“Pleasure to meet you both. I have to say, there must be something in the water here to produce such beautiful women.” He winks at them as they giggle like thirteen-year-olds.
The stab of jealousy as Archer flirts with them strikes swift and deep before I can comprehend what’s happening. I might as well have a knife buried to the hilt in my chest. This man has me so twisted up I’m envious of my friends, whom I love dearly and know are stupidly in love with their partners.
It’s only when he slings his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side before brushing his ridiculously soft lips against my temple that the tension eases. But it’s his next words that have me melting even as I fight it.
“Sage must’ve gotten an extra dose of whatever it was, because damn, does she steal my breath away.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head with a scoff. “Whatever. How in the world do lines like that work for you?”
“I’m only speaking the truth, darlin’. No lines to be had. I’m just damn lucky I ended up sitting next to the most gorgeous, amazing woman in the room, who happened to need an assist. Now I get to bask in her presence and get to know her better.”
Yep, lines or not, I’m completely and utterly screwed.
***
Unlocking the front door to my house, I blow out a breath in an attempt to calm the churning in my stomach. It’s an oddcombination of nausea and butterflies. I’m not sure if I’m going to puke or swoon. Archer has gotten me completely off-kilter.
He follows me into the house as I hold the door open. I watch his gaze wander over the space after closing the door. It’s not much, but it’s mine. I bought everything myself, including the house, all on my teacher’s salary, slowly furnishing it over time with cozy, comfy pieces. Giving me a retreat from the world.
I point down the hall. “You can put your stuff in my room. It’s the door on the left. Oh, uh, I should change the sheets for you.” I toss my purse onto the breakfast nook table on my way to the linen closet.
“No need. I’d rather sleep in sheets that smell like you,” he says with a smirk.
Oh good Lord, my core pulses at the admission. “Whatever floats your boat. I’m just, uh, going to go for a walk. It, uh, helps me wind down.” I stumble over the words as I pluck my earbuds from my purse.
“Make yourself at home,” I throw the words over my shoulder as I practically run from the house, needing to get away before I do what I’ve been dying to do, and climb him like a tree.
I end up power walking in a futile effort to calm the fuck down, but the man has me so wound up it does little to ease the ache for him. By the time I return home, Archer must’ve gone to bed. The lights are off and the door to my room is shut.
I’m sweaty from my walk, and Riley Green starts playing in my ears telling me he wants me in the worst way, which does nothing but exacerbating the need for a release. I kick off my boots at the door and head to the guest bath to shower. Hopefully, some self-love will quiet these raging hormones of mine.
Shoving the door open, I stop dead in my tracks with a gasp literally choking me as my mind attempts to comprehend whatI’m seeing. I must be dreaming, or I’m hallucinating. There’s no way what I’m seeing is actually happening.
The dull ache which has been plaguing me now turns to a pulsing throb as I’m unable to look away from the man in my shower. The clear glass sliding door hides nothing of his mountainous, sculpted body, completely on display for my greedy perusal. As amazing as all that muscle is, it’s what he’s doing that has me transfixed.
His head is bent, one hand bracing himself against the dark brown tiled wall. The other is sliding back and forth on his stiff cock, which is obscenely proportional to his size. His gaze jerks up when I start coughing after choking on my gasp.
Instead of stopping and covering himself, his hand continues its glide, and his eyes meet mine with an arched brow in challenge.
Chapter Eight
Archer
It was obvious I had flustered Sage with my honesty. It was a bastard move and I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t keep from teasing her. The woman has been driving me mad with want. She clearly has no idea how appealing she really is.
It’s unfortunate for her, but lucky for me, some other dickhead hasn’t valued her enough to lock her down already. She runs from the small ranch house to go for a walk. I resisted following her, not wanting to push her. Settling into her room did nothing but amp me up further, and lying in sheets covered in her sweet scent had me harder than fuck.
Thoughts of her playing with her pussy right where I lay were more than I could take. As much as I wanted to, it felt like a violation to jerk off in her bed or her attached bathroom, so I went across the hall to find some relief.
Now she’s standing frozen in the doorway of said bathroom. Her coughing drew my attention, but I don’t stop what I’m doing, and she certainly isn’t running away. I lock eyes with her, arching my brow, daring her.
My cock weeps when she licks her lips, and her thighs rub together. Groaning, I wait to see what she’ll do. I don’t think she’s going to leave, so now it’s a toss-up between her watching me or joining me. I fucking hope it’s the latter, but will settle for the former if that’s what I can get.
I’ve never had a woman watch me masturbate before. It’s more of a turn-on than I ever thought it would be. The desire in her eyes has my balls drawing up tight. I’m afraid at this rate it’ll be over before she makes her decision, but to my relief she pulls her earbuds out, dropping them onto the vanity before ripping her shirt off.
Her jeans and panties are shoved down her plush hips and kicked out of the way. Last, she reaches behind her, unhooking her bra. Full breasts spill out as the last garment is flung away. I release my dick and slide the shower door open away from the spray of water, sending up a prayer of thanks for whoever installed a clear glass door, allowing this to happen.
As soon as Sage steps in, I slide the door shut and pull her to me. My lips slam to hers, my tongue slipping between hers. Our tongues duel, while one hand goes to her silky locks, pulling the band keeping them gathered into a ponytail. Once they’re loose, my fingers tangle in the tresses, clasping the back of her head.
