glass in front of Jones, "I never said I would paying for them."

"You bastard," Jones smiled, picking up his beer and taking a few gulps, happy to be across from the redhead.

"As much as I love 'The Bulldog', I wanna know what prompted it."

"A guy can't have an impromptu beer with his best bud? What has this world come to?"

Archie poured more beer into Jones' cup for dramatic effect, "I know you Jug."

"Fuck off," he joked, tipping his full-brimmed glass to his lips, "You're the one with some lady friend waiting for you back at your apartment."

"Oh you heard her?"

"Nope, just guessed and you played right into it."

Archie rubbed the back of his head, feeling the freshly shorn hair there, "Man, I've been away from you too long man, I should've seen that one coming, but yeah, she's at my place right now."

"Anything serious?"

"I really don't know, I hope so. I mean, I am supposed to meet her family this weekend for some party, but then again, rich people will throw a party for anything, right?"

"I thought that was my line."

"It is."

"I'm glad we're on the same page, but meeting the family, that sounds serious."

Archie finished his pint, waving over a waiter and ordering some fries, "To be honest I hope it's serious, I actually really like her."

"Well she must like you if she's willing to stay in your pig sty of an apartment."

"I've fixed it up since I've started seeing her actually. Didn't want her to think she was hooking up with some guy that's still in college."

"Look at you being a grownup, you must've even bought plates too or actual glasses instead of coffee mugs for everything."

"You forget, you're the one that asked me down here, so what's up Jug? You're going to reach the end of that glass sooner or later, you can't hide behind chugging forever."

Jones finally placed his glass on the table, twirling it in his hands, "Fine, I've been seeing this girl…"

Archie interrupted, "Wait, my Jughead Jones is dating a girl?"

The fries were set on the table between them and thanks were passed to the waiter before Jones tossed his napkin at Archie, "Dating is a word for it."

"So how did you fuck up?"

"Why do you think I fucked up?"

Archie raised his eyebrow, reaching for some fries as Jones pointed a fry at him, "First of all, you're an asshole."

"As are you."

"This I know and secondly, unfortunately you're right."

"I know. So, what did you do?"

Jones poured the rest of the pint into his glass, taking a sip, "It isn't what I've done, it's what I haven't done."

"Oh for fuck sakes, did you not wear a condom or something? Am I going to be a godfather?"

"Okay, how stupid do you think I am? And we haven't even slept together yet. Well, we've fooled around, but not fucked."

"Okay, sorry, it was the first thing that came to mind, but seriously? You haven't slept with her?"

"We're taking it slow, but you honestly think I couldn't remember to put a condom on or something? Andrews, you disappoint me to a whole different level."

"Well now you haven't gotten the opportunity to disappoint her yet," Archie laughed, biting into a fry with a shit-eating grin.

"Uncalled for and incorrect, you were in the room next to me for 3 years."

Archie rolled his eyes, "Anyways, can you please tell me what you did? Actually, what you didn't do."

Jones paused, sitting back in the booth, "I maybe left out the fact that I am… was a Serpent."

"Like you didn't bring it up?"

"Like I omitted it when she was talking about the Southside and talking about Riverdale."

"Fuck man that's not good. Wouldn't she have known about you and what went down?"

"No, it wouldn't have reached the papers, it would've been kept quiet for sure. Hell, I was even in a hospital out of Riverdale to prevent word from getting out."

"Jug, do you like this girl?"

Jones, took off his beanie, holding it in his hands, "Unfortunately, yeah. Too much if I'm honest."

"You have to tell her at some point."

"I know that Archie."

They munched on the fries in quiet, listening to the sounds of the pub, the music, the drunken laughter.

"Do I know this girl?" Jones asked, eating the last fry.

"You've met her," Archie sat back, checking his phone before slipping it back into his pocket.

"Oh don't play coy with me Andrews, unless it's my mother."

"I should've gone for that play, but no, it's not your Mom."

"Well good, because mine's your Mom."

"Yeah fuck off, she's been in California for 2 years and is dating a real estate agent. Besides you're not her type."

"I'm kidding, but seriously, do I know her from college or something? A bar? Oh, what about Mystique?"

"Does Vera ring a bell?"

"No. Fucking. Way. Andrews! A Domme?"

