Chapter Fourteen
After eating the delicious dinner Archer had made, Janie wasn’t ready to part from him for the night. Lately, she found she was always happiest when by his side. No matter what she talked about in therapy or how stressful her day at work seemed, seeing Archer’s sexy smile eased all her worries.
“Can we go for a walk, Archer?” She gave him a shy glance. While she’d been trying to work on seeing her self-worth like Chelsea ordered, it was still sometimes difficult for her to believe Archer would voluntarily spend more time with her.
To her relief, he gave a wide grin. “A walk? Like a moonlit walk on the beach?”
She gave a hesitant nod.
“So,” he replied, “it’s a date, then, right?”
When his hand reached for hers, she gave him a relieved smile and accepted it, twining her fingers in his. “Yep, I guess it’s a date. Dinner and a walk on the beach sounds like a pretty perfect date to me.”
She led him to the doorway, pleased at home much better he was walking in such a short period of time. He’d been faithful in doing all the exercises prescribed by the doctor, and his healing had been happening more rapidly than she’d expected.
He slipped his shoes on before opening the door, holding his hand out to indicate she should walk before him. “After you, my lady.”
She could get used to that treatment. Most men she’d spent time with in the past pawed at her and were to eager for the bedroom. She’d never really spent much time with a gentleman before.
Helping him down the steps was a bit of a challenge, as they still jarred him a bit too much, but once they got to the flat sand of the beach, packed down by the previous tide, he walked along at a better clip. He looked down to where her arm was threaded through his and reached over with his opposite hand to pat her fingers.
She just then realized that she’d continued clinging to him. “Is this okay?”
“Better than okay,” he assured her. “I was thinking how nice it was. Ever since that night, I haven’t been sure what it’s okay to do with you. I’ve wanted to hold you and touch you more, but I understand if you haven’t wanted to be around a man.”
Janie shook her head. “If the man’s you, it’s okay.”
She was surprised at how much she meant that. She still flinched involuntarily whenever another man got near her, despite the progress she’d been making in therapy. However, Archer’s touch always soothed her. Being with him even made him think she would be able to enjoy sex again, but there was no other man who did that to her. She knew it was because Archer could be trusted. He was the only man she could tolerate, but that might be a bit heavy for him to hear the extent to which her feelings spread.
Instead, she gazed out at the water as they continued their easy stroll. “It’s beautiful tonight. The full moon against the waves is gorgeous.”
‘Not as gorgeous as the lady on my arm,” Archer said immediately. “We should do this more.”
Did he mean he wanted to go on dates with her? The happy warmth that rose in her chest at that thought was a new sensation. “I’d like that.”
“So, tell me more about your passion for cooking,” she prompted, suddenly desperate to know more about his life. “Tell me whatever you want, actually.”
“Whatever I want? Hmmm…” He untangled his arm from hers, reaching down to grasp her hand instead. “I once had a pet cat. My parents didn’t know I’d taken in a stray. He shared my meager meals. In fact, he was the first one to eat my recipes other than me. Do you like animals?”
“Sure,” she agreed. “I’ve never been in a position where I could have one, but I was always jealous of kids at school who lived in regular houses and had pets. It would have been nice to have a constant friend.”
“It was,” he said. “I wish you had that too. Maybe, someday, we could get a cat together.”
She raised her eyebrows, unable to hide her surprise. “Wouldn’t getting a pet together mean we were committed to something more than being friends?”
“Yeah, it would. Is it bad that I want that?”
Unable to meet his gaze, she continued walking beside him. “It’s not bad, but I’m a bit surprised you’d say you want that with me.”
“Stop being surprised,” he said. “I’ve wanted to date you since nearly the moment we met, and especially since a day or two later.”
“That long?”
He nodded. “I was terribly jealous when Larissa told me you’d stayed at the resort to go on a date that night. I knew at that point that I wanted you to be my girl.”
“Even with my sleeping around? Even with your past with your ex?”
“None of that matters when you find the right person,” he said. “Larissa sort of pushed me to see it quicker, but I want to be the man you count on, Angel.”
She had found herself trusting in Archer more and more the past few weeks, counting on him in ways she normally didn’t allow herself to with people. Her heart longed for him when they were apart. Did that mean she wanted to count on him, that she wanted to be the woman he counted on too?
“Date me,” he said when the silence went on too long. “Please just be my girl and let’s figure everything out as we go.”
“Okay.” The words were out of her mouth before she could even think about it.
“Okay?” He stopped walking, turning to face her. “Really?”
Even though her heart pounded with a touch of fear, she nodded.
