Chapter 25
Archer
When he arrived at Erica’s cottage, it was in darkness. His heart thundered, thinking she’d changed her mind. For someone who didn’t want to go into town, the only other place he could think she’d gone was to bed early. He tried the back door, and it was open. Undecided about walking in unannounced, he dithered on the doorstep. The food wafting up gave him purpose to enter her temporary home. Walking through the kitchen, he placed the food on the countertop and followed the noise of nails on a keyboard. He found Erica staring at her laptop screen in the semi-darkness, huddled under a blanket. Just the sight of her made his heart pound. Could he really go through with proposing to this woman when she was only doing it as a favour?
He flipped on the light in the kitchen, thinking he’d do anything to kiss her every day. She promised she’d only be five minutes, so he set about getting plates and cutlery for their dinner. Maggie had made them beef wellington with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The gravy was in a flask.
Unwrapping everything, Archer ferried the food to the dining room, found matches to light the candle, and dimmed the lights.
“The food smells fantastic,” Erica said as she entered the dining room.
She wore another loose-fitting dress to the ground, this one off the shoulder in navy blue. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and down her back. The whole looked screamed 1970s, right down to the lack of bra. Trying his best not to look at her other underwear to see if she was wearing any, he pulled out the chair in front of him.
“Dinner is served,” he announced with a deep bow.
She walked around the table, holding her skirts as she approached him. Before taking her seat, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for dinner.”
“You haven’t tasted it yet. However, I have never eaten anything awful Maggie has made. So I can’t take credit.”
“It doesn’t matter. You saved me the trouble of making dinner.”
Archer hurried to the other side seat, which was adjacent to hers. Archer sat at the head of the table, and she sat to his left. The dining table could seat ten people, but he’d positioned them at one end together. Their knees touched when they sat down, and he had no intention of moving. When Erica didn’t shift either, he relaxed.
They talked amicably through dinner, discussing his adventures worldwide with his siblings. After some back and forth, they found a city they’d both visited, but between them, they’d covered most of the globe. When the wine was finished, and the dishes were empty, a silence fell between them .
Archer cleared his throat, but he couldn’t catch a breath. He’d decided that afternoon he would propose after dinner, but now they had reached the stage of nothing left on the table to eat or drink. Nerves shattered his resolve.
“Archer, are you okay?” Erica asked, placing a hand on his knee under the table.
He shot off his chair at her touch, coughing and banging his chest with the flat of his hand. “I’ll be right back,” he said.
He raced into the kitchen, took a glass off the shelf, and filled it with water. Then, he gulped down the whole lot and filled the glass again, drinking half of it.
“What’s the matter with me?” he muttered, putting the rest of the water down on the side.
“Are you all right, Archer?” Erica called out behind him.
It’s now or never , he thought.
Turning around, he dropped to one knee and brought the ring box out of his pocket. Erica looked shocked and held her fingers to her lips, eyes watering but not spilling over.
“Archer,” she said, almost breathless.
“I know this is a deal we made, but I wanted to propose, anyway. It could be the only time I ever get a woman to be my wife, so why not make some memories,” he said.
She stepped towards him, cupping his cheek. “Ask the question, Archer.”
He wanted to scream inside at the ridiculous scene playing out. He was only doing this to get his aunt to give him some of his inheritance early. So why was he so nervous she might say no? He had no idea.
“Erica Taylor, will you agree to be my wife?”
She nodded at him. First, her lip wobbled then a tear slid down her face. It was as if they’d been in love for years, and he’d sprung the proposal on her. If it were real, this would be the best moment of his life. He opened the ring box and showed her the antique pearl ring.
“Archer, it’s gorgeous,” she said, lifting it out. She looked at it from every angle, marvelling at the piece of jewellery.
“Let me have it so I can slip it onto your finger,” he said, taking it from her hand.
Archer stood to do this part, taking her left hand and looking into her eyes. He kept her gaze as he pushed the ring onto her engagement finger. It fitted. Perfectly. Like it was meant to be hers. If that didn’t send him into a tailspin, her following words did.
“I love this ring. I never want to take it off.”
“Erica, you don’t have to say that. I know where I stand with this arrangement.”
“It was a beautiful proposal. I shall treasure the memory even if you don’t mean it.”
Archer stalled, wanting to tell her that even though right now he didn’t think he was ready for marriage, he was very much falling under her spell.
“Do you think we should kiss?” he asked to distract her.
“We should definitely seal our fates. Kiss me until I’m breathless,” she said.
