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Who was the woman she became in Archer’s arms? Thinking back to the way she behaved made her feel like she’d been possessed, but in a curious way, she’d also never felt more true to herself. There was something about making love to him that activated some deep, primal part of herself that she’d always known was there, at least in theory, but had rarely had cause to call upon… at least, until now. Now, she had a very good cause indeed.
Archer hesitated in the doorway for a moment, those golden-brown eyes lingering on her, and she stretched her arms casually above her head, enjoying the effect the sight of her naked body clearly had on him. He opened his mouth, then seemed to catch himself and closed it with a slight shake of his head. “Goodnight,” he said, and she nodded in response, feeling a twinge of disappointment that he’d stopped himself from saying whatever he’d been about to say.
And then he was gone. She pulled her pajamas on, deciding to grab another glass of water from the kitchen before she slept. After the evening’s exertions, she could probably use the hydration. The post-coital glow was still warm in her body as she padded down the hallway, and she was halfway across the living room before she froze with the sudden recognition that she wasn’t alone. All three of her housemates were still sitting on the couch… and all three of them were wearing identical grins.
“Um,” she started, desperate to break the expectant silence. “How long have you three been there?”
“Oh, a while,” Keli said, the first to break into giggles. “Long enough to see the most shell-shocked man I’ve ever seen come staggering out of your room.”
Morgan exhaled as she filled up her glass at the kitchen sink, waiting for the cackling of her friends to die down. It was odd. When the rumors had been flying around the school about her and Archer having sex, she’d felt mortified and furious. Right now, though, she felt… well, if anything, she felt the strangest tinge of pride as she headed back over to join her friends for what was doubtless going to be an interrogation.
“Discuss,” was all Alina said. And Morgan found herself telling them the whole story… starting with the awful day that their teacher had paired them for the assignment. There were constant interruptions, most of them from Keli, but she got to the end of the story eventually, only blushing a little about the level of detail her friends had demanded. She would never in a million years have expected to feel this comfortable with anyone who wasn’t her sister. Honestly, she might even have balked at telling Acantha some of what she’d just told her roommates.
“I’m so jealous,” Keli sighed dramatically, flopping back against the couch. “You’re an inspiration, Morgan.”
“Why?” Morgan flushed, feeling equal parts flattered and confused. “This is a terrible idea. I’ve spent basically the whole academic year being hassled by this jerk, and now I’ve slept with him. Twice!” She hesitated. “More than twice, technically, if you count—”
“Exactly!” Keli’s eyes were shining. “Don’t you get it? You’ve won. Ultimate victory. You’ve got him wrapped around your finger now, don’t you?”
Morgan bit her lip. She had to admit, Keli had a point. She’d never seen Archer so hesitant, so compliant with even the faintest hint of instruction from her. It was as though she’d tamed a wild stallion or something. “I guess?”
“Exactly,” Keli said smugly. “We saw how he looked when he walked out here. Good for you, babe.”
“Will you keep seeing him, do you think?” That was Alina, leaning forward with a thoughtful look in her eyes. She might have been the more mature, grounded member of the group, but Morgan had gotten to know her well enough to know that she was as fond of gossip as any of them.
“Seeing him? Like—formally?” She blanched at the idea. But Keli shook her head.
“Of course not. I mean this friends-with-benefits thing you’re doing.”
“I’m not sure,” she admitted, grimacing. “Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here.”
“Oh, sure.” Keli snorted, but her smile faded a little. “Seriously? That whole ploy with his astronomy book?”
“It wasn’t a ploy! I really wanted to get it back to him so he wouldn’t have an excuse not to do our assignment—which reminds me, I should have set a date with him to do the charting we couldn’t do last night—”
“Okay, let’s remove homework from the fantasy, please? I’m trying to live vicariously through you here. Have some respect.”
“I do apologize,” Morgan said gravely, winning a giggle from Keli. “But—truly, I don’t have a plan here.”
“Well… did you enjoy it?” Alina asked, leaning forward. Morgan nodded, not quite trusting herself to speak. She was still a little shocked by how graphic she’d gotten when she was sharing the story of what had happened, but Alina just nodded. “Do you want to do it again?”
“I mean—”
“Yes or no, quick—”
“Yes!” She flushed as Alina chuckled. “Yes, I think so. I mean—” She gestured helplessly into the middle distance. “I mean, yousawhim, right?”
“Right.” Alina’s smile widened. “Then what’s stopping you from continuing with the arrangement?”
Morgan bit her lip. “I don’t know. I don’t know! Me being scared, I guess? I don’t know.”
“Bad reason,” Alina said promptly. Morgan sighed. It was always a bad sign when her friends started to sound like professor Reine… it usually meant that they were onto something. Why did she balk so hard at the idea of continuing to explore this strange new dimension of her relationship with Archer?
“I think it’s that I’m worried I’m going to get attached to him,” she said finally, frowning down at her hands. “I don’t want having sex with him to make me forget what a jerk he’s been.”
“You can keep them separate,” Keli said with a dismissive flick of her hand. “It’s easy. After all, it’s not like he’s your soulmate, right?”
She laughed and nodded in agreement, and the conversation quickly moved on. But later that night, curled up in the bed that still smelled like Archer, that question didn’t seem to want to leave her alone.