“Oh, Angel. You’ve made me the happiest man on the island. Maybe the whole world!”
His hands cupped her cheeks as his eyes shone in the moonlit while they gazed into hers.
His warmth made her heart pound. She waited for him to make a move, but he seemed frozen, likely worrying about how far she could handle him touching her after everything that happened with Jaden.
She smiled at him, then flashed a playful wink. “You gonna kiss me or what?”
“Damn, but you’re sexy when you’re demanding.” He leaned into her, his lips gently pressing against hers. He was soft and sweet, not pressing her for more before leaning away. “Your lips taste so good.”
She wrapped her arms around him, pressing into his body. “That’s not enough to satisfy me. I need more of you.”
He wrapped his arms around her in return, kissing her deeper this time as his tongue tangled with hers.
Despite her normal need to control any situation such as this, she forced herself to relax, allowing Archer to dictate the pace of their kisses. However, as his hands stroked up and down her spine, going lower at times to caress her ass, his lips and tongue also teased and delighted her mouth as much as she could wish. Archer hadn’t been kidding about being interested in her. It was nice that she could trust that he wasn’t only looking to get her in bed. She knew without a doubt that she could let him do whatever he wanted, and he’d still want her after the sun rose in the morning.
As his kisses made her hotter and hotter, she finally forced herself to pull away. “Should we go back to your room?”
His eyes widened. “I’m not sure…”
“You don’t want to do more?”
He shook his head forcefully. “It’s not that. But I am still injured. Maybe we should stop the date for tonight.”
“I’ll be gentle,” she promised. “I want more of you, Archer. I can’t stand knowing that you want me as much as I want you and do nothing about it.”
“Is that really okay?” He shook his head.
She let her arms fall away from him, trying not to sigh. It was too good to believe that he could trust her. He didn’t want to have sex with her because he still didn’t think she’d be faithful to him. As much as she’d tried to convince herself over the last two weeks that she wasn’t just a slut, it seemed her new boyfriend was going to need more time.
She turned and began walking back down the beach back to Larissa’s house. “Sorry. It was too soon to ask you for that. I know I’m not the kind of girl you’re used to.”
His hand caught hers, jerking her to a stop. “Don’t say that,” he said, his voice anguished. “I want you, Angel, I want you so bad. I was worried about you, not me.”
“What do you mean?”
He pulled her back into his arms, running his hand down her side as he found her lips once more. After he pulled away, he kept his face close to hers. “The last time you tried something sexual, it didn’t turn out well. I don’t want to scare you or have you suffer from a bad flashback.”
Relief flooded through her. He was so serious looking that she couldn’t doubt his explanation. “So, what you’re saying is you want me.”
“Damn right!” He chuckled, bumping his forehead against hers. “But I’m willing to wait until you’re ready for that.”
“I already told you, though.” She gazed into his eyes, not looking away and hoping he understood how serious she was. “If it’s you, I’m okay. You are the only man I think I can ever trust with my body again, but I do trust you. There is no fear when you kiss or touch me. All I feel is a burning desire in my chest and the need to get closer with you.”
He nodded. “Let’s hurry back. You can tell me to stop if you get scared, but I have the same desires for you.”
She knew she wouldn’t get scared, not with Archer. Taking his hand, they walked as quickly as his injured ribs would allow. Maybe they couldn’t do everything tonight due to Archer’s injuries, but she wanted to do more than a kiss to seal their relationship to each other.
***
Laying on his bed, Archer felt more nervous than he had in a while. Janie lay next to him, seeming stiff despite her claims that she’d be okay if he was the one doing something to her. Could they really do more than kiss and have her be okay.
“It’s okay,” she said, as though reading his mind. “I want you.”
He could feel her nerves, but he knew that no matter how far they went, if she changed her mind, he’d stop. He already knew he loved her. He wasn’t Jaden. Rolling slowly to his side, he hesitantly reached for her neck, stroking his hand along the delicate skin there.
She let out a soft moan, tilting her head up to give him better access.
Encouraged, he leaned over further, pressing his lips where his hand had been and sucking on her shapely collarbone.
She let out another soft moan and ran her fingers through his hair. “That feels so good.”
He worked the kisses up her neck, his excitement building as Janie expressed her pleasure. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered into her ear. “I’ve wanted you so much. I love… being with you.”
He’d almost said he loved her, but he was sure she wouldn’t believe him this fast. It was okay. He knew how he felt, and eventually she’d understand the extent of his feelings.
“I love being with you too!” She rubbed at his shoulders. “You should take this shirt off. I want to feel your skin against mine.”
Ignoring the deeper twinges of pain, Archer twisted to slip his shirt off.
