CHAPTER THIRTY
Sara
Archie was driving really fast, but I barely noticed the road. I sat sideways, the seatbelt pressing into my shoulder, unable to tear my gaze away from him.
With one hand on the wheel, he took my other, brushing his lips over my knuckles, then my palm, then the delicate skin of my wrist. A slow, lingering kiss.
Then he caught my finger between his teeth, giving it the lightest bite.
A shiver ran through me. I felt like I was about to burst.
We didn't talk. I just kept looking at him, and every so often, he glanced back at me. It was always like this with Archie. He was quiet, but he never needed so many words. His presence alone was enough, and it was comforting.
When we stopped at a red light, he grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a searing kiss—hot, deep, and all-consuming. The world faded—the traffic, the buildings, the sky, the people on the road.
We didn't care.
It was just him and me.
The sharp honk from the car behind us jolted us back to reality. Archie let out a quiet chuckle and drove forward, my hand still clasped in his. I leaned back against the seat, a slow, contented sigh escaping me.
It wasn't until he finally stopped the car that I glanced out the window.
"Where are we?" I asked, realizing I hadn't even thought to ask before we left. All I had said was, "I want to spend the night with you."
"The hotel where I'm staying," he replied.
I turned to him, brows furrowing. "You live in a hotel?"
"For now."
Before I could ask more, he slid out of the car, and I followed. He rounded the front, catching my hand effortlessly before tossing his keys to the valet, who snatched them midair. Then, without a word, he took off, practically jogging, pulling me with him.
We sprinted through the lobby, weaving past guests and staff until we reached the elevators. The moment one opened, Archie practically shoved me inside. Thank God, it was just the two of us. He jabbed the floor button, then the close button a dozen times as if willing the door to shut faster.
The second it did, he lifted me off my feet, pinning me against the wall, his mouth crashing into mine.
I responded just as desperately, my hands roaming over him, unable to decide what I wanted to touch first. His lips left mine, only to trail down my neck, and I moaned when he nipped at my skin. His hand slipped under my shirt, fingers skimming my ribs before cupping my breast over my bra.
And then—the elevator stopped.
The doors slid open.
A woman in a crisp hotel uniform stood frozen at the threshold.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. Her eyes widened; her entire body stiffened as she took in the scene before her. She clearly had no intention of stepping inside. And honestly, I would've been happy to hit the close button again, and I could tell Archie would've preferred to continue what we were doing. But with my face burning, I grabbed his wandering hand, yanked it out of my shirt, slid off him, and quickly stepped to the side.
"Sorry," I blurted, mortified. "That was... inappropriate. Please, come in."
Archie sighed, clearly frustrated, as he walked around me. But instead of letting me go, he pulled me back against him, his arms wrapping around my waist. And from the very obvious bulge pressing into me, I realized he had another reason for holding me close, which was to hide his very noticeable problem .
Chrystal, as her name tag read, gave an awkward nod, lifted her chin with forced professionalism, and stepped inside.
"Mr. Lowe," she greeted stiffly.
"Chrystal," Archie replied smoothly.
Then, as if she weren't there, he leaned down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to my temple and inhaling deeply. His hands trailed from my waist to my stomach before he pressed against me, grinding in a slow, subtle motion. A soft gasp escaped me as his warm, heavy breaths fanned against my ear.
Chrystal tensed even more at the sound I made. She quickly pressed a button—just one floor up—then locked her gaze on the doors, standing stiff as a statue. The elevator ride lasted only a few agonizing seconds but felt like an eternity. The moment the doors slid open, she shot out as if her uniform were on fire.
Before the doors had even fully closed again, Archie's hands were back where they had been, slipping under my shirt.
"Archie," I exhaled, barely able to speak as he sucked on the sensitive skin of my neck from behind. "Wait until we get to your room."
He groaned in protest, his fingers reluctantly sliding away from my stomach. But he didn't put any distance between us. Instead, he kept kissing me, even as we stumbled down the corridor toward his room, his hands never leaving me.
Once we were inside, he kicked the door shut behind us while I slipped off my shoes and my coat. In one swift motion, he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the bed as if I weighed nothing. But when he set me down, it wasn't exactly gentle. More like he couldn't wait another second.
Then he stood there, watching me, his gaze dark and intense.
At that moment, the reality of it hit me.
