Page 48 of Brother to Brother

“Why?”

“Because I like you in those little shorts and that tank you wear around the apartment. There’s something simple, and sexy as fuck about it.”

I swallowed hard, I’d had no idea that he’d thought so, or that he’d ever even thought of me in that way.

“Thank you,” I murmured, at a loss as to what else I should say, but if someone bought you a gift, that’s what you said, right?

He gave me a nod, a simple inclination of his head, really, and he murmured, “Welcome. Take your time,” and with that, he left the little bathroom shutting the door behind him so that I could get out and dress in peace.

I fished for the drain plug and pulled it, watching the milky water and bits of sparkle from the bath bomb swirl as it drained. I stood up carefully and plucked a towel from the pile, wrapping in it and stepping out of the tub onto the plush bathmat.

I huddled in the towel and dried my body carefully, my hair had somehow avoided getting wet, even at the ends, and I figured that was something. I didn’t want to get wet spots on probably the nicest thing I had ever owned to wear.

Okay, I was as dry as I was going to get and had to admit to myself that maybe this didn’t have anything to do with the sleep set but rather had everything to do with me procrastinating on going out there. I’d never beenscaredof sex before, so this was something new. I couldn’t hide in here all night though, so I might as well bite the proverbial bullet, get out there, and get this over with.

Hell of a romantic way to spend your honeymoon, Mel.

I opened the door to the bedroom and tried not to gasp. He’d lit all of the candles and the room was not only warm, but smelled lightly of vanilla and I think lavender. I swallowed hard and looked at him, naked from the waist up, sitting in the bed with the blankets over his lap. I didn’t know if he was completely nude, but I figured I was about to find out. He patted the bed beside him and I forced my feet into motion, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed.

“Nervous?” he asked in that low timbre that had me shivering for a whole different reason. Archer always had a really good bedroom voice, even when he wasn’t anywhere near a bedroom.

“Scared,” I admitted and he cocked his head to the side.

“Don’t be, I promised you I would both honor and cherish you at that altar today, I’m a man of my word.”

I bowed my head and let my hair, which was past my shoulders now, hide my face. He reached out and tucked the fall behind my ear so he could see me.

“Come here,” he said.

“Are you going to kiss me?” I asked.

“Do you want me to?”

“I… I really don’t know.”

“I don’t think I’m going to do anything with you tonight,” he murmured.

I felt stricken, like I’d done something wrong and it was out of my mouth before I could stop it, “Why not?”

“I don’t like my women afraid, Melody. It doesn’t do anything for me. I’d prefer it if you were willing –”

“I am,” I said quickly and he lifted the covers, I caught a glimpse of his hip as I brought my legs up to ease beneath them… hewasnude. A lump formed in my throat and I wasn’t sure I could speak past it if I wanted to.

“Straddle me,” he ordered and I moved slowly to comply. He wasn’t hard, at least not yet, and I still had my shorts on so this was okay… I mean itwasokay, right? I felt my breathing grow shallow and more rapid as his hands fell onto my hips. He smoothed them up my body, and around me drawing me down so my forehead rested against his.

My blood rushed in my ears, my pulse fluttering hard against the insides of my wrists. I had my hands buried in the pillows to either side of him and he sighed, breath warm against my lips; just another inch and they would touch.

“Touch me, Mel. I won’t bite,” he murmured and I raised my hands, placing them on his chest. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks andhesighed out… a strange mix of sounds, both erotic and contented.

“O…okay?” I stammered.

“Hmm, you’re safe with me, just remember that; keep it in your mind, Baby. You’resafe.” He said and before I could respond or think, ordoanything he’d sat up with me in his arms and turned us. I felt like I was falling for one awful second before the soft bed caught me and my heart took up residence in my throat.Oh god, he’s on top of me!Was the instant and panicked reaction.

“Shh,” he whispered and kissed my cheek, trailing his lips lightly to my jaw, pressing them feather light there too, before moving again, this time to the throbbing pulse point in the side of my neck, that sweet spot that had me sucking in a sharp breath. He paused and flicked out his tongue lightly over the spot causing me to gasp.

“Hmm, right there, huh?” he asked and deepened his kiss in the same place. I closed my eyes and felt my body relax marginally.

The next kiss he pressed to my chest, his hands smoothing their way up from where they’d been fastened to my hips, rounding to the front of my body, my stomach, where he started to push up the camisole I wore. My hands jerked to his and I pushed them away.

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