“What’s that?”
She snuggles a little closer. “Being here with you, just like this.”
“I’ll never leave you, baby,” I say, hoping it’s a promise I can keep.
“You better not,” she scolds.
I press my lips to hers, running my fingers through her hair, and she moans against my mouth.
“If I wouldn’t have gotten shanked, you’d be naked right now,” she blurts out when we pull away.
“Be a good girl, and follow the doctor's orders, and we might be able to arrange something soon.”
Everleigh gives me an evil grin and slides her hand over my cock. “This is harder than I thought. Literally.”
Chapter Three
EVERLEIGH
It feels good to be home and sleeping in Archer’s arms again. The last few days since I was released from the hospital have been rough. My body lets me know when I’m exhausted, and I have to slow down. It’s been a wake-up call, and I’ve learned that I can’t go, go, go. I get fatigued easily, which is annoying, but I’m trying to follow my doctor’s orders.
So far, the hardest thing has been not being at work. Thankfully, Lexie keeps me updated with everything going on at the shop, which helps some of my anxiety about not being there. She’s loving the extra hours, but I also don’t want her to burn out. I owe her a raise and so much more for keeping the boutique running.
As I peel myself off the couch, my phone vibrates. It’s a group text from my besties. If it weren’t for Netflix, Archer, and my friends keeping me company, I might’ve already gone crazy. Though, I’ve been loving the alone time with Archer.
Gemma: So enough time has passed. Spill the fucking beans on what’s going on with you two.
Katie: Yeah, we’re tired of waiting! At this rate, I’ll be a grandma.
Everleigh: OMG. You two are so dramatic!
I laugh and go to my room to grab some clothes before I take a shower.
Archer’s in the kitchen, shirtless and eating yogurt.
“Damn, you’re just gonna tease me like that?” He scans his eyes down my ripped shirt and baggy yoga pants.
I snort. “Wait. You think I’m the tease? No, look at you, sir. Might as well be walking around naked showing off your tats like that.”
He places a thumb in the band of his boxers, lowering them down to show his hip bone. “I think I can make that happen.”
“Ugh,” I groan, tempted to do very bad things to him. “Stop it or you’re gonna give me lady blue balls again”
He nearly chokes on his food. “You gotta watch what you say when I’m eating because I don’t think you could give me the Heimlich.”
“Oh, that’s true. I’ll make sure you’re done swallowing next time.”
With a brow popped, he asks, “Going to shower?”
I lean against the doorframe. “You know it. Wanna help? I don’t want to slip and fall or anything...”
Archer throws the empty yogurt in the trash, then moves toward me in long strides. My eyes gravitate toward his abs and his sexy V that I want to run my tongue up and down. He notices my mood shift and runs his fingers through my hair when he’s close. Before dipping his mouth down, I tilt my head up, giving him the perfect angle to gently slide his lips across mine. I moan against him, wishing I had the strength to please him in all the ways he deserves.
“Let’s get you clean, dirty girl,” he growls against the shell of my ear, playfully patting my ass.
I swallow hard, then lead us to the shower. Archer carefully undresses me, pulling my shirt above my arms because I still don’t have full range of motion. I haven’t worn a bra since I was released so my breasts are on full display.
Archer slides my pants down to my feet, then dips his hands in my panties.
“Baby, you’re soaked,” he groans, rubbing his finger across my hard nub.
“You do that to me every time.”
Archer slowly pulls away and turns on the water, then strips off his clothes.
“Thanks for taking one for the team,” I tease with a laugh as he helps me step under the stream. My stomach aches, but I push away the pain.
My primary care physician said I could stop putting on the bandages at my appointment yesterday. The wound is healing as it should, and the sutures will dissolve on their own. I have another follow-up next week and will find out when I’ll be released to work.
Archer grabs my body wash and loofah, then cleans down my back and legs.
“This is what being royalty must feel like. I could get used to a strong man washing every inch of my body.”
I turn to face him as the warm water streams over my body. His mouth meets mine, and I wrap a hand around his arm to steady myself as he finds his way to my pussy.