Page 50 of Reckless Kiss

They talked amicably through dinner, discussing his adventures worldwide with his siblings. After some back and forth, they found a city they’d both visited, but between them, they’d covered most of the globe. When the wine was finished, and the dishes were empty, a silence fell between them.

Archer cleared his throat, but he couldn’t catch a breath. He’d decided that afternoon he would propose after dinner, but now they had reached the stage of nothing left on the table to eat or drink. Nerves shattered his resolve.

“Archer, are you okay?” Erica asked, placing a hand on his knee under the table.

He shot off his chair at her touch, coughing and banging his chest with the flat of his hand. “I’ll be right back,” he said.

He raced into the kitchen, took a glass off the shelf, and filled it with water. Then, he gulped down the whole lot and filled the glass again, drinking half of it.

“What’s the matter with me?” he muttered, putting the rest of the water down on the side.

“Are you all right, Archer?” Erica called out behind him.

It’s now or never, he thought.

Turning around, he dropped to one knee and brought the ring box out of his pocket. Erica looked shocked and held her fingers to her lips, eyes watering but not spilling over.

“Archer,” she said, almost breathless.

“I know this is a deal we made, but I wanted to propose, anyway. It could be the only time I ever get a woman to be my wife, so why not make some memories,” he said.

She stepped towards him, cupping his cheek. “Ask the question, Archer.”

He wanted to scream inside at the ridiculous scene playing out. He was only doing this to get his aunt to give him some of his inheritance early. So why was he so nervous she might say no? He had no idea.

“Erica Taylor, will you agree to be my wife?”

She nodded at him. First, her lip wobbled then a tearslid down her face. It was as if they’d been in love for years, and he’d sprung the proposal on her. If it were real, this would be the best moment of his life. He opened the ring box and showed her the antique pearl ring.

“Archer, it’s gorgeous,” she said, lifting it out. She looked at it from every angle, marvelling at the piece of jewellery.

“Let me have it so I can slip it onto your finger,” he said, taking it from her hand.

Archer stood to do this part, taking her left hand and looking into her eyes. He kept her gaze as he pushed the ring onto her engagement finger. It fitted. Perfectly. Like it was meant to be hers. If that didn’t send him into a tailspin, her following words did.

“I love this ring. I never want to take it off.”

“Erica, you don’t have to say that. I know where I stand with this arrangement.”

“It was a beautiful proposal. I shall treasure the memory even if you don’t mean it.”

Archer stalled, wanting to tell her that even though right now he didn’t think he was ready for marriage, he was very much falling under her spell.

“Do you think we should kiss?” he asked to distract her.

“We should definitely seal our fates. Kiss me until I’m breathless,” she said.

Archer tugged her closer by her hand and leaned in. Pressing his mouth to hers, he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, searching for the igniting passion he knew was there. The moment she slid against him, he pressed their bodies together. Hungry kisses were deep and soul-searing as his hands dropped to her waist and then lower. He grabbed her arse, and she moaned into his mouth, flicking the tip of her tongue along the roof of his mouth.His spine tingled, his balls drew up, and if he weren’t careful, he wouldn’t make it to her bed.

Clutching at her waist, he lifted her, placing her down hard on the countertop, wedging himself between her knees, then yanking her to the edge. Not giving her much time to take a breath, his mouth covered her again, relishing the warmth of her open mouth, the tightness of her calves pressing against his arse. They couldn’t be closer if they tried while clothed. He ripped his mouth from hers and stepped out of her hold walking to the other side of the kitchen island. Archer was in a state of arousal so bad that he wanted to rip her clothes off and sink his cock inside her.

Holding back the primal roar lodged in his throat, he drew his gaze back to Erica. She looked at him over her shoulder, not fazed by his indecision. One shoulder and then the other, she pulled down her dress. His eyes were glued to her bare back, her shoulder blades moving as she shoved the dress to her waist. While rearranging her clothing, Archer caught a glimpse of the side of her breast. The curve was enticing, as was her smooth, flawless skin.

“Erica, you are not playing fair,” he whispered so harshly she paused for a few moments before lying back on the counter. Her arms draped over her head, so her wrists dangled over the edge nearest him.

“Fuck,” he said, pushing his fingers through his hair.

He wanted her, craved her.

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