Page 76 of Red River

"Red River."

His lips trailed down my neck, over my glands, my collarbones—delicate brushes of butterfly wings teasing my skin—before closing around my nipple.

Pink light burst inside my head—I gasped, a shiver running through me. His touch was sensual, measured, each movement gradually intensifying. His tongue flicked, circling, teasing my hardened nub.

Letting myself sink into the sensation, I closed my eyes. My body trembled, heat pooling low in my stomach, sweet tension coiling tight.

Tingling, teasing… It wasn’t intense. It wasn’t overwhelming, it was precise. And that precision made it effective. I fisted my hands in his hair, another moan slipping from my lips—needy, desperate, demanding.

"Please!"

The barest brush of his fingertips over the head of my dick—just a whisper of contact—and suddenly, something inside me snapped. I came undone.

The orgasm hit hard, pleasure tearing through me as I unloaded, letting out a sound that was almost embarrassing—somewhere between a whimper, a squeak, and a moan. My body jerked, my hips pushing forward as I spilled over his chest in five long waves, my breath hitching, shaking.

When the last spurt faded, I glanced down, still breathless.

Archer’s expression was calm, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Feeling silly, I groaned, a flush creeping up my neck. He was still completely in control, while I was trembling like a leaf, utterly wrecked. He had barely even touched me, and the hungry little slut in me had already gushed my jizz all over him.

"I’ll get a towel," I mumbled, scrambling toward the small bathroom attached to his room.

When I came back with a roll of paper towels, Archer was watching me, silent, his face unreadable.

For a second, I thought about offering to return the favor—but something in his energy told me he wasn’t expecting that. Maybe this wasn’t the moment for it.

I had to say something. Had to explain, somehow.

"I wish things were different," I said quietly. "I wish you didn’t have to be in the middle of all this. That you didn’t have to deal with the mess that comes with a family this big. And then we could explore each other in a different way. None of this was ever your choice, and now you’re just… stuck with us."

"Stop, River," he cut in. "It was my choice. And I’m not the type to back down from a challenge. I thrive on them. I like pushing things forward. Repairing. Improving. Making it work. That’s who I am."

"You’re so… alpha," I murmured.

Archer didn’t respond.

"You made a big breakthrough today. You got Igor to train with you. It’s nothing short of a miracle."

"It’s too early to call it a breakthrough." Archer shrugged. "I had to… apply some leverage to get him to agree. Not ideal, butwhen you’re stuck in a deadlock, sometimes you have to force movement."

"I feel like you had a plan all along. More than I ever did when I first got here. I was just… lost in the dark."

Archer reached out, catching a strand of my hair between his fingers and twirling the end slowly.

"River, can you stop stressing? It’s pointless. I asked for your trust, and that still stands."

"You have it," I said. "I just feel stupid. Like you’re giving so much, and I’m not giving you enough. I want to give you more."

Archer’s brows furrowed slightly. "You’re not in my head, River. You don’t know how much I’m getting from this. And you overthink too much. Just let things be. Let them flow."

I nodded slowly. "I’m starting to understand why you asked me for this, and I respect how consistent you are."

Archer let go of my hair, his hand lifting to brush against my cheek.

"Change of subject. My cousin Jan is passing through on Sunday with his husband. I’d like us to have a quick family lunch together."

I smiled, relieved. "Of course, no problem! I vaguely remember him from my visits to Sam’s house when he was a kid—"

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