by India Kells
The man patted her hand before closing the door. With a boost of energy, she climbed her steps and unlocked her door.
Silence welcome her. Soothing. Her mind wanted to summon images of Archer and her, but she fought against them. Putting her bag on the floor and the bottle on the coffee table, she made a beeline for the bathroom. Zoe stripped and took a quick, scalding shower, scrubbing her body and face as if to remove the grime and ugly of what she had done. With her skin flushed, she quickly dried herself and wrapped her body in a long green silk robe before lying on the sofa. On the coffee table was the bottle of rum glaring at her and she placed her phone beside it. Sighing, she closed her eyes and instantly, images of Archer swirled in her mind. He was cold, irritating, controlling, but also caring, sweet, passionate. A very dangerous mix, in her opinion. The more she dug, the more she liked him. However, after what she had done today, if he ever learned about it, it would crush everything that may be between them. More proof was how he’d jumped at the chance when she told him about only wanting a fling. She wasn’t that important to Archer Blackwood. He may have told her that she’d woken something inside him, but those were just empty words, weren’t they? Words to seduce, bring her where he wanted.
The more her mind turned the question, the more Zoe circled until she zeroed on the evidence that Archer was much more than curiosity. He was more than attraction or a simple puzzle to decipher. She cared about him. And that was the crux of her problem. When Finch had called and exposed Lucas, he had shut down any possibility for her to even hope for something meaningful between her and Archer. Even if he never learned about her treachery, not only hadn’t she been straightforward about why she’d applied for the job, but she’d also gone behind his back. He was not the kind of man to forgive that sort of thing. Ever. Swift regret gnawed at her heart as her mind imagined what could have been. It would be hell forgetting his touch, the taste of his lips, his body against hers. And his deep voice with that British accent that made her wet every time.
“Zoe, darling.”
Damn, her imagination was on fire tonight. It was as if she could hear his voice right now. Fingers skimmed her cheeks and as it was her fantasy, she allowed herself to purr like a cat and seek the touch. Her imaginary Archer let out a low laugh, and as expected, she could almost hear the smugness in it. The man let loose was full of himself.
The fingers, teasing, made their way to her collarbone, making patterns, sliding a little under the silk. Zoe pushed her chest up a little and she felt lips on her neck. Warm breath. Instinctively, she reached out. It was when her fingers touched actual hair that she lurched back, opened her eyes, and screamed.
Chapter 18
It took half a second for her brain to rein in her flight impulse and finally recognized Archer sitting on her living room floor, laughing hard.
Now pissed, Zoe was about to lash out at him, but didn’t realize that her butt was almost on the back of the sofa, and she toppled back and hit the floor. At least it stopped the laughter. Her ample backside took most of the impact at least. Lights came on, blinding her for a second and Archer was beside her.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, but not because of you, dumbhead! What was your plan, scare me to death?” One knee on the floor, he was dressed in his dark gray suit, but had ditched his jacket and tie. With only his vest and black shirt with rolled up sleeves, she was almost tempted to forget her anger for a second.
He looked contrite, almost apologetic, but soon, his eyes turned scalding hot as they skimmed her body. Zoe realized that her fall had parted her robe over her legs, revealing them to the upper thighs, and her collar gaped, baring her shoulder. If she had never felt sexy before, under his scrutiny, Zoe felt like a goddess.
It would have been easy to let her regrets overwhelm her, but she decided not to let them. Not now as each encounter with the man might be the last. She would cherish each of their moments together for the rainy days to come.
Archer leaned forward, worry darkening his face. “Are you hurt, Zoe? Answer me!”
Wantonly opening her legs, she smiled at the enticement before her. “Nothing you can’t rub better. If you know how.”
His eyes coursing up and down her body turned his eyes as dark as his suit. At first, she thought he would cover her with his body, but instead, he sat on his heels and touched the silk riding high on her leg. Ever so slowly, he tugged at it, revealing skin, inch by inch in a whisper of fabric.
