Chapter 27
twenty-seven
. . .
Archer
I was relieved that Melody had had a good day at school, and I reminded her that she could talk to me if anything was bothering her.
She was very excited to go to my parents’ house, as they were going to watch a movie and do some baking.
“Thanks again,” I said to my mom as I kissed her cheek. Melody had just run out the back door with my father to check out the chicken coop.
“So, you didn’t tell me what you were up to. And obviously Winnie is up to something if she isn’t staying with Melody.” She gave me a smirk.
I groaned. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Not really. Just give me something.”
“Winnie and I are grabbing dinner tonight.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “We don’t want to make it a big deal, because we both want to be cautious with Melody. This could go nowhere, and I don’t want to make it confusing for her.”
“I think you probably already know that it’s not going nowhere, or you wouldn’t be taking this risk.” My mother put her hand on my shoulder. “You can be a fabulous dad and have a life of your own, Archer.”
Until recently, I’d never understood why my family pushed this narrative that I didn’t have a life of my own. Being around Winnie made me want things that I didn’t think I wanted.
A relationship. A connection. A partner.
Maybe I’d been guarded because of the way things had ended with Scarlet.
I hadn’t realized it before now. I’d thought this was just my new normal, but in hindsight, I’d closed myself off to any sort of connection with women. I’d kept things very surface level.
Light conversation. Good sex. No strings.
And now, that wasn’t enough.
Not with Winnie.
She was different.
But it still didn’t need to get complicated. We were just going to see where things went.
“I know. And thank you. I appreciate it.” I kissed her cheek. “Love you. Call me if you need anything.”
“We won’t need anything. Go have a good time,” she said as I held my hand over my head and waved as I walked out the door.
I was back home in no time. Winnie was standing in the kitchen, and I came to a stop. She wore a black off-the-shoulder sweater and dark jeans, paired with a pair of black heeled boots.
Her hair was pulled back in a knot at the nape of her neck with a black silky ribbon tied around it.
I had thoughts about what I wanted to do with that ribbon later.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Hey, you’re back.”
“Yeah.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “And you look—stunning.”
A wide smile spread across her face as her eyes scanned me from head to toe.
“Thank you. You look great, too.”
I reached for her coat that was lying on the chair and held it up for her. “Come on, let’s go grab dinner. If we stay here any longer, I’m going to peel those jeans off of you and bury my face between your thighs.”
“Ahh… bringing the dirty talk tonight?”
I chuckled as we stepped outside, and I helped her into the truck. I drove us to Rosewood’s, which was the best steakhouse in town.
We were taken to a private area in the back, as I’d requested.
Winnie ordered a glass of wine, and I stuck with soda water, as I wanted a clear head tonight. We made small talk about our days before placing our orders. She told me about the book tour her publisher was planning, and she appeared nervous about telling me.
“Of course we’ll manage,” I told her. “Mom will be delighted to cover for a few days. This is huge. I’m happy for you. Don’t worry about things here at all.”
She blew out a breath. “I just don’t want you to think I’m shirking on my responsibilities.”
“Winnie, your career is taking off. This is a good thing. I’m happy for you.”
It was also a good reminder not to get ahead of ourselves. Winnie’s future was unknown at this point. Things were happening for her, and I was happy for her.
But I could be happy and cautious at the same time.
“Yeah. I’m excited. Thanks for understanding,” she said.
“So, what’s behind the title, Whisper Sweet Nothings?”
“Well, the definition is the exchange of affections by lovers,” she said as she reached for her wine glass, with this sexy-as-sin smirk.
“And the characters exchange a lot of affection, huh?”
“Not in the beginning. It takes them some time.”
“And how about you? Are you affectionate in your relationships?”
She sighed. “I’ve told you that I’ve only had one relationship, which is sort of embarrassing for my age. But Jaden was not affectionate, nor encouraging. So I guess I like to write about it because I probably longed for it for years.”
“Again, the man sounds like a real tool.”
“Yeah. How about you? I know how affectionate you are with your daughter. And the way you are with me is definitely affectionate.” She chuckled as her cheeks flamed pink. “Is that the norm for you in relationships?”
“I honestly don’t know. I was definitely affectionate with Scarlet, though that wasn’t really her thing. And after she left, I only dated casually, so there hasn’t been a lot of—” I paused. “Hmm… what’s the word I’m looking for.”
“‘Wooing’?” she purred.
I leaned forward and ran my finger over the back of her hand. “I’d enjoy wooing you, Winnie.”
“I can get on board with that.” Her tongue swiped out along her bottom lip.
“Tell me what you want?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“I’d like to see where this goes. No expectations, but no more holding back.”
“I’m down for that, too. What does that look like to you?” I’d need her to tell me what she wanted.
“So, we’ve done the friends with some benefits thing.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “So what if we add more benefits and stop holding back there, and up the stakes on the friendship by going on dates sometimes? Is that too much for you, Archie?”
I laughed. “It’s definitely not too much for me. It’s what I want, too.”
“I like you, Archer Chadwick.” She blew out a breath and reached for her wine glass.
“I like you too,” I said.
I like you so fucking much it’s fucking with my head.
