Page 71 of Unfaithful

We all shuffled out of the car and waited while Archie took the ticket from the attendant. Then, he reached out his hand to me. "Stick with me, Peaches. It's going to be jam-packed in there."

I looked at his hand, then up at his face, before placing my hand in his, and smiled at him.

Emma linked her arm through Julian's, and he immediately shifted into protective mode despite the nonstop banter they'd had in the car.

Pulse. The name suited the place. The club was packed wall to wall with sweaty, moving bodies, the music loud enough to feel in my bones. Colored lights flashed overhead, cutting through the dim haze.

Archie tightened his grip on my hand, guiding me through the packed space. The air was thick with heat and the sharp scent of alcohol, bodies brushing past as we moved deeper into the club.

Emma and Julian followed behind us, their voices barely discernible over the relentless thrum of the bass. I couldn't tell if they were arguing or just caught in their usual back-and-forth, but either way, Julian kept Emma close, his arm securely wrapped around her waist.

Archie leaned in, his breath warm against my ear, making me shiver. "Want to head to the bar first, or do you need a minute to breathe?"

"Bar's fine," I said.

His fingers flexed around mine briefly before he led the way, but before I could move, Emma tapped my shoulder, shouting over the music. "Do you want to dance? Julian wants to dance!"

"I think I'll grab a drink first!" I shouted back, as I always needed a little liquid courage before stepping onto the dance floor.

I glanced at Julian, who wiggled his brows at me before tugging Emma's hand, already urging her toward the dance floor. She rolled her eyes but let him pull her along, laughing as they disappeared into the crowd.

Chuckling, I shook my head and turned to face Archie.

"What do you want to drink?" he asked.

"What are you getting?" I countered.

"Just beer," he replied. "I'm driving."

"Oh yeah, right. Get me one of those too."

I leaned against the bar while Archie stood behind me, his presence solid, almost protective as if shielding me from the crowd pressing in. Over the top of my head, he ordered our drinks, and the bartender handed him two cold bottles almostinstantly. He passed one to me, the condensation cold against my fingers.

Then, he leaned down, his voice low in my ear, giving me goosebumps. "Don't you want to dance?"

I glanced toward the dance floor, where bodies moved in sync with the pounding beat, lost in the rhythm. Archie hated dancing. I knew that. I'd been to clubs with him enough times to know he avoided it when he could. And yet, he was asking.

I turned to him, tilting my head. "Do you want to?"

He sipped his beer, his eyes soft on mine. "Only if you do."

The music thumped through the club, a steady pulse that vibrated in my chest. I wasn't sure what came over me, but as I took another sip of my beer, I set the bottle down and turned to Archie.

"Let's dance."

I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor, weaving through the crowd. As we moved, I couldn't help but notice the way heads turned, girls stealing glances, their eyes trailing after Archie.

Probably wondering what someone cool and edgy like him was doing with a cookie-cutter girl like me.

On the dance floor, the crowded space left me no choice but to stand so close to him. I wasn't sure what made me do it, but I let my hands press against his chest, solid and warm beneath my palms, the bass thrumming through him. I looked up at his handsome face, searching beyond his features, wanting to see into his mind, his heart, trying to understand what he truly felt for me.

Our eyes stayed locked as my hands slowly trailed up to his neck, my fingers linking behind it. His breath hitched, but hedidn't touch me. His arms stayed rigid at his sides, though his gaze remained soft, fixed on mine.

Then, I moved.

He followed.

I pressed closer, drawn in by him. By the quiet sense of safety that surrounded me, even in the middle of a crowd of strangers. By his scent—delicious and familiar, grounding me in a way I didn't quite understand. By the way, he made me feel like, to him, I was the only one who mattered. The only one in the room.

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