Archie, smacked his arm, getting him to take the hint to keep it down, "A known Domme for a guy I've seen do alter service when we were kids? You're pulling my leg."

"Her name's Veronica actually."

"You're okay with all that stuff?"

Archie looked at him, confused, "What stuff? Dating?"

"No, your cannibalism habits. The kink stuff Arch, I don't mean to pry, but she was definitely not shy when she first met you so I don't doubt she's shy now."

"Umm," Archie blushed under the yellow bar lights, "It actually hasn't come up."

"You're kidding me," Jones leaned on the table, looking at the redhead's expression, trying to gauge a twitch or a sign that he was lying.

"Honest to God Jug, I'm kind of worried that she's not actually attracted to me that way."

"What way?"

"Like, I don't know, to do kink stuff with."

Jones placed his beanie back on his head, "So you are into that stuff."

"I'm not sure, we haven't even talked about it."

"Well I'm sure it's bound to come up. She owns a latex catsuit so it'll come up at some point."

Archie waved over the waiter and ordered them drinks, watching him walk away before he spoke, "Now what about your girl?"

"What about her?"

Archie looked at him in disbelief, "Jug, are you really playing stupid with me right now?"

"Not playing stupid, but I'm one step ahead of you and it feels good."

"What the fuck Jones? I was just wondering if I know who she is."

Jones shrugged smugly, "Maybe, maybe not."

"I'm going to put my money on yes for that fucking grin on your face, now spill. I'll buy drinks if you do."

The glasses of scotch Archie ordered came as the beer glasses and pitcher were cleared, "Why do you care so much?"

"Jughead, you've haven't dated anyone for, oh wait lemme think. Ever."

"I've gone out with people, tons of women."

"Dating is different and you know it, and this is the first time you've talked to me about a girl since Lainey tried looping you into going to prom."

"I have few fond memories of her if I'm honest."

Archie took a whiff of his drink swirling it in his glass before taking a sip, "Didn't she try sleeping with your Dad at graduation?"

"Yup. Again, very few good memories."

"For you maybe," Archie smiled, tapping his glass with his index finger, "Where would I know your girl from?"

Jones thought a moment, "You probably went to high school with her, actually scratch that, you definitely went to school with her."

"Jug, there was at least 200 people in our grade alone by senior year when Riverdale expanded."

Jones took a breath, taking his time taking a sip of his own scotch before asking, "Do you remember Elyse?"

"I don't think there were any Elyses at school, is she our age?"

"Let me rephrase, Mistress Elyse?"

Archie's glass paused at his lips and he smirked, "You fucking devil."

"But you did actually go to school with her."

"Well what's her real name?"

"You're going to have an aneurism, but Betty Cooper."

Archie leaned towards him, enthralled by the exchange, "Betty? Seriously?"

"The one and only."

Archie sat back, crossing his arms, "Yeah, I can see her being a good match for you actually. Damn, I can't believe I didn't recognize her at Mystique."

"Well to be fair, she was wearing a wig. I'm more surprised you didn't recognize Veronica that night."

"I didn't know I went to school with her until we were talking about our high schools and I saw her in the yearbook."

"Well that's some good luck then."

"Same for you then."

They both finished their drinks, leaving cash on the table and standing to leave.

Archie was the first to speak, getting out his keys, "Hey, thanks for talking to me about Betty, and we need to hang out more."

"I don't think that'll be an issue since they're friends too."

"Anyways, I have to get back, but I'll text you."

"Sure, have a good night Arch."

Jones watched the back of Archie's jacket go in the direction of his apartment before heading to the parking lot, looking for his car and heading home.

When he got home, he barely got in the front door before he texted Betty, Hey, I just got home from having a beer with a friend. Lunch tomorrow?

A reply came quickly as he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Can't, already have plans, but I'll make lunch on Saturday to make up for it. Sound good?

He leaned against the doorjamb as he typed, a tinge of disappointment at the response, Yeah, sounds great.

I'm just about to go to sleep, but I'll talk to you tomorrow pet. Sleep well!

Goodnight Mistress, talk to you tomorrow.

