Page 24 of Mine for a Moment

Twenty

Archer

I hesitate as I stare at Ezra’s front door, unsure how to navigate the new dynamics between Serenity and me. Do we still hang out together, or does she want certain boundaries between us? “Fuck it,” I murmur, before ringing the bell.

She opens the door moments later, and a rush of something I can’t quite define runs down my spine as I take her in. She looks fucking breathtaking in those tiny shorts and her sports bra, random paint streaks all over her body and her beautiful, long, curly hair cascading over her shoulders, to her waist.

“Archer,” she says, clearly surprised to see me so early on a Saturday morning. “Hi!”

I grin as she steps aside to let me in. “Hi, darling,” I murmur, the endearment slipping past my lips subconsciously.

She smiles in that adorably shy way, and my heart begins to beat a little faster as she leads me into the living room. Her eyes roam over my jeans and tee appreciatively as I sit down and lean back, and it takes all of me not to pull her on my lap and kiss her.

“I started the painting you requested,” she tells me, plopping down right next to me, her thigh brushing against my jeans. “I didn’t want to bother you unnecessarily, so I brought some of the supplies you bought back with me. Since Ezra isn’t home this weekend, I figured I could work on it without being interrupted.”

It’s unreal how much her mere proximity has started to affect me. I’ve never experienced anything like this. The giddiness, the way my heart races when she looks into my eyes. It’s all new, and it throws me off. I can’t resist touching her and wrap my arm around her, pulling her closer, my face inches from hers. “So you planned to paint all day today? Bring it all back to mine later. I set up the spare room for you, so you’d have your own space for it. Iwantyou in my home, darling. You’re always welcome, even if I’m not there.”

She nods, her eyes dropping to my mouth. I watch as she bites down on her lip, and my cock instantly hardens. The hold she has over me is unbelievable. “Okay, I, um, I will, and yeah, I was just gonna paint. Unless you had something else in mind?”

I reach for her and lift her onto my lap, my willpower entirely nonexistent when she looks at me like that. She gasps, her eyes widening when she feels my cock pressing against her ass, her gaze instantly becoming heated. Her breathing accelerates just a touch as she places one hand over my heart, the other moving around to the back of my neck.

“I did have something else in mind, actually,” I murmur, holding on to the last shreds of my sanity with all my might as I grab her waist, loving the feel of her. “Knowing you, you probably have a list of things you want to do here, don’t you?” I smirk, and she raises a brow. “Other than me, of course.”

She laughs, and her head falls back in the most beautiful way. “You’re ridiculous,” she says, her eyes twinkling. “But yes, I do have a list.”

“Let’s do something on your list today, then. I’m free all day.” It’snot exactly true. I have mountains of paperwork to get through, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s been so long since I last took a day off, and one day won’t kill me.

“Really?” She looks so bewildered, so hopeful, and instantly an unbidden thought comes to mind.I’d do anything for her if she keeps looking at me that way.

“Yep. Go get ready. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

She jumps off my lap excitedly. “Then I want to have brunch at the highest restaurant in the city. Can we?”

“Heritage Harvest?” I ask, raising a brow.

She nods, her gaze pleading. Sera looks like she’s about to attempt to convince me with a thousand reasons why that’s what we need to do today, and I grin.

“You got it, baby,” I tell her as I grab my phone.

She does the cutest little jump before turning and rushing away to get dressed, getting ready in record time. Not even thirty minutes later, we’re walking into the restaurant she wanted to go to, my hand on her lower back, a strange sense of pride rushing through me.

There’s something thrilling about having her by my side. It makes me feel like I’m on top of the world to stand next to her, especially in that gorgeous red summer dress she’s wearing, her lips a matching shade.

“Mr. Harrison,” the restaurant manager says, his demeanor nervous as he throws Serenity a smile. “It’s such an honor to have you here today. We prepared our best table for you.”

I nod, and they lead us to a floral birdcage-style booth on the rooftop terrace. Serenity gasps, and I smile to myself as she scoots along the circular bench. It’s been positioned to face an unobstructed view offering us a great deal of privacy. Even I have to admit it’s pretty damn magical.

“Your favorite champagne,” the manager says, smiling. All the while, Serenity just takes it all in, some of her initial excitement seemingly dimmed as she begins to tap her leg. “There’s a set menu today, but if there’s anything off the menu you’d like, we will of course make that for you.”

I glance at my girl and place my hand on her thigh, a rush of possessiveness coursing through me when she looks at me. “Tell me what you want,” I tell her. “Anything at all, darling.”

She smiles shakily and shakes her head. “The set menu is fine.”

I nod, and the manager walks away, leaving the two of us alone. “What’s wrong?” I ask, slipping my hand underneath her dress to caress her thigh.

“Nothing,” she says, looking away.

I reach for her and gently pinch her chin, turning her face back to mine. “Communication is important to me, Serenity. If we’re going to be together in any capacity, I need you to communicate with me.”

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