Chapter 18
It took half a second for her brain to rein in her flight impulse and finally recognized Archer sitting on her living room floor, laughing hard.
Now pissed, Zoe was about to lash out at him, but didn’t realize that her butt was almost on the back of the sofa, and she toppled back and hit the floor. At least it stopped the laughter. Her ample backside took most of the impact at least. Lights came on, blinding her for a second and Archer was beside her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, but not because of you, dumbhead! What was your plan, scare me to death?” One knee on the floor, he was dressed in his dark gray suit, but had ditched his jacket and tie. With only his vest and black shirt with rolled up sleeves, she was almost tempted to forget her anger for a second.
He looked contrite, almost apologetic, but soon, his eyes turned scalding hot as they skimmed her body. Zoe realized that her fall had parted her robe over her legs, revealing them to the upper thighs, and her collar gaped, baring her shoulder. If she had never felt sexy before, under his scrutiny, Zoe felt like a goddess.
It would have been easy to let her regrets overwhelm her, but she decided not to let them. Not now as each encounter with the man might be the last. She would cherish each of their moments together for the rainy days to come.
Archer leaned forward, worry darkening his face. “Are you hurt, Zoe? Answer me!”
Wantonly opening her legs, she smiled at the enticement before her. “Nothing you can’t rub better. If you know how.”
His eyes coursing up and down her body turned his eyes as dark as his suit. At first, she thought he would cover her with his body, but instead, he sat on his heels and touched the silk riding high on her leg. Ever so slowly, he tugged at it, revealing skin, inch by inch in a whisper of fabric.
When he spoke, she could barely make out the words. “Oh, woman. You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
And before she realized it, he parted her robe, so she lay partly naked on the floor before him. It was nerve-racking, scary, and strangely erotic. Her naked, him fully clothed, kneeling before her. Without breaking eye contact, he kissed her ankle, making a trail with his lips up her knee. His intensity made her restless, her skin was tingly, and her body couldn’t help but move constantly like a wave. As he reached her thigh, Zoe didn’t resist opening her legs a little more, a silent invitation. Archer smiled but wasn’t dissuaded from changing his course, whatever it was. He stretched over her, so powerful, it made her shiver.
Reaching her hip, he licked a sensual path to her breast and took her nipple into his mouth. Zoe closed her eyes at the sensation, wanting to touch him. Archer wouldn’t have it and took both her wrists in his hand to pin them above her head. Not a word was said, but his glare clearly told her to behave. Her normal reaction would be to fight back, but she was aroused by his dominance. It steadied her somehow, at this moment when she needed it most.
His body was over her, not quite touching, his knees between her legs, his free hand beside her head for support. He caressed his way to her neck, lingering on her tender skin. Zoe turned her head to his touch, a faint sigh escaping her. He nipped at her earlobe, his warm breath making her clit throb. Putting her heels on the floor, she lifted her hip to rub herself against his thigh, groaning as the friction wasn’t nearly enough. His smile irritated her, her only wish to kiss him senseless until it disappeared from his face.
“Now you know how I felt all afternoon with your voice in my ear.” His voice fueled her need even more. “So many times, my cock twitched in my pants. I had to cup myself, praying not to come. But still you kept talking, and still I had images of you under me, like this, spread and undulating, begging to come. It was untenable. Did you know I had to jerk myself off in the bathroom because of you? During the negotiations. And I groaned your name when I came,”
Desperate to have greater contact with him, Zoe fought to get free, to kiss him, to touch him, but he was much stronger. “If you promise not to move for a minute, I’ll give you what you want, deal?”
Her laugh was halfway between a sob and a sigh. “Is everything a negotiation to you?”
Archer briefly kissed her, nearly not long or deep enough. “You’re my trickiest negotiation to date. So? What’s your answer to my offer?”
Arching an eyebrow, Zoe had a rough time clearing her head. “Counter offer. If I must wait, I want to be on a bed.”
“Any bed?”
“My bed, funny guy.”
His smile was dazzling. “Accepted.” When she sat up, he slid his arms behind her back and under her knees. The robe remained on the floor.
Zoe squeaked in panic. “Stop!”
Archer paused, worry on his face. “What? What’s going on?”
“I can walk.” Archer froze and hesitated.
“I know you can walk. But I don’t want you to walk. I want to carry you in my arms. To bed.”
Zoe winced and tensed as he finished lifting her. She grabbed his shoulders as if he was about to drop her any instant. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the transport to be over soon. Instead, after a moment, Zoe realized that he hadn’t moved. She peeked and saw Archer looking at her with a mocking smile.
“You still with me? Good. I’m a tad insulted you believe I would drop you, Zoe.”
She relaxed a little when she didn’t feel him straining. “I’m sorry, but there’s a lot of me to carry.”
Immobile, Archer frowned. “Are you suggesting someone actually dropped you?”
