Chapter 11 Friendly and Broken #2
We stepped into the night. Street lamps glazed the brownstones. Archer fell in beside me, one hand in his pocket, the other brushing Goldie’s head when she trotted between us.
“I’ll bet you’ve never had an employee’s aunt cook for you before,” I said, still half-apologizing.
“First time. Relax—I enjoyed every minute. I’ll just call my trainer tomorrow to punish me for the calories. If I were truly upset, I’d make you endure his militant circuits too.”
“I’ll run extra with the dogs tomorrow at the daycare.”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad way to spend a weekend. I’m surprised you’re still working there, though, with your workload and long hours at Bellamy.”
“Aunt Brier plans to hire more help, but she’s very, er, Westley-focused right now.”
“I don’t want you burning out. I’ll talk to her and help her hire.”
“It’ll be fine.” I appreciated his concern but diverted attention as we stepped into the next block. “My favorite house is the one there with the oculus window.”
We slowed past. The round, deep-set window with ornate iron in front of it always intrigued me. What secrets did it hold inside?
“Most people never notice the details.” He pointed out a few other things as well.
I listened intently, in awe of him. “This reminds me of that night long ago, when you first made me appreciate the art of a great building.”
He glanced over. “I like knowing I had an impact on you.”
“What about you—how’d you choose this work?”
“Money. At first,” he said as we looped back home. “Our father was all about the money. I wanted a career that made a lot of it. I liked numbers, straight lines, and codes. Brooks was passionate, more artistic; that’s why he shifted to teaching.”
“I didn’t expect that answer.”
“It’s an honest one.” He shrugged. “The passion came later. We’ve been lucky with some beautiful projects. The art of it all snuck up on me while I wasn’t looking.”
Back at his Jag all too soon, he rested a hand on the roof. Under the moonlight we lingered. Goldie flopped between us like she knew we’d be there awhile. I stared at his lips and licked mine.
“Penny…”
“Archer… what is it?”
He brushed a stray curl from my forehead, his touch hesitant. “You don’t want to hear what’s in my head. It goes way past professional.”
“Try me.” I swallowed hard.
“I can’t…” His eyes closed briefly, like he was fighting himself. “Sometimes I look at you and worry. I thought I had my past long buried, then you came out of nowhere and it all resurfaced.”
“I hate Brianne for breaking you,” I said with such venom.
“You think I’m broken?”
“I think you need help to trust again. You need someone to fix you. I could be that person. Or at least I could have before you signed off on a new HR policy.”
“I don’t want to be broken anymore. But I’m the CEO. I have to lead by example. We need to stay friends.”
“Friends hug, don’t they? Then hold me… in a friendly way.”
He shook his head with a sly smile. “Can we keep it friendly?”
“Test it and find out.”
He sighed. “Come here.” He leaned against his car and reached for me.
I went willingly into the warmth of his arms. We stood there too long; the city pulsing around us. Our bodies aligned like puzzle pieces that had been waiting years to fit. His mouth brushed my hair, and my pulse hammered.
He huffed a laugh, low and rough. “There’s nothing friendly about how I’m holding you.”
“Maybe not. But I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“What am I going to do with you?”
“You’re going to tell me what you’d do to me—one day. Say a year from now. After you’ve taught me everything I should know and I’ve moved on to a firm that doesn’t care who I sleep with,” I coaxed.
“What I’d do to you?” His lips aligned with my earlobe—innocently so I could better hear him, if HR asked.
“When this year ends, I’m going to undress you slowly and lick every inch of you.
Taste you until you forget what planet you live on.
Spank you for the sometimes bratty way you say Mr. Bellamy.
Make you beg for every single inch of my cock. ”
I moaned and pressed closer, my nipples saying hello through my sweater. In his pants, his hard ridge answered. It took everything in me not to shift just so. HR would not approve.
“Tell me more, Arch,” I breathed. “I want all the details so I can dream about them every night.”
“You want details? Totally off the record?”
“Very much off the record. Every dirty little detail.”
“I’d kiss up your thighs until your pretty little pussy opened for me. I’d get properly acquainted with your clit—call it my daily standing meeting. You know zombies like to eat.”
A startled laugh escaped me. “More.”
“If you asked nicely, I might even put the zombie mask back on and thrust so deep, again and again, you’d come twice, screaming my name.”
“Mm, yes, Archer.” My lips brushed his ear. I had no idea a masked man would be such a turn-on. I squeezed my thighs together and whimpered.
Abruptly, he lifted me and set me down two feet away. Goldie stirred awake.
“Friendly hug is over,” he said hoarsely. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a very cold shower.” He rounded to the driver’s side.
“Perfect. I have a date with a nice, long, warm bath, and a few vibrating toys for added pleasure.”
His laugh was half agony, half worship. He exhaled like it hurt. “You’re killing me, Pen.”
“No. I’m going to keep you alive long enough to regret your non-fraternization policy.”
“I already do.” He opened the car door, lingering for one last look. “One year,” he said.
“One year, Archer.” I stood on the sidewalk with Goldie, heart racing, and waved until his taillights disappeared.
I practically floated up the steps and back into Brier’s. I said goodnight to her and Westley as they sat side by side and watched Wheel of Fortune together. I should stop and thank her for her little deception tonight, inviting Archer here, but a warm bath was calling my name.