Chapter 16
sixteen
. . .
Winnie
I’d finished unpacking my suitcase, tied my hair in a bun on top of my head, and slipped into a hot bath.
I still couldn’t believe Archer had made me an office in his home.
And not just any office, but the most beautiful writing space I could have dreamed of.
He’d acknowledged how important my career was to me and created a place for me to sit down and write.
Talk about the ultimate act of service.
So, I’d briefly lost my mind and kissed him.
The truth was, I’d wanted to kiss him for weeks. And nothing about this kiss felt like settling.
At the end of the day, it didn’t matter if it didn’t go anywhere.
Couldn’t it just be a kiss?
Didn’t people do that all the time?
It was difficult for me to navigate this type of thing, because I’d only ever been with one man.
I’d only had sex with one man.
And up until today, I’d only ever kissed one man.
But this was what people my age were supposed to do.
I didn’t need to overthink it.
And Archer was clearly doing that for both of us. He’d barely spoken during dinner, not that it had been noticeable, because Melody had caught me up on everything that I’d missed over the last four days.
My phone vibrated on the little bench beside the tub, and I reached for it.
Archie
I just got Melody bathed and in bed. Should we talk?
What would you like to talk about, Archie?
I chuckled, because it was kind of adorable that he was freaking out.
Archie
Don’t be a smartass, Winnie. We should talk about what happened.
Did you like it?
Archie
Of course I did. Should we talk in person? Do you want to meet in the kitchen?
I’m in the tub.
Archie
Fuck me. You can’t say things like that.
I can’t tell you that I’m bathing?
Archie
You can’t tell me you’re naked.
Should I bathe in a swimsuit?
Archie
Winnie.
Archie.
Archie
Fine, we can text while you soak naked in hot water.
Okay. Let’s hear it. It was a huge mistake. It shouldn’t have happened. It can’t happen again.
Archie
Is that what you think, or is that you speaking for me?
That’s me speaking for you.
Listen. I acted on impulse. I wanted to kiss you and I’m fairly certain you wanted to kiss me.
Archie
We’ve established that. But we’ve also discussed why it shouldn’t happen. Do you remember that?
Because I wouldn’t kiss someone who wasn’t sure that they should kiss me. We had the discussion last week, and I remember it clearly. I’m younger than you, so my memory is much stronger.
Archie
Such a smartass. My point is, those issues are still there. Nothing has changed. But I’m not going to deny that I wanted to kiss you. My hesitation has nothing to do with how badly I want you, Winnie.
My heart raced at his words. Because I wanted him, too. I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anyone or anything.
Listen, I don’t have any expectations. I got divorced six months ago. I’m not looking for anything. But it’s been a long time since I actually wanted to kiss someone, so I don’t regret it. I liked it, and it’s the first time in a very long time that I felt something like that, if that makes sense.
Archie
Something like what?
That I felt wanted. Desired. And I reciprocated those feelings.
Maybe that’s what I need right now. It doesn’t have to be a big thing.
You made it clear that you don’t date, and I’m not looking for a relationship.
So maybe you’re just my boss who’s also my friend, and we just kiss sometimes. Is that a thing?
Archie
Do you want it to be a thing?
Do you?
Archie
I do, but I know I shouldn’t.
Why? It’s just a kiss, Archie.
Archie
I don’t want to fuck things up, Winnie. You’ve been the best thing to happen to Melody, and to me, in a very long time. I’m not used to feeling this way.
What way?
Archie
This way. Wanting you. Thinking about you when you aren’t around. Thinking about you when you are around.
I’m getting out of the tub. I want to kiss you right now. Are you okay with that?
Archie
I’m waiting outside your door.
Holy shit. I jumped out of the bathtub, quickly dried off, and slipped into my robe, then glanced in the mirror and tugged my hair out of the elastic before slipping my bow into the pocket of my robe.
I’d definitely need my superpowers right now.
I pulled the door open, and he was standing there, leaning against the wall.
“Hey,” I whispered.
“Hey.” He snaked an arm around my waist and tugged me closer. I saw zero hesitation in his eyes as he dipped down and his mouth crashed into mine.
It was different this time.
Frantic and needy.
His hands came around my backside and lifted me off the floor as my legs wrapped around his waist. He stepped into my room and pressed me up against the wall, our lips never losing contact.
Had I ever been kissed like this?
No. Definitely not.
His tongue swirled with mine, and I rocked against him when I felt his hard length grow between my legs. My robe had opened, and I was bare beneath it, just the layer of cotton from his sweatpants between us.
My God, I was so turned on.
My fingers tangled in his hair as I shamelessly slid up and down his erection. Chasing pleasure I hadn’t felt in years.
And he kissed me relentlessly. His tongue slid in and out as my body burned with desire.
We just stayed right there making out for the longest time as I ground up against him, my body moving of its own volition.
I was panting as a groan escaped my lips.
He nipped at my bottom lip.
“Take what you need,” his deep voice commanded as he guided my hips up and down. “Come for me, Winnie.”
My head fell back against the wall, and white lights exploded behind my eyes as I shattered.
He claimed my mouth again as I rocked against him and rode out every last bit of pleasure.
