Standing tall, determined to stand against him, Zoe nodded. “I agree with Beatrice. The less Blackwood is implicated, the better it will be.”
“And I will never kneel in front of bullies, whoever they may be.”
Lazarus came to stand beside his brother. “I agree with him. It would only give him more power over us.”
Beatrice sighed and shook her head. “You’re not reasonable. Neither of you!”
Zoe crossed her arms. “He’s not a bully. He’s a dangerous monster. You should protect what’s yours, Archer, as he has the ability to destroy it all.”
Crossing his arms in turn, he stood before her. “And that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
It took a few seconds to wrap her mind around the words not believing them. “I won’t allow you to be brought down with me, Archer. You won’t win this argument.”
Ignoring everyone else in the room, he came even closer, but she wasn’t about to be sidetracked by his body or his fascinating eyes. “I have one argument that will make all your good intentions come crashing down.”
“I doubt that, Mr. Blackwood.”
And again, he inched closer. His familiar scent filled her nose, and images of his naked skin flashed into her mind. What kept her steady was her decision to keep him safe.
“You’re mine, Miss Somersby. You and yours.”
What was that nonsense? “Your employment contract didn’t say anything about that.”
He uncrossed his arms before her, and he was now the center of her world. “No, indeed not. I won’t have you take a hit for me, Zoe. I won’t bend the knees to a man threatening you or your brother. I will make him pay for putting that fear in your eyes, for making you go against your principles, for forcing you to lie. You and yours are mine, Zoe, because I love you.”
Hearing the echo of her own feeling coming from his lips was like a punch in the gut. Both unbelievable and dreamlike. She wanted to say the words back, but if she did, it would be irrevocable, and Archer would be set with defending her. To confronting his own father.
“You can’t love me.”
At her statement, Archer smiled, the most adorable one she had ever seen. “Try again, Zoe. Because if your next words are because it would put me in danger, I only have one answer for you.”
Dry mouth, Zoe’s heart hammered in her chest. “And what would that be?”
Lowering himself over her, he waited a beat, his lips hovering over hers. “I love you.”
And he kissed her.
