“Ladies first.” He points toward the door and I follow the length of his arm, realizing a little too late that the door is open and he’s waiting for me to enter.
I’d been so caught up in my obsessive sniffing, I didn’t realize he opened the damn door.
My cheeks hot, I walk inside, glancing about the space, which I instantly love. It’s got a contemporary feel with dark wood floors, a giant fireplace dominating the room, and sleek furniture. I do a slow circle, taking everything in. I catch a glimpse of the giant bed within the bedroom, a deck off the back of the cottage with a beautiful view and—is that a . . .
“Is that a tub?” I point toward it lamely, feeling like a little kid.
“Yes, it is.” He sounds amused, and he starts toward the French door that leads onto the deck. I follow him, curious to check it out, and I glance over my shoulder, seeing that Gage isn’t following us.
In fact, he isn’t in the room at all.
Frowning, I turn back around to see Archer studying me carefully, his hand curled around the door handle. “Your brother took a phone call. He’s out front.”
“Oh.” Swallowing hard, I nod once. Is that all I can seem to say when he makes those types of statements? The ones that worry me and make me realize that I can pretend I don’t want him but it’s all a lie.
I still want him. More now that I’ve had him.
“Well, let’s check out the view then,” I say, hoping he doesn’t notice my wavering voice.
Being alone with Archer, even for a few minutes, is going to test my very patience.
Archer
IVY’S LOOKING AT me like she wants to eat me up with a spoon and f**k me, I’m returning the feeling a millionfold. But Gage is out front and who knows how long he’s going to take with his call.
I can’t risk it.
I want to risk it so bad my hands literally itch to touch her.
Being near her flat out arouses me, there’s no denying it. Her scent, her smile, the way she looked at me when I explained Hush’s background. I saw the glimmer of sympathy in her eyes. She knows what an ass**le my father is.
The last thing I want from her is sympathy. I’m not a charity case.
She walks out onto the private deck and I follow her, admiring the curve of her ass, the little gasp of pleasure she gives when she catches sight of the rolling hills covered with what looks like endless rows of vineyards.
“So beautiful,” she murmurs, and I wholeheartedly agree. She’s gorgeous.
“You like the view?” Because I sure as hell do. I take a step closer, noting how I tower over her. Her hair is mostly dry, the ends wavy, and I want to grab hold of her ponytail. Yank her head back and kiss her until the both of us are stupid with lust.
“It’s stunning.” She glances over her shoulder at me, the smile on her face slowly fading. “You’re looking at me weird.”
The sexy whisper of her voice doesn’t quite go along with what she’s saying. “How am I looking at you?”
“Like . . . like you want something from me.” She turns to face me but backs up a few steps, until she’s leaning against the deck railing. Her hazel eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed. A few wisps of hair have escaped her ponytail, brushing against her face. I move toward her, slow and easy, not wanting to startle her. Not wanting to ruin this.
“I want nothing from you that you don’t want to give,” I murmur, and I note the rapid beat of her pulse at the base of her throat.
“Archer.” Her voice is a warning, with the slightest bit of waver. That waver gives me hope. “My brother is right out that front door. What if he finds us?”
“We’re not doing anything that we need to hide.” I’m directly in front of her, crowding her, and I rest my hands on the railing on either side of her body, effectively trapping her.
“Yet,” she whispers, and that one single word gives me so much damn hope, I do what I’ve been dying to do since I saw her in the hallway of my house.
Dipping my head, I nuzzle her hair with my cheek, breathing in her scent, closing my eyes. My entire body tingles at having her close, hearing the catch of her breath, feeling the slight tremor that moves through her. She doesn’t touch me, doesn’t so much as move, and I settle my mouth close to her ear. “All I can think about is last night.”
“Archer.” She sounds like I’m torturing her.
Good. Feeling’s mutual.
“Do you think about it? I swear to God, Ivy, all I want to do is drag you into that bedroom right now and f**k you until you can’t see straight.” My control is about to snap. And I never let it snap. But this woman pushes all my buttons, does everything she can to tear me apart with just a look. A smile. It blows my mind how much power she wields over me.
She has no clue about her power either.
“You shouldn’t talk to me like that. Last night was a . . . mistake.” She settles her hand on my chest as if she’s going to push me away, but her fingers curl ever so slightly into my shirt. Pulling me just a fraction closer to her.
Triumph surges through me. She can’t resist this pull between us either. “You really think so?”
“I know so.” She pushes at my chest so I have no choice but to look at her. She’s not strong enough to get me to step back, though. No way am I moving from her yet. “We can’t continue this.”
“You want to.” It’s a statement, not a question.