Chapter Eight #2
I look off to the side, thinking over the best way to word this.
“Because Jack will likely unalive you if he finds out, and that’s before you lied to him about Abbie.
Plus, and more importantly”—I focus back on Archer, my tone deadly serious—“you said it yourself the other day—I’m not the kind of girl who would happily be part of a one-and-done arrangement, and you were right.
The stakes are higher with us than one of your random girls, and I’m not doing the walk of shame tomorrow once you’ve had your fill of me.
We do this because we want each other and not because I’m the only option you have tonight.
Getting with your assistant captain’s baby sister is not a power flex I’m okay with. ”
He leans forward, our lips a whisker from touching. “Did you not hear or listen to a word I said the other night? Some girls will never be a one-and-done arrangement.” He cups the back of my head in his large palm. “You are that girl to me, Darcy.”
I draw in a deep breath. “I-I don’t know what to say …”
“Say you’ll come home with me tonight.” He runs his tongue across his bottom lip. “Don’t leave me hanging because I just crossed a line, and now I can’t go back. Not now that I have you in my hands, beneath my touch.”
His lips draw closer to my mouth, full and wet as my eyes drop to them.
“I’m going all in here with you because I know it’s only a matter of time before you go home with the wrong guy and he treats you all the ways you don’t want, all the ways you just described.”
I remain frozen to the spot, motionless, speechless, lost in time, as Archer hovers over me, burying his fingers in the hair at the back of my neck.
“Let me kiss you, Darcy.”
“Why?” It’s a fucking stupid question. Of course I know why he wants to kiss me. Still, I want to hear his version of the answer.
“Because you say you want to have fun, and I can absolutely give you that. But tell me, have you ever experienced a real man kiss you before?” His lips brush mine gently. “Or is Liam every bit the immature boy I think he is?”
Words fail me once more.
“Part your lips for me,” he coaxes.
After what feels like an eternity, my body finally catches up to my brain, and I do as he asked.
The first sweep of Archer’s tongue is soft and everything a first kiss should be, our tongues massaging slowly, small whimpers rising up my throat as he deepens our connection. His hand moves from the back of my head to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking me gently.
The tingles I felt in the bar are nothing compared to the fizz of electricity as it illuminates every nerve ending. It’s like I’m here, but also not really, and I reach out to palm his hip, checking this is real and not another one of my crazy dreams.
A few more seconds pass, and Archer pulls back, chest heaving like he’s been starved of oxygen for way too long. “And now that I’ve tasted you,” he pants, “there’s not a chance in hell I’m allowing you to say no tonight.”
I know in my gut this situation has disaster written all over it, not that it’s going to stop me from taking what I want.
“You could just stay at mine?” I suggest.
Archer doesn’t like that idea; I can tell by the way his face falls to the crook of my neck, and he scrunches his nose, skating his lips along my pulse point.
“No. I’ve only ever fantasized about having you in my bed. I changed the entire frame and mattress a few weeks back because I couldn’t stand the thought that any other woman had been in it. The first time I take you, it has to be this way.”
“The f-first time.” It’s impossible to keep my voice steady, the combination of his lips and words as he whispered them against my skin proving too much.
He nips at my neck, one hand braced on my hip, holding me in place against the door, which, for all I know, Jack could be on the other side of right now.
“We’re going all night, Doll.” He licks up to just below my ear. “Aside from the battle I’m currently fighting, not to blow straight into my pants, I also need to be really careful with how much I tell you.”
My, “Why?” is more of a seduced moan.
“Because, Darcy, after way too long, I only just got you here, and I’m not about to freak you out with more crazy-ass admissions. So, why don’t you just tell me yes and ride my dick until sunrise?”
The hand still teasing my outer thigh moves inward, finding my apex.
“I’m really wet,” I confess.
“I know you are—because you’re nothing other than perfect. What I need is to feel your pussy between my fingers. I don’t think I can wait.”
“Touch me.” It sounds like a plea I know I don’t need to make.
“Oh, Doll. You hear that?” He shifts my now-pointless underwear to one side and runs a finger through me.
“That’s precisely how your pussy will sound when I push my dick inside it later,” he growls and teases my hole.
“I’ll fuck you so good, but I swear, I’ll only go at a pace you’re comfortable with. ”
With a firm hand against his chest, I push him back an inch.
“Don’t go easy on me. I meant what I said the other night.
I want to have fun with guys, and I want you to show me what safe hookups look like.
Your playboy days mean you have way more experience than me, and I want to finally—for once in my life—have the sex Liam could never offer. ”
His expression leaves me confused. I delivered my statement with all the best intentions, and I meant nothing negative by it. I somehow feel like I missed the mark though. Big time.
“What’s the matter?” I ask. “Did I say something wrong?”
Like he’s shaking off an unwelcome emotion, he pushes a hand through his tousled hair. “Playboy … yeah, I know. That’s what I am.”
Biting down on my lip, I nod lightly. “I promise not to be all clingy and show up at your apartment, unannounced—oh, wait.” I giggle. “Too late for that.”
Archer moves forward, pressing against me, his fingers back to playing with my pussy, and I spread my thighs wider.
“You can show up at my apartment whenever you want. The limit for that does not exist.”
I melt beneath his touch, my excitement coating his hand. “I promise I’m not that needy,” I moan, my voice a juxtaposition to the words leaving my mouth.
“And I promise there’s nothing you can do or say that would be too much for me, Darcy.”
When I find his eyes, I sense a deeper meaning to his words. Liam always told me I was too much.
Archer’s lips skate over mine. “Just come back to my place and be yourself. Don’t hold back. I want every part of you.”