by India Kells
What she saw on his face was raw sincerity, mixed with an urgency that mirrored her own. “So few people call me that anymore, you made me yearn for that connection. I don’t want to be Mr. Blackwood to you. I don’t want to hear that when you cry my name as I fuck you deep, when you beg me for mercy.”
She should have smiled, made light of it, but there was something in him, in his voice that touched her. A yearning. Her arms circled his shoulders as she kissed his jaw and tugged at his earlobe as he shuddered. “Archer, please fuck me.”
The sudden exhale of air against her neck was followed by him pushing the rest of his cock deep inside her. The sensation surprised her, but she didn’t have time to adjust before he rammed into her once more. And again. And again. Zoe had asked for it, and it seemed he had every intention of answering her wish. His sweaty body glided against hers, radiating tremendous heat, but it was the friction inside her that made Zoe hot and ravenous. Each penetration inflamed her even more, it was like wishing for fire and being afraid of being burned at the same time. A race to completion with the fear of losing herself in the process. Gasping for air, she cupped his cheeks and kissed him deeply. The lack of oxygen made her head spin, focusing her thoughts only on him. Archer was caught up in pleasure, looking at her, his body moving harder against her, his hold on her hips bruising.
Zoe’s body bowed against Archer’s, overwhelmed by the orgasm that increased relentlessly between her legs, overtaking her senses until she lost all thought, apart from being exactly where she was desperate to be.
Archer pounded into her, again increasing the pace, intensifying her own sensations to the point of no return. Even when pleasure flooded her veins, making her gasp, she opened her eyes and saw Archer, head thrown back in pleasure, his cock pulsing inside her sensitive sheath, and she knew at that instant that this image of him, without any mask, without any pretense, would be engraved inside her memory forever.
Chapter 15
Zoe dozed on and off after Archer and her fell into bed. Each time she was about to fall asleep, Jamieson Finch appeared in her mind, threatening Lucas. It was only when Archer rolled over in his sleep and circled her waist with his arm that she finally relaxed, imagining that he could protect her and her brother from any possible threat. Too bad it was only her exhausted mind wishing the impossible. She was still debating if she should say anything to Gabrielle or Beatrice, and each time she couldn’t convince herself to make the call. Finch was powerful, prepared, ruthless, and wicked.
Finch hadn’t contacted her yet, but she knew the moment he did, it would require a breach of trust on her part. Either she would have to deceive Beatrice or Archer. The woman who saved her or the man she had promised to help protect. The man who was now holding her in his arms, providing a temporary comfort. After all, Archer being in Chicago wasn’t forever and it was only a question of time before he went back to England. There was a possibility he would never know any of this. And if she was lucky enough, Finch would be true to his word and Lucas would be safe at the end.
Archer whimpered in his sleep, tightening his grip on her. And Zoe wanted to turn around and cry. It had been many years since she had been so helpless and vowed never to be a victim again. Not her greatest success this time around.
“What’s troubling you?”
Zoe yelped as his voice made her jump. “Damn! Archer! Don’t do that!”
His voice was low, laced with sleepiness and whispers. “What? Speak Now she sounded completely stupid. A second later, something beeped insistently in the living room. “Do you have a bomb in my living room?”
Grunting, Archer kissed her neck and rolled away. Naked, and flaunting it, he disappeared from view and a few seconds later, the noise stopped.
Putting her glasses on her nose, Zoe wasn’t ready to flaunt anything at this hour and decided to grab her oversized Batman t-shirt on the floor. With one quick look in the small mirror, she was glad to see that her waterproof mascara had resisted the mighty Archer Blackwood. She should write to the company and propose a new slogan: stay pretty, even if you’re being fucked out of your mind.
In the living room, Archer was looking at his phone, standing in front of her window. If the man wasn’t shy, why bother. It would make an exceptional view for her neighbor Mrs. Lupe. Or Marcus, who would appreciate it the most.
