Chapter Ten
Archer
I didn’t think this through.
If I had, I wouldn’t have done this in my office at work. I’d have taken Marin’s virginity on a beach surrounded by candles or in my fucking bedroom where we wouldn’t have been disturbed.
That would’ve been the smart thing to do. Now, I have to deal with Walker.
“I don’t know what came over me.” I swallow hard and lean into her soft face, enjoying the heat on her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t even use protection. I—”
“I loved it!” She leans into my chest and lands her head against it. “Seriously. You’re… it was perfect.”
I nod toward the door. “I’m not sure Walker is saying the same.”
“I’ll get dressed, tell him that you were helping me pop a disk back into place in my back. My ex used to help me with that sometimes. It sounded sexual the way I’d moan, but it wasn’t really… obviously.”
I scoff at the thought of any other man ever touching her, even in the past, especially that asshole. If it were up to me, she’d always have been mine right from the start.
“Not sure he’s going to fall for that, but we should still get dressed. Sounds like he’s going to put an axe through the door any second now.”
My girl smiles and bounces up from my lap with the sweetest, softest moan.
God, I love her.
Love.
It’s probably too damn soon to say love. Hell, the fact that I’m even saying it to myself is probably fucked up, but… I’ve never felt like this before.
I’m obsessed. Completely fucking enamored. I can’t get enough. I’d do anything to protect her, to keep her safe, to make her happy.
Hell, my cock is hard again already, just watching her dress, just thinking about holding her tonight, just knowing she’s coming home with me.
That said, I have no idea what comes next.
Walker is a pain in the ass. Not that my other brothers aren’t, but Walker is a fancy professor at the college, and that makes him think he’s better than the rest of us.
The fact that he’s here right now, on a Saturday, working at a distillery he’s only supposed to be a silent partner for is pissing him off.
So, I can’t imagine the lecture I’m going to get for fucking the help in my office.
Not that I don’t deserve it. I do.
I sigh and stare at my little princess, a chill running up my spine as I think about how snug her tight, little entrance was.
Jesus. It’s not right that I took that for myself. Not right that I took her right here because of my own selfish needs. Not right that I let the animal inside of me win out and lose control.
I’ve made this innocent, sweet girl believe this is what counts as romance.
Fuck.
I need to make this up to her.
“Should I open the door and tell him we were practicing our circus routine? That would probably throw him off the scent, right?” She giggles and lands against my chest with a soft hug.
Another bit of affection I don’t deserve.
I kiss her head gently and breathe her in. “Walker is as serious as a judge on Sunday. He’s gonna stare us down and rattle off some fancy philosophy bullshit no one understands but him. I’ll handle it.”
She nods, and my chest tightens at how that positive glow never leaves her, even when things are about to go to shit.
This experience shouldn’t have been like this.
It’s my fault. I need to take this role more seriously.
I want her to feel safe, loved, and cherished.
In no way will I accept anything less than the best for her.
When I finally unlock the door and swing it open, Walker is staring at me with a straight-faced grimace that says more than his words ever could. He’s the second child, so he’s got whatever birth order complex that is. I can’t explain it, but he’s got it.
“Can I help you?”
He glances toward my girl, then back at me. “She’s had two calls this morning from some guy claiming to be her boyfriend.”
My stomach tightens with my fists.
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Marin crosses her arms in front of her chest as she speaks. “What was the guy’s name?”
“Didn’t say. Only said he was your boyfriend and he was looking for you.”
“That’s not true!” She glances toward me. “He’s not my boyfriend, and why would my ex ever think to look for me here? I’m not—” She pauses and glances toward me. “I need to sit down.” She brushes past me and into the distillery, where I watch her light fade as she slips into the back booth.
“What the hell are you doing?” I groan, staring toward my brother who’s asking for a punch in the fucking jaw. “You could’ve told me that privately.”
“What the hell am I doing?” His eyes widen. “You’re locked in your office fucking some girl who looks younger than your daughter.” He crosses his arms over his chest and mumbles under his breath, “Ask me what I’m doing.”
“Jesus Christ, man. Get a fucking grip.” I turn back into my office to flick off the light and grab a bag from my top drawer. “I’ve been to your classroom a time or two. I’ve seen the way you look at that girl… what’s her name again? The one with the long red curls. I’ve seen her in here before.”
“You’re insane.” Walker shakes his head and walks back toward the end of the hall where an empty office sits. “I didn’t look at any girls. I do my job like a professional. Lusting after students is so beneath me.”
“Right!” I grin dryly. “Her name is Rosie. She was in here yesterday with Mrs. Robinson. Did you bring her back to town to have your way with her?”
“Classic deflection. Real mature.” He grabs a bottle of water from the fridge in the break room and turns back toward me. “I catch you with an employee and you’re trying to make me feel like I’m the one with a problem here?”
It’s true, I am deflecting. I don’t want to deal with this shit. All I want is to scoop my girl up, take her home, and have my way with her over and over again until we’re both fucking raw.
I brush my tongue over the front of my teeth and stare at my brother.
He’s been teaching at the university for the past twenty years, and I’ve never heard of him having any relationships with students, nor has he ever brought anyone home.
Besides that, the real issue here isn’t who either of us are sleeping with. It’s the call he got from Marin’s ex.
“Tell me more about this guy that called for Marin. What did he say? Did you tell him she was here?”
Walker shakes his head. “No, but I get the feeling the call was more confirmation of something he already suspected.”
“Jesus Christ.” I stare down at the ground and huff under my breath.
“Why are you messing around with this girl?” Walker presses. “She’s got issues. You can see that. I can see that. You’ve got a daughter to raise and a business to run.”
It’s a low blow bringing up Abigail again, but I ignore it.
I could stand here and try to explain how much purpose I feel taking care of Marin, or that when she looks at me it’s like the rest of the world disappears, but I’m not sure what good that would do.
Even with that big, fancy, philosophy degree, I doubt he’d understand where I’m coming from because I don’t think Walker has ever been in love. Not like this.
Swallowing hard, I tap my boot against the worn pine and glance up at my brother. “I’m taking Marin out of here for a while.”
He narrows his heavy, dark brows. “What? Where? What the hell are you doing right now, man? You’re losing it. Think about Abigail. What’s she going to think if—”
“You don’t think I’ve thought about that a million fucking times? Abigail has been my life for twenty-four years, but she’s grown up. I need a life of my own.”
“With someone your age.”
“With someone I love, and I love Marin.” It’s the first I’ve said the words out loud, and though they sound right, I’m not sure I chose the best audience.
“You love her? You just met her a few weeks ago. Not to mention that she’s too fucking young. What are you even saying? Is this some kind of midlife thing? You trying to recapture your youth, ‘cause you know you can’t do that through your dick, right?”
To be fair to my brother, I’ve wondered the same, and I’d be lying if it’s not a perk that she has so much energy.
She does make me feel young. “It’s more than that.
She’s more than that. She’s soft and kind and genuine.
We have the same sense of humor, and when I’m holding her, I feel like I have the world in my hands. ”
“Christ, man. You need help.”
“I do,” I say, nodding. “So, if that asshole ex of hers calls back again, give him my home address, ‘cause I’ve got a few fuckin’ words to say to him.”