Previous to right now, Abigail was real, but notreally real.Now that she’sreally real,I’m not sure what to think. I mean, I can’t imagine how I’d feel if my mom had come home with a guy younger than me.
I’d be mortified, sick, disgusted.
“You okay?” Rosie takes a sip of her Coke as she glances up at me. “You’re not still thinking about Archer, are you? He really is bad news. Ask anyone in town. The guy went nuts on his daughter’s boyfriend. The guy had two black eyes and a broken rib. He’s done it to others too. You should steer clear.”
“Yeah, but he only does it out of protection. He’s not like this big, bad wolf or something. He’s actually really sweet.”
“Oh no!” Rosie grins wide like a Cheshire cat. “You guys hooked up.”
My face turns red, giving away my secrets. “What? No. Stop. We didn’t hook up.” I spin back toward the bar, resituating bottles as though that’s my top priority.
“Right.” She taps the bar. “Then look me in the eye and tell me you weren’t in bed with that man last night.”
How are we here? How are we having this conversation? I can’t tell anything about last night. He’s my boss. If it gets out, it could mess things up with his brothers, with everyone.
I turn back toward Rosie, composing myself as best as possible. “So… did I hear you’re in one of Walker’s philosophy classes?”
“Really?” She shakes her head playfully. “You’re diverting back to me? So, you did sleep with Archer.”
I hold still like a statue, frozen solid, as though if I stop moving, maybe she’ll forget I’m here.
“In my office,” Archer pushes through the front door, the sun filtering in behind him as he makes eyes with me, “now.”
“It’s not what you think,” I say, avoiding eye contact with Rosie as I make my way around the bar. “He probably wants to talk about the inspection.”
“I bet he’s very thorough with his inspections… isn’t he?” She laughs at her own joke, and though I don’t look back to see her judgment, I feel it drilling into the back of my skull.
Despite all that, my stomach is filled with butterflies at the sound of Archer’s command. What could he possibly want to see me so urgently about? Plus, I thought he was staying away from the distillery today, given Walker is here.
Maybe he’s really mad at me. Maybe I moved something at his house I shouldn’t have. Maybe he’s realized how stupid this whole thing is and he’s desperate to end it. That last one makes complete sense given the circumstances.
Then again, maybe he misses me and can’t wait to get his hands all over my body.
It’s hard to say, considering the grimace on his face is a normal, everyday look. I’ve watched the man blow out his birthday candles with a single agitated blow. Granted, he did tell his brothers he didn’t want a cake.
I follow him back to his office and slide down into the chair opposite his desk, my eyes on him as his inked hands rest on top of a stack of papers. He’s so big, so commanding, so powerful and in charge.
“I have to have you,” he says so matter-of-factly that I wonder if he means what I think he means.
“How?”
“I have to have all of you right this second.” He stands from his chair, tall and strong, making his way to the door to turn the lock. “Your body, your heart, every fucking inch of you. Right now.” His words are fragmented, and his speech is rough and hungry. “Take your clothes off. I’m done waiting.”
Oh damn.
I swallow hard and try to stare at him, but the intensity in his gaze makes me nervous, so I look away, focusing on the smooth fabric of my skirt as I tug it to the ground.
“Good girl. Show me that ripe, little pussy.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever been in the presence of someone so assertive. I still can’t look at him, though I keep undressing, desperate for the moment when we’re close enough and the pressure lessens, or at least, that’s my hope. The truth is, I may always be intimidated by Archer. Who wouldn’t be? The man is charming, confident, protective, and massively huge.
Curling my hand into my tank top, I lift it off, then unclasp my bra and let it fall slowly to the ground in the sexiest way I can muster, though I don’t have much experience with this.
The cool air from the air conditioning vents blows straight above me, stiffening my nipples as I brush my hands over my arms, half in response to the cold, half from nerves.
“Are you nervous, princess?” Archer steps toward me, his massive frame shrinking me down the closer he gets. “I don’t want you to be nervous. Why don’t you lie back on my desk and let me relax you?”
My hand in his, he guides us toward the same dark wood desk I was masturbating on last night, sweeps back a wooden calendar and a cup holder, before lifting me up onto the edge. “Now lean back and let me taste you.”
