“Yeah. Are you?” I brushed my bangs out of my face and looked up at him, surprised when he took a seat in front of me.
Instead of answering, instead of keeping his distance even, he reached for me, tugging me up then setting me on his lap, legs tucked around his waist.
“I’m sorry, Emily,” he whispered, wet hair brushing my face.
I shut my eyes, feeling his hot breath against my cheek.
“For what?”
His arms tightened, squeezing desperately. I didn’t expect him to say anything, but he did, and it nearly sent me over the edge of no return. “For everything I’m about to do and say to you.”
Seventeen
Archer
“I’m cursed, Emily. Shit like this doesn’t happen in my life because if it did, then I’d likely lose it all.”
I felt like a pussy saying what I did out loud. But instead of looking at me like I was stupid, Emily frowned in confusion. She had to know this though. I was tired of holding it in. The woman had messed with my heart and my head and everything I had to offer. She’d taken my world and split it in half, my RD side separate from her, and only her. She’d been the only person to do this to me, and other than stripping her naked and fucking her on this barn floor, I didn’t know what else to do about it other than spill my guts as to why it would never be a good idea for me to want her the way I did.
Tension had been building inside me all day. Since last night when she’d nearly sent me over the edge and I’d almost lost control. Seeing her so open and trusting of me, doing what we’d done? No woman had ever been that way with me, and I liked it, not just because it was so hot. But because I liked her. Probably since the second I’d met her, if I was being honest with myself. And now that I had her here, I didn’t want to let her go. Didn’t want to take her to her mom, most of all. I just didn’t know what else to do. She couldn’t go back to Rockford and the club now. But I couldn’t leave the club.
So, there it was.
Emily leaned in closer and settled her forehead into the crook of my neck. This time when she wrapped her arms around my waist, I did the same, hugging her so tight I was sure she couldn’t breathe.
“I don’t understand. Why are you telling me this?”
“It’s better if you don’t know.” I slid my fingers up the back of her wet shirt and tangled one hand into the back of her hair. That’s also when I noticed how bad she was shaking. How cold the skin on her neck was too.
“You’re freezing,” I said.
“A little bit.” She tightened her hand into the back of my shirt like she was afraid I’d run. “But I’m fine.”
I squeezed her even tighter to me, finding a benefit to this hugging thing after all. Not just to keep her warm, but because I liked the way she felt against me. Liked even more that she didn’t seem to want to let me go either.
Emily Lincoln really had cursed me. Just like my ma had cursed my dad. But instead of ignoring it, I wanted to go with it. Just this one time. Because who the hell knew what tomorrow would bring.
“Body heat is an amazing way to warm up, you know,” she whispered out of the blue, lips against my neck as she spoke.
I stiffened. Then pulled back, blinking down at her in surprise. “That so?”
She batted her dark lashes, smiling coyly. Was she trying to seduce me?
And was I gonna let her do it?
Yeah. I think I fucking was.
I lifted my arms, inviting her to take off my soaked shirt. She bit her lip, hesitating, but not for long.
As she tossed it to the barn floor, Emily took in a deep breath and studied my tats for a second, a gleam in her eye I wouldn’t ever forget. On my chest and over my heart, there was an empty space with no ink. I’d been wanting to get something tatted there for a while now. And if I got back to Rockford alive, the first place I’d go would be Maya’s tattoo shop. There, I’d ask her to ink two letters on me.
E and L.
I went for her purple cardigan next, taking my time to unbutton it, grinning when I got to the shirt beneath.
“You really love purple, don’t you?”
She pursed her lips as another bout of thunder roared above us.
“I really love lavender.”
I shook my head, tugging that lavender shirt up and over her body, losing my smirk at the sight of her bright, white bra. There was a bow in the middle. A purple one. And I suddenly decided that the letters I’d ink into my skin would be that particular color of purple.
Lavender to be specific.
For so long, I’d been focused on playing a game, bedding as many women as I could get. But then this lady came along and changed me—wrecked me.
