I held her until she cried herself out, my shirt damp with her tears, and mine. My fingers tangled in her hair.
And this time when I picked Eve up and carried her, it was to the sofa in front of the fire in the living room, a place where I’d slept with her once before.
I tucked us together beneath a blanket, the fire still filling the fireplace, knowing it would see us through until morning. Because right now, that was what mattered.
Just one more night together. And Eve held on, never letting go.
Not once.
Chapter 9
Archer
“You get coffee and a kiss.” Eve woke me before anyone entered the big house with her sassy as fuck lips on mine.
“Hell, girl. If that’s what you’re offering, maybe I should be getting down on one knee.” The comment slipped out and froze us both.
Eve stared down at me, her bed mussed curls dangling over her shoulders to pool on my chest. One slim, denim covered thigh straddled either side of my waist. “Easy, Ranger. Someone’s going to think you’re in love.” Her fingers trailed across my collar bone and lower.
I sucked in a tight breath as she reached my belt. “Maybe I am.”
Her slap to my torso elicited anooff. “Maybe you’re thinking of something else.”
My hands closed on her waist, squeezing gently. I let her see my smile before I rolled us, pinning her beneath me. She cussed me out until my mouth found hers, then her feral words turned into softer sounds that went straight to my cock.
“Rhys, the boys. They’ll be here soon.” Eve pushed at my shoulders, straining around me.
“Good. then maybe they’ll get the point and back the fuck up,” I grated, finding her mouth again. I kissed her until she moaned, her legs wrapping tight around my hips, her body rising to meet my grinds against her.
“Rhys, please. I need—” Eve scrabbled at my belt, her need rising with mine.
The door rattled. I caught her wrist, squeezing a brief warning as the door swung open.
“Jesus Christ. Can’t you two go upstairs to fuck around?” Jude groused to himself as he crossed the open living space to the kitchen. “Count to twenty.”
“Why?” Eve didn’t move from her hiding spot beneath me, her hands tangled in my open shirt.
“Because that’s how long it's going to take for Will’s crew to get in here.”
“Shit.” Eve scrambled out from under me, taking the blanket with her.
I laughed, catching her chin and drawing her in for a hard kiss before she dashed away to hide in the pantry. I was left on the sofa with a cold ass, bare chested and no girl but laughing all the same. My shirt was buttoned—mostly—by the time Will and Odin walked into the big house. Apparently they’d made up overnight, though by the curious look Odin cast in my direction, we weren’t on the same grounds.
I shot him a hard smile as I raked my hands through my hair as Eve appeared with a giant thermos of coffee, her hair twisted into a messy knot on top of her head.
“Aren’t you wearing—” Will started.
Jude clapped the younger man on the back of the head. “Keep your eyes on the ground,” he barked gruffly.
“My mistake.” Will coughed, his face red, though whether that was from being reprimanded or for catching Eve out, I couldn't be sure. He studied the bar as the house filled with raucous chatter.
I took the thermos from Eve’s trembling hands that hid nothing, pouring the coffee she’d made into the smaller travel mugs that Jude provided. Eve shot me a panicked glance and turned to cooking. Sweet maple bacon scents drifted across my taste buds and left my mouth watering but that wasn’t what I craved this morning. I watched her for a long moment, knowing I wasn’t the only one with my eyes on her, waiting until I was sure we had a full house.
Then, as Eve passed me, I slid an arm around her waist, turned her to face me and covered her mouth with mine. My girl tasted as sweet as Christmas morning but nowhere near as innocent. And somehow, that made the treat all the better.
The kitchen erupted in cheers as I drew back an inch, letting her breathe.
“Rhys?” Uncertainty crossed her face, though her gaze never broke from mine as she steadfastly ignored the crowd and focused on just us.
