Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Oh, God. I’m spiraling. He worked sex magic on me last night, and now I’m losing it just like he is. Because, dammit all, I don’t want to be a mistake he regrets. I want this to be real with every fiber of my being. And, for a split second, I thought that maybe it could be.
“I told him that you’re mine, and that we’re going to be together.” He grimaces. “I skated a thin fucking line around the truth, but I didn’t lie, and I didn’t tell him that we’re married, either.”
“How…” I lick my lips and try again. “How did he take it?”
“You mean after he finished telling me to keep my hands off you?” Archer quirks a brow and then shrugs.
“So he’s mad,” I whisper, not really surprised. As far as Micah is concerned, I’m not dating a guy he knows and trusts. I’m dating a hockey player. I’m signing myself up for a lifetime of making this sport my life when it almost killed me once. He isn’t going to be reasonable.
“He’ll get over it, Wren.” Archer tips my head back, stroking my cheek like he’s trying to soothe me. “I don’t want to sneak around behind his back or lie to him. I respect both of you too much for that. I know you don’t want to sneak around, either. This ensures we don’t have to do that. We can ease him into the idea of us.”
“Until we annul the marriage,” I mutter, the thought making my stomach hurt.
“Stop looking for an escape hatch, little bird,” he growls. “It’s pissing me off to know you don’t want this the same way I do.”
My stomach flutters. So does my heart. “I’m not looking for an escape,” I whisper. “I just don’t want to be something you regret.”
“You think I could? I already told you that I’m going to convince you that we aren’t a mistake, baby girl,” he murmurs, dipping his head to brush his lips across mine. “You’re going to fall for me.”
I whimper softly…but I don’t tell him that I don’t need convincing. I’m already there. I was there months ago. Admitting that seems massive, though. It seems huge.
Are we ready for that? I don’t know. We’ve only been an us for two days!
“Are you finished for the day?” he asks before I can figure out what to say.
“I just need to finish up some paperwork.”
“Go ahead,” he murmurs, turning me toward my desk. “I’ll wait for you.”
“Where are my panties?” I grumble, searching through my overnight bag. My stuff is spread across the foot of the bed, every item of clothing in it strewn around. The five pairs of panties I packed are mysteriously missing, however.
Archer makes a sound, and I glance up to find him leaning back against the headboard, his hands locked together behind his head. Aside from the scratch marks I left down his chest and his boxers, he’s naked. Too damn delicious. He’s also smirking like he knows something I don’t.
“Archer!” I growl, eyes narrowed on him. “Where are my panties?”
“You mean the ones I stole while you were blow-drying your hair? Don’t know. Haven’t seen them.”
“Oh, my God. I need those!” I cry, stomping around the side of the bed toward him. “Give them back.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wren.”
“You are such a liar!” I jab him in the stomach with a finger. Jeez. His abs are rock hard. “Give them to…ahh!” I scream as he moves like lightning. One minute, he’s all cool and casual. The next, he’s got his arms around my waist, hauling me onto the bed beneath him.
“Get off me,” I grumble, shoving against his thighs. “And give me back my panties.”
“No can do, little bird.” He smirks down at me like the dang cat that ate the canary. Or the hockey player that ate the wren. I mean, that is what he did after dinner. Right on the kitchen table, too. Scandalous. “You aren’t getting them back.”
“I’m wearing a dress tomorrow!”
“Easy access.” He dips his head, blocking out the rest of his room. Which is hard to do because I’m in love with this room. The walls are rock, with massive windows that let natural light in. It’s like a haven in here.
“It is not easy access! It’s me risking showing my ass to my clients.” I scowl at him. “They’re kids, Archer. They do not need to see that. Give me back my panties.”
“Fine. But only if I get something out of it.”
“That is not how panty theft works.” I smile despite myself. This man is wild, and I love it. He is not keeping my panties, though. No way. “You apologize, give them back, and promise you’re a reformed panty thief in exchange for a lighter sentence.”
“Yeah, fuck that. I’ll give them back if you agree to come to the game tomorrow.”