I really was cursed. Tomorrow might be a different story, but for tonight, I wasn’t scared of what that meant.
“Don’t think.” She held my face between her hands then, our eyes clashing like night and day. “I want this, Archer. And I know you do too. It doesn’t have to mean anything. But I can’t go to my mother tomorrow without giving into this thing with you.”
I shut my eyes, trying to tame the erratic beats in my chest. Then I leaned forward and brushed my nose against hers, breathing her in, just as droplets of rain began falling on our heads.
I looked to the ceiling. Emily did too.
Not thinking twice about it, I hiked her legs up and around my waist and walked us backward and into a dark corner. The light from the nearby highway lit up the barn, along with the lightning flashes, so it wasn’t pitch-black in there. Still, the only thing I wanted to see right then was Emily.
Her body trembled as I trailed my tongue and lips up and down her throat. She tasted like rain and salt, smelled like roses in a storm too. Soon, her fingers dipped into the back of my hair, forcing my gaze to meet hers. I knew she wanted to kiss me. I could tell by the way she licked her mouth. But I wasn’t going to break that rule tonight. Not because I didn’t want to for once. But because I was pretty sure I’d never be able to let her go if I did.
I pulled her hair out from behind her instead, squeezing to wring the water out. She shivered more, and I finally put her on her feet, only so I could tug her pants down, crouch before her, and nip at her bare hips.
“Archer,” she gasped, digging her fingers into my hair.
I pressed my lips over her panties, humming against her gorgeous pussy, whispering a word I’d never used before with a woman.
“Mine.”
I knew she couldn’t hear it over the thunder and the rain. But I had to say it because in my fucked-up, cursed world, she was the only woman I wanted as mine. If things had been different, if we didn’t want separate things, I’d bet the two of us together could’ve been brilliant.
Taking her panties aside, I didn’t waste a second of time as I licked a line up her clit and nuzzled my nose against her soft skin. It was hard not to rush, but without whiskey to dull my senses, I was a mess of feelings and needs with this woman. And with a few strokes of my tongue against her, I knew I couldn’t hold back if she asked me for more.
Her hips bucked. A moan slid from her throat.
I grinned, lifting one of her legs to drape it over my shoulder. “Put your other hand on the wall,” I ordered.
She moaned again, thrusting her hips faster this time.
Another crack of thunder sounded. And right then, all I wanted was to make her come until the sun rose, and all the bad shit in our lives was nothing but a distant nightmare.
I hummed at the thought, trailing my tongue up her clit again.
I buried my nose deeper, sucked her more.
“Can’t seem to get enough of you,” I said, tasting every inch of her pussy. “Don’t got a damn clue why.” Or I did, and couldn’t actually get it out.
“Archer, please.”
I shook my head, eyes shut. “You’re dangerous, woman.”
She pushed me back on a gasp, forcing me away. I waited there, licking her taste off my lips as I stared up into her wide eyes.
&
nbsp; “Fucking love your tits,” I said, smiling, feeling like a teenage boy as I stood.
She laughed low and reached for my hand, pressing it over the top of her tank. “Show me how much.”
Grinning, I did just that, cupping them, squeezing each one until I had her crying out my name, until her face was buried in my neck and she was begging.
“Please, Archer. I-I need you inside of me.”
Goddamn did I love the sound of those words on her lips.
I looked around, taking stock of the place. The barn was old and worn down, but clean, like someone had been taking care of it. Folded over a haystack to my left was a blanket. Green-and-blue plaid—fucking convenient if you ask me. Reaching over, I grabbed it and threw it down on the ground, thankful it was clean enough.
Emily was eager to help—even more eager to lie on the ground. I stood above her for a second, wondering if this was some sort of dream. I wanted this woman like I’d never wanted anyone else, and though it scared me, I wasn’t willing to walk away. Not this time.
