Chapter 16
DARCY
The way this boy undresses me—like it’s his birthday and I’m the only gift he’s ever wished for. It’s all-consuming. I sense he’s trying to hold back from tearing the clothes from my body, determined to savor each part of the process.
I feel the same way. I would be lying if I said I didn’t. Archer is a work of art—every curve to his abs exquisite and refined over years of gym work and conditioning.
And now that I’m seeing the man beneath the bravado and beautiful body, I can’t help but get sucked into him further.
He might’ve slept with more women than he can remember, and he might want to bury the memories of those he can recall, but I’m confident the man before me is not the version the rest of the world has seen.
The trouble is that realization both excites and terrifies me.
Even though he isn’t asking for it, I know I’m not ready to put my heart on the line and go for more. With anyone.
He’s kneeling between my feet as I sit on the edge of my bed, palms flat to the mattress and supporting my weight.
Just like when he ate me out and tasted us both, I want to watch the careful way he peels down my tights.
He tosses them across my bedroom, along with my cardigan, and then brings his hands to the hem of my dress.
I sit up straighter and lift my arms, allowing him to pull it off in one motion.
Now I’m only wearing a lacy pink bralette and matching thong, but Archer remains kneeling, running his hands up my thighs on a deep exhale.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask quietly.
He shakes his head, though it isn’t negative, more in awe. It’s possible he doesn’t realize he’s looking at me in this way, or maybe I’m being sucked in even deeper. But getting naked with the Blades goalie is one of my favorite things.
“Reconsidering my religious beliefs,” he whispers against my navel between kisses.
“What do you mean?” I half laugh.
He works his way up my body, kissing past my sternum before finding the underside of my jaw.
“Because I think I just found a reason to pray.” He reaches my mouth, sweeping his tongue against mine.
“You know you’re incredible, Darcy. And if you don’t, then you should start believing it, right the fuck now. ”
I hold my breath, tingles dancing along my skin, all in response to his mouth.
He leans into me, and I collapse onto the bed, scooting back so he can climb on while we continue to kiss.
“Are you sure you’re up to this? You’ve been really sick.” He asks the question, although I can see the same desperation in his eyes that I feel deep in my core.
We’ve been vulnerable with each other, and I trust him to go gentle—not just with my mind, but with my body also. Even though I’m exhausted, I’m needy to relive the orgasms he gave me in his bed.
“Just go easy with me.” I’m already panting, my shallow breathing has nothing to do with the infection I’m recovering from.
He smiles into my mouth, tongue running along my bottom lip. “Lie back on the pillows, Doll. Let me look after you.”
A second later, I’m exactly where he wants me, watching as he pops the button on his jeans and pulls them down his thighs. Naturally, my eyes fall to the tattoo, and I pull in a breath when his boxers go as well. Somehow, his dick looks even bigger than it did last time.
Next, he removes his shirt until he’s fully naked in front of me. Archer pulls down my damp thong, and I reach behind my back, unclipping my bralette and tossing it onto the floor.
He lazily pumps himself, lying down beside me. “Roll onto your side for me.”
“But then we won’t have eye contact,” I reply, remembering what he said the first night we hooked up.
Archer kisses my shoulder. “This is very different. Tonight is about going slow and being gentle. I promise I’ll make you feel special like this.”
My stomach flips in the best way, and I do as he asked, facing away from him as he pulls me into his body. His hard cock presses into my ass, the cold metal piercings a delicious contrast to my burning skin.
“I’m obsessed with your hair.” He pulls it away from my neck, wrapping it around his fist. Next, his lips caress just below my ear. “I’m obsessed with your skin.”
He kisses me, and I moan quietly.
Archer slides his arm underneath us both, placing his warm palm over my heart. “But mostly, I’m obsessed with this right here. Don’t let anyone break it again, Darcy. It’s too kind and trusting and all the things a real man would never take for granted.”
For a brief second, he pulls his hips back before entering me slowly.
He releases a low moan I feel against my back.
“Is that good?” he whispers against my already-pebbled skin. “Your heartbeat tells me it is.”
I answer his question by hooking my leg over his, spreading me wider.
Archer releases my hair, his hand sliding to my hip, pinning me against his body. He’s so deep.
“Taking you raw is my new favorite thing,” he whispers between the kisses he sets along my collarbone. “You’re the first girl I’ve ever done this with.”
I turn my head to look at him. His blue eyes are already searching mine out as he slowly grinds into me, and while I appreciate every inch of his dick, my heartbeat kicks up in response to his candidness.
