Page 55 of Shots Fired

Voices sound from the other side of the door, although at this point, it’s just noise; nothing can penetrate the atmosphere building inside this tiny room.

“Or maybe I should put it another way … did you deliberately make me wait a week to see you because I’d freaked you out with what I said the last time we were together?”

“I-I’m not freaked out.” My voice is about as strong as the wobbly knees that are trying to keep me standing.

His spicy cologne envelops me, along with the determined look in his eyes. He wants answers.

“So, you aren’t avoiding me?”

I shake my head once. “No. I’ve been busy catching up at work.”

He seems satisfied with my answer, although I can tell there’s something else playing on his mind.

“Just go ahead and say whatever else is eating at you, Archer.”

Our lips are barely apart when he leans down to my height, moving his hand from my cheek to my hip.

“Why is it that Blake Harrison can buy you drinks in front of your stepdad and brother, yet I can’t even be near you without Jack giving me the death stare?”

I fight back a smirk.He’s jealous.

“Don’t play with me, Doll. You know I’m right in my observations. While our rookie forward gets cozy with my girl, I’m left on the sidelines, hating that everything I do with you has to be in secret. If I’d bought you that drink, you’d have had to claim that it was from someone else.”

I’m tempted to appease him with a kiss. “Maybe it’s because there’s a clear difference between you and Blake.”

Archer pulls back slightly, a crease forming between his brows as he frowns down at me.

I reach onto my tiptoes and smooth out the line. I hate it when he isn’t smiling.

He catches my hand as I bring it back to my side, kissing the center of my palm in a move that’s so sweet that it melts me asmuch as the first time he did it. “Blake isn’t your brother’s best friend?”

Cocking my head to one side, I nod once. “Well, that, I guess. Although that isn’t the real reason.”

Archer presses his body into mine. “You’re killing me here.”

My mouth suddenly turns dry, and I lick my lips. I know this is a risky admission on my part, but Archer has only ever been open with me. Last time we were together, I know I hurt him when I compared him to Liam. This time, I want him to know how much he and the time we spend together mean to me.

I force down the temptation to back out and push out the words. “Because I don’t look at Blake the way I look at you, and neither does he make me feel special.”

Air leaves his lungs in a whoosh that fills the space around us. Although his eyes tell me everything I need to know as they soften in the glow of the room. “Making you feel special is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Without another word, Archer lifts my long dress around my waist and drops down in front of me, then lifts one of my legs onto his shoulder.

A swift bubble of laughter leaves my throat. “You see what I mean? You’re even on your knees for me now.”

I expect him to laugh along with me. He doesn’t. Instead, he swipes a single finger through my pussy before taking it into his mouth and sucking it.

“Doll, if your man doesn’t get on his knees for you daily, then trust me when I say you don’t want him.”

I can form no words when he swipes his hand through me again, burying his face between my thighs.

“You weren’t lying, no underwear,” he whispers against my sensitive pussy.

I push my head back into the wooden door. My clutch slides off my wrist and hits the floor as my entire body goes limp.

“I was thinking about buying you lingerie to go with your tote and cute dresses. I’m now thinking I prefer you like this—bare and ready for me whenever I want.”

The charge in the room morphs in an instant as Archer switches from sensitive and caring to full-on possessive.

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