She took me by the hand and led me down on top of her, hips meeting mine as she arched up against me. I kissed her neck, tasted her sweet skin, then brought my mouth to her tits, where I sucked on her nipples over her shirt. She shook all over—from the cold or the sensation, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I was more than ready to warm her up.
Until I realized what I was missing. “Shit.” I dropped my head to her forehead.
“Wh-what?”
“I don’t have a condom.”
“Oh.” She grinned.
“Don’t look so smug.”
“I’m not smug.” She reached behind her and slid her fancy duffel closer. “I’m just prepared.”
Seconds later, she was pulling out a box of rubbers and… I think I fell in love with her a little right then.
The thought was a gut punch. Fuck curses.
Fuck everything that was even remotely wrong with being with this woman.
I, Archer Benedict, had feelings. The big kind. The scariest kind there was.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the condom from her hand. Tugging my jeans and boxers down, I let my cock free and pulled the rubber on, smiling a little. Feeling like a smitten teenage fool.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked, moving closer, a hand on my shoulder.
I looked into her eyes and shook my head. “Don’t have a damn clue.” I did though, that’s the thing. But Emily would never, ever know.
Distracting her, I rolled over onto my back and pulled her on top of me, tugging her panties aside. “Ride me, baby,” I whispered, watching in awe as her dark hair fell over her shoulders and onto the ground. “Wanna feel you come.”
She shuddered, eyes hazy, cheeks flushed. Seconds later, she slid down my cock, and one single word flashed through my mind as she did.
Home. She was my fucking home. And I’d be leaving her.
She’d be leaving me.
“Emily,” I hissed at the thought, stomach twisting with both fear and rage. But she distracted me again, her hands on my chest as she began to ride me like I’d asked, hips sliding, hair back…
If there ever was a time in my life when I should’ve been thinking with my head instead of my dick, it was now. But Emily Lincoln had fucked me up and I didn’t know which way was up or down anymore.
I was a goddamn mess for this woman.
“Tell me no.” I yanked her closer, biting her neck, hoping the pain would change her mind. “Tell me you don’t want me.”
“Never!” she cried out instead of pulling away, wrapping both arms around my neck as she increased the speed of her hips.
“Emily, Goddammit,” I hissed, so close already I could feel her wet heat soaking me. “You don’t want me. You don’t.”
“I do.” She stopped grinding long enough to put her hands on either side of my face against the barn floor. “No matter how hard I tried to tell myself I didn’t, I realize now that I’ve never in my life wanted anything more than you.”
I pulled her face to my neck, digging my hands into her hair. The rain echoed above, leaking through the roof on either side of us now. It didn’t matter. This was right. She was right. And come tomorrow, I’d figure out what to do. How to keep her safe. How to take her home—get her mom away from Pops too, if I had to.
My body shook. This felt so damn right that I couldn’t tell her no if I tried. Which was why she needed to be the smart one here. The resister.
But she wasn’t.
I shook my head, allowing her to take me. All of me. She rode me slow, that hot, wet heat of her pussy making it impossible for me to not feel amazing. I wanted this to suck. I wanted to feel bored. But I didn’t.
I’m pretty sure feeling Emily’s writhing body wasn’t something any man would ever tire of.
Losing her would be my undoing. Losing my heart to her, though? It’d hurt me even more than Pops or his rogues ever could.
So, when she said, “Please. I need you on top of me,” I didn’t hesitate to give her just that, slowly rolling her over. I knew being with her like this, me in control, me setting the speed, was the only way I would ever be able to ignore these fucking emotions inside of me.
I’d put her on a pedestal. But for her safety, and my ugly, ass heart, I’d have to knock her down, even if it meant hating myself in the end because of it.
I moved hard, rode her fast. Our hips slapped, her body still moving and writhing beneath mine.
“Yes,” she pleaded, nails digging into my back, the pain so goddamn pleasurable, I couldn’t see straight.
I hissed into her hair, biting at her lobe.
