“That he’s either so confident in his skills that he isn’t concerned about sending us a heads-up warning,”Vinceremarked, “or maybe it’s a diversion.Idon’t know, but…something’s off.”
“I agree,”Axelsaid.
“Did you have any luck finding out who he is?”IaskedSara.SheandColemanhad looked at the hotel cameras, trying to get a clear shot of him, but he was wearing one of those hats that blurred your face from security cameras.
“Not yet, but they’re trying to get in touch with our man who was undercover in their organization to see if he knows, based on the descriptionVinceandArchergave us,”Colemanshared.
“My two cents,”Kerriganoffered, “Isay we put them both out there but separated.Makethem realize both are there but impossible to get them together, forcing them to choose.Thatwill go against any plan they have, forcing them to improvise and, hopefully, make a mistake that we can take advantage of.”
It was a good plan.Iwasn’t thrilled with it, andIcould tellArcherwasn’t either, but we both knew deep down it was likely the easiest way to get them to make a mistake.
We spent the next few hours working out the logistics and got all the wheels in motion.
* * *
We were alone in our hotel room.We’dhad food delivered to the room for all of us while we planned things out, ands then everyone left.Thesilence was deafening asArcherandIsat here relaxing.
We were sitting in the main area with each of us on a lounge chair near the small desk.Iwas going over some of the filesSarahad sent me on thePaganoFamilymembers soIknew who to look for.Archerwas going back and forth on a phone call withVinceandAxelon logistics.
My adrenaline was running high to get this particular mission over and done with so we could head back toAtlantaand have things go back to normal.
“You okay?”Archerasked from beside me, his nearness not helping to soothe my nerves.
In most instances, honesty was the best policy, soIwent with that.
“No,I’mstressed.”
“I can think of a good way to work that stress out,”Archersaid, and his sly smile told me everythingIneeded to know about where his mind was.
He reached over and began to run his thumb over mine.Iknew what he was trying to do, but his touch was the last thingIneeded right now.Ipulled my hand away, closed my laptop, and stood.
I walked over to the desk and set my laptop down.Iwould grab some workout clothes and maybe head to the gym.Iturned to head back to my suitcase, butArcherwas there, standing right in front of me.
God, he was so gorgeous—like truly stunning.Hishands were on his hips, elbows stuck out at his sides.Helooked so powerful and strong in that moment, andIhated to admit that there was a part of me that just wanted to be embraced by those arms, wrapped up in a hug.Instead,Ilooked down at my feet, closed my eyes, and took in a deep breath.
Unfortunately, that was my mistake, because it gaveArcherthe opportunity he was looking for.Thenext moment,Iwas scooped up in a hug—his big arms wrapped around me, my head buried in his chest.Itfelt wonderful.
I told myselfIwould only allow myself to enjoy it for a few seconds and then go work out, but he started stroking one of his hands up and down my back, and my few seconds became a rough estimate.Butthen that hand moved around and tilted my head up to look at him.
“Ace.”Archer’ssoft, provocative voice only added to his magnetic charm.
He began lowering his face, andIknew he was planning to kiss me, doing it slow enough to allow me to back away, butIcouldn’t.Mybody was frozen—half in excitement, the other half in pure curiosity.
His lips touched mine, and bliss and comfort rolled through my body.Histouch alone brought a contentment in meIhadn’t known in a long time, and my body craved more.
He deepened the kiss, running his hand through my hair and pulling me into him as he devoured my mouth.
That kiss was full of heat but also a promise—a promise of what was to come.
He pulled his lips away, but just barely as they were right next to mine when he spoke in a soft, sultry tone. “Letme help you relax.”
I wanted that,Ireally did, butIcouldn’t let him dominate in this area of my life anymore.Emotionally,Icouldn’t handle it.
“No,”Iresponded. “Ineed control right now, and while sex with you was good, things would get heated, and you would always take over.Ican’t do that right now.Mymindset right now requires control and focus.I’mgoing to go work out—same rush, more control, less complication.”
“You want control?”Archerasked. “It’sall yours.”
I’d been with other men.Itwasn’t likeIhad become a born-again virgin after my divorce.Butno one had ever measured up toArcher, andIhated it.Butthere was one thing in our short marriageIhad never worked up the nerve to do.Iwas still fairly new at relationships then, or even being with men in general, andIhated to say it, butIdidn’t have much confidence in my oral skills.Andeven though we’d jumped straight into marriage,Ihadn’t really built up my confidence with him in terms of sexual prowess.
