“You’re freezing, Caley,” Archer commented. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, sending a curious tingling through her body. Shoot. What was that?
She hadn’t been attracted to anyone since Dave died. And now, she’d reacted to both Doc and Archer. Mind you, it wasn’t like she’d really been around any other men in the last two years. Was it just because she was lonely?
Well, the fact that they’re super hot doesn’t hurt.
“She forgot her jacket. Again.”
Actually, she hadn’t forgotten it this time, she just hadn’t wanted to take the time to grab it and risk waking Doc up.
They stepped inside and the scent of coffee filled the cabin. “Ooh, coffee.”
“I made some, hope you don’t mind,” Archer said.
“Of course not. You can help yourself to anything. Sorry, I know I’ve been a terrible hostess.”
Archer let go of her hand and she immediately felt the loss. But it wasn’t like she could chase after him, clinging to his hand like a toddler in need of reassurance.
House guests. Nothing more.
Doc was behind her, she could feel his presence, but he was silent. She gave him a quick glance over her shoulder. He was frowning down at her. “Didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“You said I needed a spanking. You don’t think that would make me cry?”
“Well, it sure wasn’t going to be one for pleasure. So yeah, it would. Doesn’t mean I like making you cry. Like it less when I don’t know the reason.”
“How about because you were being a jerk?” Archer snapped from the kitchen where he was pouring out coffee into three mugs. He also poured a glass of water and handed it to her. “Drink that first.”
“It wasn’t—”
“You’re telling me that you were okay with waking up and finding her gone?” Doc interrupted her. “That you weren’t worried when we found her phone was sitting on the kitchen table? That you weren’t concerned when she didn’t come back for an hour?”
“Course I was worried. But that doesn’t mean you’ve got the right to go all Dom on her.”
She looked up at Doc. “You’re a dominant?”
He turned from scowling at Archer to her. He blinked, almost as though he’d forgotten she was there. That was flattering as hell.
“Yeah. And you’re a sub.”
“You can’t just come out with it like that, Isaac!”
“Why not? Am I supposed to beat around the bush? Make innuendos to see if she picks up on them? Go slowly, slowly.”
“Do you really think she knows what she is?” Archer asked.
“Yep, I do. Which means things will go worse for her considering I told her not to show her face out of her bedroom before ten.”
She narrowed her gaze at Doc. If she let him, she knew he’d run roughshod over her. She might be a bit awkward and rusty when it came to socializing, but she wasn’t a pushover.
“You’re not my Dom. You can’t give me rules. And you can’t punish me when I break them.”
“I owe you ten, brother,” Archer commented.
“Ten?” she asked.
“Archie didn’t think that you knew what you are.” Doc gave her a firm look. “And I might not be your Dom, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to let you run around endangering yourself. What the hell are you even doing here on your own? You should have someone watching over you, making certain that you’re safe and healthy.”
She used to have that.