by Este Holland
I turned off the computer and slunk to the bedroom, curling around Archer’s warmth. I traced the pattern of a few freckles on his broad shoulders and felt him stir. I froze. He settled, and I let out a breath. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
All I could think about was Archer and my dad meeting. Roscoe Michelson would take one look at Archer’s clothes and condo and the dollar signs would roll in his eyes.
But…maybe not. Maybe he’d gotten the help he needed in prison. Maybe the addiction counseling had worked.
There was that blasted hope again. I tried to staunch it. Stuff it down to the bowels of hell where it belonged.
“Hey,” Archer croaked.
I hadn’t noticed him turning to face me. “Hey. I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”
He pulled me into his chest. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Yeah.” I paused. “I mean, I don’t know. I just got a call from my dad.”
“From prison?”
I stared at him. “How?”
“You told me last night that your dad’s incarcerated.”
“What else?”
“Nothing.”
I nodded, playing with Archer’s fingers while I tried to form words. I started to speak. I told him that I loved my dad. I really did. He’d never been able to keep a job. Gambling had everything to do with it, but I hadn’t known that until I was older. He’d always found a way to make it seem like life was an adventure. Seven-year-old me had thought sleeping in a tent with my dad and peeing in the Hudson River was cool.
I told Archer that my dad had always kept me fed and warm. A lot of people would disagree—heck, they all did—but they hadn’t been there when he’d given me his coat and socks when I was cold and lost the tips of his pinky toes to frostbite. They hadn’t listened to the stories he’d made up for me at night or sat with him in the library while he taught me how to read and write, surrounded by piles of books, until closing time. No, he hadn’t always made the best decisions, but he’d tried.
I told him that when Dad had finally landed a decent job in an accounting firm and gotten me out of foster care, I’d stupidly let myself hope things would be okay. Dad had told me he’d put money away for my college, and I believed him. I studied hard and got grants and won scholarships, knowing my dad would help cover the rest.
Finally, I told Archer that I hadn’t known Dad’s addiction ate away at him. I hadn’t known he’d been stealing from his boss and his coworkers, too. I hadn’t known anything when the cops came and took him away my junior year of high school.
“What happened to you after that?” Archer asked in a carefully low voice.
“I lived in a group home my senior year, though I stayed at the library as much as possible. The librarians liked me, so they didn’t mind.”
Archer ran his fingers through my hair. “You’re not happy he’s getting out?”
I thought about the best way to phrase my feelings. “I’m happy that he won’t be in a dangerous place surrounded by criminals anymore. Luckily, it was minimum security.”
“But?” Archer’s eyes were full of compassion.
“But…I’m afraid of what he’ll do next.” My voice was barely above a whisper to keep my emotions in check. “I’m afraid of getting close to him again and him ripping the rug out from under me. I’m afraid he’ll steal from people again. I’m afraid of him meeting you and seeing nothing but a big score.” I touched Archer’s jaw.
“You don’t have to worry about me.” He kissed my fingertips. “I’m made of Vibranium.”
I rolled my eyes at his lame joke. “No, you’re not. But I love that you’re a closet nerd.”
Archer buried a smile in my shoulder. “I won’t let your dad steal from me. I promise. And I won’t let him hurt you.”
“That’s sweet, but I can handle my dad. I’ve been doing it all my life.”
Archer tucked his tongue in his cheek. “Well, you know him best.”
“Can we talk about something else?” I shifted around to get comfortable. Archer’s bed was incredible, and part of me was amazed that I was lying beside him. The other part felt right at home. And although we’d fooled around the day before, we hadn’t talked about our feelings toward each other. Not really. Or if we wanted to continue…whatever this was.
A strange thought occurred to me.
Archer ran a finger down my forehead to the tip of my nose. “What are you thinking about now?”
“Did we…talk last night?”
Archer’s brow lifted. “Well, yeah.”
“No, about anything important, like about what we did yesterday. Twice.”
“Um…” Archer’s skin turned pink.
