Chapter 28
Archer
Erica woke him up the following morning while she was asleep, mumbling about raspberries and chocolate. He’d slipped out of bed, hoping she wouldn’t wake before returning with the napkin he’d put in her fridge when they’d arrived back the previous night. Archer wasn’t feeling like drinking anymore after the wine they’d had with their meal. So they skipped the nightcap.
Locking the back door once they were inside, he took her hand and led Erica to her bed. She didn’t resist his move, and he was fucking delighted after he’d high-tailed it out of her bed the last time they’d had sex.
“You’re hot,” Archer said, lying prone on Erica’s bed between her legs, lining up the sweets on her stomach.
“Why, thank you, Archer.”
“Your skin is hot, and the chocolates are melting. Hang on. I need to lick it away.”
Hearing Erica giggle when his tongue swept over a crumb of chocolate on her ribs under her breast was the best sound in the world. He’d kept his promise and stayed with her tucked against his side all night. Unlike last time, Archer didn’t feel the need to run away from the intensity of their connection. He was still thoroughly mixed up about how he should feel. This was an arrangement, yet he could see a future for them. It was evident by the look of fright on Erica’s face the previous night that his aunt had scared her or threatened her. Family or not, Archer would shield her from the old ways. His aunt could have her conditions, but they did not include scaring off his temporary wife.
He kissed her stomach and ate one of the chocolates in one go. Then kissed another part of her skin until he reached her breasts and swirled his chocolate-coated tongue over her nipple. After lapping at the hardened bud until it was clean, he took the last chocolate. He brought it up to her lips, brushing it across her bottom lip, smearing the melted gooeyness. Archer swiped, drawing a moan from Erica’s throat. She arched her back when he plunged inside her mouth, their tongues swirling. He hooked a hand under her thigh to bring it up high so he could settle his hips between hers.
“This is what lazy Sundays are for, fucking and eating unhealthy food,” he said.
“I’ve never had time for a lazy any day, let alone a Sunday.”
“You sound like a workaholic,” he muttered as he pushed his hips to simulate what he really wanted to do.
The condoms were just out of reach. Archer didn’t want to move from the cradle Erica had created with her arms and legs wrapped around him. They fit together perfectly. He kissed her neck while she hummed her approval, tilting her hips in response to his caress.
“Make me forget I have a job,” she said .
Reaching for the wrapper, Archer sheathed and pushed inside Erica.
Fucking heaven.
She released a soft gasp as he pushed as far as their bodies could. The first stroke nearly sent him over the edge. Mindful that Erica took longer to come than he did, Archer took his thrusts slow. Agonising as it was to hold back, he wanted to get her there from his cock. It was a prideful, ridiculous primal need to ensure his woman was taken care of.
“Archer.” She whispered his name as a prayer on her lips.
“Yeah, honey?”
“I’m not far,” she said.
Her forehead hit his shoulder as she lifted her hips faster to meet him halfway. She was working her friction, and her moans became louder. Archer thought he’d have to wear earplugs the next time because the sounds Erica made when she was nearing her orgasm were too erotic for his control.
“Shall I help?” he whispered, licking the shell of her ear.
“Wow, that feels fantastic,” she said.
Archer did it again and slipped a hand between them to find her bundle of nerves. As he stroked his finger, he felt the first pulse on his cock. Keeping to the same motion, Archer kept going for two more thrusts, and then he came so hard. Erica was tight around him, slowing her hips as he kept going. When she tipped over, he thought he was done for. The sensations he felt were crazy hard, getting him half stiff or still stiff. He wasn’t sure. Meeting her tempo, he slowed until she sagged back against the pillows. Bringing her face into focus, he kissed her lips and then her forehead.
Archer rolled to the side breathing heavily, taking her hand in his as he stared at the ceiling. He waited for the urge to get up and leave, but it never came. He was content to lie there in silence with Erica’s hand in his. A call to his siblings was waiting for him as they’d been blowing up his phone all day yesterday asking how the meeting had gone, forgetting the time difference between the UK and wherever they were.
“I’m not running out on you, but I have to make a call. I won’t be long,” Archer said, lifting her hand and kissing her palm.
“Sounds intriguing,” she said, turning to her side, giving him a full view of her breasts.
“My brothers and sister. We check in on Sundays now that we’re all apart.”
“I love that you’re close to them. It must be lovely.”
Archer cupped her chin, hearing the loneliness in her words. “They drive me insane, but I love them. I’ll be right back.”
He gave her a quick kiss and then went to her bathroom to take a quick shower. When he returned, Erica was fast asleep with the covers tucked under her chin. He paused for a few moments to let the picture sink into his memory bank. She looked vulnerable, curled into a ball, but beautiful.
He hurried to retrieve his phone and went downstairs to the outside patio. His message alerts filled his screen as he scrolled on the lock screen. They were all from his brothers. His sister, Daisy, hadn’t sent a single one. Which meant she was already waiting on the group call.
“Hey guys,” Archer said cheerily, giving them his fake grin.
“Well?” Daisy asked.
“More specific,” Archer replied.
“When’s the wedding? What did Aunt Cynthia say? When can we meet her?” Daisy asked, holding up a finger for each question.
“Okay,” Archer said, holding up his hand. “We haven’t set a date, but we will as soon as we’ve seen the vicar. Aunt Cynthia said very little at the get-to-know-you dinner.”
Jason snorted, falling back on the bed he was sitting on, holding the phone up so he could still see everyone. “She never says much.”
“When can we meet her?” Daisy asked again.
Archer looked at Erica’s bedroom for a few seconds and then looked back at the screen. “At the rehearsal dinner.”
“She’s there, with you?” Luke asked. “Get her in on the call.”
“Erica’s sleeping. It was a long night,” he said.
“I bet,” Luke said.
“Eww,” Daisy replied.
“You can meet her at the rehearsal dinner in a couple of months.”
“That long?” Daisy whined her words in frustration.
“We have to meet the vicar and set the date, which will be at least a month. There is so much paperwork involved. Then there is Erica’s dress and all the arrangements here. I know the wedding manager here will have it all to hand, but I’m sure Erica will want things the way she wants. I’m not fussed, so she can have whatever she wants.”
“Have you met the wedding manager yet?” Jason asked.
“No, not yet. To be honest, I’ve only met the gardener who I didn’t know. Bailey and Maggie are keeping information on a need-to-know basis.”
“Isn’t that a bit odd?” Luke asked.
“He probably lives in town and only comes up here when there’s a wedding.”
“When’s the next one?” Daisy asked .
“I asked Aunt Cynthia last night, and she said to check with Bailey. I’ll do that tomorrow. Anyway, how are you all?”
They all nodded and gave their updates. Archer’s mind was firmly with the wedding manager and where he had his office. So many things to sort out he didn’t know where to start. When he ended the call with his siblings, he tossed the phone on the couch and went back to bed with Erica.
Everything could wait until the following day.