Page 26 of Pucking Curves

“You should have told me,” he groans, his hands gentle as he presses his forehead to mine. “Jesus, Wren. I’m such an asshole.”

“Archer.” I laugh quietly, running my fingers through his hair. “Do you hear me complaining? You didn’t hurt me. I’ve been…you know what? Never mind.”

“Nu-uh.” His eyes bore into mine. “Finish that sentence.”

He wants to know? Fine.

I press my lips to his ear. “Toys, Archer. I’ve played with toys.”

He growls, his hands tightening around my waist. “Who were you thinking about?”

“You.”

“Wren, baby,” he groans. “You’re a naughty little minx.”

I throw my head back, laughing.

He grumbles, kissing me hard on the lips to silence my laughter before he peels me away from the door, carrying me out of the bedroom.

“So you had a boyfriend when you were in college?”

“Yeah. I was eighteen. And then I heard him telling his buddies that he was going to break up with me after I let him hit it.” I scrunch my nose at the memory. “He used those exact words. So I dumped a bottle of water on him in the cafeteria and told him that I’d never sleep with a dog.”

“Good for you.” Archer grins down at me. “Fuck that guy.”

“Yeah. He sucked donkey balls. He flunked out of college and had to move back in with his parents not long later, so there’s that,” I say, perking up. “He’s probably not getting laid in their basement.”

Archer’s body shakes with laughter.

“What about your ex?” I ask as we make our way down the stairs. I don’t even remember us coming up the stairs! But I guess we did because we emerge into the living room, The entire back wall is glass, looking out over the backyard. It’s an oasis out there.

“We grew up together,” he says, carrying me into the kitchen. “I asked her to a dance when I was fifteen, and we were together for two years. I thought she cared about me. Turns out, she just saw me as her ticket out of town. I didn’t dump water on her, but I did break up with her.”

“You must have really loved her.”

“What makes you think that?” he asks, frowning as he settles me at the island.

“You’ve been celibate ever since her,” I say quietly.

“That wasn’t because I’ve been hung up on her, Wren.” He tips my chin back, forcing me to meet his gaze. I see the truth reflecting in his eyes. It steadies me in ways I didn’t realize I needed to be steady. “I was hurt when I found out that she was just using me, just like you were with that fucker. But I didn’t miss her. I never wondered where she was or what she was doing. It just didn’t fucking matter. I was with her because it was easy. Because it was nice having someone to share shit with. It was a routine like every other part of my life at the time. Once she was out of the picture, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted out of life. I didn’t want to be with someone just because it was better than being alone. Just because it was easy or a habit or comfortable. So when I drafted, I avoided all that shit. Using someone to get off didn’t appeal to me when I knew how it felt to be used.” He shrugs a shoulder. “I focused on the game and finding joy in other parts of my life instead.”

“And look at you now,” I whisper.

“Yeah.” His grin is soft, full of sweetness and sin. “Look at me now. Married to a goddess.”

I huff, but there’s no heat in the sound. I like the way he speaks to me like I matter to him. Like this marriage matters to him. But knowing that he chose me after sixteen years? That feels…big. Monumental. And I’m not entirely sure where to fit it.

For the last year, I thought I knew him. But I’m quickly realizing that what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface of this man. There are hidden depths and currents to him that are breathtaking. This marriage is supposed to be temporary, something we undo as soon as possible. And yet…less than twenty-four hours in, it already feels too big and too important to undo.

I don’t know where that leaves me. I don’t know where it leavesus. Part of me desperately wants to find out. But what happens then? What happens when I fall even deeper, and it all comes unraveled?

He won’t be some guy that I never have to see ever again. He’ll be the man who has every piece of my heart. The one I still see every damn time I go to one of Micah’s games. He won’t be mine anymore, but I’ll still feel like his.

I’m not sure I’m brave enough to face that.

“Give me a chance,” he whispers as if reading my worries on my face. “Let me show you what we can be together, little bird.”

But I don’t need him to show me. I already know. I already feel it. Isn’t that the terrifying part? Less than twenty-four hours in, and I’m already sinking beneath his waves. He’s the storm, and I like the way he rages a little too much already.

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