by Jayne Rylon
“Shit! Yes. Guys, I swear. I don’t know what’s going on, but Waverly isn’t to blame.” Archer stood tall, wondering if they’d make it past their first destination before their entire future went to hell.
“I’m starting to feel like I don’t know who you are anymore,” Miguel sneered. “I hope you’re not being used. Blind faith doesn’t cut it for me. You’re already changing who you are for her, staying out of the clubroom. That’ll never last. The two of you won’t make it if you can’t be honest about who you are and what you like.”
The sound Waverly made then threatened to rip Archer’s heart out of his chest.
She tapped out. “That’s it. I’m done. I’ll be in our cabin if anyone wants to arrest me. Or make me walk the fucking plank for that matter.”
Then she took off. For her to show even a hint of weakness meant they’d really hurt her.
Archer roared, then lunged at Miguel. “Fuck you! She’s innocent!”
Before Miguel could take it back or say something to make it worse, Archer shut him up with a punch to the face. Tosin scrambled to Miguel’s side and helped him sit up, shaking him from his daze.
Archer and Miguel stared each other down like two groupers defending their territory.
“Enough!” Banks shouted as he smacked his palm on Archer’s chest, keeping him from pressing ahead. “What he said about Waverly was out of line. That girl isn’t capable of hurting anyone. I know it, same as you. So why don’t you go help her instead of making things worse? Captain Alex and I will handle this. In fact, everyone return to your rooms for the night. No one is to be wandering about until I say otherwise. We’ll assemble a small team to conduct the searches. Cooperate with all staff instructions. Use your intercoms if you need anything or see something suspicious.”
Archer blinked then, thinking about how he’d let Waverly go when there was still a murderer on the loose. He wanted nothing more than to take her into her arms and promise everything was going to be okay.
He spun on his heel. As he strode away, he heard Banks scolding Miguel, “What did I tell you about earning that black eye, huh?”
It might have been funny some other time.
Not with a corpse onboard, though.
Or his woman, falsely accused, nursing some stab wounds in the back.
He jogged the rest of the way to their cabin, ignoring the worried looks everyone shot at him as he passed. Only one person mattered at the moment. Banks and Captain Alex could handle the rest.
When Archer arrived, he found the door unlocked, which only pissed him off more. She should be taking better precautions. Someone had been here. Invaded their personal space once already. His anger transformed into something more desperate when he stood outside the door to the bathroom and heard the sound of weeping, nearly—though not entirely—disguised by the running shower.
It wasn’t like Waverly, though she’d softened some since she’d returned to the Divemaster. He was sure she would hate for him to see it. So he paced, waiting for her to emerge on her own terms.
He’d be there when she was ready for his open arms.
But it wasn’t easy.
In fact, it was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
For her, he would manage.
Twenty-Two
“You can’t blame them for their suspicions, Archer. They’re right. This looks bad.” Waverly chewed on her fingernail as she stood at the glass accordion doors that led out onto Archer’s stateroom balcony. The ocean looked mean and kind of angry as the wind picked up and waves crashed, a storm rolling in. Just when she’d started to feel like she belonged, the world reminded her that anything could be lost in an instant.
She tugged the thin silk robe she’d thrown on after her shower more tightly around her.
Maybe she’d been deluding herself to think this could be her forever. She wasn’t a partner in the Divemaster Project. Hell, she wasn’t even an owner-operator of her aircraft. Waverly was a simple pilot, working a job, and she’d let herself forget for a while that she could be banished from her new haven as quickly as she had been admitted.
They could fire her over this. Worse, have her thrown in a foreign jail for a murder she didn’t commit.
She might not survive losing everything again if it meant Archer went with it.
“I don’t give a fuck what it looks like. I’ve learned my lesson about that shit—believing what people lead you to think. I know you had nothing to do with killing that woman and nothing will ever convince me otherwise.”
His unwavering faith changed her. Altered everything she felt and opened new doors.
If he was strong enough to have confidence in her after the damage his father had wrought on his impressionable young psyche, she should be able to do the same for him. “Take me to the clubroom. The one the guys were talking about.”
“What?” He tipped his chin. “Now? This isn’t the time—”
“It is.” She put her hand out, waiting for him to take it. “You trust me. And I trust you, too. I know it must be hard to let go of your unnecessary remorse after years of thinking you’d taken advantage of me. I’m guessing that’s why you didn’t tell me about the clubroom. Like Miguel said, if you can’t get past that, we’ll never last. So we might as well test it out and see before either of us is too invested.”
“He’s an idiot. He was freaked out and pissed off and not thinking straight.”
“That doesn’t mean he wasn’t right about some of it. Besides, I need this tonight. You. Anything goes. Hell, from now on, that’s how it should be. You’ve given me everything I need and believe in me completely. Allow me the opportunity to do the same for you.”