Archer tugged her closer by her hand and leaned in. Pressing his mouth to hers, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, searching for the igniting passion he knew was there. The moment she slid against him, he pressed their bodies together. Hungry kisses were deep and soul-searing as his hands dropped to her waist and then lower. He grabbed her arse, and she moaned into his mouth, flicking the tip of her tongue along the roof of his mouth. His spine tingled, his balls drew up, and if he weren’t careful, he wouldn’t make it to her bed.
Clutching at her waist, he lifted her, placing her down hard on the countertop, wedging himself between her knees, then yanking her to the edge. Not giving her much time to take a breath, his mouth covered her again, relishing the warmth of her open mouth, the tightness of her calves pressing against his arse. They couldn’t be closer if they tried while clothed. He ripped his mouth from hers and stepped out of her hold walking to the other side of the kitchen island. Archer was in a state of arousal so bad that he wanted to rip her clothes off and sink his cock inside her.
Holding back the primal roar lodged in his throat, he drew his gaze back to Erica. She looked at him over her shoulder, not fazed by his indecision. One shoulder and then the other, she pulled down her dress. His eyes were glued to her bare back, her shoulder blades moving as she shoved the dress to her waist. While rearranging her clothing, Archer caught a glimpse of the side of her breast. The curve was enticing, as was her smooth, flawless skin.
“Erica, you are not playing fair,” he whispered so harshly she paused for a few moments before lying back on the counter. Her arms draped over her head, so her wrists dangled over the edge nearest him.
“Fuck,” he said, pushing his fingers through his hair.
He wanted her, craved her.
“Oh, to hell with doing the right thing,” he muttered and stalked around the kitchen island. He positioned himself between her legs again, cupped her breasts, and stared into her eyes.
“Are you absolutely sure you want me to take you to bed?”
“I want nothing more,” she said, arching her back to push her breasts further into his hands.
Archer’s thumbs stroked over her nipples, making them harden.
“Bed, couch, hallway stairs, or the nearest wall?” he asked.
“You choose,” she answered.
He saw her eyes roll as her lids closed, moaning as he pinched her nipples. He played with her breasts for a few more minutes until she writhed against his hips. Erica was responsive to his every touch, and he loved it. Sweeping an arm under her back, he brought her to a sitting position and clamped his mouth on hers to taste her again. While he kissed her, Archer lifted her off the countertop, bringing her legs around his waist. Knowing the house’s layout made his journey to her bedroom easier and quicker. Once he’d ascended the stairs and her mouth had moved to his throat and neck, he again thought they wouldn’t make it to a bed. He let her down to stand in the corridor outside her bedroom. The top of her dress still around her waist made her look like a wanton sexual beast, and he loved that too. Never had he experienced this level of connection with a woman. Erica was giving as good as she got, participating in their passionate encounter. He pressed her gently to the wall with his hand flat against her sternum. Archer could feel the sides of her breasts grazing each side of his fingers, teasing him to cup them. Archer wanted to, but he needed to calm down to make their night together longer.
“Take your underwear off, honey,” he said, leaning down to take a nipple into his mouth. Swirling and teasing, he sucked hard and bit lightly, getting louder moans from Erica as she shimmied out of her knickers. She let them drop as soon as they passed her hips and then grabbed at the belt on his jeans. Archer let her open his belt, unbutton his jeans, and shove them down but stopped her progress when she tried to dip her hand into his boxers.
Pressing more firmly to her chest, she still her movements. His mouth moved up to her throat and then grazed over her lips.
“I want to touch you first. Please.”
Erica immediately dropped her hands and relaxed her head against the wall breaking their kiss.
“You’re in charge,” she said.
Her words sent Archer into a tailspin. Taking charge of her body was a dream, but he knew it wouldn’t last long. It wasn’t in Erica’s nature to hand over complete control, and he liked her that way. Keeping her in place, his other hand found its way between her legs. Erica shifted her feet to widen her stance and floored him by canting her hips towards him. It took less time than he thought.
He was not in charge, just along for the ride.
When Archer slipped his fingers inside her body, he thought his knees would buckle. But, whether it was the length of time since he’d last taken a woman to bed or the fact this woman agreed to be his wife in all but name, he was falling hard that she was ready for him.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand and leading her into her bedroom. He shed his clothes as he crossed the room, leaving a trail behind him. When they reached the bed, he turned to Erica. She’d lost her dress along the way too.
“You look wonderful in the moonlight,” he whispered as he cupped his hand on her hip. “Come closer, honey.”
