Page 98 of Gideon's Gratitude

Uncertainty was setting into me until Archer squeezed my ass.

“Leave this to me. I’ve got it.”

“Okay.” I leaned up to brush our cheeks together. “Don’t take too long.”

“Oh, I don’t intend to.” He gave me a light smack as I left the kitchen, and I headed upstairs.

A quick shower was a good idea. Something to ease the tension. I stripped in the bedroom and donned my robe to walk to the bathroom. Ridiculous, on its face, but I clung to propriety. The shower was lightning fast, and as I examined myself in the mirror, I hesitated. I’d shaved a few hours ago, so that wasn’t necessary. I couldn’t use aftershave because it’d give me a headache.

Archer doesn’t need you fancy. He wants you just the way you are.

That thought should reassure. And it did…to a certain extent. As I stared at my scrawny frame, I wondered, though.

The back door slamming yanked me into the moment. I dried my hair as much as I could before heading back to the bedroom. I pulled down the duvet and top sheet. Here came the tough part. Leo and I had always been adventurous in the bedroom. Creativity had been the name of the game, and there’d always been plenty of laughter. After the accident, of course, the exotic positions, and much of the fun, fled. It’d felt like an obligation. Between the pain and the lack of interest—well, the wonder was how the relationship had survived as long as it did.

Would we have continued trying? Or would we have fallen into a non-sexual relationship? Leo was so vital and healthy. I’d considered giving him permission to go elsewhere. It would’ve broken me, but tokeep my marriage, I’d have done it. In the end, my addiction was the death knell for our future.

I placed a pillow in the center of the bed and was about to lie down. Shit. Lube and condoms.I grabbed both. I pulled out several of the foil packets and removed the security seal from the lube.

Neither action calmed my racing heart. Still, I placed them in sight and lowered myself to the mattress. Today had been a good day. I’d done mild stretching and had been on a decent walk with Lucky. I’d been careful not to overdo anything. Now my back twinged, but not anything I couldn’t deal with. Should I take one of the mild painkillers I picked up from the pharmacy? I’d followed Kennedy’s gentle suggestion and dug out the paperwork from the pain clinic. They advocated using non-narcotic painkillers when needed, but watching the dose and frequency carefully because of toxicity. So far, I’d taken two pills over the past five days, and the difference had been noticeable. I was no longer afraid of taking them when I needed them.

A whistle sent a shock skittering low in my belly.

Archer stood in the archway with a wolfish grin on his face.

I fought the urge to cover myself. I didn’t feel whistle worthy.

He advanced into the room, then closed the door. “Lucky and I had a conversation. He’s good with a bone and a nice warm bed in the family room.”

“Yeah, he’s easily bribable.” Nerves sang, and I swallowed loudly.

My companion rounded the bed and sat. “You know you don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” And I did.

He gave my body a once-over.

And I cursed my inability to hide my body’s reaction. Or lack thereof. “I do, I promise.” I ran a hand across my smooth chest. Theone thing I’d done today, specifically in the grooming department, was to shave my chest. Because I preferred that feel for myself.

I liked that Archer had a smattering of hair between his pecs.

“Would you get undressed for me?” Partly because I badly wanted to see his body, and partly because of the disparity in the power. The imbalance favored the man who still wore clothes.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips. He lingered for a moment, then pulled back. “Of course.” He rose and stepped back from the bed.

He’d gone casual today, which I appreciated.

First, he removed the henley. A soft gray that matched his stunning eyes. Next, he undid the belt, unbuttoned the jeans, and lowered the zipper.

My mouth dried.

Finally, he removed his jeans and underwear in one smooth motion.

Certainly nothing I could ever have accomplished with such ease.

He dropped the clothes in a heap on a chair, then turned to face me.

Jaw-dropping. Oh, I’d known Archer was gorgeous. Way out of my league. But to behold him in this low light? Blond hair a little mussed, dark-gray eyes a little unfocused, chest muscles a little flexed, and biceps a little bulged. And lower still… Yeah. Well, then. The man was the complete package. As good as—if not better than—Leo. Impressive everything. And while I’d had twenty years of history with my ex, I’d had mere weeks with this man. What could I possibly offer?

---