When he spoke, she could barely make out the words. “Oh, woman. You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
And before she realized it, he parted her robe, so she lay partly naked on the floor before him. It was nerve-racking, scary, and strangely erotic. Her naked, him fully clothed, kneeling before her. Without breaking eye contact, he kissed her ankle, making a trail with his lips up her knee. His intensity made her restless, her skin was tingly, and her body couldn’t help but move constantly like a wave. As he reached her thigh, Zoe didn’t resist opening her legs a little more, a silent invitation. Archer smiled but wasn’t dissuaded from changing his course, whatever it was. He stretched over her, so powerful, it made her shiver.
Reaching her hip, he licked a sensual path to her breast and took her nipple into his mouth. Zoe closed her eyes at the sensation, wanting to touch him. Archer wouldn’t have it and took both her wrists in his hand to pin them above her head. Not a word was said, but his glare clearly told her to behave. Her normal reaction would be to fight back, but she was aroused by his dominance. It steadied her somehow, at this moment when she needed it most.
His body was over her, not quite touching, his knees between her legs, his free hand beside her head for support. He caressed his way to her neck, lingering on her tender skin. Zoe turned her head to his touch, a faint sigh escaping her. He nipped at her earlobe, his warm breath making her clit throb. Putting her heels on the floor, she lifted her hip to rub herself against his thigh, groaning as the friction wasn’t nearly enough. His smile irritated her, her only wish to kiss him senseless until it disappeared from his face.
“Now you know how I felt all afternoon with your voice in my ear.” His voice fueled her need even more. “So many times, my cock twitched in my pants. I had to cup myself, praying not to come. But still you kept talking, and still I had images of you under me, like this, spread and undulating, begging to come. It was untenable. Did you know I had to jerk myself off in the bathroom because of you? During the negotiations. And I groaned your name when I came,”
Desperate to have greater contact with him, Zoe fought to get free, to kiss him, to touch him, but he was much stronger. “If you promise not to move for a minute, I’ll give you what you want, deal?”
Her laugh was halfway between a sob and a sigh. “Is everything a negotiation to you?”
Archer briefly kissed her, nearly not long or deep enough. “You’re my trickiest negotiation to date. So? What’s your answer to my offer?”
Arching an eyebrow, Zoe had a rough time clearing her head. “Counter offer. If I must wait, I want to be on a bed.”
“Any bed?”
“My bed, funny guy.”
His smile was dazzling. “Accepted.” When she sat up, he slid his arms behind her back and under her knees. The robe remained on the floor.
Zoe squeaked in panic. “Stop!”
Archer paused, worry on his face. “What? What’s going on?”
“I can walk.” Archer froze and hesitated.
“I know you can walk. But I don’t want you to walk. I want to carry you in my arms. To bed.”
Zoe winced and tensed as he finished lifting her. She grabbed his shoulders as if he was about to drop her any instant. Closing her eyes, she prayed for the transport to be over soon. Instead, after a moment, Zoe realized that he hadn’t moved. She peeked and saw Archer looking at her with a mocking smile.
“You still with me? Good. I’m a tad insulted you believe I would drop you, Zoe.”
She relaxed a l
ittle when she didn’t feel him straining. “I’m sorry, but there’s a lot of me to carry.”
Immobile, Archer frowned. “Are you suggesting someone actually dropped you?”
No way she was going down that path. Releasing her death grip on his shoulders, she cupped his cheeks. She could feel a little bit of stubble. “You really want to talk about that until you actually drop me, or are we actually going to my bedroom?”
He looked at her for a long moment and started walking. Just not toward the bedroom. Instead, he circled the sofa and in a swooping move, dipped her suddenly. She yelped, and almost strangled him with her arms.
“Calm down, I told you I’m not going to drop you.”
“So, what are you doing? Making a point?” Her question sounded like a shrill.
“No, but could you be so kind to lessen your grip on my throat and grab the bottle of rum?”
Zoe realized where she was, and the bottle was within her reach. Ever so slowly, she removed one of her hands to take the bottle, putting it on her belly before clasping her hand around his neck once more. He straightened again, shaking his head.