“Waverly…”
“This is my choice. I don’t want there to be boundaries between us. Limits on our relationship.” She drew a deep, somewhat shaky breath. “I can’t stand the thought of losing you. You should have told me this is something you need.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Archer cursed. “You are what I need. I’m sorry the guys questioned you. They’ll come around. They’re—”
“They’re just looking out for you. Totally understandable.” Though it had stung, still did, she appreciated their loyalty. “Still, if I’m going to be out of control when it comes to the awful shit in my life, you might as well show me the upside of freefalling.”
“What do you mean, Waverly?” He nudged her shoulder until she rotated, facing him. “Look at me when you explain.”
He wanted to read the truth in her eyes? Fine by her.
“Ever since…what happened to us all that time ago, I’ve protected myself by staying in charge. Of myself. Of situations. Of lovers. Not with you, though. I can’t do it with you. Don’t care to. So take me all the way. Show me what it feels like to give up power. Completely.”
There, she’d said it.
“You’re sure?” He rubbed her upper arm with the palm of his hand, slowly, comforting.
“Yes. Especially tonight, I don’t want to have to think. I just want to feel and experience what you do to me. My brain hurts, my heart hurts. Take all of that away. Fix me. That’s what you’re into, right?” Could he hear the plea in her voice? She needed this. Needed him.
“No, Waverly. I told you, I’m into you.” Without another word, Archer scooped her into his arms and marched down the hallway to the black glass door she’d wondered about once or twice.
So that’s what they were hiding in there.
His jaw clenched and unclenched, making his bearded cheeks bulge. Was he second-guessing himself?
“Don’t.” She stroked the side of his face. “This is what I want.”
He lowered her feet to the ground, steadying her before he let go. He used his palm to scan the door open then stepped inside. “If you come in here, it has to be of your own volition.”
She stepped across the threshold without hesitation. Going one step further, she unbelted her robe and let the silk slip off her shoulders. It landed in a
pile at her feet, leaving her entirely naked.
“Will you wish you hadn’t done this tomorrow, after tonight’s insanity dies down?” he murmured as he surveyed every inch of her body.
She shook her head, shivering at the feel of her own hair brushing her back. Sensual and liberating, it confirmed his assessment that she should leave it down most times.
“You promised you trust me. So trust me to know my own mind.” Waverly tipped her face up and waited for him to accept the invitation.
Archer didn’t make her wait long. He laid his lips on hers and slowly ate at her mouth. Her knees went weak and she relied on him to support her, which he did. They stayed that way for a long time, soothing each other with the caress of their lips and tongues.
From far away, Waverly heard a beep. Then another. And a third.
The door rattled as someone tried the handle.
Was one of the other divemasters trying to bring a date to the clubhouse? She hadn’t heard of them fooling around with any of the guests, but maybe they were capable of more discretion than she imagined. Or maybe they also needed release after the stress of the evening.
Archer cursed. He settled her on the floor when it was clear she couldn’t stand on her own right then. He positioned her so that she was kneeling, sitting on her heels, her hands clasped on her thighs. “Stay right here.”
He strode to the door and unlocked it before opening it a crack. Could whoever it was see her? Maybe. Why didn’t that bother her as much as it should? In fact, she shifted a little, trying to ease the ache in her core at the thought.
She didn’t lift her stare off the ground to find out for sure either way.
“What?” Archer snarled with a venom he’d never aimed at her before. Hopefully, never would. “I’m occupied.”
“We wanted to apologize.” It was Miguel.
Waverly’s earlier stomachache returned.
“You can tell me how stupid you are tomorrow. When I’m not in the middle of something important. Like repairing the damage you caused.” Archer didn’t add you idiot, but his tone said it for him.
There was a pause, and then Tosin said, “We want to apologize to her, not you. Let us do it our way. So she knows we’re serious and that we do care for her. Anyone this important to you is important to us.”
“We fucked up,” Miguel admitted to Archer. “Me especially.”
At that, Waverly felt something unravel inside her. Her breath caught and a sob escaped before she could clamp her throat down around it. She hugged herself then, rocking to alleviate the sharp stab of pain caused by the sudden snap of tension, which had wound her tight.
They didn’t really believe she was a monster like her father. Or Archer’s.
“Waverly!” Archer forgot about their visitors and dashed to her side. He crouched by her and wrapped her in his arms. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”
It turned out power exchanges played with her emotions instead of only her body. Who knew?
She was glad she did now, as she experienced a whole new level of intimacy with Archer. “I moved.”
“I’ll punish you for it later.” He smiled as he said it, making her sure she wouldn’t find his penalty tortuous in the least. “You heard what they said? That they’re dumbasses who should never have doubted you? Not even for the blink of an eye?”
Well, he’d taken some creative license in his paraphrasing, but she didn’t argue. Waverly nodded.
“Remember what you said before, about trusting me absolutely?” He drew a long, slow breath.
She nodded again.
“We’re about to find out if you meant it.” He leaned down to kiss her nose then turned toward the door. “Miguel. Tosin. Get in here and lock that behind you.”
If she had said no right then, Archer would have kicked them out in an instant. Knowing that made her comfortable enough not to do it. Even though she was naked and they were not as they eyed her with the same hunger they reserved for the Sunday brunch buffet. Their favorite.
