Page 82 of Shades of Silver City

Archer chuckles, sliding his hand from my shoulder to my waist and giving my hip a squeeze. It sends a bolt of lightning through my core. I work to keep the reaction off my face.

Sirius above.

He’s pretending.

We’re just friends.

It’s just pretend.

I keep repeating those words in my mind, trying to restrain the horny beast inside of me.

“You’re right, honey,” Archer says back. I glance up at him and catch him smirking at me. He winks, and I almost melt.

“Reeeeeeedy boy,” a feminine voice says. The pretty redhead from the couch appears beside Reed. She places a hand with long, pointy fingernails on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “You’re keeping me waiting.”

I snort. “Classy, Reed.”

My chest tightens in jealousy for a brief moment, but then Archer’s fingers caress my hip. His presence grounds me, and any remaining affection for Reed that was trying to flicker back to life is lost again.

“Hold on, Rebekah,” Reed says, his mouth tight. He shimmies out of her grip, pointing at me. “You broke my heart, Tasia. I fucking love you,” he slurs. “We’re not over.”

“Tasia?” Rebekah asks.

“My girlfriend,” Reed says.

“You have a girlfriend?” With a small gasp, she turns her attention to me, her nostrils flaring in surprise. She backs away from Reed, putting a hand up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know…”

My stomach warms at the empathy in her tone. “We’re not together.”

She chews her lip, glancing around the room. “You live here?” she asks, as if she’s piecing it together.

“Yeah, sort of,” I say. Not anymore.

Her face twists into a frown. She turns to Reed, slapping his shoulder. “You brought me to hook up at your ex’s place? While trying to win her back?”

Reed rubs his face. “I didn’t think she’d be here,” he mutters.

“You didn’t think at all!” she says, a bitter-sounding laugh escaping her.

“Just—just give us a fucking minute, Rebekah.”

“You’re an idiot,” she says. She gives me a sad smile. “You clearly upgraded. I could use some pointers.”

Before I can reply, she turns and storms out of sight.

“Dammit, Tasia!” Reed slams his fist into the doorframe, and I flinch.

Beside me, Archer’s body goes rigid. Slowly, he untangles himself from me and stalks toward Reed.

“Raise your voice at another woman, and I will ensure you never have a voice to raise again.”

The danger in Archer’s tone stirs something deep inside of me.

Bending forward slightly to get on the same eye level as Reed, Archer says, “Now, apologize to my lady.”

I don’t miss the way he says my lady, and I have to work to keep the stupid grin off my face.

Reed’s body jerks, and then he nods slowly, as if in a haze. He turns his attention to me, and for the first time I notice how blown out his pupils are. The last bit of my heart breaks for the little boy I once knew, for the man he grew into. I’m not shocked he’s on drugs, but I am disappointed.

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