He stepped forward and cupped her face between his hands. Then he kissed her. Ravished her. This kiss was dominant. He took complete control.
And she loved it.
When he drew back, she was panting heavily, her body thrumming with lust and need.
“I love you the way you are. I don’t want you to ever change, understand me? I can deal with the logistics, I can work everything out with Issy that needs to be figured out, what I can’t change is how you feel about me. So?”
“You love me?” she asked.
“‘Course I damn well do. Loved you almost from the moment I met you and I’ve been fucking miserable without you. What I don’t know is how you feel about me?”
Archer stared down at her intently.
“I love you too. I’ve missed you so much. When you walked away without saying goodbye, I thought I might never see you again.” Tears dripped down her cheeks. “I know this idea sounds weird, but if we can make it work then I want to try. I don’t want to spend my life with regrets. I feel like for so much of my life, I’ve hidden from everything, too scared to do anything. Now, I’m going to be brave. I’m going to live. And I want to spend the rest of my life with both of you by my side.”
“I’ll never walk away again; this I promise you. This is it. Your only chance to get me to leave.”
She threw herself into his arms kissing the side of his chin as he held her tight.
“Oh, love, how I’ve longed to feel you in my arms. To have you here with me.” He lifted her off the ground, her feet dangling in the air. He set her down but kept her pressed into his side. He’d grown slightly tense as he stared at Issy.
She looked over at Issy, who appeared relaxed, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the desk.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” Archer asked him.
“Jesus, I know you like to talk, but how many times do I have to say it? I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure.”
“You’re not jealous at the idea of sharing her?”
“Maybe when the idea first came up. I would be with anyone else. But it feels right to share her with you, brother.”
“Sharing’s caring,” she quipped.
Archer stared down at her with a frown. Grasping hold of her chin, he tilted her face. “There won’t be sharing with anyone else, love.”
“Definitely not,” Issy barked, scowling at her. “Just because I’m sharing you with my brother, doesn’t make me any less possessive of you.”
“Nor me.”
Oh dear. She hadn’t thought this part through. “I’m gonna be in double trouble now, aren’t I?”
Issy grinned. “Yep. It’s the perfect scenario. When I’m not around, Archer can keep an eye on you. Baby doll, with both of us taking care of you, you won’t even have the opportunity to get into trouble.”
She sighed like she was terribly put out but, on the inside, she was happy dancing. She’d never be alone again. She had the two men she loved and adored.
How had her luck changed so much? Was this fate handi
ng her happiness after so much shit and tragedy in her life?
“What about the fact that you live here and we live at Sanctuary? I know you have your job and that you love living in the city—”
He kissed her then drew back to smile down at her. “I’ve already handed in my notice for my job. And I am going to sell the penthouse.”
“You have?” she asked.
“Yep, Kent offered me a job a while back. I’ve taken him up on it.”
“That bastard never told me you’d accepted the job,” Issy grouched.