My God, I'm in a relationship with Archie.
He let out a low curse, his eyes raking over me—sprawled out, legs parted, desire written all over my face.
"Is this really happening?" he asked, almost as if he couldn't believe it.
I smiled, even as my pulse thrummed. "Yeah... I wondered that myself."
He bit his bottom lip, trying to hide a grin. And damn, it was so gorgeous I had to fight the urge to climb him right then and there, crushing him with my weight.
Shedding his jacket, he tossed it aside without care. I watched him, mesmerized, as I rose to my knees and reached for my top, lifting it over my head. But the way his eyes followed my every movement—so dark, so ravenous—made me freeze, momentarily forgetting what I was doing.
Still holding my gaze, he reached behind his head, gripping the fabric of his shirt, and pulled it over his head in one fluid motion, revealing a sculpted chest, chiseled abs, and tattoos etched across his smooth skin. Then he paused, waiting. The look on his face sent a simple message— your turn .
Swallowing hard, I snapped out of my trance and quickly shimmied out of my pants.
With the confidence of a man who knew exactly how to tease, he slowly popped open the button on his jeans, then dragged the zipper down, revealing the dark fabric of his underwear beneath.
My turn. I reached behind me, unhooked my bra, and let it slip down my arms before tossing it aside.
Then, without thinking, both my hands lifted to cup my breasts.
His breath hitched. His lips parted. His pupils were wide, dark, drowning in need.
That was it.
Shame burned at my lack of self-control, but I couldn't hold back anymore. "This is taking too long, Archie..."
He chuckled darkly before lunging at me. The speed at which we tore off the rest of our clothes deserved a damn medal. I wanted to see him—every inch of him—but the desperate insistence of his hands roaming my body was so overwhelming that I couldn't even react. I was utterly boneless, surrendering to him and the pleasure he unleashed. The helpless moans spilling from my lips only made his smirk deepen in satisfaction.
His hands were everywhere. His mouth was everywhere—kissing, licking, biting—never pausing, never relenting. And then, abruptly, he cursed.
"Fuck, I don't have a condom."
In a flash, he slid off the bed, grabbed the hotel phone from the side table, and barked an order for a box to be delivered to the room. When he returned, his gaze was molten with intent.
He resumed his assault on my senses, exploring every dip and curve of my body, discovering where he could ignite pleasure and where he could drive me absolutely wild. His mouth and hands claimed every inch of me. My fingers roamed over his shoulders and chest, savoring the heat of his skin beneath my touch. His every move was confident. His kiss was possessive, reverent, an unspoken vow, a seal of promise to both of us. I was his, and he was mine. And I reveled in it, surrendering to his touch, his devotion, the pure, dizzying pleasure.
He mumbled against the side of my breast, "While we wait, I'm going to eat you."
"Oh, my God," I breathed.
I watched as he slid down slowly, his lustful eyes locked onto mine. My breath hitched, anticipation coiling tight in my chest. He lifted both my legs and draped them over his shoulders.
And then I felt it. I gasped loudly. One slow swipe and a surge of pleasure shot through me. I was already on the edge, more turned on than ever. He kept teasing, taunting, his touch relentless. And when a long, breathy moan escaped my throat, I felt his lips twitch in satisfaction.
I whispered his name over and over, and when the climax hit, it stole my breath from my lungs. My eyes slammed shut as a breathless cry escaped me, every sense consumed by the overwhelming pleasure, and nothing else existed but him and the bliss he unleashed within me.
"It's here," I heard him say, his voice distant through the haze of my daze. Then I felt his warmth leave me as he hastily pulled on his boxers and, despite the bed being out of sight from the door, draped the comforter over me as if shielding me from the world.
I didn't even realize when he returned, my senses were still slowly piecing themselves back together. By the time I did, he was already naked again, his body pressed flush against mine as he gently parted my legs.
Then he whispered, "I love you, Peaches. For eternity."
And with that, he kissed me—deep and consuming—and I unraveled, surrendering completely. His lips never left mine as he slid inside me, filling me inch by inch, and I held my breath, taking a moment to adjust to the fullness of him inside me. When he was finally buried to the hilt, stretching me so deep I could feel him in my belly, I rolled my eyes back, digging my nails into his skin. Our destiny brought us to this moment, binding us together completely. He owned me as much as I owned him. Loving his heart, claiming his soul.
