He eases back so he can look into my eyes, tilting his head to the side. “First”—he places a hand over my frantically beating heart—“I can tell from the way your words tumbled out that this was hard for you to ask.” He studies me so intently my cheeks turn pink as blood rushes to my face. “And second, of course, I will. You and me, Peaches. I will always be here for anything you need. I told you before, I’m here for you. Nothing you could say or do would make me treat you any differently.” He draws in a breath, leaning in and touching his forehead to mine. “We all have a past. Don’t forget that. You aren’t alone.”
I blink rapidly. “Sorry. I knew you would understand me, but—”
“It’s still hard. I get it.” He jerks his head toward the door of the bathroom. “I can go get what you need. Hop in my shower. I’ll be right back.”
I strip out of the rest of my clothes and tie my hair up in a knot on top of my head. I don’t know what I expected Archer to suggest, but my brain hadn’t been on taking a shower. I thought maybe we’d use the sink or even the tub. My eyes flick over to the gorgeous walk-in shower on the other side of the room, complete with a handy little bench seat and jets protruding from the shower wall.
Come to think of it, it’d probably be soothing to let the water pummel my skin and let it strip the feel of Alec’s, Joel’s, and Stuart’s hateful words off me. Hell, at this point, I’m creeped out and feel filthy every time they look at me. Archer’s going to be so pissed when he pulls up the video feed later to watch the actual details of what they said and did, and I’m positive he’ll show Kingston and Cannon.
I can’t think about it anymore right now, so I distract myself by turning on the water, then adjust the lever so the jets shoot across the shower from the nozzles on the wall.
Archer hasn’t come back yet, but the water is hot, so I go ahead and get in. Just like I’d thought, the water from the jets immediately has me relaxing, a soft moan falling from my lips. Planting my hands on the glass in front of me, I bend a bit, moving slowly around so my entire back gets the treatment.
“Peaches, you good?”
“Yeah. These jets in here are nice.”
He chuckles softly. “Feel free to bust in and get naked in my shower anytime you want.”
I can see him moving around through the frosted glass, and a moment later he appears at the open end of the shower with my shave gel and razor, but also my shower pouf, bodywash, shampoo, and conditioner.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted everything or not, so I brought it all.” He sets my things down on the bench.
Holy shit.I don’t think I’ll ever get over the sight of Archer naked. He’s so lean and toned, and the tattoos that start at his shoulder and meander all the way down to his wrist are ridiculously mesmerizing. I bite my lip, trying to get my wild thoughts under control. “I hadn’t decided, but come to think of it, I could have Alec yuck from his nosebleed in my hair, and I don’t want that.”
“That’s what I figured.” He wets his lips and, still holding the razor in his hand, steps around me to lay it in the nook built into the wall where his shower stuff is. Out of sight. He’s so damn thoughtful, it makes me melt a little more every time he takes me by surprise by doing something sweet like that.
Archer insists on washing and conditioning my hair for me again before he washes his own, and as I’m washing my body, I turn and look back at him over my shoulder. “You’re spoiling me, washing my hair twice in one week.”
“No, I’m being good to you. There’s a big difference.” He turns on the rainfall showerhead above us to rinse his hair, then makes quick work of lathering up before he eyes me. “Are you ready for me to help?”
I exhale quietly. “Yes. What’s easiest?”
He points. “Foot on the bench.”
I pick up the shave gel and swipe some over my leg from mid-thigh down to my ankle and work it around, making my skin nice and slick.
Archer comes up behind me and pulls me close, my back to his front, his body curled around mine. “Probably best if I just do it like you would.” His lips brush over my shoulder.
“Can you reach okay?” I whisper.
“Yep, I think so.” He drags in a breath, his fingers depressing into the skin of my stomach as he holds me. “Are you okay? You’re shaking.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m, um, I’m going to close my eyes.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got you,” he rasps. “Ready?”
I’m all choked up and can’t answer verbally, but I do nod.
“Here we go. I’m starting.”
The familiar feeling of my razor being dragged slowly and carefully up my shin causes my chest to clench, my lungs practically caving in on themselves.
A few seconds pass, and once I loosen up slightly, Archer fills the silence by murmuring close to my ear, “You’re okay.” He makes another pass up my leg. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah.” A nervous breath skitters from me.Yes. Ask me anything. Please.
“On Monday, did Dane seem okay to you? Tonight was the first time I've seen him since Monday around midday.”
