Page 56 of Hot for the Dragon

Archer's other hand came up to frame her face, his palms gentle against her skin. "Daphne." Her name came out rough with emotion. "You crashed into my carefully ordered world with your optimism and determination. It made me feel things I thought I'd buried forever." His thumbs traced her cheekbones. "I've tried to fight it, tried to tell myself I don't deserve someone as pure-hearted as you. But I'm in love with you too."

Warmth bloomed in Daphne's chest at his words. She saw the vulnerability in his eyes, knew how much it cost this proud, solitary man to admit his feelings.

"You make me want to be better," he continued, his voice soft. "You see good in everyone, even me. And somehow you've made me believe in it too."

"You are good," Daphne whispered. She reached up to touch his face, tracing the strong line of his jaw. "You just needed someone to remind you."

His hands tightened slightly on her face as he leaned closer, his presence enveloping her. "You've become everything to me," he murmured. "And I never want to let you go."

Daphne's heart fluttered as his dark eyes locked on hers. When his lips touched hers, soft and questioning, warmth bloomed through her entire body. His hand slid to cradle the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair as he deepened the kiss. Electric tingles raced down her spine at the gentle pressure.

"You're trembling," he murmured against her lips.

"Good trembling," she whispered back, her hands coming up to rest on his broad chest. She could feel his heart thundering beneath her palms.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his expression intense. "Tell me if you want me to stop."

Daphne shook her head, already missing the warmth of his lips. "Don't you dare."

A growl rumbled in his chest as he claimed her mouth again. This kiss was different - deeper, hungrier. His powerful arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer until she was practically in his lap. Heat surged through her veins as his tongue swept across her bottom lip, asking for entrance.

She melted against him, parting her lips with a soft sigh. Every brush of his tongue against hers sent sparks shooting through her body. His hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss further. The possessive gesture made her shiver with delight.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Daphne felt dizzy with sensation. Archer's eyes had darkened to midnight, pupils blown wide with desire. His thumb traced her lower lip, now slightly swollen from his kisses.

"I've wanted to do that for weeks," he admitted, his voice rough.

"Why didn't you?" She traced patterns on his chest, enjoying how his muscles jumped beneath her touch.

"Because once I started, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop." He captured her lips again in a searing kiss that made her toes curl.

26

DAPHNE

Archer’s hand found hers as he led her through the corridors of his mansion. The air between them crackled with an unspoken tension, and Daphne’s heart pounded in her chest. She had never been in his bedroom before, and the anticipation made her skin hum.

The door swung open, revealing a room that was both elegant and fiercely masculine. A massive four-poster bed dominated the space, its silk sheets gleaming faintly in the moonlight filtering through the curtains.

Before she could take it all in, Archer turned her to face him, his hands framing her face. His kiss was possessive, demanding yet tender, and it sent a shiver through her body. Daphne’s hands instinctively gripped the front of his shirt, pulling him closer as their lips moved together in a rhythm that was both familiar and thrillingly new.

His mouth left hers, tracing a path along her jawline to her neck. His lips were soft against her skin, each kiss sending little jolts of electricity through her. She tipped her head back, giving him better access, and a soft gasp escaped her as his teeth grazed her pulse point.

"You’re so perfect," he murmured against her skin, his hands sliding down her sides to caress her curves. The warmth of his palms through her sweater made her breath hitch. Slowly, he pulled the sweater over her head, tossing it aside before unhooking her bra. The cool air brushed her skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat of his gaze as he looked at her.

Archer didn’t rush. He took his time, his lips trailing kisses down her neck to her collarbone before finally closing over one of her breasts. His tongue swirled around her nipple, teasing it into a hard peak, and Daphne’s knees nearly buckled. His hands roamed her body, exploring every curve as if he were committing her to memory.

"Archer," she breathed, her voice trembling.

Gently, he laid her down on the bed, his lips never leaving her skin. He kissed his way down her stomach, his hands slipping beneath the waistband of her pants. Slowly, he slid them off, along with her panties, leaving her bare before him.

Daphne’s face flushed as Archer looked up at her with raw desire. He knelt between her legs, his hands resting on her thighs, and leaned in. The first touch of his tongue was soft, tentative, as if he were savoring her. She gasped, her fingers tangling in the silk sheets as waves of pleasure began to build.

He took his time, alternating between slow, lazy strokes and firmer, more insistent ones. Every flick of his tongue sent sparks through her, and she could feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter inside her. His hands gripped her hips, holding her steady as he increased the pace, his mouth working in perfect harmony with her body’s rhythms.

"Oh god," she moaned, her back arching off the bed. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, and she could feel herself teetering on the edge. Archer didn’t let up, his deep growl of satisfaction vibrating against her sensitive skin.

When her orgasm hit, it ripped through her, wave after wave of pure pleasure leaving her trembling and breathless. Archer’s hands stilled, his lips pressing soft kisses to her inner thighs as she came down from the high.

---