He finished up in the bathroom, trying to push away the thought of not talking to her or seeing her which was making him feel like his brain was crawling with thoughts when all he wanted to relax. He threw on some sweatpants and jumped into bed dragging his laptop onto his lap, tossing off his beanie onto his dresser across the room, hitting the blinds to his window.

Slipping on his earbuds, he went to work writing, finally blocking out his thoughts and working himself into the night, escaped and immersed in the world he created until an alarm on his computer alerted him to the time, 2:30.

Fuck.

He reached for a bottle on his nightstand amongst multiple bottles that littered the surface, popping a sleeping pill in his mouth and swallowing it without water. He kept typing until his eyes were beginning to fog, falling asleep just as he remembered to close the screen and put in on the other side of the bed.

"You look like hell Jones," Bryan said, walking into his office with an I Pad in his hands.

"Well you really know how to compliment a girl Bryan, what do you need?"

"Just confirming the conference call in an hour with upstairs."

"Oh right that's today, thanks for reminding me."

"It's kind of my job," Bryan looked like he was going to leave, but he hesitated, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, just tired, but thanks."

He left, leaving Jones sitting on his desk, looking at his monitor as the words swam in front of him. He reached into his desk, putting in eyedrops when he heard his phone buzz.

Coffee?

Sure.

Good, meet me in the parking garage.

He nearly lept from his chair, feeling light-headed as he did so, but pushed through it on his way to her location, keeping his hands in his jean pockets, adjusting his dress shirt when the doors opened.

He saw her blonde ponytail first, whipping around to see him, her smile making him forget why he was down in the freezing parking garage for a moment before he spotted the coffee tray.

"I got myself something so I figured I would bring something back for you. Hey, are you okay?" She reached out and touched his cheek to graze the purple bruises under his eyes.

"Just tired, it's nothing."

Betty's eyes widened in shock as he took his coffee, "I forgot to tell you to go to bed, I'm so sorry."

He took a sip, shaking his head, "You forgot, it's really not a big deal, it's still really new."

"That's still not an excuse, I'll remember tonight and the rest of the nights."

"I know you will, it's honestly okay. How's you day been?"

They chatted, Betty in her coat and Jones, happy to be in the crisp air of the structure instead of the sauna that was the offices upstairs.

"I'm sorry, but I really have to go, I have a conference call, but I'll see you Saturday, 10 and I'll call you tonight. Thanks for the coffee," he kissed her cheek, happy to hold the door for her as he escorted her back inside, pressing the elevator button as they stood there in a happy silence, stealing glances at each other.

"Maybe you should go home early Jones."

"Or not."

"Do you do it often?"

He looked at her as the doors opened and people came out with their jackets in hand, heading to their cars.

"I don't think I've ever left early," he clicked both of their floors, leaning on the side to look directly at her, appraising her in the empty elevator.

"Well then maybe it should be an order. Go home early Jones and take a nap."

"I don't know if I can Mistress," he whispered, coming up blank with excuses in his state.

"Just do stuff at home, no one will blame you. Can you do that for me?" she batted her lashed, looking up at him and getting close to him just as the doors opened.

Betty stepped back quickly, still holding her coffee in one hand and a purse in the other, whispering to him as she stepped off the lift, "That's an order Jones."

The doors closed behind her and he saw her sashay away without looking back, letting him stand and think about her words.

As soon as the doors opened, he made a bee-line for his office, tossing his empty cup into a waste basket, spotting Bryan and waving him over as he went into his office.

"Yeah Jones?" Bryan came in, looking scared.

"Breathe Jones, I'm just letting you know I'm going home after the conference call, I'm just not feeling my best, but I'll be on my computer and have my phone on me until work hours are done."

"That's no problem, I'll let people know if they ask."

"And they will," Jones gave a small smile as he packed away his laptop and notebooks into his computer bag, "Alright, so ready to learn how to wow some higher ups with future projects? C'mon."

Jones woke up on his couch next to some takeout littering his coffee table with the TV on a rerun of an old sitcom, dreary and sluggish in his movements.

Rubbing his eyes, he felt the couch for his phone, unlocking it to find a message from "M", Hey, how was your nap?

He saw that that was sent around 2 hours after he said he would be awake, but he reached for his half-finished soda, sipping on it as he replied, Longer than expected, but I'm feeling better.

I just hope you don't have an issue falling asleep, that's why I texted you when I did. But I'm glad that you got some good rest. Wanna call?

