Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Like every brutal second is a challenge to overcome.
Like he needs to ask for permission with every movement.
Like he’s testing the anticipation he builds, just to see if what’s coming is truly worth the grief.
Oh, Archer, will you trust me just this once?
Will you be a little reckless?
Then his fingers flex on my waist and suddenly he’s backing away.
My hands fall limply from his shoulders. Although the sun beams hot on my back, I feel almost cold without him there, fully hollowed out.
“I should go,” he rasps, a thousand conflicts in his voice.
“Oh. Okay, sure.” Pathetic. I try to collect my thoughts, scattered somewhere across time and space.
He doesn’t meet my gaze, but I can see the redness on his cheekbones under his beard.
He’s simply beautiful in this clean, masculine way. I want to wrap him in my arms and—
Yeah, and kiss him.
But he doesn’t want that.
He won’t kiss me.
The thought flash freezes the warmth that was spreading lower with every second we grew closer. He doesn’t want me and that’s cool.
Absolutely fine.
It’s not like I want to kiss this man anyway, no matter how carried away we got in the heat of the moment.
I wasn’t thinking.
I barely know him.
He wasn’t that polite or gentle the first time we met. Even though he’s been a lot nicer since, this whole situation feels too abrupt. Too sudden.
Too self-destructive for sure.
I follow him back to the cabin in grim silence, leaving the happy bees behind.
Archer’s face is closed off, his eyes everywhere but on me. I make sure not to look at him after my first little glance.
Two can play this silly game.
“Thanks for the cheesecake,” he says as we step into the kitchen. “It was delicious. Colt would’ve wolfed it all down in one go if I’d let him.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re welcome.” I do my best not to imagine Rina, the ex-wife, eating it with them. “I just wanted to… apologize for the whole situation, y’know.”
“No need. I’ll be in touch.” His eyes linger on my face for a beat too long.
“Okay.” I’m crushed as I nod, forcing myself to stay where I am as he turns for the door.
Every part of me wants to say something to make him stay, but I bite my lip.
He’s leaving.
He should.
This situation is explosive enough without introducing kissing and aching desire and mind-blowing sex, but I—
He pauses on the threshold, slowly glancing back over his shoulder.
Then he turns.
His hand tightens on the doorknob before he slams it shut and strides back over.
I only have time to blurt out “Wha—” before he’s on me, guns blazing, one hand on my waist and the other sliding up my jaw, bracing me.
His kiss is all animal.
Rough, furious, greedy.
He gives me teeth and tongue and thunder, pushing a growl in my mouth that vibrates my bones.
He kisses like his lips have been aching to do it for months—for years—maybe for his entire freaking life.
I’m hit by a force of nature, swept back faster than I can breathe.
My back thunks against the wall and my hair spills everywhere.
I haven’t even moved. That’s all him, shoving me until I’m secure and held up, a willing victim just waiting to be pillaged.
Holy Mother of Lust.
His hands are rampant, squeezing and stroking and suddenly everywhere.
My hands are everywhere else.
I don’t have time to think about it or time to give them direction.
They slide over his shoulders, his chest, admiring the hard cut of his muscles under his shirt, tugging him closer.
I need the burning air from his lungs.
I need his skin on mine.
I need him closer, closer.
I’m a silent demand, asking for so much more than this breath-thieving kiss.
He can have my whole heart.
He can tear my clothes off right here, right now, and bury his cock in me.
This man can have everything.
He can take me apart one fierce stroke at a time.
He can fuck my lights out just as long as he makes me forget.
Please, just make me forget I’m Winnie, the lost runaway bride with her life in ruins, and give it to me like a woman in full control of her destiny.
I’m smiling like a madwoman as I moan into his mouth, closing my eyes, surrendering in a way I haven’t ever before.
Kiss by steaming kiss, as his tongue chases mine, I ask Archer Rory to demolish me so I can build myself again.
10
HONEY DRUNK (ARCHER)
God fucking damn.
How is she sweeter than that purple honey?
This woman is a human drug.
Small, yet all-consuming.
Shy, yet brave enough to make demands.
Broken, yet still boiling with passion.
When she opens her mouth, tongue sliding against mine, I react on instinct, pulling her closer, stealing another moan from her lips.
Yeah, fuck, she tastes as good as she feels under my hands.
I swear I want to maul her.
My hands sweep lower, grabbing her ass. I don’t care how hard I squeeze those cheeks.