Seeing him like that in all his glory, she resisted the pull to go to him and circle his waist, laying her head on his back. Instead, Zoe forced herself to go into her kitchen and prepare coffee. And most of all, appear casual about it. This was clearly a one-night stand for him and being clingy would only make them both uncomfortable.
“Would you like coffee? Or maybe tea... you’re a Brit after all.” She moved to another cupboard and took out her coffee and hoped to find tea somewhere.
“Coffee is good. You don’t need to fuss.”
Relieved, she filled her coffee maker and started it, making sure not to look at him. “It’s no fuss, it’s survival. I need coffee in the morning if I want to remain a human being.”
She took two cups out and two arms circled her middle. It was impossible not to melt into his strong body as his lips kissed the crook of her neck.
“Good morning, Miss Somersby.”
And he had a talent for making her smile. Putting the cups down, she turned into his arms and kissed him. “Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”
“That’s what I call a proper greeting. And I wanted a little bit of sweetness before it turned sour.”
At his words, she tensed but decided to make light of it. “I think you need a coffee more than I do after all.”
It wasn’t easy maintaining her cool as she didn’t have a lot of experience with having strange men at her place. This wildcard of a hunk didn’t seem willing to cooperate and act as detached as she’d first intended.
To be truthful, Archer wasn’t acting detached at all. Even as she turned again, his hands made their way under her t-shirt over her stomach. His unshaved chin scratched her neck and shoulder as she tried her hardest not to burn herself pouring two cups of coffee.
“How do you take your coffee?”
He turned her again and before she could react he kissed her again, but this time, the sweetness turned into steam. The man was lethal, in a matter of seconds, her brain blanked and all she wanted was to forget everything while grabbing his ass.
And when he let go of her, Archer took advantage of her spinning head to grab a cup and taking a sip. He coughed and grimaced. “You do a mean coffee. That’s strong!”
Zoe grabbed his cup and tasted it. “It’s normal coffee! I like it strong, it gets me going. But I have milk and sugar for your wimpy self if you want.”
He took his mug back and took another sip. “It’s definitely an acquired taste. On the upside, it will give me a buzz for the entire day.”
Zoe was fascinated by the smiling man before her. Where was the cold businessman always on her back? Part of her cursed the timing because she was definitely attracted to him.
Courageously taking another sip of his cup and still very naked, he leaned a hip against the counter, eyes on her. Closing her hands over her mug, she realized that, apart from her shirt and glasses, she felt the most naked in her life.
“I know what you’re thinking, Miss Somersby.”
“At least someone does.”
Another sip, another smoldering look. Zoe was affected but the hell she was going to let him know. “You know I’ve been in Taliban territory, so you scowling at me won’t put the fear of God in my heart.”
He put the mug down and crossed his arms, making them appear twice as big, his ink almost menacing. She was debating if he looked more lethal in a three-piece suit or naked with only tattoos. “Why did you have dinner with Jamieson Finch?”
The name almost made her shiver. “Because he invited me and told me we wouldn’t talk business.”
Archer considered her words. “Only that?”
Zoe knew there was more to
the question, and even if it killed her, there was the opening she was searching for. “You have no right asking me that question. I’m a free, single woman. So, what if I decided to have a fling with him?”
Archer uncrossed his arms slowly, his expression going cold. “A fling? Is that what you’re searching for? With anybody or with me?”
Zoe shrugged. “After what happened the other night, I didn’t know what to think about you. Also, you’ll be leaving the United States soon, maybe coming back to organize Blackwood Energies from time to time. Bottom line, your home is in the UK. What more can there be than a fling?”
He came closer, forcing her against the counter, trapping her between his arms. Looming, his face came close to hers.
“Why do I feel there is more to what you’re saying? That you’re hiding something from me?”
Archer being so close made it difficult to think. “Well, it seems you don’t read people as well as you thought.”