Jones typed, still laying on his couch, Yeah, just a second, I need my earbuds.

He turned them on and connected them to Bluetooth, he called her, setting his phone on the coffee table as he got up to get his laptop.

"Hey, did you dream of me when you were napping?" she teased, her own wireless headphones on as she was making her lunch for the next day, chopping up salad and cooked chicken as meal prep for the next few days.

She heard his scratchy, tired voice on the other end clearly, "Not this time Mistress."

"Has it ever happened?" she asked, curious as she carried on her mundane task, happy to keep him on his toes.

"Not that I can remember, but that isn't saying much."

"What are you up to right now pet?"

"Honestly just waking up, I should probably take shower soon, I still feel kind of out of it and achey."

"Then I want you to go get yourself a glass of water before you do that."

"I'm on it," she heard his voice and a few moments later, a cupboard door closing.

"When am I going to see your place pet?"

"Why do you want to see it Mistress?" his voice carried a note of nerves and she noticed, placing her food in the fridge and cleaning the counter.

"Is it wrong to be curious about you?"

"Depends on what you're curious about I guess."

"Just for that, you've piqued my interest and I'll pick you up on Saturday morning to bring you over."

His pause lasted for longer than she expected, but she held her ground, "I think I can manage that Mistress."

"Well I should hope so boy because it's happening either way, but don't worry, I won't stay long. Maybe at some point I'll stay the night and that's when you can really panic."

"I can hear that you mean that to be a joke, but it doesn't really sound like a joke."

"Make with it what you will, but how are you making with that water boy?"

"In the glass and ready to drink."

"Send me a picture then," she smiled, heading to her bathroom, turning the tap to start water in the tub, feeling the temperature before pressing the stopper to let it fill.

She felt a buzz in her robe pocket and saw the picture as soon as she unlocked her phone, a thumbs-up next to it that made her smile, "What a good boy, and after that you can take your shower but I want you on speaker phone when you're in there. Actually, before that, I wanted to ask, what's your phone plan like? I don't want to run you into the ground."

She heard his laugh, "Unlimited local calling so don't get any ideas of moving anywhere close to out of state."

"It's not on the agenda yet, don't worry. I like being on the phone with you even if we aren't talking if I'm being blunt."

"I actually like that you're straight up Mistress, takes the pressure off."

"Oh am I not nerve-wracking enough? I guess I'm losing my edge," Betty joked, pouring in some bubble bath under the streaming water.

"I was just hoping that it was because you liked me, that, or I just don't have any experience being on your bad side."

"Is someone pining?"

He breathed a laugh, a clink of glass on the other side of the line, "Maybe a little."

"Well, because I'm in a good mood I should tell you that I really like you pet."

"The feeling's mutual Mistress. What are you up to?"

Betty was taking off her robe and hanging it, placing her phone on a bath caddy, stepping into the warm bath, "Just going to read in the bath, you?"

"Just about to turn on the shower and… you're now on speaker phone."

"Perfect," Betty opened her book, hearing the rush of water in her earphones, "You have a task when you're in the shower."

"And what would that be? Could it possibly be to clean myself? That would be downright dirty Mistress."

"Oh shut up or you don't get to do anything," Betty smirked, placing her bookmark on the tray spanning the width of the tub.

"Fine, I was kidding, but seriously, what is it?"

She could hear a shower curtain close and his voice grow fainter, "You have to edge yourself 5 times in the shower honey."

"Is there a time limit?"

"Oh you know me so well. There isn't one, but if you're not done your shower routine plus 5 edges in 15 minutes you don't get to cum on Saturday and I would imagine that would be a fun reward, right pet?"

"Can I start now?" she could hear his desperation over the sound of water, making her smile.

"What an eager little pet, yes you can start, but you need to tell me each time you edge. Do you understand?"

"I do Mistress."

"Good," she started reading from where she left off the day before when she heard his voice over the water on his end.

"No dirty talk Mistress?"

"Oh no pet, don't be greedy and do as you're told," she bit her lip after hearing his accepting reply, feeling a rush knowing what he was doing out of her sight.

"One," his voice called out a few minutes in, Betty engrossed into her book, looking up instinctively, not finding him there.

