Ex-girlfriend?
My brother’s ex-wife.
Oh.
Oh,what?
She just acted like she was … familiar.
She is.
Y’all have a thing before?
No.The bitch raped me.
Spencer tucked his hands into his pockets.“Yeah.”
“And because of that, you think I’mobligated?”
“I think youfeelobligated,” Spencer corrected.“It’s cool, though.I don’t need your pity.”
Archer frowned, his eyebrows lowering.“Pity?”
“Yeah.”
“You said it happened ten years ago.”
“It did.”
Archer peered around briefly, then met Spencer’s gaze.“I don’t think what I’m feelin’ is pity.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m impressed, for starters.”Archer pushed away from the door, taking one step forward.“You’ve built somethin’ for yourself, which tells me you’re solid and smart.You’ve got a good reputation in town when it comes to buying houses, so that tells me you’re dependable.Probably honest.”
Spencer stood tall, eyes peeled wide.“The entire town thinks I’m a wife-stealin’ himbo.AndImade them think that.I don’t think that qualifies me as honest.”
Archer chuckled.“Self-preservation makes us do strange things sometimes.”He closed the gap between them, lowering his voice.“I also think you’re hot as fuck.”
Spencer gasped.
Archer lifted his hand slowly, ensuring he wasn’t reading more into this than he should.He cupped Spencer’s jaw, placing his thumb just beneath his chin, tipping his head up.He skimmed the man’s face, looking for a clue that he should retreat.
When he found none, he said, “Would I do this if I pitied you?”
He held Spencer’s gaze as he lowered his head until their lips touched.When Spencer didn’t pull away, Archer tilted his head to the side and covered Spencer’s mouth, licking his way past those smooth, warm lips.Spencer’s tongue met his, gentle at first, then more demanding.Archer’s body hardened when Spencer’s arms circled him, his hands fisting into his shirt, holding on as the kiss went nuclear.
Archer had wanted to do that since the night Spencer ended up in his room at the B&B.But that night, Archer was on his best behavior because Spencer was too drunk to make any logical choices about what he wanted.
It took effort, but Archer pulled back first, swiping his thumb over Spencer’s lips before leaning back so he could meet his gaze.
“Jesus Christ,” Spencer muttered, eyes glazed.
Archer grinned, not moving away.He wasn’t sure he could.He had a steel bat in his pants and the damn thing was throbbing.
“Now that that’s outta the way, what do you say we start over?”
Spencer chuckled.“Start over?As in, repeat that … kiss?”
