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Yeah. He’d flip out and run like a scared little boy if I ever said something like that.
Lifting up so he can meet my gaze, he studies me, his brows furrowed, his mouth curved in a frown. “What?”
Uh-oh. Did I say the wrong thing? Come on, Archer isn’t one who lingers in a woman’s bed, is he? “You, um, you should probably go, don’t you think? I don’t want my brother to see you sneak out of my room.”
“He’s probably asleep. That guy sleeps like the dead.” Archer’s studying me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Yeah, but...” He’s right I’m sure. I don’t want to risk the chance. Besides, I need time alone. I need to process what just happened between us.
“So you’re kicking me out.” He sounds incredulous, looks angry.
“No...”
“Yes,” he cuts me off, his voice tight. “I get it, though. Don’t want Gage to find out. I agree with you, actually. He’ll hang me by my balls from a tree, and I happen to like my balls, thank you very much.”
He climbs out of bed, snatching his clothes off the floor impatiently, giving me an unintended eyeful of those very balls he happens to like so much.
Crap, I’ve made him mad. I didn’t mean to, but I can’t have him lingering. It’s bad enough what we just did. I don’t do one-night stands, especially with guys I know and run therisk of seeing again. Worse, I don’t want to get attached. Or put expectations on us that this sort of thing might happen again.
Because no way should it happen again. That would be a big mistake. Huge. No more fooling around for Archer and me.
Even though I want to. I hate that I’m pushing him away. His reaction is confusing. He acts like he’s hurt by my denial.
I’m hurt too. More than I would ever dare admit. Deep down inside, I think... I want more. For once, I’m ready to take that risk and go for it. Do something so completely out of character just to see what would happen.
“You still want to see Hush later today?” he asks, his voice quiet, his back to me. He has on his underwear, nothing else, and I let my gaze wander over him, drinking in all that pure masculine beauty.
Heisbeautiful. I wish we had more time. I’d explore every inch of his skin with my mouth, given the chance.
Your chances with Archer just expired.
“Yes,” I answer after I clear my throat. “I would love to see Hush.” We can handle a mistaken sexual encounter between friends, right? Of course we can...
“Great. Well, it’s been real,” he says after he slips on his pants, still sounding sort of huffy, and I watch him go without saying another word. He quietly shuts the door behind him.
I flop against the pillows and rest my arm over my eyes, groaning out loud. What the heck is wrong with me? I had amazing sex with a man I’ve known almost half my life, and then I push him out like he’s some sort of stranger I secretly banged.
I can’t help it. I start laughing.
My life has turned completely surreal.
Archer
Damn, could I feel any cheaper?
I’m skulking down the hall of my very own home, shirtless and shoeless, my clothes and shoes clutched in my hand, my pants unbuttoned, for the love of God, and ready to fall from my hips. My footsteps are light as I’m literally sprinting across my house. If Gage came out at this very moment, he would take one look at me and know exactly what I’d just done.
His baby sister.
Grimacing, I shake my head and head toward my bedroom suite, which is on the other side of the house. I’m breathing a little easier now that I’m out of the guest wing, but I could still get caught. That I’m even thinking like this makes me feel like an absolute jackass.
This is my house. I’m twenty-fucking-eight years old. I shouldn’t have to sneak around like some sort of teenager out screwing around with my secret girlfriend.
But here I am. Sneaking.
I’m still shocked over how Ivy kicked me out of bed before the come dried on her skin; she was that ruthless about the entire encounter. Crude, I know, but true. I’d been ready to wax poetic and go on and on over how amazing that entire experience had been. Because as quick as I’d come—embarrassingly quick, I’ll admit, but damn I was overwhelmed with the fact that I was actually inside her—sex with Ivy had been mind-blowing.
I wanted to tell her how much I wanted to do it again. Clutch her close and cuddle, for Christ’s sake. I don’t fuckingcuddle. I’m the one who kicks them out of my bed. I’m the one who says,Hey, it’s been real, but you need to get your pretty little ass out of here.