Archer lifted her as if she were a doll. He didn’t go far. Just a few strides of his long legs took him to a leather-and-chain contraption that hung from the ceiling. Some sort of sex swing.
She whimpered when he set her down on her back. It moved beneath her, making her prepare for impact with the floor. Waverly wrapped her legs around his waist as if that would save her.
Miguel was there, taking her hand. “We won’t let you fall.”
He kissed her wrist, testing the waters.
She shivered. So he continued distracting her while Archer strapped a wide belt around her middle. He shook the swing. Chains rattled. Truly secure, she didn’t budge.
Meanwhile, Miguel increased his contact, leaving a trail of soft, wet kisses along the inside of her forearm as Archer petted her hip, silently promising it was okay for her to enjoy his friend’s attention.
It felt odd to be touched in so many places at once. Even more so when Tosin caressed her leg before prying it off Archer and shackling her ankles to the dangling stirrups. The device was much more comfortable than she would have guessed. It conformed to her, moved with her.
It was surreal, to be the center of attention, surrounded by three smoking-hot men. Especially when they began to strip, letting her watch.
She wasn’t about to complain.
“I want you to know,” Archer said to her then, “I’m not going to let them fuck you.”
She flinched at the thought while his friends groaned their disappointment.
No, she belonged to Archer alone.
“You’re mine. But for what they did to you earlier, I’ll let them bring you pleasure to replace the pain. I’ll let them watch as I do the same so that no one can deny how much you mean to me or how well-matched we are.” Archer reached out and inserted two fingers into her soaked pussy.
Going from nothing to something that quickly shocked her system.
If she thought that felt good, it was nothing compared to the arousal that lit up every nerve ending in her body when he withdrew the digits and held them out to Miguel.
Without question, he sucked her flavor off his best friend’s hand.
“Shit, she’s delicious. Let me taste her while you fuck.” She’d never heard Miguel’s voice sound so gravelly before. Sexy and rough. He would be most women’s fantasy come to life. A passionate Latin lover, committed to pleasing his partner. Thoroughly.
Waverly no longer had the ability to respond. Instead, she watched as Archer directed his friends, and all three of the men worked as a team to shower her with ecstasy.
“Wait until I’m fully buried inside her, then you can play with her clit,” Archer told Miguel. “She’s extremely responsive and multi-orgasmic. So if you don’t have her coming on my cock every couple of minutes, you’re not doing a good enough job.”
Miguel looked at her reverently. It glued some of the cracks he’d caused in her heart earlier. She’d say their plan was working, because there was no way she could deny their admiration and respect when they treated her like this. Like she was special. Prized. Meant to be worshiped.
Tosin joined the action then when he said to Archer, “Put me in, coach.”
Miguel snorted.
“Get to work on her tits. She likes medium-firm pressure. Lots of tongue. Not so much teeth.”
It shocked her that he already knew how to play her body that well. She figured it shouldn’t since they’d spent a lot of time in bed together these past few weeks, but to hear how finely he’d catalogued her reactions made her glow.
Tosin smiled at her. He brushed his thumb over her lower lip before leaning in. Without making her beg, he plumped her breasts in his hands then took the tip of one into his mouth. He suckled her differently than Archer would have but quickly adapted his style based on the moans and sighs he drew from her with the flickering of his tongue and the suction he applied.
Her eyes kept trying to flutter closed. She fought the temptation so she could burn the image
of the three men standing around her into her memory. Though the trio was present, only one directed their union.
Archer.
He was staring down at her as he fisted his cock, preparing it for the fuck of a lifetime.
When their gazes collided, he moved forward, poking her with the tip.
She arched as much as she could in the swing, trying to embed him within her.
A stinging slap landed on her thigh, surprising a shriek out of her. The tingling burn that followed made her wish he’d done it again. Until Archer grabbed the chains holding her legs up and open for him then advanced the last step necessary to slide the fat head of his cock inside her pussy.
At the same time, Tosin switched his skilled handling to her other breast, making her quake.
Archer’s well-defined arm muscles bulged, pulling her toward him so that he used her to fuck himself. He hadn’t gotten more than the tip of his erection inside her when he stopped, either to let her adjust or to keep himself from getting too fired up too quickly. Could have been both.
“Archer,” Miguel warned. “Condom.”
“We don’t use them.” It was another sign of their commitment, she thought.
A declaration of monogamy and confidence. Or foolishness.
She’d certainly never let any other guy fuck her without one.
“Damn,” Tosin lifted his mouth from her chest momentarily to groan. “Bareback? I can’t wait to see her pussy dripping with your come.”
Waverly’s muscles clenched at the thought, causing a chain reaction. Archer sank inside her farther. Tosin clung to her nipple even as she rocked, adding more pressure than he had before. And Miguel, refusing to be left out of the mix, bent over so that he could lap her clit while Archer continued to fit himself into her body.
Watching the three men, so close to each other, focused on delivering as much ecstasy as possible, had her poised on the edge of orgasm before they’d even gotten started. As if that wasn’t enough to obliterate any remaining self-control she had, someone shocked her by pressing a lube-slicked finger to her ass.
