“I-I’m sorry. Cannon and I got to thinking and wondered if maybe you needed some… comfort? But”—Elliot looks at us with wide eyes—“we can go.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. The tension of the moment is almost palpable, like something all of us can touch or feel.
My head bows, and I stare at the floor. Raking my hand through my hair, I tilt my head to the side, searching out Archer’s gaze. His face is almost unreadable. He’s so obviously feeling vulnerable, my heart clenches.
But fuck, it’s Archer. I would never hurt him. It’s frustrating that he’d assume that, but then again, he’s kept this part of himself buried. And now it’s out there in the open for the three of us to see.
It hits me with undeniable clarity. I know what I want.Them.All of ustogether—whatever that looks like. But it’s an incredibly delicate situation, and this isn’tjustabout me. My gaze falls back to Archer, and I see the hesitation there. He’s bracing for my rejection, waiting for me to laugh this off or deny what they walked in on.
A shadow of doubt hazes his gray eyes, and his head hangs low. He’s retreating further, once again blaming himself. I can’t let that happen. Ignoring the watchful stares of Elliot and Cannon, I close the distance between us and grip his chin with my fingers, tilting his focus back to me. “Tell me what you need.” His throat visibly moves as he swallows back his feelings. Blinks hard at me. Bringing my mouth to his, I place a small, reassuring kiss on his lips, then whisper against them. “What do you need, Arch? Me, them?” I keep my gaze firm, steady on him so he knows I’m perfectly okay with all of this. “Orus?It’s your choice.”
He shivers beneath my touch, and the fire in his eyes blazes an uncharted trail of desire down my spine, turning my cock to fucking stone. His tongue runs along his bottom lip, and I know he’s playing out the possibilities in his mind, and fuck, so am I. A shy smile tugs the corner of his mouth as he tips his chin up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I cup his face as I tilt my head toward Elliot and Cannon, who are eating up our exchange from the doorway. Turning back to look into Archer’s eyes, I know what he wants without him having to say a damn word. “Come over here, both of you,” I rasp, my gravelly tone steeped in desire, “and shut the fucking door.”
TWENTY-FOUR
KINGSTON
Elliot’s mouthhas formed a surprised but delighted O, and Cannon practically has to pick her up to get her to move. Her gaze pings between me and Archer, like she can’t quite believe what’s happening, but Cannon helps her shuffle forward so he can do as I’ve requested.
He shuts the door behind them with a resounding crack and clicks the lock into place. From the look on his face, there’s no doubt in my mind Cannon is working through what we’re doing, how it’s going to work, and where the hell all this is going.
I don’t have the answers to any of those questions, but I’m ready to find out.
As if we’re of one mind, the four of us move toward Archer’s big bed, only stopping when we reach the edge. Elliot’s eyes wander first over Cannon, then me, and finally Archer. Then, as if she’s resolved in her decision, she whirls around and whips the sheets back before turning back to us, a semi-anxious expression on her face. She may not have figured it out yet—but I’ll do whatever the fuck she wants us to, and I don’t think Archer or Cannon feel any differently.
With his eyes locked on hers, Archer murmurs, “Tell us whatyouwant, Peaches. Tonight was shit for you. This is about you, too.”
She blinks rapidly, emotion washing over her features when she probably would rather it remain hidden. “Yeah, I know. But I’m here for you. We came foryou.”
I wet my lips, watching the uncertainty roll through her in waves before I reach out and tug her to me. Meeting Archer’s eyes over her head, I murmur, “He gets that. But Elle—this? Us? It’s always going to be about you.”
Archer says, “He’s right,” with a fire burning brightly in his gray eyes.
From beside him, Cannon takes a few heavy breaths before he closes his eyes and nods his agreement. His throat works a hard swallow, and when his gaze lands on Elliot again, I swear I’m not seeing things. He’s totally in love with her—would do anything for her, even if it means sharing her with us, if that’s what she wants.
I have no fucking clue how this is going to go, and that makes me nervous as hell, which is crazy because I’m fucking Kingston Hawthorne. I don’t get nervous. I’m in control. I don’t let shit like this faze me. But hell, my voice is thick with emotion when I rasp, “How about we start fuckin’ slow and see where things go?”
Taking a few unsteady breaths, she nods, but I can tell from the tremble running through her body that she’s unsure, so I spin her around to face Cannon and Archer. At her waist, my hands dip under her T-shirt, skimming over the smooth, warm skin of her stomach.
“Cannon,” I grit out with my lips pressed to the top of her head, “come kiss her. She’s shaking.”
His eyes flick to mine, the piercing blue only questioning me for a split second before he steps in, slides his hands to her jaw and tilts her head back to give him better access. He teases her playfully with his lips before angling her head and deepening the kiss. She whimpers, her body melting against mine, as he slowly explores her mouth.
While they’ve been occupied, Archer’s keen eyes have followed every movement either one of them makes. His hands are shoved in his pockets, his tongue sliding over the damaged skin of his lip.
A few minutes ago, his mouth was on mine and our breath had mingled as we held onto each other. Jolts of lust fire in my head and burst in my veins. There will be time tomorrow to sort through things. Right now, there’s this moment. I hold out my hand, wanting him to come closer. He spends so much time watching that I wonder if it truly has to do with his preferences or whether it’s where he thinks he belongs—on the outside, looking in.
I’m not having it. That’s not what he deserves. My gaze meets the darkening gray of his. He’s questioning me. “Get over here.”
A twitch of a smile lifts the corners of his mouth, and he steps in, grasping my arm and leaning in to press his lips to my jaw. His hands slide down my arm, finding my hand and holding on. A satisfied noise rumbles way down deep in my chest.
Just then, Elliot twists, looking up at me. Cannon doesn’t seem to care as he continues his exploration of her, leaving a trail of kisses down the exposed side of her neck and kneading her breasts through her T-shirt. The way he’s touching her definitely has her more relaxed. She moans, her eyes dilated, as she reaches up to grasp my neck with one hand, pulling me down to her.
We’ve hardly begun, but this is already so damn complex. And fuck, I want this.
“Kiss her, K.” Archer drops his lips to my shoulder, his warm breath cascading over my skin and setting off goose bumps in its wake. With a shudder of desire, I let my mouth crash over hers. There’s no way of knowing whether the moans falling from her lips are a product of what I’m doing or what Cannon is doing, but I can’t find it within myself to care. Nipping at her soft lips, I slide my tongue into her mouth, letting it dance and duel with hers. My heart thunders, knowing Cannon and Archer are watching us.
When we finally come up for air, Elliot twists in the other direction, reaching out to Archer. She skims fingers over his pec, then lightly brushes them over his nipple.
