Page 112 of Grumpy Billionaire Bad Boy

Carefully, as if I might break completely if he makes the wrong move, Archer slips his cock out of me. He sits on his knees and scoops me into his arms.

"What are we doing now?" I question and consider using my safe word if he has more in store for me.

"Weare going to take a shower. ButIam going to do all the work. You've done enough, London. It's my turn to take care of you." Archer carries me from the bed toward the door.

"You just made me come how many times, and you came once. It's safe to say I have a little more work cut out for me," I respond.

"That was my plan all along." He kisses my forehead and takes me into the bathroom, somehow holding me in one arm as he turns the shower on, giving it a chance to warm up before bringing me inside. "I know you like it hot, but we're going to have to compromise." He sets me on the bench in the shower, turning some of the faucets to where they're hitting both of us at the same time. He grabs the showerhead and rinses my body, the stream both warm and comforting, but not as much as he is.

I didn't expect to feel so vulnerable once we hooked up, and now here I am, wondering why I did this to myself to begin with. I thought this could be a one-time thing, that maybe sleeping with Archer would get him out of my system, but I'm afraid all this did was make things worse, my desire to keep him in my life somehow stronger than it was before.

But I can't keep him, I know this, not when he'd hate me if he knew the truth.

"Archer…" I say, not quite ready to tell him but knowing I can't wait much longer. Not when he was kissing me like he loved me, touching me like he needed me, and especially not now, taking care of me like I'm the only girl in the world.

"Shh." Archer runs his fingers through my hair and lets the water hit it. "Don't waste your energy. I've got you."

Tears well in my eyes and I'm grateful that we're in the shower and I can easily disguise them. I sit here, allowing Archer to continue to do with me as he pleases, my throat aching to say my safe word, finally hitting the limits of what I'm capable of taking.

He washes my hair, this time because he wants to, not out of obligation like in the past. Archer lathers up a washcloth, cleaning every inch of my body, being extra gentle in all the sore spots. He kisses me and for a split second, I enjoy how he's pampering me, each time reminding myself that it can't continue, that it won't last—I can't let it.

Once he's done, Archer showers quickly, and I watch him, admiring every inked spot on his body. I hadn't noticed that his back was covered in a giant skull surrounded by roses. It's sort of poetically beautiful, in a cynical kind of way, but I can't help but wonder how painful it was, and what provoked him to get it. Or all his tattoos, for that matter. It takes a special sort of dedication to get one tattoo, let alone as many that could cover most of your skin. His body is a stunning canvas I want nothing but to explore, one night not long enough to navigate every inch of him.

Archer rinses himself and shuts the water off, stepping outside of the shower to retrieve a towel. He comes back, dabbing my damp skin and wrapping it around my body, not a word spoken between us, and still so much being said. He secures one around his waist before scooping me into his arms and setting me on the bathroom counter. Archer brushes my hair, and even goes as far as to apply lotion to my body, and the special one I use for my face. He hands me my toothbrush and pops his into his mouth, both of us brushing our teeth together, the thought of doing this forever crossing my mind.

I hop off the counter to finish brushing my teeth, my legs a bit wobbly underneath me. I ignore the pain in my ankle at notbeing completely healed just yet, the cast borderline taken off prematurely but not something I'd ever admit out loud.

"I can walk," I tell Archer as he comes toward me, no doubt to pick me up again.

He narrows his gaze at me. "Let me take care of you."

"I am," I admit. "But I can walk. It isn't far." The truth is that I'm not sure how much more I can stand to be in his arms if it won't last another night.

But maybe it could. Maybe I could find a way to make it all make sense. Maybe I could explain to him that my father was a disturbed man, and I tried, I really tried to save her, the love of Archer's life. I know damn well that's not the truth, though—I could have tried harder. I could have done something, anything, to save her, even if it meant dying alongside her. That's what should have happened. I shouldn't have bargained for my life, I should have bled out at the hands of Ricardo Gardella—only if I did, I wouldn't have been able to help Cora, and if I didn't help Cora, then my father might still be alive, his torturous reign needing to have come to an end.

"What's on your mind?" Archer tells me as he pulls back the comforter on his bed and fluffs my pillow for me.

"Nothing," I lie, climbing into the spot he makes for me. "You're staying, right?" I blink up at him, unsure of the words that come out of my mouth.

"Do you want me to?" He covers me up, his dark eyes meeting mine.

"More than you know."

"Okay." Archer turns off the light in his room before coming back. "Scoot over. I want to be closer to the door."

I fight the urge to smile at him and comply, barely giving him space and settling into his warm body once he's positioned himself horizontally. My head fits perfectly on his chest and only adds to the struggle I'm facing at not wanting to let him go.

At least for tonight, maybe I won't have to.

Archer lets out a sigh, holding me to him and kissing my forehead. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm okay," I breathe into him. "Right now, I'm perfect."

"I was rough with you."

"I liked it." I kiss his bare chest. "I promise."

Archer keeps me close to him, his arms tightly around me, all night, occasionally pressing his lips to my face and head throughout the night. I doze in and out, never quite able to fall completely asleep, not wanting to miss the chance of enjoying what I have while it's right here.

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