“Is that so?” He looked down her body and skimmed his finger over her collarbone. Featherlight, he let his fingertips slide over her clavicle and skimmed over her covered breast, barely touching her erect nipple. Zoe lost sight of it when he palmed her sex. When he started sliding a finger along her slit, rasping against her clit, her good sense filled with desire. It took a second for her to realize she was falling again and she didn’t really care. Unable to prevent her legs from opening, her hands went to him.
“What are you doing?”
“You want a fling, don’t you? I’m giving it to you.” His voice almost made her come on the spot and she gripped his upper arms.
“Archer.” Zoe felt like drowning in pleasure and shivered from the cold air when he removed her t-shirt.
With his other hand, he fisted her hair, making her neck vulnerable to him. His teeth grazed the skin and licked until he reached her ear. “I’ll give you a fling, I’ll blow your mind until I leave Chicago. But until then, it’s only me, do you understand? No more flirting with the staff or clients.”
“I was not flirting.” He penetrated her with one, then two fingers. The sudden invasion made her bow and forget what she was about to say next.
“No flirting with the staff or the clients. No more dates. Do we have an understanding?”
Zoe moaned, unable to answer, but Archer wasn’t backing off. “You will tell me what’s bothering you, what put fear in your eyes.”
The words took a moment to make their way through her fogged mind. “I can’t.”
“You trust me with your body, can’t you trust me with more?”
She was about to deny him when his hands grabbed her hips and lifted her, her bottom half on the counter, and in one thrust, he pushed himself inside her spasming sheath. He was attacking her on all fronts, and there was no way he could win. Even if every part of her wanted to surrender, she had to remain alone, and without him knowing her reasons why.
As pleasure rose and he battled her defenses, tears threatened to spill, and it was a fight of its own to keep them back. Zoe knew he was going to ask her again and again, and she should stop all this and shut him out. Again, she couldn’t. An inexplicable force drew her to him, and she was defenseless. In one desperate move, she gripped his shoulders and kissed him. In her mind, she tried to convey everything that couldn’t be said.
His hands seized her hips and jerked down with more force. The way he was rubbing against her g-spot made her wild, to the point she feared he would be turned off by her reaction and the sounds coming out her mouth. However, it seemed to be quite the opposite. His cock felt like steel, growing larger inside her.
Zoe’s mouth was greedy, and she kissed, licked, and nipped at his lips before plunging her tongue, relishing in this decadent connection. Slick with sweat, she was falling into the molten mercury of his eyes until her orgasm spread like wildfire, forcing her to break the kiss and throw her head back in ecstasy.
If possible, Archer’s thrusts accelerated for a second until he froze deep inside her, trembling, a growling sound coming from him as his teeth bit her skin.
Zoe was gulping air, her muscles burning as if she had run a marathon, but she only focused on her contented body, and the man still holding her upright. An amazing feat considering the size of her ass. And the way he’d taken her the night before.
Way before she was ready to break contact, Archer gently put her back on her shaky legs. Both her hands went to the counter to keep her up, not sure her body wouldn’t collapse. In an unexpected and tender gesture, he framed her face with his big hands and kissed her senseless before straightening her glasses on her nose.
“Keeping things from me will only make me mad. And you don’t want me mad at you, Zoe.”
And still shaken, he turned his back on her, put his clothes and boots on in record time and left.
Chapter 16
As soon as she arrived at Blackwood Corp, Ellen told Zoe that Lance was already at the venue finishing up the setup for the ten o’clock meeting and she had to leave now. Archer was in a meeting and would be on his way to the venue soon to test the comms. The first negotiation round was planned at the Wit Hotel, in one of their conference rooms overlooking the city.
Zoe needed to get her bearings and see how the material worked before they started so she went into the lobby where Kai still waited for her. From the moment she left the apartment and hopped into Kai’s waiting car, she had hung onto her cell phone like a lifeline, begging for it to ring and praying it wouldn’t. Kai was trying to be friendly by joking, but quickly realized that she wasn’t very talkative. He often looked at her, but just trying to keep calm was difficult enough.
