Page 56 of Reckless Kiss

Archer brushed his mouth slowly, softly, kissing her with tenderness. She melted against him as his kiss became firmer, his breathing heavier. She was getting carried away, floating with his dizzying kiss.

Breaking their connection, her chest heaving as she took a deep breath. “Archer,” she said.

“Erica,” he said softly, offering her the napkin of chocolates.

“You can come back only if you don’t run out on me again,” she said.

“Let’s make a pact. I won’t run out on you if you don’t run out on me.”

There wasn’t any way Erica would renege on her side of the bargain, not when his siblings depended on this match.

“It’s a deal. But can we drop the nightcap stuff? I feel like I’m living in another era. This whole place feels like it is stuck in time.”

“Why do you think we all moved away, honey?”

That comment made her sad. The buildings were magnificent, and the art and decorative features were spectacular. She could imagine Turner Hall being a setting for a period drama or a movie set. The thought of the family moving away to get a hold of 21st-century life was too much for her to handle.

“I’m sorry, Archer. I didn’t mean to make light of where you grew up.”

Archer smiled warmly and took her hand. She linked their fingers and squeezed, relishing the warmth of his hand.

“Let’s go back to your place. I feel at home there.”

Erica’s heart swelled at his words. Never did she think a marriage pact would have been this way. She felt more for this man than she had for her first husband. Could she handle marrying his aunt, too, because she thought there would be more than just her in the marriage of convenience?

Chapter 28

Archer

Erica woke him up the following morning while she was asleep, mumbling about raspberries and chocolate. He’d slipped out of bed, hoping she wouldn’t wake before returning with the napkin he’d put in her fridge when they’d arrived back the previous night. Archer wasn’t feeling like drinking anymore after the wine they’d had with their meal. So they skipped the nightcap.

Locking the back door once they were inside, he took her hand and led Erica to her bed. She didn’t resist his move, and he was fucking delighted after he’d high-tailed it out of her bed the last time they’d had sex.

“You’re hot,” Archer said, lying prone on Erica’s bed between her legs, lining up the sweets on her stomach.

“Why, thank you, Archer.”

“Your skin is hot, and the chocolates are melting. Hang on. I need to lick it away.”

Hearing Erica giggle when his tongue swept over a crumb of chocolate on her ribs under her breast was the bestsound in the world. He’d kept his promise and stayed with her tucked against his side all night. Unlike last time, Archer didn’t feel the need to run away from the intensity of their connection. He was still thoroughly mixed up about how he should feel. This was an arrangement, yet he could see a future for them. It was evident by the look of fright on Erica’s face the previous night that his aunt had scared her or threatened her. Family or not, Archer would shield her from the old ways. His aunt could have her conditions, but they did not include scaring off his temporary wife.

He kissed her stomach and ate one of the chocolates in one go. Then kissed another part of her skin until he reached her breasts and swirled his chocolate-coated tongue over her nipple. After lapping at the hardened bud until it was clean, he took the last chocolate. He brought it up to her lips, brushing it across her bottom lip, smearing the melted gooeyness. Archer swiped, drawing a moan from Erica’s throat. She arched her back when he plunged inside her mouth, their tongues swirling. He hooked a hand under her thigh to bring it up high so he could settle his hips between hers.

“This is what lazy Sundays are for, fucking and eating unhealthy food,” he said.

“I’ve never had time for a lazy any day, let alone a Sunday.”

“You sound like a workaholic,” he muttered as he pushed his hips to simulate what he really wanted to do.

The condoms were just out of reach. Archer didn’t want to move from the cradle Erica had created with her arms and legs wrapped around him. They fit together perfectly. He kissed her neck while she hummed her approval, tilting her hips in response to his caress.

“Make me forget I have a job,” she said.

Reaching for the wrapper, Archer sheathed and pushed inside Erica.

Fucking heaven.

She released a soft gasp as he pushed as far as their bodies could. The first stroke nearly sent him over the edge. Mindful that Erica took longer to come than he did, Archer took his thrusts slow. Agonising as it was to hold back, he wanted to get her there from his cock. It was a prideful, ridiculous primal need to ensure his woman was taken care of.

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