Page 108 of Beautiful Thing

“Archer!” she sobs my name.

I forget all about my pain as I hook my leg around hers, grab her hip and pump into her, releasing all the desire that’s been pent up inside of me.

By the time I’m done emptying, my heart is pounding and we’re both covered in sweat. I seize hold of Layla’s waist, flipping her to face me.

Her arms slide around me and she nestles her cheek to my chest.

After a moment, she pulls back, her face only inches from mine as she stares at me in the dark. “All of this is happening so fast…”

I stroke her messy bangs away from her forehead. “Is it really? Because I’ve been drowning in these feelings for you for years.”

Her eyebrows pull together with gravity as she seems to absorb our situation. “I’m scared. Are you scared?” she asks me.

After taking a moment to swallow the invisible rock in my throat, I answer honestly. “I am, Layla. I’m really fucking scared.”

I’ve already decided that she’s worth the risk, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m terrified.

“Remember—we aren’t breaking the rules. We’re only bending them. Soon, everything goes back to normal.” I can’t tell if she’s trying to assure herself or me.

“Yeah. Soon, everything goes back to normal.”

Unfortunately, that’s the scariest part for me.

Knowing that in a matter of weeks, I won’t have an excuse to hold her close, to have her under my roof, in my bed.

I don’t know how I’ll survive that.

42

LAYLA

Archer hands me the bouquet of red roses he just purchased from the florist then he brushes his lips across my cheek. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Belle.”

I’m strolling around the farmer’s market with Archer and Sky. All eyes follow us as I bury my nose in the rose petals and sigh. I’m blushing like a beefsteak tomato because I know that this little romantic moment between my fake beau and me will have the rumor mill churning for days.

“Belle?” I sigh wistfully, ruminating on the pet name Archer calls me.

“Belleis French, you know? It means ‘beautiful’.” He’s obviously very proud of himself for that piece of trivia.

“Ooh. Look at you—myinternationalLover Man.”

When I say that, he freaking starts to blush. “Lover Man,” he scoffs. “Are you ever going to come up with a better nickname for me?”

I giggle. “Never. You love it. Your ears turn pink every time I call you that.”

“It’s you, Belle. You make me blush like a dorky teenaged fool. I admit it. Happy now?” He kisses the side of my head.

“I honestly cannot tell you how happy I am, Archer Brighton,” I confess truthfully.

He really went all out today. In addition to the flowers, he bought me a pair of pajama’s from Daphne’s boutique and a sexy red dress that I’ll be wearing when we go out tonight, as well as some crystal jewelry he had custom ordered from Ziggy’s metaphysical shop.

“You’re being really over the top,” I tell him, peeking at him above my flower petals.

“No way.” He wags his head. “I’ve always been alone on Valentine’s Day. I’m enjoying getting to spoil you this year.” There’s a rueful look on his face. I think it’s because neither of us knows where we’ll be on February 14th of next year.

Later on tonight, Nicky and Ronan are hosting a potluck to celebrate the anniversary of their first date. They offered Archer a pass to skip the party because of his injury. But he shocked us all when heinsistedthat he and I wouldn’t miss it. He also insisted on coming along to the farmer’s market with Sky and me to pick up cupcakes for the party.

Who is this new Archer Brighton?! Participating in society and everything. Without being forced to!

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