Page 45 of Turning Tides
He looked to be one step away from sticking his fingers in his ears, closing his eyes, and chanting la, la, la, la I can’t hear you.
“I guess we’re leaving.” I got to my feet. “Drink the rest of those beers and tell me what you think.”
“I think you should bring it in,” Cyrus told me. He was always honest with me about potential product and he had a good palate. I trusted his opinion.
“Okay, good. See you tomorrow.”
We said our goodbyes then stepped out into the fresh air. The sun was just starting to set and the heat of the day lingered. It had been a beautiful summer, but the days were getting shorter now and the weather was starting to turn.
Archer climbed into the passenger seat and I turned the key.
“Am I taking you to your home… or my home?” I asked him.
When he looked at me, I knew what he was thinking. That we shouldn’t. We’d spent the whole evening sitting next to each other, pretending to be nothing but friends. I’d loved spending the day with him, but I wanted more. Being near him, but not being able to touch was torture. And I still wanted him to confide in me about Clayton. Even if I couldn’t offer solutions, I wanted to be supportive.
“After the day I had…” Archer let out a sigh and leaned back, closing his eyes. “I want to go home with you.”
Without another word, I backed out of the driveway.
Chapter 22
Archer
“Don’t people who winobscene amounts of money generally buy obscenely large houses?”
Shane didn’t seem offended by my comment. All he did was smile at me and unlock the door of his modestly-sized home.
“It’s just me here. Why would I need more space? I already have more space than I use most of the time. Come on in and I’ll give you the tour.”
Shane’s house was a simple two bedroom with a basement and an attic that could be converted into another bedroom if he wanted. So far he hadn’t wanted evidently. Shane’s house was everything I’d expected it to be, really. A wall of pictures in the living room showed off his family and friends including a group photo with him, Cyrus, and Marshall.
“That was taken at their five year anniversary.”
“They’re disgusting,” I said with no malice and only a hint of jealousy. I’d never had a serious relationship. Nothing long-term anyway. I’d been serious about a couple of people, but they were never serious back.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Shane wrapped his arms around me from behind and I leaned against him, luxuriating in the attention.
“I’m good. What was it like?”
“What was what like?”
“Winning all that money.”
“Terrifying. Liberating. Confusing. Amazing. You name it, I felt it. I’d been dead broke before. Like, deciding which bill to pay based on who was going to cut you off, kind of broke.” Shane huffed out a breath. “Sometimes it still doesn’t feel real. Did you want to see my one big indulgence?”
“Of course I do. Especially when you use words like big.”
I turned and waggled my eyebrows at him. Shane shook his head, but he’d cracked a smile. He led me to his bedroom and pushed the door open before tugging me inside.
“It’s a giant sex toy, isn’t it? One of those dildos as big around as my head. I’m well-endowed, but even I can’t compete with that, Shane.”
“You’re impossible,” He laughed and half steered, half shoved me into the en suite where I laid eyes on the world’s largest bathtub.
“Jesus fuck, man. How many people can you fit in that thing?”
“Well, I was hoping for at least two.” Shane whipped his shirt off and started the water. Even if I hadn’t wanted to lie around in a bath—which I did—I definitely wasn’t going to say no to lying around naked with Shane. The man was so beautiful he made my chest ache.
Taking my shirt off, I discarded it and watched as Shane checked the temperature of the water.