“Oh, no. What happened? What did I do?” I rubbed my hands over my face. “God, I am never, ever drinking again.”
“No, baby, you were fine.”
“Baby?” My brows met in the middle of my forehead. “Why does that sound familiar?” I gasped so loud, I choked and my eyes watered. I sprang out of bed, and Archer followed, trying to grab me.
“Are you okay?”
I waved him off. “I said…I told you…” I sat on the floor, hard. “I was drunk.”
Archer squatted in front of me. I wanted to peek at his package, snug in his underwear, but I kept my eyes firmly on his.
“I know you were.”
“I didn’t mean it. I mean, not that I didn’t necessarily mean it. I’d like to mean it someday, maybe. But it’s too soon to mean it, mean it. You know what I mean?”
Archer bit his lip; he was shaking, trying to hold in his laughter.
I huffed. “Let it out before you hurt yourself.”
He cracked up, falling to his knees and sitting beside me. Once he got a hold of himself, he said, “I know what you mean. That’s why I didn’t say anything or think too much of it.”
I chanced a peek at him, and he had that special smile I’d seen this morning. “I remember the feeling. It was nice.”
Archer angled my chin and kissed me. “It was.”
He kissed harder, and I moaned, pressing into his mouth. His lithe tongue swept against mine, and I squirmed, overwhelmed with scorching heat as my cock hardened.
Archer nipped at my lip and sucked away the small sting. “Bed.”
We scrambled off the floor and onto the mattress. Archer yanked my ankles, and I landed on my front with an “Oof.” He bit my butt cheek through my boxers, and I yelped.
“You make the funniest noises.”
I flipped over and glared. His shoulders rounded and bunched as he held himself above me. Our skin caught and rubbed as he slid up my body until he was in my face, kissing away my scowl.
He chuckled into my mouth when I pinched his nipple. “Mmm. You’re going to have to try harder than that. That just turns me on.”
I flashed hot and cold and all playfulness vanished, leaving a trail of searing lust in its wake. “I want you, Archer.”
“I’d like nothing more, Jake.”
My face warmed. “Really?”
Archer rubbed the tips of our noses together. “Feeling shy all of a sudden?”
I shrugged, playing with the waistband of his underwear. “You don’t think we’re going too fast?”
Archer bracketed my head with his elbows, his chest heavy on mine. “I think we’ve been holding back since we met.”
“It’s true, I’ve met a lot of gay guys who prefer to fuck as soon as possible to see if they’re compatible before they do the whole dating thing.”
“I know. It takes all the mystery out of it.”
I laughed. “I love how different you are.”
Archer stared at me. “Right back at you.”
“Okay,” I tapped his ass. “I’m ready if you are.”
His face morphed into a cocky grin. “I was born ready, baby.”
Archer
Executing a dive and a horizontal roll, I grabbed supplies out of my nightstand as Jake laughed. I fli
pped around, without underwear, and Jake got stuck staring at my very erect cock.
“You’re so gorgeous.”
I smiled and rolled the condom on, so I didn’t have to stop in the middle later.
Rising to my knees, I fisted my length almost unconsciously. “Okay, show me what’ch’a got.”
Jake blushed and bit his lip, but he shucked his boxers and lifted his legs, hooking his arms under his knees. “This good?”
Jake’s erect cock bobbed around. “Hello, my old friend,” I crooned. Jake was seriously big. Like nine inches big. I’d have to get a measuring tape.
“Dork. You’re staring,” Jake said.
“Sorry. You’re just…whoa.”
“Let me turn over.” Jake got on all fours and stuck his ass in the air.
I grinned, squeezing the base of my cock to stop the flow of come. “Good God, that’s an even better view.”
“Don’t talk about it!”
I laughed and knee-walked to him. I spread his cheeks a bit more to see every inch, and his muscles tensed. “Jake, are you…is this okay?”
Jake’s head turned where it rested on his crossed arms. “Yeah, why?”
“You seem anxious. Do you usually bottom?”
Jake gave an awkward shrug. “I have.”