"Again, pet," she heard him swear and she was getting more turned on and the time passed.

"Two Mistress," a few minutes later.

"Don't forget to thank me pet, don't be rude."

She heard his voice becoming increasingly desperate, "Yes, Mistress, thank you Mistress."

"That's better," she continued reading, enjoying the feeling of the water and the dimmed lights and the image of him in her mind.

"Three Mistress, thank you Mistress."

"That's better boy, two more."

"Four Mistress, thank you Mistress."

"Oh so soon pet, maybe you should have a longer break this time to finish washing up," Betty suggested, flipping a page nonchalantly.

"Yes Mistress," she smiled, hearing how reluctant he was.

A few minutes later she heard his voice again, her eyes still scanning the page she was on, "Can I start again Mistress?"

"Yes pet, last one for the night, it shouldn't take you too long, you eager thing."

"No Mistress… five Mistress."

"That was quick pet, do you like me talking to you like that?" she flitted her eyes up, not able to keep her eyes on the text at that moment.

"I… I do surprisingly, I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, boy, it's a good thing. Now no more touching until tomorrow, can you promise me that?"

"Yes Mistress," she heard he water turn off, "That's already a rule, but thank you for telling me again."

"Smart boy remembers, did you have fun pet?"

She heard the shower curtain slide before his next words came, "I really did, thank you Mistress."

"I'm surprised that you're not being smart with me right now, you must be ready to beg to cum," she teased.

"I think I know you better than you think, it would be in vain. Besides, why would I be a smartass to the one that's controlling my orgasm."

"Well that's the idea, but I still like knowing it's difficult for you."

"I never said it wasn't Mistress."

"Good," she smiled, pleased at herself, "Now I'm going to have to let you go so I can read, but I'll text you later tonight and I'll pick you up at 9:30 so we'll be back at my place by 10 tomorrow."

"I guess I'll get to cleaning then," he breathed a laugh, hearing drawers clatter in her headphones.

"Maybe you should. I'm kidding, mostly, but anyways, I'll talk to you later. Have fun pet."

"I'll talk to you later Mistress."

The line went quiet with a beep in her headphones to indicate the call ended, going back to her book.

Betty was getting ready to go to bed, not texting Jones because of his insistence of needing to clean his apartment and threatening pulling an all-nighter if he didn't get started when he got dressed after his shower. She was brushing her teeth when an alarm on her phone went off with his name flashing on the screen.

She finished up and then called his phone, leaning against her counter, straightening the hand towels there, the dial tone ended to his voice, "Hello?"

"Hey pet, how's cleaning going?"

"I think I underestimated what needed to be done, but I'm not going to lie, cleaning while turned on as fuck is both amazing and torture."

"That's what I like to hear, but I need you to finish up and text me when you go to bed and it better be soon because I'm heading there myself."

"Is this a bedtime reminder?"

"I would be lying if I said 'maybe' because that's exactly what this is," Betty laughed, walking into the living room to turn off the lights there, heading to her room.

"Alright, alright, I'm putting everything down and I'll get ready for bed, I'll call you once I climb into bed."

"Good boy, I'll talk to you soon."

"Yes Mistress," Betty ended the call, placing her phone on the nightstand, taking to continue reading her book, comfortable under the covers.

She picked up the buzzing phone when she was about to finish a chapter, "Just a moment pet, stay on the line while I finish this chapter I'm reading."

She placed the phone on the bed for the short time that she finished the text and placed it on her nightstand, "Thank you for waiting, are you in bed now?"

"Yes I am Mistress, are you enjoying your book so far?"

"Yes I am, thank you for asking pet, are you tired enough to sleep?"

"Always, but I'll be getting up early to continue tidying up which from what I can remember isn't against the rules."

"Ah, there's the smartass comment I was looking for," she laughed, "And you're right it isn't against the rules, I just want you to be better rested, is that a sin?"

"No, but I do enjoy sinning with you."

"I enjoy putting heaven on hold for the things we've done and will do, boy."

"I can't wait. Goodnight Mistress, I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well."

Betty tried to hold back a small smile, "Goodnight pet, sleep well."

She plugged in her phone when the call ended, eager to get to sleep so she could see him sooner and she was unashamed at her excitement as she fell asleep.