“Why are you crying, sweet girl?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve just… I didn’t know love could feel like this. I thought it was supposed to be hard, and I thought I’d have to hide all these parts of me to be treated right. My ex always made me feel like I was too much for needing this kind of comfort.”
“Too much for needing comfort? Princess, you’re not too much. He wasn’t enough.” Archer kisses my eyelids as another happy tear falls. “I’m here now, and I’ll make up for every bad thing he ever said to you. I promise.”
He fists into my hair and tugs me close, our lips meeting in an open-mouthed kiss that feels like heaven on Earth. I’ll never tire of this. I’ll want this very touch every second of every day for the rest of eternity. I have no doubt about it. I’ve finally found my soulmate and I’m not letting go, even if this is hard, even if this makes zero sense on paper.
“I told Walker to give him my address.”
My brows narrow, and a shot of something painful pokes at my chest. “What? Why would you do that? I don’t want him to know where I am. The guy is psychotic. That’s why I didn’t tell him where I was. Why would you—”
“He must have been following you around or something ‘cause he knew well enough to call the diner looking for you. If you didn’t tell anyone where you went, why would he look for you there?”
That stupid flash drive! I didn’t pull it out of the laptop when I left!
“Still, why would you tell him to come to your house?” My chest is tightening now at the thought of my ex showing up unannounced. “He knows people. Important people. He could ruin our lives.”
Archer nods toward two shotguns by the door. “I have friends too, and my friends end fights really quickly.”
“So, you’re going to shoot him? Then what? Spend your life in jail? Our love is over before it’s even started. And what about Abigail?”
“I don’t shoot unless I can get away with it. If the man is on my property and he’s a threat, shooting is an option.” He leans into my lips again softly. “I only told you so you wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up.”
“I didn’t want him to find me. I liked hiding.”
“Hiding from what? A spineless ass in a business suit?” He shakes his head. “Princess, there’s nothing to hide from. Let him come to us. You don’t need to worry about anything. I take care of you ‘cause you belong to me. I take care of what’s mine.”
I’ve never believed anyone more. With Archer, I feel safe. I feel safe, loved, adored, and protected. There’s no doubt about it.
“Tell me you know I’ll protect you,” he groans, leaning into my throat, his teeth scraping warmth against the nape of my neck.
“I know you’ll protect me.” A chill runs down my spine as his big, warm hand sneaks beneath my shirt to lift off my tank top.
“Good girl. And you know that I love you, right? Even when I’m doing filthy things to your body?”
My panties flood as I nod.
“Good girl. Stand up for me. Stand up and scoot that little skirt down onto the floor and bend over on the couch.”
Lord help me with these commands. One word with that tone and my pussy starts to ache. One single word and I’m like a little kitten mewling for my belly scratches.
Thumbs hooked into the side of my bouncy little skirt, I tug the sides down and shimmy out, letting the fabric drop to the floor with my sopping panties. I think I was better at it this time than I was in his office earlier. The motion felt smoother.
Archer growls and drinks me in, his gaze drawing up and down my frame like a beast who’s tired of tugging on the leash.
“Yes, good,” he says low, a drunken expression in his gaze as he stares down at my pussy and up again. “Now show me your little asshole. I want to taste it.”
What?
He wants to taste my asshole? Is this something people do? It sounds horrible! Why would anyone ever want to taste my asshole?
I don’t say any of this out loud, but he must sense my hesitation. His fingers weave through my hair and he growls low against my ear. “I want to claim every hole you have. And tonight, I’m claiming that ass. Bend over.”
A shot of excitement rushes through me, and though I’m not sure what to expect, I don’t stop him. I never would. I want whatever Archer has to give.
Leaning forward, I bend onto the ottoman in front of the couch, my reflection staring back at me in the darkened porch window.
His warm hand lands on my ass and he spreads my cheeks apart. “Jesus Christ, look at this little asshole, so damn puckered and tight. You have no fucking clue how bad I need this.”
