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“Mmm.” He follows his biting nips with a soothing tongue. “He sung like a canary and told us everything. It’s not admissible in court yet, since he wasn’t represented.”
I grunt my displeasure. “Lame.”
He chuckles. “But it won’t matter a whole lot anyway, because he’s going away no matter what. Holding a needle to Kernicke’s neck was enough to land him in a locked room. Injecting himself sealed his fate in the crazy ward. Thinking he had a chance with you put him on my shit-list.”
I choke out a soft snicker and let him hold the majority of my weight. I’m tired, and my knee really shouldn’t be used unnecessarily. “I mean, how dare someone think I’m lovable?”
“I think you’re lovable.” Pulling back, he looks down into my eyes and smirks. “I think you’re gonna be a recurring source of stress for me for the rest of my life. Always stepping forward when I ask you to step back. Always hurting yourself when I ask you to rest. We can’t agree on a lot of fundamental things, and you and my brother were once engaged, so that pisses me off.”
Laughter bubbles along my throat, but against my hip, Archer grows harder. And that reminder, that poking demand, makes my breath stop.
“I want to date you, Minka. I want to take you out, eat a meal, have a conversation that isn’t about death or poison or Tim or Ethan O’Dey.”
“Can we talk about the hit-and-run Mellet instead?”
“He’s okay and breathing on his own in the ICU. Now, I wanna date you andnottalk about work.”
“I genuinely don’t know what else we could talk about.” I shake my head and snicker. “Truly. No clue.”
“We could talk about your panties.” Leaning in, he presses a kiss to the corner of my lips. “Or we could talk about what we’ll do after we eat.”
“After?” I search his eyes. “What do you intend to eat?”
A dirty, filthy chuckle rolls along his throat as his hands move down to palm my ass. “I was planning on steak at this place a few streets over. Good atmosphere, low lighting, strong booze, and a dark hallway I wouldn’t mind fucking you in. But now you have me reconsidering.”
Sliding his tongue along my bottom lip, he grins and makes a mess of the lipstick I already applied.
Because maybe I like to play hard to get, but I knew we were going out. So while I waited for him to finish work, I showered and shaved and slid into a cute outfit. I did my makeup, I brushed my hair, and though heels are out for as long as my knee is hurting, the rest of me can look good for the man who looks at me like I hung the moon and the stars.
“We could talk about your life in New York.”
Curious, my brows pull closer together. “New York?”
“Mmm.” He nips his way along my neck. “Ya know, ask real questions. Get to know each other beyond sex and work.”
“But I like sex and work.”
He snorts. “Me too. But I’ve seen you do both. Now I want more.”
“You’re greedy.”
“Uh huh.” Sliding his hand over my neck and pushing my hair away, he nibbles on my ear. “I’m gonna stay greedy till I get all of you. But don’t worry.”
Reaching down with fast hands, he cups my ass and yanks me up until my good leg circles his hips. My bad leg hangs limp and stupid, but Archer doesn’t seem to mind as he turns us and heads across the room.
“I’ll give you what you give me.” He presses a kiss to my cheek. Another to my neck. “I want to know about you, so I’ll tell you about me. I want to be with you, but in return, I’ll give you my time and attention. It’ll be a fair exchange.”
“Assuming Iwantto be with you…”
Stopping against the wall, Archer presses me close and holds my weight with his hips. Pulling back far enough to look into my eyes, he searches them in silence. His breath feathers my lips, and his heart thuds between us.
Finally, he says, “I need to know what you want, Minka. I need to know if you’re in or out. Not for a lifetime commitment. Not yet. But are youinto at least see what we could be? Because if you’re not, then that’s gonna break my fucking heart. And if you are, then I need you to say it at least once.”
Bringing his hand up, Archer gently glides it along my jaw. He presses the pad of his thumb to my bottom lip. The tip of his finger to the back of my neck. “If you want me, then swallow your pride for just a second and let me know I’m not alone in this.”
“Archer, I…” My pulse thunders in my chest. “I—”
“What are you so afraid of?” His eyes glow with intensity, but his hands remain gentle. “What, Minka? What scares you?”