“We’ll have to work on your trust issues.”
Zoe really didn’t want to talk about that particular topic. Wanting to make a point, and prove it, she removed her hands, took the bottle, unscrewed it, swallowing a generous slug. Heat coated her empty stomach. The rich flavor told her that it was an amazing rum, and she couldn’t help but tip it another time.
“I’m dropping you now!” Zoe barely had time to lift her head before Archer inelegantly let her fall on the mattress. Some of the bottle’s contents splashed over her skin and she laughed.
“We’re wasting rum, pal... not good.”
Archer stood at the end of the bed, looking at her. With his usual intensity, he started unbuttoning his shirt.
Zoe didn’t want to focus on how she looked naked on her bed. Her attention was on the man before her, who turned her brain into a sex maniac. Gone were her apprehensions. If he wanted her, she would be his. For whatever time she got.
Acting like the temptress she didn’t know she was, one hand went to her damp breast. Restless, her other hand still holding the bottle, she let it drag against her nipple, playing with the tightening peak. Archer took a step in her direction, shedding his shirt, beautifully on display. His muscles rippled as he breathed hard, his stomach tensing, revealing delectable abdominals. Her attention lingered on his ink and she hoped this time, she would have a moment to satisfy her curiosity.
When his hands went to his pants, Zoe was tired of waiting, and decided to tease him until he couldn’t stay away. Her hand went over her stomach where drops of rum pooled, wetting her fingers before tracing down to her labia.
Archer exhaled sharply, dropping his two arms on the mattress. In that position, his hair in disarray, his pants barely hanging from his hips, and ink moving as his muscle tightened, he was a predator on the prowl. Zoe tempted the beast by opening her knees even further, sliding her fingers more rapidly against her clit.
“No! Mine!”
Before she could react, Archer was on her, pushing her hands away, his wide shoulders opening her legs even more, and nipping at her thighs. Zoe jumped at the sensation, her fingers caressing his thick black strands between her legs. She fisted his hair, indicating that she wanted him up, wishing she could kiss him, but he had other ideas His fingers spread her obscenely, and she wriggled, trying to get away, but Archer growled and licked. The intense sensation was only for a moment, as he traced back the path she had made with the alcohol over her body. As he advanced, his pants hitched lower on his hips until she could finally see his buttocks. Now, Archer was lavishing her skin with licks until he finally reached her lips.
Having him over her like that, seeing every line of his face, tense corded neck and budging arms on both sides of her, there was nothing of the veneer he presented to the world. Was that side of him even real?
Zoe wanted more, and she reached between them and closed her fingers around his cock, sensing the pulse in his hot flesh. Moaning, Archer pushed himself into her hand. It was both powerful and erotic to see him allowing himself to be at her mercy, even if only for a second.
Not keen on torture, Zoe circled his hips with her thighs to bring him down, while guiding his rigid member inside her. Archer lowered his body over her, only supporting a fraction of it on his elbows. Feeling deliciously full, she didn’t dare move and instead offered a kiss that he immediately accepted. The advantage of the position was that she could touch him at leisure, detailing every dip and sinew that quaked under her touch. She didn’t need her eyes to explore his body and his moans, shivers, tensing or relaxing responses gave her more details on what he liked. One stronger reaction she elicited from him was when she dragged her fingers up over his ribs. Not only did he tense and twist but embedded himself even deeper inside her, making her groan. He nipped at her bottom lip and looked at her.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, stop it.”
So... the mighty Archer Blackwood was ticklish. Like hell would she not do anything about it! And he was trapped, both his arms supporting his body, so what could he do about it? As she gave him a big toothy smile and he opened his mouth, she attacked his sensitive point. Even worse for him, she tightened her hold on his hips, so he couldn’t withdraw from her and scurry away.
