Page 102 of The Sounds of Her

“Legally, it would be a nightmare, but you could take her to court for what she did without your consent or input.”

His brow creases. “I would never do that.”

“Does she know that?”

“Yeah, I’ve made it pretty fucking clear I want nothing to do with her. I never want to see her face again, and that is enough.”

I tap a finger against my lip. “Let me handle it.”

“What do you mean? Brooke, I don’t want you getting mixed up in this. It’s playing right into her hands.”

“I was only going to suggest from a legal standpoint, to stop her trying to get you to sign something.”

“She’ll know who you are, we’re not exactly being discrete,” he gives a wry smile. “That could just open a whole bigger can of worms. I’d rather just forget all about her. I said I’m not signing and haven’t heard from her since.”

“I hate that she can treat you like this and…” I trail off.

“I appreciate you wanting to go after her for me, I do, but she’s not worth it.”

Archer doesn’t stop me when I walk around the table and sit down on his lap, brushing some of his long hair back from his forehead. His head tilts so he can look up at me one arm automatically going around my waist, the other rests on my thigh.

“If you ever want, or need anything I can help with, promise you’ll tell me.”

“You worried about me, Brooke?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“You don’t have to be,” he says, pressing a kiss to my throat. “This helped.”

His head lifts and he kisses me. He’s trying to distract me, I’m sure of it, but it’s a nice distraction and I’m happy to do it for him.

Archer stands and carries me to the couch, he sits down so I’m straddling him, and his hands roam under the bottom of his t-shirt around to my ass cheeks. He grabs his wallet from the table beside us and pulls out a condom. I will always insist on protection when I’m with someone, but I’ve never had to say anything before Archer produces a condom. Now I know why.

He strips the t-shirt off me, then drags his off too, allowing me to run my hands over his chest and up into his hair. He lowers his lips to my breast and teases my pussy, making sure I’m ready.

I’m always ready for him. It scares me, but I welcome it when he slides inside of me.

We spend the rest of the afternoon together, getting little else done besides becoming intimately acquainted with every part of each other’s body.

The call about heading to the show eventually comes and breaks the spell.

We take a shower together for the sake of being quick, even though I insist it’s a bad idea. For good reason, because it ends up with me on my knees, doing my best to make him forget any other woman who came before me.

Reluctantly, we dress and head out, but he keeps me close all the way there. When he moves away to go on stage, I feel bereft.

He’s right there, I will be with him again tonight, but tomorrow…

I’m not sure how I’m going to walk away.

Chapter Twenty-Three

After the show, I skip out on the after-party, not caring what the others have to say. Brooke comes with me, no questions asked. We don’t have sex, I’m too exhausted and I’m sure she’s tender from all the fucking we did this afternoon. We went from slow sex to vigorous sex, and back again. Coming together over and over with little talk, but a deep understanding every time we look at each other.

Without letting her see it, I’m angry she’s leaving. Angry at how it makes me feel.

Brooke consumes me, she lives in my head. I can’t say my heart, I don’t want to admit that. But my chest constricts every time I think of her leaving.

With my arms wrapped around her as she sleeps beside me, I stare up at the ceiling.

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