Page 45 of My Darling Mayhem

He flicked a pensive expression at Wren. “You may be used to getting your way in your club, but I have a lawyer, and I will?—”

Using my knee, I pinned his bicep down while I gripped his wrist with one hand, and with the other, I pulled out my knife and held it over his forearm.

“How about I carve my cell phone number into your arm? That way, there’s no confusion about what it is I’m asking. If. Wren. Needs. Help. You. Will. Call. Me.” I pressed the tip of my knife to his skin and heard Wren start toward me.

“Archer.”

Brian’s eyes bugged out, his mouth gaping as he registered that I was serious. “Fuck, okay. Okay. I heard you. I’ll call you.”

A trickle of blood followed from the line I’d started on his arm to form the number two. I released him and stood up, pocketing my knife.

“Good. Now get the fuck out of here.”

My hand found Wren’s hip as I moved her away from his car and took her laptop bag from her shoulder. Brian’s tires squealed while he peeled out of her driveway and sped down the street. Wren’s shoulders were rigid while we walked inside the house alone.

I set her bag down on her little entryway table when she spun on me, her silky, brown hair flying.

“You can’t reject me one second and the next—” I backed her up against her door and held her chin in my hand.

Her eyes searched my face frantically, her chest rising and falling quickly, but her hands were tangled in my T-shirt.

“I didn’t reject you, Wren. You said you wanted a fairy tale, then tried to fuck me out of your life. I know you probably don’t see it that way, but it’s what makes me different than that asshole who just dropped you off.”

Her mouth parted like she was surprised, and her dark brows dipped into the center of her forehead. However, her fingers gathered more fabric, like she was worried I’d step away.

“I may have said I wouldn’t fuck you, but that sure as hell doesn’t mean I’ll share you with anyone. I’m doing something here…” I trailed my finger down her jaw and leaned in closer.

She wet her lips, rasping, “Doing what?”

“Right now, I’m kissing you. The rest, you’ll find out soon enough.” I smiled before closing the space between us. Our lips met, slow and tentative. Wren tilted her jaw and opened for me. My tongue slid over her bottom lip, and then her top, and she pulled me closer with her hands while moving her tongue against mine.

My chest felt too full, there was that clashing electricity sparking and lighting every nerve ending on fire. My hands came up to cup Wren's face. She moved with me, sliding her tongue against mine while her hands moved from my shirt to around my neck.

I felt like she’d pried her fingers between my rib cage and began weaving thread around my heart, stitching in words that I never imagined would be a part of my story. It fucking terrified me as I felt the weight of hope begin to fill me so much that I released her and pinned my forehead to hers.

Thistle knocked on the glass slider door right then, and I stepped away from her.

Her lips were swollen, her face a pinkish hue, and her eyes… looked like they’d finally found something she’d been searching for.

A heavy thrum behind my chest filled me, making me move toward the door. Wren was breathing hard, and so was I.

“Archer,” she said softly.

I paused at the back slider and looked back over at her.

“I need a ride to work tomorrow.” Her lips spread into an easy smile, and I felt my own stretch into one that matched hers.

“Done.” I slid the door open, but before stepping out, I reminded her, “Oh, and Wren?”

She was holding her arms over her chest, fighting a smile. “Yes?”

“Don’t think I forgot about the other thing either…I don’t plan on stopping.”

Her brows hit her hairline in surprise as I slid the door closed and joined Thistle outside.

TWELVE

ARCHER

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