A smile forms on my lips. “Lead the way.”
??Chapter 48 ??
Elle
We pad our way into the bathroom. I grab us some towels and clean clothes while Archer busies himself by perfecting the water temperature. By the time I turn around Archer is undressed and the bathroom is beginning to fog.
He tugs at the hem of my sweatshirt looking into my eyes, a silent request. I hold my arms up over my head to let Archer peel my many layers off. The sight of my bare chest makes him twitch - and without the barrier of clothing to conceal him, I can’t help but watch him continue to harden as he pushes my sweats off the rest of the way.
Stepping out of them, I pull Archer into a kiss. Not like the soft apology kiss from earlier, but a hungry, desperate thing, eager to claim him.
Our desperate, claiming kisses land us up against the bathroom counter. Archer wastes no time as he picks me up, places me on the large countertop and hoists my legs around his waist. Bracing myself I hold on to the edge of the counter, spreading my legs to hang loosely around his back. I lift my pelvis just as he thrusts into me, making a pleasured cry scratch out of my throat. Archer grips my hips and guides me how he pleases. His pace is slow andsteady and I try to stabilize myself by holding on to his shoulder with one hand and keeping the other on the hard surface below. My arms ache from keeping my body steady as Archer thrusts into me at a rapidly increasing pace.
“Archer, I—” My words fail me as I moan breathlessly. He understands what I mean, as he removes himself and places me on my feet, turning our bodies to face the mirror. In an instant, he’s back inside of me and pounding mercilessly. His thrusts becoming more erratic.
You feel so fucking good, you were made for me.” He groans as he pulls me closer, my back meeting his chest. His hand trailing down my body to meet my clit.
My knees buckle and threaten to give out from beneath me when he rubs circles against me. Archer’s strength never falters keeping me upright as he works my body.
“Archer!” my voice wavers, as waves of pleasure crash through me. I’m so fucking close. I—
“Let go.” He whispers, his breath tickling my neck adding to the myriad of sensations coursing through my body. “I’m right behind you.”
My body convulses as my orgasm hits. True to his word Archer follows right behind me, slowing his pace as he empties himself.
“C’mon, Let’s get cleaned up.” Archer offers his hand as he steps into the running shower, pulling me in with him. Thank goodness for that inline water heater. Endless hot water at our finger tips.
“My ass was squeaky clean before you came in, thank you very much.” I grin rolling my eyes.
Archer’s laugh rumbles in his chest as he cleans the grime off of his skin under the spray. He washes his hair and body wordlessly, switching places with me so that I can shower. I close my eyes as I lean my head under the water, only to shoot open at the feeling of a hot, wet tongue lapping at my folds.
“Let me make it up to you.” He grins before diving back between my thighs.
Chapter 49
Archer
Ispill my guts to Ty about, well, everything.
“That cover story almost ruined the best thing that ever happened to me.” I state.
“I know it’s still a fresh wound so I’m going to let it slide that I’m not the best thing that ever happened to you.” Ty jokes trying to lighten the mood.
I shoot him a withering glare, still exhausted and raw. After Ellie and I had our very passionate, very fantastic, make up sex, we ended up staying up until dawn talking about our relationship. I finally admitted the truth about mine and Cassie’s break up, how it broke me. How desperately I wanted to keep the humiliation a secret. How Kirk Williams was the first one to break the story. I hadn’t even told my parents before the media was spinning it.
I shut myself in my apartment after that. I recount how Lucas demanded that I let him into my apartment after I refused to answer anyone’s calls or texts. He drove straight to my house when he heard only to be greeted by Cassie and Doug. How he had to walk away from a fight and drive the additional hour and half to my apartment in the city to find me. I refused to let him in, threatening to call the cops if he didn’t leave. The pitycalls, the constant checking in from my loved ones, once I did start answering my phone.
I recount Coach threatening to cut me if I didn’t get help after a particularly bad outburst I had. Taking a swing at Ty, DJ holding me back as I raged against my best friend. The final crack that broke the emotional dam I had erected.
Elle listened as intently as she had that first meeting in the coffee shop. Her words are almost an exact echo. This time with tears streaming down her face, “That’s just fucking awful.”
Ty is quiet as he lets me finally process the past forty-eight hours. “I’m glad you finally told her the truth.” He sits next to me in the locker room, knocking me good naturedly with his shoulder. “I’m also proud of you. I know how hard it is to relive those moments, but you deserve peace and I think finally admitting to the lie, which at the time was to protect yourself, is what is going to allow you and Elle to move forward and maintain a healthy relationship.”
I watch Ty as he picks up a stray roll of tape fidgeting with it.
“Look, I’ve seen the worst of it. The spiral. The shame. Hell, I didn’t know you had such a good right hook.” A humorless laugh escapes us both.
He pauses as he considers his next words. “I was scared shitless of the absolute ghost you were when you tried to shut the whole world out.” He meets my gaze, his expression is serious now. “You let Cassie and Kirk Williams control your narrative.For months. Don’t let that happen again. Don’t build another wall, don’t shut the people you love out. Don’t hide anything anymore.” He sets the tape down.