Her response was to lift her hips even higher, which forced me to match her pace. I thrusted, unforgiving and fast, just like she wanted. One of my hands dug into the wooden barn floor, the other gripping the back of her head. I tilted her chin, lingering over her lips as I looked into her eyes.
“I’m not yours, you hear me?”
She nodded fast, her tongue darting out as she said, “Then I’m not yours either.”
Ugly lies. Two of them. And I gritted my teeth, wanting to fight back. To tell her she’d been mine since she was sixteen, when she’d brought me to my goddamn knees with her sassy, smart mouth, her pretty eyes, her flushed cheek.
“This is all you’ll ever get from me.” Another punishing thrust, and her body was moving against the wood. I was sure there would be marks and scratches, bruises all over us, but her eyes stayed wide and sure, face riddled with pleasure, not pain.
“Oh, God,” she murmured.
“Fuck, Emily.” I pumped harder, faster, squeezed my eyes shut tight so I didn’t have to keep torturing myself. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Her answer was a cry, clawing fingers moving over my shoulders, down my back, to my ass… And then I felt it, the pulse of her pussy clenching my cock; her orgasm running through her body in the form of a shudder. The rain against the barn faded to nothing but the sound of her throaty moans, and it was the most beautiful, agonizing storm I’d ever experienced.
Thrust after thrust, a hand on her hip, lifting it… “Emily,” I growled, coming hard, knowing that my thoughts of never doing this again were traitorous, because I was pretty sure I never ever wanted to stop.
Out of everything I’d experienced in life—near death, murder, losing my family—that was the most dangerous thing.
Eighteen
Emily
By the time the sun had set, Archer and I were dressed—him sitting on a haystack by the door, attempting to keep watch, only to fall asleep within minutes of pulling me back against his chest. Neither of us said a word before he dozed off, and I was okay with that. Why? Because my thoughts were terrifying enough as it was, consuming me to the point where I didn’t think sleep would ever come.
I’d fallen in love with a man who was incapable of loving.
And it was singlehandedly the stupidest, most reckless, bittersweet thing I’d ever done.
I wasn’
t sure what time I actually fell asleep, but it was the kiss on my temple that woke me, a hand in my hair, stroking.
“It’s time to go,” Archer whispered. His tall, muscular arms squeezed me even more as he said the words. He was there, yes, yet his mind was a million miles away, like my own.
We rose to our feet. I’d remember Archer, and the last two nights, for the rest of my life. Those wild green eyes would burn through my memories forever. But for now, I would continue to let that side lie dormant, pushing all of my emotions there to rest until we were apart.
Archer was nothing like I’d thought. He was also the only man who’d ever truly understood me. But I couldn’t, in good conscience, choose between him and my mother. I wouldn’t.
This afternoon, or later today, whenever I found my mom, he would go one way, and I the other. But thanks to the text message I’d sent to Niyol, via Archer’s phone after he’d fallen asleep last night, he wouldn’t be going at this alone anymore.
I’d told my brother where we were. Where Pops would be. I’d told him what was happening, what my plans were, and I’d told him that Archer had only been doing what he thought was right, and that if they were going to hate someone, then it sure as hell better be me, not him.
I also told my brother I was sorry. That I loved him and Summer so much. As those three little dots danced across the screen signaling his incoming reply, I’d turned off the phone and hidden it under a pile of hay, not wanting Archer to see what I’d done. Not wanting to see Niyol’s response either.
At least now I knew he’d be safe.
I just hoped the Red Dragons would get here in time to help Archer, but not too soon to see me leaving with my mom.
Using the sleeve of his T-shirt, Archer wiped the wet seat of the bike down the best he could, then straddled it, inviting me on with a small pat to the leather.
I licked my lips, wondering what he would think or say if I told him what I’d done. Would he hate me? Thank me? It didn’t matter. He thought he could go at this alone. But he didn’t have to.
Her Hot Ride: A gripping and sexy biker mc romantic suspense novel Page 16