Page 48 of Shots Fired

Her eyes search my face. Fuck, what is going on in that head?

“I mean, this—you and me—we’re a risky hookup, aren’t we? Will you bury us …” She pauses for a second. “Me. Do you planon burying me at the back of your memory when you’re done with whatever this is?”

Up until this moment, I’ve done a good job of hiding the way her assumptions about me cut deep. Assumptions I can’t blame her—or anyone else—for having. It’s a reputation I’ve built up since my college years, and now it’s biting me in the ass.

I can’t hide my frustration or hurt any longer, and as a result, I feel the mask disguising the true depth of my emotions slip a fraction.

“I have no plans to be done with you, Doll. And what we’re doing, I’ll never forget it.”

She nods once, never taking her eyes off mine. “What did you mean when you said you buried some of your one-night stands at the back of your memory?”

This is a conversation I wasn’t expecting to have today, and my anxiety kicks up a notch. “Some of the women I got with weren’t single.”

Her eyes flare wide, and I quickly rectify her spiraling thoughts about me.

“I didn’t know that they weren’t, and if I had, I would’ve never gone there. Ever.” I punctuate the last word to get my point across.

“Kassie, the last woman I was with before you, was engaged to a guy I used to play with. When I found that out, I could’ve buried the knowledge and let him go ahead and marry her. That didn’t sit right with me though, so I told him what happened.”

Darcy grimaces. “How did he react?”

I can still feel the sting as his fist collided with my jaw. “Not that great. After that, I made a vow to quit playing around and grow the fuck up. Choosing to be with multiple women or men is nothing to be ashamed of, even if the reckless way I was going about it was questionable. I was literally hooking up withstrangers I knew nothing about, other than they were hot and I was horny.”

The words burn my mouth like acid as I voice them, unease creeping up my neck in a crimson rash I know is visible. I want to tag on that I also stopped sleeping around because I couldn’t stop thinking of her. It’s not the right time though, and I force down another admission, my throat burning as I do it.

With everything she knows, I wouldn’t blame Darcy if she ended our arrangement right now, although I keep holding on to her body, waiting and hoping she won’t back away.

“So, you haven’t slept around for a while?” she asks, no judgment or malice in her voice, only a simple question.

I shake my head, the truth spilling from me in easy waves. “Not for a while, no.”

Her surprise is obvious, or maybe it’s relief that causes her shoulders to relax. I can’t be sure.

“You have nothing to feel guilty about or ashamed of, Archer. You’re a good person, and you did the right thing in telling that guy about his unfaithful fiancée. I’m not sure how many times Liam went behind my back. I can only hope I found out after the first time.”

This time, it’s my shoulders that drop with relief as I place a chaste kiss on the bridge of her nose, working my way down to her mouth.

Just like that morning we shared in my bed, nothing about this moment feels like a fuck-buddy arrangement, and I let that reality sit between us without words. I don’t know how much she shares of what I’m feeling. All I can do is keep showing up for this girl.

When I go in for another kiss, she pulls back a little, something more on her mind. “So, this, what we have”—she motions between us—“I get to call time on it?”

Releasing her hand, I wrap my palms under her ass and lift her up. She loops her legs around my waist, interlacing her fingers at the nape of my neck.

“I’ve told you from the beginning that you’re in control of us. Nothing has changed that.”

Beneath the dress I bought her, I feel the heat between her thighs.

Goddamn, I want her so badly.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” I ask, thinking she’s probably not up to much with being so sick this week.

“No,” she whispers, pupils dilating. “I don’t want to watch a movieoreat snacks.”

My heart rate kicks up, pumping blood to my dick. “Well, given you’re in control, tell me what you want.”

She looks over her shoulder, gazing through the open bedroom door and then back at me. Her skin’s flushed red, chest moving more rapidly. “I want you to take me to bed.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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