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He brushed his nose against hers. For a moment, she was convinced that was all she was going to get, and she accepted in her heart that she would be okay with it, that having Archer in her life as a friend again was enough. But then he dipped down and took the plunge, his lips soft but the pressure firm as he kissed her for the first time in years.

And Tea admitted the truth: Being just friends with Archer Vincent would never be enough.

Tea lifted to her toes and wound her arms around his neck. Without breaking the kiss, he moved a hand to her waist and lifted her to him, his other hand lost in her unruly morning hair. He gripped a fistful and tilted her head back, deepening the kiss as he slid his tongue into her mouth. A low growl escaped his chest.

It made her go molten all over, and too soon, she wanted every part of her body touching his. She dipped a hand inside the collar of his compression shirt, running it against his warm skin, and the tattoo that covered it. The thought of it—of all of it—had tears welling in her eyes.

She broke apart from him and stepped down to the grass, wiping her tears.

Red cheeks, swollen lips, and fear in his eyes, Archer looked at her with concern.

“It’s okay,” she sputtered. “I’m—I just feel—” She couldn’t say the rest, the words stuck, unable to break free.

Archer leaned in and caught her tears with the pad of his thumb. “I can’t be your friend, Tea.”

She blinked up at him with watery eyes, still tongue-tied.

“Not when this is how I’ve always felt about you.”

It’s like he read her own thoughts out loud. She swallowed, unsure of what else to say. “Like you always wanted to kiss me?”

“Like I want everything with you.”

She fisted his shirt, bringing him closer. “You are a very special person to me, Archer Vincent.”

He smiled then kissed her again, this time soft and slow and full of unspoken words.

Similar to the last time she kissed him, enclosed by the dark, surrounded by pine trees and away from prying eyes, Tea let herself get lost in him. She dialed up the intensity, biting his lip as she fused her body firmly to his, moving her hands to his neck.

“Take me inside, Arch.”

He moaned, slipping his hands to the backs of her legs. He lifted her in one swift motion, then carried her up the porch steps.

Tea trailed kisses down his neck as he swung the door wide. He sat down on the couch, shifting Tea to the center of his lap, then wrapped her hair with his hand and yanked her toward him.

She gasped.

He grinned. “You like that?”

“V-very much,” she breathed.

“Good.” He released his grip and hooked his thumb inside her spaghetti strap, guiding it down her shoulder. He dipped down and gently bit her neck, then licked her skin.

Dear god. “That too,” she whimpered.

He laughed into her neck, his warm breath and the stubble on his chin leaving goose bumps dotted across her skin. She clenched her thighs around his hips.

“You are needy, aren’t you?” He chuckled again. “I have to admit, I’m really into it.”

She flushed. “You already knew that about me.”

The words slipped out of her mouth too quickly. The flush of her cheeks deepened into a bashful ruby red.

He didn’t seem to notice or care. He hummed, dragging his lips up her neck and back to her mouth, his hands squeezing her waist as his thumbs dug into the tender spots above her hips.

She was the one to moan this time. The last time Archer touched her like this, it was all desperate, with nervous hands and shaky breaths. This time he was certain, his hands firm against her body as he held her to him. She sucked on his bottom lip, the other strap of her tank top falling past her shoulders.

A phone buzzed on the table.