“You have? But it’s not your preference?”
“It’s not that I hate it or anything.”
I sat on my heels and tore the condom off my cock and threw it to the floor. Jake’s eyes went wide, and he paled.
“No, no! I’m just getting a new one for you.”
“Oh,” he exhaled.
I crawled forward and kissed him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to look like I wanted to stop.”
“It’s okay. I don’t know why I…” Jake shook his head. “Let’s keep going.”
“You sure?”
He nodded, and I kissed him with little nips and sucks until he was putty underneath me.
“Don’t move.”
I grabbed a new condom and fitted it over the tip of Jake’s cock. Rolling it on, I squeezed all the way to the base. Jake grunted and took over, making sure it was on correctly.
“You’re okay with bottoming?”
I smiled. “With this guy?” I gripped his shaft. “Totally.” He appeared to be relieved, and turned on, and totally kissable, so I did. “Communication,” I murmured against his lips.
“What?”
“We need to have open communication. Especially in bed.”
Jake thought about it. “You’re right. I’d like to bottom soon, but I have to get used to a guy before I do.”
“That makes sense. I’m pretty much open for anything. Feel free to be a little rough.” I winked.
Jake chuckled. “I’m not really into BDSM.”
“But a little spanking never hurt anyone. Unless it’s done right. Oh, and handcuffs! Hey,” I continued at his nonplussed look, “don’t knock till you’ve tried it.”
“No judgment. I’ve just never considered it.”
“Well, you will with me. But if you decide it’s not your thing, that’s no big deal.”
Jake and I grinned at each other like dufuses.
“You ready?” Jake asked.
“Yep.” I bounced onto my back and lifted my legs high. “Probe me, daddy.”
Jake rolled his eyes as I laughed. “You’re a thirty-year-old goofball.” He smeared some lube around my hole and pushed a finger in and out to get me used to the intrusion.
“That’s me. Archer Goofball Ferraro. And that’s enough prep. I want your cock.”
I wasn’t laughing anymore, and Jake took my serious tone and went with it.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir.” I grinned. Okay, not that serious.
Jake lined up and slid inside me. I grunted as the head popped through the first ring of muscle.
“Mmpf?”
I chuckled at his nonverbal question. “Yeah. Go ahead.”
Jake kept going until he bottomed out, and we held there for a moment. He was bigger than I’d imagined. I breathed deep and slow, then bore down. My skin was starting to sweat under my knees where I held on, so I dropped my legs, hooking one around Jake’s hip. I licked his chin and watched his throat as he swallowed. He pulled out, then thrust in hard.
“Fuck, yesss,” I hissed.
“Archer!” Jake cried. He began to rock, easy at first, so I could get used to it, but soon he couldn’t resist and unleashed the beast.
Lost in the feelings coursing through my body, pleasure zinged and snapped my nerve-endings. I grabbed my cock in a sideways grip and squeezed and massaged it. This was how sex was supposed to be. It didn’t matter that Jake was inside me, or if I was inside him, it was give-and-take, lust and love, joy and laughter.
I wrapped my arms around Jake and rolled us. He blinked, and I smiled and bent to kiss him. I reached behind me and fitted his cock to my hole, sliding down until his pelvis cradled my ass. I rode him slow and sensual. Jake ran his hands over my abs and thighs. He pinched my nipples, and I cried out, so he did it again. I grabbed his hands, entwined our fingers and used his arms as leverage to ride his cock faster. My hips snapped, my cock bouncing on my stomach.
Jake’s breathing grew faster. “Archer. So good. I can’t hold it.”
“You don’t have to.” I let go of one hand and slid my fist over my cock. The precome told me I was close as well, and right as the thought entered my mind, a tingling grew in the base of my spine. It coiled and heated, ready to break.
“Oh, fuck!” Jake yelled and pumped up into me, gripping my hips to keep me steady.
His orgasm triggered my own, and I fucked my hand as Jake’s cock softened inside me. The coil sprang, and I spent all over Jake’s stomach.