He moved—faster, harder—and I met him with equal intensity. I whimpered, squirmed, panted, lost in the feverish rhythm of us. We were flesh to flesh, molding into one, body and soul entwined in a dizzying, intoxicating dance.
And when we finally tumbled over the edge together, it was mind-blowing—shattering, melting our bones, stealing every breath.
It was nothing short of perfection.
I tried to speak through the pleasure between breathless kisses. My voice trembled, but it came from the very depth of my heart, of everything I felt, of the certainty that this was forever.
"I love you too. For eternity."
*** *** ***
The sun had risen long ago, yet we remained tangled beneath the sheets. He spooned me from behind, lazily nibbling my ear and shoulder as if his hunger for me were insatiable.
And I was insanely happy.
"It felt surreal," I whispered. "I still can't believe this is happening."
He hummed in contentment, grazing his teeth lightly over my neck before pulling me even closer.
"I should be the one saying that, Peaches." He grinned. "I've been in love with you for so long."
I remembered what he had told me the other day, that he had loved me for eight years. That confession still settled deep in my chest.
"When did you know you loved me?" I asked, turning to face him, needing to see his expression.
He fell back against his pillow, his gaze flickering with nostalgia before he spoke.
"I kept coming back to that restaurant," he admitted. "Again and again."
My lips quirked up. "Twenty-two times. I remember."
"Honestly, I don't know what made me so curious, so drawn to you, but I just had to see you again. I couldn't stop thinking about you." He paused, his gaze drifting as if lost in memories.
"But my love for you didn't happen all at once, Sara. It grew stronger over the years, deepening with every moment we shared. The more I got to know you, the harder I fell. But the moment I knew—truly knew—I loved you was that night at dinner when you told us about selling your house."
His eyes softened as they held mine. "I remember thinking how hard that must have been for you. You fought for that house, worked two, sometimes three, jobs just to keep it. You were so determined. So, for you to finally let it go, I knew it must have taken everything in you."
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering for just a moment.
"But it was your words that truly stunned me, that left me in awe. You confessed it shattered you, but it was that very pain that gave you the strength to rise again. You said that letting it go wasn't surrender—it was choosing to release something that once meant everything to you so that someone else could love it, care for it, and appreciate its beauty and the memories it held."
I remembered that dinner. I could still recall my own words, the emotions swirling inside me as I shared a piece of my past. It had been a moment of vulnerability, one I hadn't expected to leave such an impression on him. But now, hearing his recollection, I realized just how deeply he had listened, how much he had seen me even then.
He kissed me softly on the lips, murmuring, "The fact that you're here with me, in my arms, Peaches..." He paused, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."
"Archie..." I hesitated as a thought surfaced. "Will you still be traveling for work? The last time, when you went missing... I don't think I can go through that again."
His expression softened. "Yeah...? Did you worry about me?"
I nodded fervently.
He let out a deep sigh. "That was one of the scariest things I've ever been through. We were in this village, covering another conflict, and things got so bad that we had to escape, but they kept chasing us. There was no way to take the usual route, so we had to go through the jungle and ended up getting lost. For days and days, it felt like there was no way out. But I won't be taking those jobs again. I think I've had enough. Dad wants me to take over the business, and I've decided that's what I'll do."
"Good." The relief that flooded me was so overwhelming that I trembled slightly. I nodded at him, my voice steadier this time. "Good."
He bit his bottom lip as he smiled at me, a tenderness in his gaze. "Fuck, Peaches. I'm a man completely blinded by love for you." He exhaled contentedly. "And I feel so blessed, so grateful to have you. I promise to make you feel, every moment of every day, that you are my everything."
I felt utterly giddy with happiness, I just had to kiss him.
"I'll prove it to you too, Archie, that you're my one. I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
I pressed myself against him, feeling the heat radiating from his skin, his hardness pressing against my thigh. Desire ignited within me once more, as if the hours before hadn't been enough. I needed him again.
"Let's spend the entire day in bed," I murmured. "We'll order food, eat in bed, and make love for the rest of the day."
He chuckled, his voice thick with amusement and longing. "That sounds like a damn good plan, Peaches."
Sliding on top of me, he rolled his hips in a slow, teasing grind, his face buried in the crook of my neck as he kissed and licked along my skin.
"Let's do that."