Chapter 6
“Fancy seeing you here.” She heard Archer’s voice behind her as she placed a bucket of water at the foot of the stable door. She had carried it from the well behind the house for the horses.
Ivy whipped around to find Archer walking over to her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He looked rugged, hardened after a day’s work and his pants were covered in dust. His boots were dusty too and he towered over her, as he drew closer.
“I’m just getting my work done.” Ivy said, wiping her damp hands on the front of her linen pants. Archer had that same smirk on his face that made her stomach do somersaults. Those dimples looked too good to look away from.
“I didn’t think my brother would make you do any heavy lifting. You look too delicate for that.” He continued, now coming to a halt in front of her. Ivy’s back pressed against the warmth of the wooden stable door as she stepped away from him. She didn’t want him to be any closer to her, because she was afraid of what she might do. The man was growing more irresistible to her by the second. So, her only defense against him was to snap.
“Of course I’m not, and Leon doesn’t make me do anything. This is the only way I can help him with the horses.” She said, trying to put on a sour look on her face. She wondered where Leon was, but kept her thoughts to herself. His voice, telling her that he shared everything with his brother came waltzing back to her brain. She wouldn’t mind sharing herself with Archer, she was well aware of that. And neither did Archer look like he would mind sharing with his brother. He was looking her up and down, it was like he couldn’t stop looking at her in fact.
“Do you need some help with that?” He asked suddenly and bent forward to reach for the bucket of water. When he did, his face grazed along the front of her legs, their skin separated by the fabric of her pants. But she had felt the coarseness of his stubble, and it sent her skin tingling. She wanted to feel her fingers on his chin, to taste his breath in her mouth, it was getting too hot there, she could feel herself beginning to sweat. Archer Cooper was too close for comfort.
He had picked the bucket up and now was stretching his hand in her direction and Ivy cowered. But instead of touching her, he had pushed against the wooden door behind her and the door gave way. Ivy’s body moved lightly with it, making her sway on her feet.
“Oh, careful now.” Archer said with a chuckle as he walked into the stable. Ivy’s heart was beating maddeningly as she steadied herself. He knew the effect he had on her, and he was enjoying himself.
She followed him in silently, her breath had caught in her throat and she couldn’t protest against him anymore. Archer was doing as he pleased.
He carried the bucket in one hand, lifting it like it was as light as a feather, the trait of strength he shared equally with his brother.
“Where do you want it?” He asked, suddenly turning to her, just when she had been studying the muscles on his back.
“Anywhere, I’ll fill their troughs with water later.” Ivy was fumbling with her words; she could feel herself growing hotter under her blouse. What was he going to do? They were surrounded by the towering presence of five horses in their stables. The horses were quiet, but she could feel their powerful presence around her. But nothing felt more present, nothing had more of an effect on her than Archer.
He placed the bucket gently on the ground at his feet and then straightened his back.
“Let me be honest here.” He began, startling her with the calmness in his voice. “I want you.” He said and Ivy nearly gasped. Those were not the words she had been expecting to hear from him.
Ivy couldn’t respond, instead she just stood there, dumbstruck by what he had just said.
“And I get the feeling that you want me too.” He said and she noticed the way his eyes immediately swung to her breasts. She didn’t need to look to know that he was referring to her erect nipples. He could see them through her flimsy pastel pink cotton blouse. They were hardened mounds, yearning for his touch, for his mouth and Ivy had never felt this helpless about her body before.
“But I…but.” She was stuttering.
“I know…but I know Leon. He won’t mind. In fact, it might even amuse him.” Archer completed the sentence and Ivy could feel her knees wobbling.
What was happening? Her world was being turned upside down. Was she right in thinking that Archer was suggesting…it couldn’t be!
He was staring at her with a deathly intensity. The dimpling smile on his face had disappeared and now he looked more like his brother than ever. He meant business and he wasn’t shy about it.
“Maybe we should ask…” She began to say again; her hands were trembling from the force of her desire for him.
“Are you kidding me? He’s my twin, I don’t need to ask permission first.” Archer said and in two quick steps he had closed the gap between them.
Ivy had her mouth slightly open, and Archer went for it. He was kissing her within seconds, taking the breath away from her and Ivy had no choice but to simply melt into his arms.