“Oh, my!” Janie reached up, her warm hands racing down his chest and tracing the contours of his muscles. “I thought this before, but your body is so sexy.”
Her touch electrified him, making him hard in seconds. How could she turn him on like this? She was too damn sexy.
Slowly, he pulled at her shirt, keeping his eyes on her face to make sure she didn’t freak out. Fortunately, she soon helped him to remove it, revealing her smooth skin and her full breasts covered in a white, lacy bra.
Feeling bolder, he went for her chest, teasing a nipple between his fingers until it formed a stiff peak. He sucked on the other one, wetting the fabric of her bra but feeling satisfied when she let out another soft moan.
She ran her fingernails lightly down his back, driving him wild with the sensual sensation. “Archer, I’m trying to change my ways and let you control this, but I’m desperate for more. Can you hurry?”
He chuckled, loving how desperate she sounded for him. Making quick work of her pants, he tickled at her thighs, working his way to her inner legs while still teasing the tips on her chest.
Janie spread her legs, obviously wanting more stroked than her thighs. “God, your hands are like magic.”
Archer stopped tickling her, moving his hand upward and finding how wet she already became. She really did want him! With this knowledge, he felt more confident, touching her more aggressively as he found the hot bundle of nerves at the top of her heat.
“Oh!” She clutched his head tight to her while he flicked his finger faster and faster. “Yes, that’s so good.”
“Shhh,” he warned, not wanting anyone on the bottom floor to overhear.
“Hmmm.”
Her muffled cry was much quieter, and Archer looked up to see she’d pulled the extra pillow across her face.
The way she twitched and moved, he knew she was nearing a climax. It made him feel awesome to have the ability to give her so much pleasure. Her body suddenly went rigid and the moaning became louder beneath the pillow, and then Janie’s body shook for several seconds before going limp.
Archer rose up her body, pushing the pillow aside and kissing her deeply. His ribs screamed in protest at the position, but he didn’t care. He needed to connect with her on this level now, to make sure she was in the moment with him.
She clutched at him, breathing heavily into his mouth as little aftershocks shuddered throughout her body every few seconds. “Oh, my,” she whispered after they subsided. “That was so good. I never knew it could be like that without my doing anything.”
He chuckled, proud and pleased. “It’ll be like this from now on with me, Angel. I am to please.”
“And you do it very well,” she said, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow and then smiling at him. “Now roll over. It’s your turn to feel good.”
Archer fell onto his back, taking the weight off his injured ribs and letting out a relieved breath. Her excitement had dulled his pain for a few seconds, but the ribs were complaining at him now.
She sat over him, looking at him with a small pout on her lips. “That hurt you, didn’t it?”
“It’s fine.”
“No, not really.” She shook her head. Her hand slid across his stomach in a delicious touch, making him gasp a bit with the pleasure of it. “But I’m about to make you forget it.”
Her hand went downward, firmly gripping his stiff member. She stroked it up and down the length of it with excruciating slowness, making him stand at complete attention once again. When she bent down and joined her lips in with the motion of her hand, he about lost it right then.
Her talented tongue massaged at his shaft, while she fondled his balls with a light grip.
Archer had wanted her so bad and for so long that he wasn’t able to keep his composure. Moaning with the excitement her touch brought, he tried to hold off a bit longer to keep enjoying the sensations her touch brought. It was no good. Within moments, he was already at his limit.
“That’s enough,” he warned. “Come here.”
She looked up at him from the tops of her eyes, not removing her mouth from his twitching cock. As though to tell him it was okay, she flashed a wink and then went back to work, devouring him in her hot mouth.
Realizing what she indicated, Archer gripped her hair and urged her to a faster pace. Within moments he climaxed, his body no longer feeling anything except pure, blissful pleasure.
With a grin, Janie wiped at her mouth and crawled back up the bed along his side, settling herself into his arms. “I’m glad you let me do that,” she whispered.
He chuckled, stroking her hair and her rapidly cooling back. “I’m glad you wanted to.”
She glanced up, kissing him lightly. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’ve never done that for anyone else. I don’t want you to feel like you are just another guy. You’re someone I want to build a relationship with. I’m scared, but you’re special.”
Her words stunned him. It was what he’d hoped to hear from her but hadn’t expected. “You don’t have to worry about that. Don’t be scared. I’m yours and you are mine. I trust you, Angel. Don’t keep explaining yourself or worrying about your past. From today forward, we’re both new people, okay?”
Her eyes glistened as tears gathered in them, but her beatific smile let him know they were happy tears. She nodded, before bending down to take his lips again.