Page 76 of Shades of Silver City

He stares at me, his forehead crinkling. “I’ll have some dresses picked out.”

“Dresses?” My nose scrunches. “I’d rather go nude.”

Archer’s eyes flare with heat. “I’m not sure the attendees would appreciate that.”

“Loosen up, gangster. I’m only kidding.”

With that, I stand, patting him on the chest.

I head to the kitchen with my empty salad container. “We still need to talk about this living arrangement, though…unless you plan to share a bed.”

Archer’s responding laugh catches me off guard. It carries through the house, a hearty sound, sending electric tingles dancing across my skin.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he says.

“The bed’s big enough to share, and I don’t bite,” I tease.

This doesn’t scare him off like I expected. Instead, he smirks and says in a low, raspy voice, “What if I’m into biting?”

“Archer Acciai, are you flirting?” A shiver runs through me at the implication. I know I should look away, put some distance between us, but I’m locked in, magnetically drawn toward him.

He takes a step forward, and I do the same, until there’s only about a small space of charged energy between us. The air between us crackles in anticipation.

“Of course not,” he says. “Just stating facts.”

“Totally platonic facts, right?”

“Right.”

“Friends share beds all the time. We can do it, too.”

Archer’s eyes fill with a fiery determination. “Oh, so we’re friends now?”

“We’re whatever you want us to be. Friends, yes,” I babble, melting under the heat of his presence. My gaze drops to my toes, and my hair falls into my face, shielding me. He reaches up, pushing the strands out of my face and tucking them behind my ear.

My heart jackhammers so intensely that I fear it’s trying to break through the surface.

My Gods, the sweet gestures are too much. It’s just an innocent touch—barely even a touch—yet I haven’t felt this turned on in so long.

I clear my throat and take a risk. “You know, in case you’re interested, it’s normal for friends to fuck.” I’m done with Reed. I’m a single woman with needs. Might as well make my interest in Archer clear.

“I wouldn’t know,” he murmurs, his eyes flicking to my lips.

“I could show you, if that’s what you want.”

His brows shoot up, and a dusting of pink tinges his cheeks.

A little voice tells me to shut up, to not drag this out, but my desire takes over, pushing me to follow the temptation. “We’ve both had a long few days. Maybe we can distract each other…as friends.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Tasia.” But despite his words, he studies me with heated interest. “I might ruin you for every other man.”

Oh.

Yes. Ruin me. Please.

His words send a bolt of heat straight to my core. There’s that bad-boy attitude I knew Archer possessed deep down. And my Gods, he reserves it for the bedroom. That thought makes me downright giddy. My damn need for him is impossible to ignore. It takes everything in me not to jump on him and tackle him right here in the kitchen.

Before I can reply, he sighs, taking a few steps back. “I should shower and get to sleep. On the couch.” He reaches down to his jeans to adjust himself.

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