Once my hips had stopped moving, he pulled back to look at me. The corners of his lips turned up in the sexiest way, and it took all I had not to tug his mouth back down to mine.
“That wasn’t embarrassing at all,” I whispered.
“That was fucking beautiful.” His green gaze looked at me with complete adoration, and my chest squeezed.
I slid down his body and adjusted my robe. “Well, it was a bit more than a kiss.”
“It was,” he said as he stood with his back to the wall, watching me.
My gaze moved to the erection that was currently tenting his joggers. “Should we do something about that?”
He laughed. “No. I’ll take care of it.”
“You’ll ‘take care of it’?” I smirked.
“Yes, Winnie. I’m a man raising a little girl on my own. I don’t get out a lot, so I’m quite well versed in taking care of my needs.”
I bit my bottom lip, and I didn’t know what to say, but I didn’t want this night to end. “Do you want a cup of tea?”
He chuckled. “A cup of tea?”
“Yes. I’m not sleepy, so I thought we could just—hang out?”
He smiled and gave me a little nod. “How about you start the tea, and I’ll grab a shower, because I can’t sit and talk to you when I’m hard as steel, not that I haven’t done it many times before.”
“You sure you don’t want me to give you a hand?” I chuckled.
“Don’t tempt me. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in five minutes.”
“Ohhh… it’s that quick, huh?” I teased as I walked behind him.
He startled me when he turned abruptly, pinning me to the wall with a mischievous grin on his face as he leaned down and spoke against my ear. “I’d force myself to take my time if I were buried inside you. But if I’m just thinking about you, I can pretty much come on command.”
I could barely catch my breath as I stared at him, and he leaned down and gave me a chaste kiss. “See you soon.”
I heated water in the kettle, my body still on a high after the pre-tea orgasm. I poured the water into our mugs to steep, and Archer stayed true to his word and returned in just a few minutes, looking relaxed with his wet hair and handsome face. He’d changed into navy joggers and a white tee.
We settled on the couch, where we shared stories about our childhoods and our families.
“That must have been so fun growing up with all of your cousins, too. Living on the same property the way you did.”
“It was the best,” he said as he set his mug down on the coffee table. “How about you. Did you like being an only child?”
“I mean, I would have loved to have siblings, but with my dad raising me on his own, it was always just me and him against the world, you know?”
“Yeah. And do you talk to your mom?” he asked.
“No. She left and never looked back. That’s what made things so complicated with Jaden.” I let out a deep breath. “He had this great family, and his mom and I were so close. But I couldn’t stay in a relationship with a man just because I loved his mother, you know?”
“I get it, but it’s no way to live. And you weren’t happy for a while?”
“I wasn’t even excited on my wedding day.
I felt like such a cliché getting married at twenty-one when I was still in college.
But he was so lost during that time, and he was adamant about either getting married or breaking up.
I was young and not as confident as I am now, I guess, so I went along with it. ”
“Life is all about the journey. We learn from the things we do, and we can’t turn back time, so you take your experiences and the knowledge you have from them, and you move forward.” He traced his fingers along the palm of my hand.
“How about you? Did it take you a long time to get over Melody’s mom?” I asked.
“In some ways, yes, and in other ways, no. I loved her, and that part was difficult. But from the moment she left, I was thrust into this new life raising a tiny human, so I didn’t have a lot of time to wallow or feel sorry for myself.
But I do think it’s probably made me cautious about relationships with women, not to mention I’m raising a child on my own, so it changes things. ”
“And you’re fine raising Melody on your own now?” I pressed. “You like keeping your relationships casual?”
“Being Melody’s dad is the best thing I’ve ever done. But it’s a lot of work, and I’m committed to it. And I wouldn’t just bring someone into her life unless I was certain about it. So my life works the way it is, at least for now.”
I nodded. “You two have a good thing going.”
“Yeah, she’s the best.” He cleared his throat. “And if you wake up tomorrow morning and you feel like we crossed a line, just know that you are calling the shots. So if this was a one-and-done, you just send me a text, and I won’t push you, Winnie.”
“I will not wake up and feel that way, but thanks for saying that. It was—a first for me,” I whispered.
His face paled. “What was a first?”
I chuckled. “Relax. Obviously, I’ve made out with a man before. I just meant that the ending was a first.”
He leaned closer, his fingers finding my chin as he tipped my face up to look at him. “You’ve never come before?”
“Not with a man,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat. “I say that like I’ve been with a lot of men. I’ve only been with Jaden, and it wasn’t great. It was fast and one-sided. That’s probably why I started writing romance, because I craved something more.”
His gaze softened. “It should never be one-sided. You take whatever you need from me, Winnie.”
“I might take you up on that.” I waggled my brows. I fought the urge to crawl onto his lap and kiss him again. I needed to be cautious, though, because Archer Chadwick was the kind of man you wouldn’t want to kiss just once.
I knew that deep in my soul.
I stood up abruptly. “Okay, I should probably get some sleep. Thanks for—the midnight kiss and orgasm.”
He laughed. “Anytime. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sweet dreams, Archie,” I said as I walked toward my room.
And when I got to the door and stepped inside, I turned around to find his eyes still on me.
I held his stare for a few beats before closing the door.
I was in so much trouble.