Her chauffeur didn’t bother with the no-parking signs and escorted her inside the hotel. He looked tall, dark, and dangerous in his suit and tied back hair, so much so that Zoe noticed several women drooling as they passed by.
Once in the elevator, Kai exhaled and turned to her. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”
Zoe looked at her phone for the umpteenth time before realizing he had spoken.
“What?”
His gorgeous face was scowling. “What have you done with Zoe?”
She sounded like a parrot but couldn’t help it. “What?”
“The Zoe I know is funny, flirty, smiley. You are down, depressing, and weird. If your body has been invaded by an alien, blink twice.”
Inevitably, a smile tugged at her lips. “If anyone was inside me, I would know.”
Kai grinned, clapping his hands. “Ah! Now I recognize her! She came back to us. Thanks, aliens! Now, what’s going on?”
She needed to keep her facial expression in check, otherwise everything would backfire on her. Sometimes the most obvious answer could be the solution.
“I’m PMSing. And I started cramping. Satisfied? You want more explanations.”
It was astonishing to see a tough and dangerous man like Kai Jones recoil in horror at the simple mention of her menstrual cycle. But it worked.
“Euh... you need tampons or something?” The idea of making Kai run for hygienic pads was very tempting.
“No, PMS, not my actual period. And I can manage it on my own. I’ll take something for the pain later. But thanks.”
Pure relief etched on his face and she was certain he wouldn’t suggest running an errand like that ever again.
The doors opened, and Kai preceded her, eyes scanning the area. He led her to what seemed like a posh greenhouse. Well, it was more like an amazing living room and conference room with an entire wall made of glass. Stunning, in her opinion. A way to impress a buyer for sure. Never appear like you’re desperate or in need of money. The more dough you have the higher you can sell.
“Where’s the booth?”
Kai gestured for her to follow him, and they went to a door just outside the main venue. In it was a smaller conference room. Lance was sitting at the table, a headset on, looking at three monitors and one laptop. He turned when they all walked in.
“Great timing. Arc
her Blackwood is on his way. So, here’s the setup, think you can manage?”
“Just having a chair is luxury. I normally never have that much space. Oh! Before I forget.” She fished the flash drive from her bag. “I met that Harker guy yesterday. This is for Gabrielle.”
Lance nodded, pocketing it. “Excellent. Let’s hope we get something useful on that. So, let me explain how it works.”
The man explained where he had placed the microphones throughout the loft as well as the cameras to help her if the men decided to move around the space.
“The best thing to do is open and close the mics according to where they are located. If you open all of them at the same time, there will be reverberations. I’ve categorized them by area and you don’t have to play with each individually. All cameras are up and running, same as the mics, running on a closed circuit with a special device so they’re not detected. Mind the buttons, don’t close them off as it would require the whole system to reboot, taking at least three minutes.”
“Understood.” Zoe checked it out, and as she put on the headset, the door opened to Archer.
All business, he scanned the room and his eyes stopped on her for a brief instant.
“We’ve finished installing the system, sir. It’s on a closed circuit, so it can’t be accessed, discovered, or bugged. All we need to do is test the communication system with you.” Lance presented him with a very small earpiece and told him how to install it. From her standpoint, Zoe didn’t see it, and she was looking hard. “You won’t be able to speak freely, but a couple of basic signs will tell us if something is wrong with the sound, if you need Miss Somersby to repeat something or require either mine or Mr. Jones’ intervention.”
He continued to explain a few signs to him, such as rubbing the back of his neck if the sound was fritzing, touching his tie if he needed Zoe to repeat something and playing with his cufflinks if he needed an intervention of any kind. They also added him touching his lips to confirm he understood a question. No was clenching his fists, yes was unclenching them. Very simple.