Archer’s eyes were fixed on her breasts. The teardrop shape looked perfect on her slim frame, nipples pointing straight at him. He tugged her the rest of the way, pressing his chest against hers as he interlinked their hands. Falling back on the bed, he made sure she fell on him before he rolled them. Settling between her parted thighs, he paused, then kissed her stomach.
“I don’t suppose you have any condoms?” he said, resting his chin on her hip bone as he toyed with one of her nipples.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Thank fuck, where are they?”
Erica chuckled and scrambled to sit up, “I’ll get them, lie down, get comfy, I’ll be right back.”
Archer watched as she sashayed into her en-suite bathroom, flicked on the light, and then disappeared out of view for a few minutes. The light went off as soon as she appeared, but it wasn’t out before he saw her nakedness. Waving a strip and smiling broadly, Erica joined him on the bed, straddling his thighs.
“I don’t know if I should be flattered or disappointed you didn’t come prepared, Mr Turner.”
Archer groaned at the sound of his name on her lips. The formality was getting him harder for her.
“I didn’t want to tempt fate, honey. We were only supposed to kiss if you remember.”
“We don’t have to go any further, Archer, if you’re not comfortable. I understand.”
“Oh hell no, we’re doing this, even if my heart will be broken later down the line.”
“I won’t break your heart, Archer.”
He watched the small smile on her lips drop as she circled him at the base. Then, with long, slow strokes, she caressed his cock with a hum of approval.
“Your skin is so silky, and here,” she said, brushing her thumb over the crown, “is so hard and wet.”
“You would make a killing as a phone sex worker,” he muttered, unable to handle any more. He blindly reached for the strip, tore off a condom, and sheathed himself. Then he reached up, and grabbed Erica’s waist, turning them, so he covered her with his body.
With one hand entwined with hers, his elbow resting on the bed, he positioned himself with his other hand and stroked in an inch. Erica hissed and arched her back, raising her knee and then curling her leg over his thigh. He took his next move slow, pushing his hips, watching her expression, careful not to hurt her. Archer didn’t know if the hiss was pain or pleasure, and he’d lost the ability to speak as soon as he felt her heat. Then, taking his weight on both forearms next to her shoulders, he took her in a passionate kiss. She was ready for him. Tongue lashed against his as she opened up for him. At the same time, she pushed her hips up to take more of his cock. That was when all slowness ceased, and they went at it like it was the first and last time they’d have sex. He pushed in to the hilt, his hips pressing against hers, knees and thighs doing most of the work as he pushed harder and faster. Erica’s moans became louder, gasps and panting mixed in with slapping of their bodies. Archer knew he would get to his climax before Erica because he was seconds away.
“I should’ve given you an orgasm first, honey. I’m sorry.”
Erica didn’t answer him with words. Instead, she slipped a hand between their bodies and hurried her climax along. He could feel her fingers move in circles as they brushed the base of his cock. It wasn’t helping him hold back. With a short, sharp expletive, he climaxed. Archer kept moving, slower but still kept pace, hoping she was giving Erica enough friction to get her there. When she hadn’t come a minute later, he pulled out. Her fingers still played with her clit, and her pants were still short, but she hadn’t come .
“I’m sorry, Archer, it takes me so long to come. It’s embarrassing.”
“Let me help?”
“Come to my side, slide your fingers inside me and kiss me.”
He didn’t hesitate to move. After taking care of the condom, he hooked his leg over her thigh and parted her legs. Finding her entrance, he pushed a finger in.
“More,” she said.
A second finger joined the first, and he slowly thrust inside her body, finding the perfect spot and crooking his fingers. Erica let out a cry, and he felt the ripple over his fingers.
“That’s my girl. Keep going,” he said before covering his mouth with hers. He slid his tongue along hers at the same pace as his fingers. In seconds she came. Swallowing her cries and holding her tight, he kept going until she relaxed back into the pillows.
What had he done? It was the most intimate act he had ever experienced with a woman. To his shame, he hadn’t remembered ever checking if his partner had orgasmed if he hadn’t made her come with his tongue. It was supposed to be a kiss. How reckless had he been to take her to bed?
Archer put his doubts aside and pulled the covers over them, thinking if there was anything downstairs they needed to put away. Erica snuggled into his side, throwing her arm over his stomach as he lay on his back. Sex usually made him sleepy, but now Archer was wide awake, his mind turning over the sensational sex they’d just had. Unable to get to sleep long after Erica was breathing evenly and became heavier next to him, Archer slipped from the bed and headed downstairs. He put away all the evidence they’d had dinner and quietly slipped out the back door.