Another piece he’s shared with me slots into my latest puzzle as the real Archer picture continues to take shape.
“I feel privileged. And me too, I guess that means we’ve both shared a first with each other.”
Archer continues fucking me, joint gasps bleeding into our words. “I’ve only ever wanted it like this with you, Darcy. I know I couldn’t tell you how many women I’d been with, but you should know I’ve never had sex in this position. I’ve never held anyone like I hold you.”
My sudden and unexpected release coats his dick, a whimper falling from me.
He leans over me and seals his mouth over mine, tipping my chin up with his finger so he can drive the kiss deeper.
“Are you drowning my dick, Darcy?”
I whimper again, like the needy girl I am. “Coming all over it.”
Another moan emanates from his chest, climbing up his throat, and we both swallow it down.
“Do you like the thought of that, huh? Being my girl.”
Archer’s dick swells, turning impossibly hard before I feel his warm cum spill inside me. He tries to keep his movements smooth but fails as he pistons into my pussy, sending me over the edge for a second time.
I can feel him pulsating along with our release as it slides down the inside of my thighs. It’s without a doubt the hottest sex I’ve ever had.
My eyes flutter shut, exhaustion pulling me under.
“Before you go to sleep, I need to know your answer.”
My eyes snap open. Initially, I didn’t take his question seriously, convinced he was fooling around when he alluded to me being his girl. But now, as he asks me a second time, my heart spikes for an entirely different reason than honesty over his past or the orgasm he just gave me.
I pull my hips away, far enough so he’s no longer inside, and flip over to face him. “Y-you’re serious?”
Archer shifts toward me on the bed, one hand reaching to my waist, and I pull back a little more. My hazy brain trying to figure him out.
He goes to speak and then stops, uncertainty written in his expression.
A second later, he relaxes into an easy smile.
“No, Doll.” Between his fingers, he plays with a piece of my hair, studying my face carefully.
“I got carried away and didn’t think about what I was saying.
Sex with you makes me all possessive and shit. ”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to come off as playful but still reeling inside.
“Don’t go getting too possessive, Thigh Boy.
Orgasms and yummy snacks are what I’m after.
Not strings and needy men.” I cup his chin in my palm, just like he frequently does with me.
“The last guy who claimed me subsequently put his dick in another woman.”
The moment the words are out, I regret them. Archer is nothing like Liam, and I just insinuated he was or could at least have the capabilities to hurt me.
There’s a long beat of nothing as I search for the right thing to say when Archer clears his throat.
“No, yeah. I get that.”
He sits up in bed and grabs my TV remote from the nightstand, flicking it to the first channel he can find. “Okay, let’s get the snacks and watch a movie.”
I follow him and sit up, still feeling some kind of way over our conversation. I gently place a palm on his forearm. “Archer.”
He sets the remote down, yet still won’t look at me.
“Archer,” I repeat.
After a moment, he turns to face me, brows pulled together and jaw tense. “It’s all good, Darcy. I’m known for saying stupid shit, and clearly, this was another one of those instances.”
He’s infuriated with himself, and so am I. There are so many dangers with what we’re doing.
“It’s just … you sounded serious, and then you said that you needed to know my answer before I went to sleep.”
He blows out a harsh laugh, pulling my body against his. “What? No. I told you I say stuff and don’t think it through. I’ve never had a relationship in my adult life.” He tries to grin, but I see through the pain I’ve caused. “Once a playboy, always a playboy, right?”
Something doesn’t feel right. His facial expression doesn’t match his tone or the words tumbling from him.
I want to drop the subject and eat Bugles with a movie, but I can’t push past the gnawing guilt or doubt that he isn’t being completely honest with me.
Still, in what world would Archer Moore ever want a girlfriend?
Just because he’s stopped sleeping around doesn’t mean it’s because he wants someone.
His experience with Kassie would be enough to put anyone off the lifestyle.
Releasing a slow breath, I know I’m the only one who can address the elephant in the room. He put all the power in my hands. “Do we need to end this? I don’t want everything between us to get complicated.”
Archer picks up the remote, muting the TV. “Is that what you want?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, totally conflicted and confused.
“I don’t want to end it. Like I said, I’m having fun, and I can’t deny that spending time with you is one of my favorite things.
” I catch a blooming smile as it pulls at his lips.
“I’m just not ready for anything more—with anyone.
” I kick my feet under the duvet. “I’m not sure that I ever will be. ”
Archer nods a couple of times, placing a lingering kiss against my forehead. “I get it, and that’s something you can be sure of with me, Doll. Fun.”