Archer snarled, but she could still see amusement and malice in the depth of his metallic gaze. He reared back, and Zoe was blindsided by his strength when he got to his knees and whipped them both backward to reverse their position. Now straddling him, she was barely able to get her bearings when it was his turn to slither his fingers from hips to breasts. The sensation made her squirm.
“Not fair!”
He arched an eyebrow. “And tickling me is fair game?”
Ever so slowly, she started moving her hips, and the sweet friction made them both moan. “You only have one weak point. If I can’t use it...”
His hands stilled on her, more caressing this time. She then realized how this position gave a full, unobstructed view of her entire body, and self-consciousness grabbed her by the throat. It must have shown on her face as Archer gripped her hips, preventing her from covering herself.
“What’s wrong?”
Her first instinct was to shake her head and tell him nothing, but his scowl told her that might be one lie too many for him.
“I’m sorry, it’s stupid.”
“I don’t hire stupid employees, let alone sleep with stupid people.”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t sleep around, so that’s not a good argument.”
“Point taken, and you are attempting to divert my question. What’s wrong?”
She sighed and looked at his chest, avoiding his piercing gaze. “I’m... just vulnerable in this position. That’s all. Don’t mind me.”
“Vulnerable? I think this is the less vulnerable position, in my humble opinion.”
Rolling her eyes, she scoffed. “Don’t mock me! I meant visually. You... you can see all of me, and I’m not used to it.”
Amusement fled his face, replaced by concern and irritation. The grip on her hips relaxed and she thought he would end their sex session. Instead, his hips pumped up once, and a second time. “There is no perfection in this world, Zoe. You think my body is perfection? It has done things that would make your skin crawl, and have you running for the door.”
A cloud darkened his features and tears clogged her throat as he continued talking, and gently, slowly, rocking them both.
“You wanted to know about my tattoos? They’re not for vanity. I joined a gang when I was barely twelve years old. That’s when my childhood ended. Each line, each symbol, each character represents something awful I’ve done. But those awful things guaranteed that my folks would not starve to death and they would still have a roof over their head. I cannot regret them, don’t you understand? You admire my body, but it’s a weapon I’ve honed and worked at all
my life. Still do. I’m glad you like what you see but see it for what it is. The same way I see you. I don’t know everything about your past, Zoe, but I know people and character. What you went through forged the woman I’m fucking now. I see all your curves, your softness, and steel. Don’t you feel how hard I am inside you? There is not a single part of you that’s not making me burn for you, Zoe.”
As he continued speaking, he pounded up inside her with increasing force, his hands tracing every line of her, gently cupping her breasts, teasing, reverent. Not only did it move her to no end, but it also mixed with her own mixed-up feelings for him. The emotions were swept away by a storm of lust and desire. A deep need for the man. The more she learned about him, the more something softened inside her. And Zoe knew that, at the end of it all, this small vulnerable part of her heart she kept for him would make her suffer like nothing else. But she had made her decision.
He wanted her, Zoe decided she would give him her best. The beauty and the ugly, all of her, as there was only this moment for them both, offering their vulnerability and bodies to each other.
Chapter 19
The second day of negotiations, and Zoe was feeling both great and drained. It was difficult not to be on top of the world after falling asleep in the arms of Archer Blackwood and waking up from a deep sleep by his hands roaming her body. It beat her alarm clock hands down.
But Archer didn’t stay for coffee. After a look at his phone, the cold returned, and he was off before any act of domesticity could take place. Zoe was torn but accepted it. What was shared last night was unique, and couldn’t survive daylight. He didn’t want a relationship, and even if he was so inclined, she was being forced into being a double agent. A traitor.
That very word made her sick, but she couldn’t help it. Lucas’s survival was on the line.
The second venue, with Anton Vasiliev this time, was at his hotel, The Langham. Somehow, Zoe thought it suited Vasiliev’s over-the-top personality. On the other hand, it meant that Finch would be present. A lot relied on her ability to stay in control of her emotions. If she showed any weakness to that monster, Zoe feared what would happen. Maybe it was the reason why she chose a dark burgundy power suit with a buttoned-up black blouse and matching pumps.