Archer stood up and rolled his right shoulder in a circle. “I’m a sunrise guy.”
“Why didn’t you pick a room facing east?”
He barked out a laugh. “Across from Mel and Lakota? No, thanks. Those two are always going at it. Virgil’s in the back hall, and he likes to sing at all hours.”
“How many rooms are there?”
“Twelve upstairs. Plus the one next to me, which I hope we keep as storage. I like the privacy.” He winced when he turned his arm. “Might as well enjoy it now before we get more packmates.”
I frowned. “What’s wrong with your shoulder?”
He paced in a circle. “Sometimes I get a kink in it since I use it for everything.”
“Sit down.” I swung my legs over the bed to make room. When Archer sat next to me, I rubbed his shoulder.
He sagged. “Harder.”
That word sent tingles to places it shouldn’t have. I massaged his tense muscles with a firmer touch and watched his expression to make sure it wasn’t hurting him. But the blissful way in which he closed his eyes led me to believe I was doing it right.
When I glanced down at his jeans, the length of him was large and outlined.
Archer caught the direction of my gaze and covered his erection with his hand. “Sorry. This is just too familiar.”
As I leaned in closer, still kneading his shoulder, his breath hitched.
“You should stop,” he suggested quietly.
“Why?”
Archer twisted to face me, releasing my hold. “Because of your wrist. You’re still healing.” He delicately traced his fingers over the skin around my eye, which was no longer swollen but still carried a faint bruise. We were intimately close, and the heat from his body embraced me.
It was so quiet that every sound amplified. His breath, the wetness of me licking my lips, the rustling of the covers as he rested his hand beside me.
I gazed into his brown eyes, deciding he was the most handsome man I’d ever known. Not just outside but also within.
His gaze dropped to my lips.
Archer wasn’t advancing—not without my consent. The reluctance in his expression never faltered, but neither did the desire in his eyes.
As I leaned in, my heart lurched when my lips softly pressed the corner of his mouth. I held the kiss, my blood feverish as he closed his eyes and released a ragged breath. Then our lips brushed over familiar territory. I kissed his top lip, and he lightly drew in my bottom. It was delicate, sensual, and came to an abrupt halt the second a bell sounded.
Archer shot to his feet. “Someone’s at the gate.”
Chapter 20
Instead of ordering me to stay in his room, Archer kept me at his side as we hurried downstairs. When we reached the first floor, Lucian and Tak were speaking on the front porch while some of the other packmates poked their heads in to see what was happening.
“What’s going on?” Archer asked. “Who the hell’s tripping our alarms at this hour?”
Krys stroked his short goatee. “You get one fucking guess.”
When Archer stepped forward, Krys blocked him and said, “Don’t.”
Headlights flashed against the front windows, and a wolf’s ferocious barks were drowned out by a car engine—one I’d heard many times.
“Cici, wait,” Archer said, but I was already across the room.
Once I made it onto the porch, Tak blocked me from going any farther. “He crossed onto my land without permission. I’ll handle this.”
