it through the tangled strands. “I tried talking to him about it the other night. That’s when he threw this,” I say, gesturing between us, “back in my face.”
Archer nods then shifts until he’s sprawled out in the armchair. He twists his cap around and drops his head back, staring up at the ceiling. He sighs. “Do you think that’s really his problem? Us?”
The thought gives me pause. I let it roll around in my head, but no, I don’t think that’s Bates’ problem. At least, not all of it. “Something else is going on with him,” I tell Archer. “There is no us for him to have an issue with.”
When Arch lifts his head, glaring at me, I add, “Yet.”
He’s out of the chair and hovering above me a beat later.
I laugh. “What are you doing?”
“You said yet,” he states, a brilliant smile on his face.
“That I did,” I agree, unable to resist smiling back. Swallowing my nerves, I lift my hands and slide them around his neck.
His gaze sharpens and fills with heat.
“I’m done fighting.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathes as I tug him until our mouths are so close our breaths mingle.
I groan when he rolls his hips against mine. It feels so good. Neither of us move to close the tiny space between our lips. Then, he knocks his hat off his head and rolls, taking me with him. This new position has me straddling his hips, and his hands grip my waist as he grinds into me.
My head falls back as a wave of sensation washes over me. I brace my palms on his chest and moan, “Arch.”
“Shut up and kiss me, spitfire,” he demands, and I do.
I glide my fingers over his collarbone, along his shoulders, to his neck. My fingers dip into his hair, and I bring my mouth down on his. It’s hot and hurried. We’re all lips and teeth and tongues.
His hands float along my sides until he’s gripping my ass and guiding me over his erection as he thrusts from below. My sleep shorts and his sweats are the only barrier between us.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he groans into my throat between hot, wet kisses. He releases my ass. His calloused palms coast up and under the hem of my tank.
The feel of his skin against mine is electric. I sit, yanking my top over my head before tossing it to the side. Arch licks his lips as he trails his hands around my body to cup my aching breasts.
I slap his hands away and shimmy back just enough that I’m able to find the bottom of his tee. “Off. I want this off,” I tell him, tugging his shirt.
He grins and reaches behind his neck, hooking the fabric and dragging it over his head.
My hungry gaze rakes over every inch of exposed muscle. His abs bunch and ripple as he moves, flinging his shirt away. Bending over him, I brush soft kisses to each of his pecs then slowly move down his abdomen. I pay attention to each and every dip and curve of muscle.
His hips flex beneath my ass, and I chuckle, lifting my gaze to his. “Problem?” I ask.
He shakes his head adamantly. “Not a one.”
“Good,” I murmur, going back to my task of driving him insane with need.
I have dreamed of this moment for so long it barely feels real.
Keeping my eyes open is a mission, but I refuse to miss a second of it. My gaze is locked on Lennon as she kisses and licks her way down my abs to the band of my sweats. Then she looks up, a devious grin on her face, and I narrow my eyes.
Ever so slowly, she sits. Her manicured nails toy with the band of my pants. “I want you to come to Kinsley’s wedding with me.”
I blink dumbly. “You want to talk about this now?”
“Yep,” she hums.
“Of course I’ll go with you,” I tell her, hoping like hell the talking portion of tonight is over.
She smiles, slides off my lap, then climbs off the bed. I gape at her as she picks up her discarded tank and pulls it back on.
“Have I missed something?” I ask. I’m so fucking confused right now. All the blood in my body is currently gathered in my dick, and my brain doesn’t understand what’s going on.
“No,” she says casually.
I stare at her, then at my extremely hard dick, then her again. “Then why are you over there and not on top of