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I hoped there was an elevator.
A crash came from a few floors above, and then it sounded as if there was a herd of elephants approaching. Carter pushed me behind him, and I twisted to look past him. Then Archer came barreling around the corner, taking three steps at a time.
Carter stepped to the side with a chuckle. With no time to brace, Archer rushed up to me, lifting me off the ground and hugging me to him. Then his mouth was on mine, and all thoughts of suitcases and elephants left my brain.
My legs wound around him, my arms went around his neck, and I held on like he would disappear if I didn’t hold him tight enough.
His arms around me were just as tight, and I found myself with my back against a wall and Archer at my front, his lips brushing over my cheek and then my neck. “God, I missed you.”
“Surprise.”
“Best surprise of my life,” he murmured, then lifted his head, looking at Carter. “I’ve got her from here.”
Carter chuckled. “Thought so. Call me if you leave the apartment.”
Archer gave him a chin lift. “I know the rules.”
Carter waved at us and disappeared.
Archer released me, and I reluctantly put my feet back on the ground. Not ready to let go of him completely, I kept my body arched into him, my hands on his chest. “Please tell me there’s an elevator.”
“I’m afraid not. But I’m only on the fourth floor.”
I glanced at my suitcase, and Archer followed the direction of my gaze, then laughed when he saw the bright pink, gigantic box I liked to take with me whenever I traveled. He released me, and I suppressed the needy sigh that wanted to escape at losing his warmth.
Holding my suitcase on one side and my hand on the other, he led me up the stairs. I took in the chipped tiles on the stairs and the wall on his floor that was about two years past needing a fresh coat of paint.
He walked through an open door, and I couldn’t hold the smile back at the thought that he’d rushed out of his apartment as soon as I’d buzzed. He dumped my suitcase in his hallway, then kicked the door shut.
His arms went around me again, and he held me pressed against him, a smile tilting up his full mouth, his already piercing blue eyes shining.
I was sure my smile was as bright, if not brighter, than his. Nothing had ever felt as right as being in his arms. Tracing my thumb along his cut jaw, I sank into him. “Hi.”
His hands moved over my back, one of them coming to rest at the slope of my butt, the other at my neck, buried underneath my mass of hair. “Hi.”
“So, this is where you live?”
His gaze never left mine, his complete attention on me. But maybe he had to reassure himself that I was really here as much as I did about him. Because for me, it would take a while to take in the fact that I was back in his arms.
“This is it. But it’s only a place for me to sleep. It’s convenient because it’s close to the office. It’s also cheap.”
Nodding, I went up on my toes, my arms tightening around his neck. He didn’t need more of an invitation, leaning down, his lips meeting mine. He didn’t hesitate to take the kiss deeper, and my breaths grew short. He never failed to make me feel cherished with every touch.
My lips brushed his, his tongue gliding over mine, causing me to moan. I’d never been a moaner. Never. But with Archer, it seemed inevitable. He’d coaxed all sorts of responses from me in the short time we’d been together, but he showed me with his every action how much he liked how I responded to him.
I was panting when he pulled away, feeling light-headed, my every nerve ending tingling. “Please tell me your apartment has a bed.”
Taking my hand, he led me to one of two doors on the right-hand side. The room was bare except for a mattress on the floor. He didn’t even have a nightstand.
All thoughts of his sparsely furnished apartment fled my brain when he grinned at me, then turned me so my back was to the mattress. “Sorry I don’t have much furniture in the apartment. I don’t spend much time here.”
My feet hit the mattress, and I sat down. Archer didn’t hesitate to drop to his knees in front of me.
I was wearing yoga pants and a sweater with only a bra underneath. I’d been rushing to get out of the house, and this seemed like the easiest outfit, but it certainly wasn’t the sexiest. Now I wondered if I should have made more of an effort.
Archer took my shoes and socks off, then moved to the waistband of my pants. I watched with a pounding heart as he divested me of them and my panties, the feel of his fingers brushing my skin making my body come alive.
He looked like he was unwrapping a Christmas present. His eyes lit up with joy, his touches reverent.
