I relaxed in his embrace. “Thenyou can bend me over the couch.”
“Stop that.”
Lightning flashed overhead, briefly illuminating the room like a strobe light.
Rolling away from him, I nestled my bottom against his groin and sighed. “Good night, Archer.” I wiggled my hips one last time for good measure.
Thunder rumbled, this time traveling a long distance before ending with a solid boom that made me jump.
Archer pulled my hair out of the ponytail while kissing the back of my neck. “Cici?”
“Mm-hmm?”
“Lift up your shirt.”
Chapter 23
After doing his last rep lifting weights with his left arm—without the prosthetic on—Archer slipped his shoulder out of the modified band attached to the machine. It felt good having his equipment again even though he had to make adjustments. He’d also bought an elliptical, treadmills, and weights for everyone to use.
The gym was an addition to the right side of the garage, and one built primarily for him. Tak understood his specific needs as a tripod, so Archer put in extra hours of work. He’d designed the gym the way he had always dreamed: wood floors, mirrors on the left wall, air-conditioning, no windows, and room to grow. The men were so impressed they wanted to use it. After giving them a demonstration on correctly using and cleaning his equipment, Archer invited them to work out anytime. The one thing he lacked was a bathroom. Tak didn’t want to run plumbing out there since it would cost him. Maybe later.
He wiped his face on a towel as the door opened.
Lucian swaggered in, his golden eyes scanning the room. He had on a black tank top and jeans, and Archer thought he could use a little work on his core muscles, which seemed out of balancewith his broad shoulders and sculpted arms. Lucian had sinewy muscles—lean but hard. Chitahs who used their running abilities usually did, and he was always running all over the property.
“Thinking about bulking up?” Archer asked.
Lucian scoffed and ran his hand over his stubbly scalp. “Just trying to get a little peace and quiet.” He put his hands on his hips and looked around, then drew in a deep breath. “What troubles you?”
Archer picked up his prosthesis and set it on the weight bench. “Your wardrobe. How many black tank tops do you own?”
“As many as I do dress shirts, but I don’t like ruining my good clothes while working.” Lucian stepped onto the treadmill and stared at the buttons. “Quite a storm we had last night.”
“I slept through most of it.”
Lucian threw him a cocksure grin over his shoulder. “Normally I don’t look at the camera footage of the backyard, but after that prick showed up last night, I monitored the silent alarm.”
Archer knew where this conversation might be heading.
Looking back at the treadmill controls, Lucian said, “I couldn’t help but notice how you went into the heat house at around eleven.”
“So?”
“And didn’t come out until three. Naked.” He tapped the controls. “That’s some visit.”
Archer didn’t like people in his business, but he had a feeling it might be hard to slip past Lucian for all kinds of reasons. “I wanted to keep an eye on her and make sure she felt safe.”
Lucian drew in a breath and slowly nodded. “She likes you.”
Feeling uncertain about having this conversation so soon, Archer walked to the other side of the treadmill, by the door. “She just feels safe around me because I’m not a threat.” He rotated his left shoulder to make a point.
“I’m a Chitah, and I can smell pity. That’s not what she feels. She admires you. I don’t know how you people can walk around with those weak olfactory receptors.” Lucian rested his elbow on the display.
The treadmill suddenly activated at top speed, and the fast-moving belt sent Lucian flying.
“Later,” Archer said, striding out the door before Lucian caught him laughing.
Serves him right for getting in my business.
