“He’s a sex toy Santa,” Charlie squeals, sending us both reeling into peals of laughter again.
We’re still laughing when Gavin walks in several minutes later. “Hey, we’re wasting away out here. I thought you were bringing the pie to the living room. Should we all come in here?”
Charlie shakes her head while wiping tears from her cheeks. “No. No. I got it. Take that tray and pass out the plates.” She points to the tray we’ve already loaded with pieces of pie. “I’ll cut a few more pieces and bring them out in a minute. Make sure sex toy Santa gets a piece.”
Gavin screws his eyebrows down and shakes his head at us. “You guys are nuts,” he says when we both start giggling again. “Don’t forget to bring more pie. It’s my cheat day and you can bet your ass I’m having a piece of each.”
Gavin takes the tray and leaves the room.
I force myself to stop laughing and turn to Charlie. “What am I going to do, Charlie?”
She shrugs, pushing a slice of pie off the lifter and onto a plate. “What do you want to do? I say you jump his bones and ride him right into next year.”
I snort a laugh. “I don’t think that’s a very sensible idea. That’s asking for some really uncomfortable chafing.”
She tilts her head. “Yeah, you’re probably right. How about you ride him until, say, tomorrow? Minimal chafing, maximum enjoyment.”
“What if it isn’t worth it, though? What if it messes up the relationship we’re creating as co-parents of Lincoln?”
Charlie picks up two plates and gestures for me to take the others. “Well, then you’ll be like any set of divorced parents who dislike each other but are civil for the sake of the kids. But do you really want to throw in the towel before you give it a chance? You might be giving up on something amazing before it even starts.” She walks out of the kitchen without waiting for an answer.
Is she right? Should I throw caution to the wind and give it a shot? Is there even something to give a shot to? All we’ve established so far is a mutual attraction. He hasn’t come out and said he wants a relationship. I need to stop getting ahead of myself.
With a sigh, I pick up the plates and follow Charlie to the living room. That’s a mystery for another day.
“Alright, I’ve got a peach and an apple,” I say when I walk in.
“I’ll take some of your peach.” Archer raises a hand and I snort a laugh. He drops his hand, realizing what he’s said, and cringes. “I mean, I’ll take the peach pie.”
Charlie barks a laugh. “Yeah, right. That’s not what it looked like in the kitchen a few minutes ago.”
My mom widens her eyes in question, but before Charlie can open her mouth, I jump in. “Everyone, shut up. Now’s your chance to let your pie hole do what it does best and eat the damn pie. It’s getting close to Lincoln’s bedtime so I’m implementing quiet time. If you can’t keep quiet, you can leave now.”
Later, when the pies are all put away, Lincoln is asleep, and a few more games ofUNOhave been played, I realize my ungrateful guests didn’t keep their mouths shut after all. Somehow, they all conspired to leave early without my noticing.
Eric leaves first. Webster and Frederick follow shortly after, with promises to talk soon. Mom and Warren are next to leave, which isn’t a surprise. They’re staying at a hotel while they visit because they like to watch TV at full volume while they fall asleep. Itisa surprise, though, when Charlie and Gavin leave, considering Charlie lives here and Gavin always stays here when he visits. He didn’t even care when I moved Lincoln into the third bedroom, because of his unnatural love for the big blue couch in my living room. He loves sleeping on it.
But that doesn’t stop him from leaving with Charlie at the end of the evening. My mouth drops when he shoots me a wink after telling me they’re letting me get back towhateverwe were doing in the kitchen.
Somewhere between too many pieces of delicious pie and several games ofUNOso viciousthey nearly came to blows,the rest of my family conspired to leave me alone with Archer. I can’t decide whether I love them or hate them for that.
“About that ‘whatever’Gavin mentioned,” Archer says, slipping in behind me when Gavin closes the front door. He turns me by the shoulders until I’m facing him. “Are you okay?”
AmI okay? Heat floods my belly as I remember the way he pushed himself against me.Heck yeah, I’m okay.
I answer by pressing my lips to his, smiling at his quick intake of breath before he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close.
“Thank god,” he whispers against my mouth. “I was worried you’d changed your mind.”
I shake my head while chasing his kiss, not wanting to stop long enough to say the words. My hands find their way under his shirt without my express permission, but when I touch the smooth expanse of skin covering his hard abs, I’m forced to forgive them.God, it’s good to finally touch him.
I whimper when his hands squeeze my ass, and he presses his hard length against my stomach. The answering throb of my clit is achingly familiar, and it prompts me to slide my hands down to his belt. I’m so feverish with the desire to get into his pants that I’m confused when Archer wraps his hands around my wrists and stops me from lowering his zipper.
“Phoebe?” Archer says, his harsh breaths and strained voice telling me he’s just as turned on as I am. “I’m trying really hard to be good right now.” A disbelieving chuckle escapes his throat. “But if you keep doing that, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself from stripping you naked and burying myself as deeply inside you as I’ve been dreaming of doing since the night we first met.”
Yes! That. Do that!I want to yell. My voice won’t come out, though, so instead of words, I let my hands do the talking. I stare into his eyes, lower his zipper, reach into his boxers, and grasp his shaft in my fist.
He hesitates a moment before slamming his mouth to mine, his tongue tasting me as he groans from my touch.
