Chapter 66
Elle
The absurdity of the situation hits me as I’m gasping for breath after my orgasm. It hits me so hard in my drunken face that I burst out laughing.
Archer looks at me; concern etched across his handsome face. “What, what is happening?” He brushes a lock of hair from my face. “Elle are you okay?”
His ruined shirt revealing his naked torso making him look like an employee at The Giddy-Up Gentlemen makes me laugh harder than I thought humanly possible.
The laughter doesn’t stop. “You got jealous over a lap dance from a half-naked cowboy. A cowboy, you could break in half Archer.” I wheeze between peels of laughter.
I am gasping for air, holding my aching sides. The sheer, ridiculous absurdity of the fight, the drama, the aggression, and the quick, desperate make-up sex we just had. All of it was fueled by a man who wears ass-less chaps for a living.
Archer’s massive frame slumps against the counter, his expensive jacket hanging off one shoulder. The concern melts into a mixture of mortification and sheepishness.
Archer runs a hand over his face, his ears bright pink. “I... I know. It was idiotic. I saw the boots and the chaps, and I reverted to some kind of caveman. I am sorry, Elle. Truly. I was a walking, talking pile of ridiculous testosterone.”
He doesn’t reach for excuses. He owns the ridiculousness.
I slide off the counter, smoothing down my dress and hooking my arms back in my sleeves, adjusting the neckline to be presentable once more. My underwear, unfortunately, is a goner, so I stuff that in Archer’s suit pocket. Earning a sheepish grin from him, his ears still pink.
I look at his handsome and highly apologetic face.
“Yes, you were. You were a caveman, Arch. Luckily, I think all the other girls enjoyed your show much more than I did.” I pause, looking him up and down, “I think you can make it up to the girls by renting a party room.” I say, more as a statement than a suggestion.
“You’re also going to apologize to Vi and ask if you can reimburse everyone the price of their tickets for tonight’s show.
Then you’re going to be the loving, doting boyfriend who wants his girlfriend and her high school best friend to have a wonderful night.
You’re going to pay for everyone’s drinks the rest of the night, and you’re going to do it without that now ruined shirt. ”
His eyes flick down to his naked torso. His jaw working before he nods, finding the punishment acceptable
“Understood. Apology, reimbursement, unlimited
drinks, and public nudity. What is the final assignment, Elle?” I bend down and pick up the damn cowboy hat that started it all. “I’m riding my cowboy again tonight.”
Heat ignites in his eyes, a playful smirk making its way across his handsome features.
“Got it!”
We make our way back to the girls, where Archer informs them that he just bought us a party room. Vi, Iris, and the three bridesmaids’ cheer. The apology and reimbursement are quickly accepted.
Turns out having Archer and Ty with us provides some real entertainment throughout the night.
Archer spends the night ensuring he is available for anything we might need.
He alternates between fetching drinks, dancing with the other bridesmaids and acting like a bouncer.
Being shirtless in a strip club really had a lot of people confused.
A drunk older woman comes up to him and says he makes an excellent Archer Bell look alike.
To which he awkwardly chuckles and says thank you.
Archer stands near the entrance to the party room, holding a plastic cup of water.
Several patrons and even a waiter mistake him for security, a highly effective, very intimidating, shirtless bouncer.
He is constantly asked to break up minor arguments or to direct people to the restrooms. He takes the “job” seriously.
He even escorts some creepy guy out.
Ty is having a ball. He, Vi and Iris leave for about 20 minutes to watch one of the performers. Some cowboy named The Rattler.
I sit back, watching my massive, half-naked boyfriend.
There’s really no need to go watch the cowboys now.
I find him way sexier than any of the cowboys here.
His broad chest is pure functional muscle instead of show muscle that ninety percent of the dancers have.
He’s broad, bare and fits into this scene entirely too well.
Gives me some ideas for Halloween if I’m completely honest.
At some point another bachelorette party comes up to us. The bride sliding a fifty into the waistband of Archer’s pants. Lingering a little too long along his abs.
“I want a dance from the most convincing Archer Bell look alike I have ever seen. My fiancé is going to lose his shit. He loves Archer Bell.”
Archer’s eyes look at me in a wild panic, not knowing what to do in this situation. I chew on my lip trying desperately to keep the laughter from bubbling out.
“Go ahead number 14, show them whatcha got!” Ty cheers from his spot next to mine.
I give him a look that says, this is completely up to you.
He can either admit he doesn’t work here or he can suck it up and give her the dance.
Archer decides to give her the dance.
It is the most spontaneous, yet physically magnificent, dance any of us have ever seen. He is pouring all his athleticism into the act, unintentionally making it ten times hotter than any practiced routine.
The bride is screaming. Ty is cackling. Vi and the other bridesmaids are cheering.
And I’m turned on.
Archer slips the money back to the bride without making a big deal out of it. Telling her to enjoy the rest of her night.
“How much for a dance?” I ask, sliding up, placing my hands on his warm chest.
Archer leans down, his breath tickling my ear. “For you? It’s free.” He says as he brushes a chaste kiss against my temple. “Although, tips are appreciated.”
I throw back my head and laugh, my curls sticking to the sheen of sweat on my back.
The night ends around 2:15 am, with Archer and Ty corralling us back to our rental.
“You guys should stay with us tonight!” Vi exclaims.
“Yeah! No need to catch an Uber to the Marriott!” Hallie adds.
“Vi and I can share a bed, giving Ty one of the rooms and obviously Elle and Archer are dating so that’s not an issue at all.” Iris laughs, almost falling over before Archer steadies her.
“Thank you so much for the kind offer.” Archer says. “But Ty and I still have mandatory meetings and seminars for the remainder of the weekend.”
I pull Archer to the side, significantly shorter than him once more since I took my heels off.
“If you and Ty want to stay, you can, you’re forgiven Arch.
I understand where you came from. I also realize, I should have been more specific about what The Giddy-Up Gentlemen actually is.
So, if you would like to stay, I wouldn’t mind having my favorite teddy bear for the night. ”
Archer’s massive frame slacks in relief. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, but we still need to have a talk, but it can wait until the morning, when I am sober.”
Archer looks at Ty. “Do you want to stay with the girls or head back to the hotel?”
“I’ll head back to the hotel. I probably need to call Sadie and let her know everything that has happened, although I wouldn’t be surprised if she already knows.” He throws me an amused grin.
“She may have gotten a few pictures of you dancing with The Rattler.”
Ty barks out a laugh. “Oh shit, now I really need to call her. Assure her that everything between The Rattler and I was purely physical.”
Archer and I both laugh and wait outside with Ty until his Uber arrives.
Once Ty is on his way back to the hotel, Archer follows me to what is my room for the weekend.
Archer closes the door, cutting off the muffled sounds of the rest of the party settling in.
He catches me by the waist and pulls me back against his bare chest, kissing the back of my neck. “Thank you, for letting me stay.”
I turn in his arms, feeling the rough stubble of his chin against my forehead as he leans into me. We stand together for several minutes, soaking in the warmth of each other after waiting outside in the cool air.
“Let’s shower and then go to bed.” I murmur.
We both hop into the suite’s shower, what I initially thought was a large luxurious shower, now seems cramped with Archer’s large frame. After what is in my opinion, the least sexy shower I have ever taken with Archer, we dry off and make our way back into the bedroom.
I quickly dress before making my way to the queen bed and pull back the covers. Archer obviously only had the clothes on his back, leaving him completely naked. He slides beside me, pulling me against his strong, warm body.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He places a chaste kiss on my lips and we settle into bed. His steady heartbeat lulling me to sleep.