Chapter 9 - Trish
I wake up watching the trees outside rustle with the wind, it must be early, but the sun already feels sizzling.
After dinner, I was beat. I mumbled a lot of incoherent words trying to convey my exhaustion.
Archer put me in bed. With the last remnant of strength I had, I made sure he didn’t leave, I wanted to snuggle with him.
I’m finding I’m terribly comfortable around him, enough so to wrap my arms around his leg until he laid down next to me. In a couple of seconds, I was out.
That’s how I didn’t notice the lack of a roof until now.
“Has anyone told you you’re missing a roof?” I ask when I notice him staring.
“Oh, really?” He looks up as if he didn’t know.
“It’s certainly an interesting view. I feel I’m in one of those fancy hotels I see on TV where they camp out in glass domes.”
“I’ve a got couple of weeks left to finish the roof. I waited for summer to come by so I could tackle it, I never expected to like the view this much either.”
He’s looking up, this time we’re both lying down, our hands touching.
I could really spend the rest of my life here with him.
Does that even make sense? Loving someone so intensely, knowing they’re your person in just a few days?
Lana did. When she talked to me about Cole, she had already decided to move.
I couldn’t believe it at first. Perhaps she felt the same way I do now, every particle of my body loving this man, knowing he’s the one.
“Maybe I’ll add a few windows in there,” he finally says.
“That sounds amazing, I bet more work though.”
“It’s fine, it doesn’t look like it’ll rain the rest of the summer. I have the time.”
He lies on his side, and I follow suit. He’s handsome, wearing only his briefs again, taut muscles all around but somehow something’s wrong. His smile feels vulnerable.
He gets closer so we’re practically facing each other. He traces the line of my nose with his index finger, then follows the curve of my body down to the bottom hem of his shirt.
“When are you leaving, princess?”
Oh, that’s why.
“I thought I could have you and be okay with you leaving, but I really want to ask you to stay with me. It feels absurd to know that when we first met by the lake I wanted you to be mine. Every moment with you afterwards just made me fall harder for you, confirming what I felt back then. I love you, Trish. You’ll always be my princess. ”
My eyes fill with water. His finger rests on my lips.
“Though I’m telling you this, I’m telling you because I need to, not because I expect you to reciprocate. I’m hoping we can spend some more time together and convince you to stay, but you don’t have to say anything now. Just know, regardless of where you are, I’m thinking about you.”
I take his hand.
“Archer, I love you too.”
He’s stunned, gaping at me.
“I don’t get it either. It doesn’t make sense. But I truly do. I want to stay here, not only close to you but to Lana too. I’ve never felt more myself lately than here on this island.”
“Trish... I’ll never be the man who can protect you from the crowds.”
“Do you think I care about that? I want to be with you. I’ll face the crowds myself and, whenever you need me to, whether it’s at your nephew’s wedding or anywhere else, I’ll be your first line of defense against the crowds.”
His arm slides around my waist, and he pulls me towards him.
“Tell me again. So I know I’m not delusional.”
“I love you, Archer.”
“I love you too princess.”
He kisses me desperately, I kiss him back in the same tone, letting my body melt into his. My mouth opens to welcome him, needy, in despair for more. He pulls back enough to look at me, staring at me like an animal.
Then his mouth is on mine again, and all I feel is relief, I can’t get enough of him. I need so much more. The shirt seems unbelievably inconvenient at the moment, so, with much difficulty, I wrangle it off between kisses.
“Archer, I really want this.”
“We don’t have to do this now. We have time,” he says cautiously.
“We do have time, but neither of us is getting any younger, I say we make the most out of the time we have,” I say with exasperation. It seems urgent to have him on top of me, inside me. Why doesn’t he realize that?
His deep laugh makes another appearance.
“Fuck, princess, you’re going to ruin me, aren’t you?”
I giggle before pulling him so our mouths find each other again.