I moaned and laughed and maybe even cried a few tears. I collapsed on top of Jake, listing to the side a bit. Jake gave a breathless chuckle and helped to straighten out my legs. He removed the condom and tied it, tossing it toward the wastebasket.
“Maybe I should start calling you Big Daddy, ’cause you just owned my ass.” I felt a light slap to my arm, and I turned my head to see Jake burying his face in his arm. “You’re so cute,” I said, pulling his arm away, so I could kiss him. “Was that amazing or what?”
“Or what.” I gaped at his serious face, but it cracked, and he laughed. “It wasn’t amazing, it was mind-blowing.”
I pinched and prodded his sides, searching for his weak spots, and he yelped when I got to his hip bone, so I attacked.
“Truce!”
The bed shook with his laughter, and we settled beside each other, holding hands. We both turned our heads at the same time and moved until we could kiss. He rolled into my side and I put an arm around him. Jake sighed, and I knew he was ready to sleep.
Chapter 16
Archer
My stomach growled, but I waited until I was sure Jake was asleep before I slid out of bed. He moved but didn’t wake, so I threw on some sweat pants and headed to the kitchen.
It was noon, and we’d had an early breakfast after Greg had let us go. I needed to call him and follow up. I really hoped Titus wasn’t in any trouble. I made a peanut butter and potato chip sandwich with pickles and took it to my office to do some work.
I sat and winced at the soreness in my ass. I grinned. Damn, Jake was a surprise. I’d seen his cock yesterday, but having it inside me was a whole different story.
Jake had a few leads on the second woman Brian Hart was seeing. Stephanie and Amy. I shook my head. And I’d bet he’d given them both some of the jewelry. One place, I could maybe get away with breaking into, but I was hesitant to push my luck with two.
I read the email Jake had sent Tamsin and approved. I opened a new one and began to type. I told her exactly what we’d found, “stealing” some design ideas that might work. We’d have to discuss it in person, though, because I couldn’t think of enough design metaphors to talk about it an email.
The do
orbell rang, and I clicked over to my hallway cam to see who it was. Phen and Greg. Shit. That wasn’t good. I hurried to throw on a shirt, shut the bedroom door quietly, then ran to the foyer.
“Hey, brother. What’s up?”
“You smell like sex and peanut butter,” Phen said, pushing his way in past me.
“It’s the new fragrance from Post Malone.”
Greg followed in a much more polite manner, unzipping his windbreaker and throwing it on a chair.
“He’s right. And your hair is all messy. Who do you have in there?” Greg asked. “That Jake guy from this morning?”
Phen stopped his pacing to sear me with a glare.
I figured the best defense was to ignore my brother completely. “So, to what do I owe this visit?” I sat gracefully (and carefully) on the couch and crossed my legs. “Coffee, anyone? Whiskey? Cyanide? I know someone…”
Greg hid a smile by thumbing the side of his nose.
“Archie!” Phen shouted.
“Keep your voice down,” I admonished, glancing at the hallway. “Some of us didn’t get to bed until after dawn.”
“I’m aware.” Phen crossed his arms and stood in front of me.
I frowned at Greg. “You told on me? I suddenly feel like I’m back at PS 118.”
Greg gave me a smug look, and I couldn’t help but stick my tongue out at him, since we were being so mature and all.
“You. You’re a…” Phen gritted his teeth.
“Phen, you’re turning red. Are you having a stroke?”
“What have you been doing?” he asked.
It was the disappointment, not the anger, that had me narrowing my eyes at Greg. “Aren’t you the one who said not to tell him?”
“I didn’t.”
I frowned. “Then who?”
“Brett Hagerson.”
“What?”
Phen’s face hardened. “He called my office first thing this morning. Said he didn’t have proof, or know why you did it, but he knew you destroyed his car deliberately, and you’ve done it to others.”
Damn, Brett found out everything about me. Stupid burnt toast. “How in the hell did he know who you are? I don’t have records of you in my office.”
