‘No,’ I answer a little primly, managing to look at him now. Okay, glare. ‘I’m quite partial to a turmeric latte.’
‘A coffee curry?’
‘It’s very good for you, providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.’
‘But you get a choux bun or a donut with it, right?’
The answer to that is yes, not that I’m telling him. Yes, Starbucks probably drives thousands of sole-trading coffee shops out of business all over the world annually, popping up on every street corner, as they seem to. And while that’s terrible, and I feel for the owners of those businesses, I can’t help that they offer the equivalent of a hug in a mug to me.
‘Also, I forgot to mention you get the benefit of my scintillating company.’
Why was he doing this? He folds his arms over his chest in a very deliberate stance, like a dad waiting patiently for you to see sense. For you to come around to his way of thinking.He’d be a really hot dad.I purposely ignore the way his shirt stretches over his shoulders and arms, and how thin his worn jeans are. I also ignore the whole European no socks thing he has going on, like nothing as pedestrian as having a hole in your sock would happen to him.
I pick up my case because time is getting on, when he takes it from me. My skin feels like fire reacting to the small brush of his skin against mine as his wrist brushes mine. As he steps back, I curl my toes in my boots against the notion of reaching out and balling my fist in his shirt for the purposes of dragging him back to the bed.
Because yes, while I’m ashamed, and while he still drives me crazy, I still want him.
And that scares me.
‘Okay?’ His brows rise along with the enquiry.
‘Yes, okay, you’ve worn me down.’ He chuckles a little, and I get it. He’s doing me a favour, not the other way around. While not having to schlep home via public transport sounds fabulous, sitting ninety minutes next to the man who smells like my own brand of temptation will do me no good.
‘Ready?’ Archer pauses at the door, our bags in hand. I turn, doing a quick sweep of the room, though not because I think I’ve left anything. I’m just taking one last glance. Just because I can.
‘Yep.’ I turn back to face him with a tight smile. ‘Ready when you are.’
‘Then let’s hit the road.’
‘I’ll bring the car closer,’ Archer says, eyeing the rain lashing the tiny window. This part of the hotel is definitely one of the older bits. Some might say atmospheric, others dungeon-esque. ‘It looks like you’ll be a while, anyway.’
There’s only one member of staff manning the reception desk and a whole lot of people checking out, and one or two waiting to check in.
‘But you’ll get soaked,’ I protest.
‘I’ll grab one of those.’ He points to a stand that looks like it predates the invention of the umbrellas standing in it. ‘Besides, there’s no point us both getting wet. Just promise me one thing; you’ll wait for me to check out.’
‘I’ve already paid for the room.’
‘So you said, but think of last night.’
Think of it? I think it’s branded on the inside of my eyelids. Every time I close them, I see skin sliding against skin, my insides sliced by the sensation of Archer’s lips whispering unintelligible utterances between my legs.
‘Okay?’
I nod, my brows settling lower because the way he keeps looking at me? It’s like he knows.
‘I’ll be right back.’
I watch as he grabs an umbrella, the torrent of rain against the courtyard loud as he pushes open the door, manoeuvring both bags and umbrella through it in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to do.
It’s nice of him to offer to take me home.
I wonder if he does that with all his dalliances?
Especially the ones who’ve coerced him.
He’s been so very lovely about the whole thing. And he even said he likes me. Or was it he said that he liked me only when I’m being mean to him? Honestly, men are like another species.