“Then we’re on the same page.” I nodded as our server took away our salad plates and set down our entrées. She’d ordered a steak and I’d decided on the lobster, and we said we’d share both entrées.
Which was exactly what we did.
We laughed and we talked, and when I asked if she wanted dessert, she shook her head no as her cheeks flushed. “I’m ready to get home.”
Check, please.
I handed my credit card to our server and quickly signed the check, my gaze never leaving hers.
I reached for her hand and helped her into her coat, and once she was in the truck, I leaned over and buckled her seat belt, and her fingers grazed along my forearm.
I leaned over and kissed her, and her hands moved to my hair, tugging me close.
A gust of wind blew by. I had the door open and was standing in the parking lot.
“Take me home, Archie. No more waiting.”
I closed the door and then made my way around the truck, moving quickly as I got myself buckled. My hand found hers between the seats, and she smiled up at me.
When I pulled into the garage, I lost all my patience.
How long had I wanted this woman?
I hurried around to the passenger door and reached for her, pulling her over my shoulder, fireman-style.
A fit of giggles escaped her, and she smacked me on the ass. “You do know that I can walk, right?”
“Maybe this is part of those extra benefits we’re tossing in.
” I chuckled as I walked straight to my bedroom and set her down on the bed.
I shoved my jacket off my shoulders and crouched in front of her, then pulled her boots off one at a time before setting them on the floor.
“I’m going to take my time with you tonight, Winnie. ”
“I’m counting on it.” Her words were breathy as she pushed her coat off her shoulders, and I tossed it on the chair beside my bed.
I peeled her jeans down her legs, admiring the pretty lavender lace panties she was wearing. I ran the tips of my fingers up her thighs and over the lace fabric, and she shivered.
She sat forward and I pulled the sweater over her head, sucking in a breath as I took in her matching strapless bra. “Do you how many times I’ve thought about these tits of yours? How long I’ve wanted to see them. Lick and taste and suck them until you beg me to fuck you.”
I reached behind her and unsnapped her bra, which fell beside her on the mattress.
And holy shit.
Her tits were works of art.
Perfect handfuls, with little pink nipples that were calling me. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as my mouth came down over each hard peak.
My tongue flicked and twirled around her nipple, and I covered her breast with my mouth and sucked as she gasped. I took turns, moving from one breast to the next.
Her hands were in my hair as she squirmed beneath me.
Needy and desperate and so ready.
“Archer, please don’t make me wait any longer. I need you now,” she said, her voice gruff and laced with desire.
I pulled back, then tore my sweater over my head and kicked off my boots as she sat forward and tugged my jeans and briefs down.
My cock sprang free, and I stepped out of the denim and the briefs and moved to my nightstand to grab a condom.
“I want to do it,” she whispered as she pushed to her knees and held out her hand.
She was wearing nothing but her lacy lavender thong, and I could stare at this woman all day. I stepped closer, handing her the foil packet.
Her fingers trembled as she tore the top off, and then she looked up at me with those big golden honey-brown eyes before looking back at my dick and rolling on the condom as if she were performing surgery.
“If this is too much, you just say the word,” I said, reaching for her chin and tipping her face up to meet her gaze.
“It’s not too much at all,” she whispered as she finished rolling on the condom. “I’m just not sure how this is going to work.”
I studied her.
“How this is going to work? You’ve done this before, right?” I chuckled, but part of me was alarmed by the question.
“Yes. But let’s just say, I’ve been with one person, and he didn’t look like—you.” She glanced at my erection and then back up at me.
I laughed. “You’re going to set the pace, beautiful.”
I moved onto the bed, lay on my back, and quickly adjusted her above me, with my tip settling at her entrance as if he’d waited a lifetime to be here.
“Okay,” she said.
I reached up and tugged her face toward me so that I could kiss her.
I felt her body relax the minute my mouth covered hers.
And then she slowly took me in.
Inch by glorious fucking inch.
I sucked in a breath as she moved.
She pulled back, letting out a long breath as her hands found the tops of my thighs, and she arched her back as she continued to move down my shaft.
So fucking tight.
Nothing had ever felt better.
“Take your time, beautiful,” I said, my hands covering her breasts.
Her tongue swiped out along her bottom lip, and she shifted until she’d taken me in.
All of me.
I stayed perfectly still, forcing myself not to take control.
And then she looked down at me, her gaze locking with mine and her lips parting the slightest bit as she rocked back and started moving.
Slowly at first.
My hands moved to her hips, gliding her up and down my erection as we found our rhythm.
Our breaths the only audible sound in the room.
The moonlight peeking through the crack in the curtains formed a halo around her as her hair tumbled down her back and she rode my cock like she was born to do it.
So fucking perfect.
Our bodies were covered in a layer of sweat as we moved faster.
“Archer,” she moaned, and I knew she was close.
I moved my hand to her clit, applying the slightest bit of pressure, and she gasped as her entire body started to shake and she tightened around me as she shattered.
It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
I was in awe of the woman.
I drove into her one more time as I followed her into pure ecstasy.
Bright lights exploded behind my eyes as waves of pleasure ripped through me, and a guttural sound escaped my mouth.
We rode out every last bit of pleasure.
My gaze locked with hers, and it felt like the earth had shifted beneath us.
And I’d never get enough of this woman.