Page 38 of The Soul of Archer
Alex took a sip of his beer and mirrored his son, leaning against the deck railing. “You look happy Lance. I mean honestly and truly happy.”
Lance sighed. “I’ve never thought I’d feel like this. Not after Teagan…”
“Do NOT say that harpy’s name.”
“Well, after…that, I just accepted that I was destined to be alone. That I’d never have what you and mama have. Then I met Alora and…Christ dad, I feel like Superman. She makes me, I don’t know, feel I guess.”
“The right woman will do that to a man.”
Lance nodded taking a swig of beer. “I almost ran away from it. She’s a client and I vowed I’d never get involved with a client. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her out of my head.”
Alex patted his son’s shoulder. “That’s how you know it’s not just a passing fancy.”
“I think I’m in love with her dad.”
Alex looked over and met Lance’s eyes. “Tell me something, when you think of Alora, what do you see?”
Lance looked out over the yard at Alora. “I see her by my side. Waking up beside her, going to sleep beside her, just being with her. I don’t even want to think about not being with her.”
Alex chuckled, “Yep, sure sounds like you are.”
“I want to tell her, but I’m scared. Scared I’m reading her wrong.”
“Son, from the way she looks at you, I don’t think you have anything to fear.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because she looks at you the way your mama looks at me.”
***
“Thank you Alora.” Carmen said.
“Excuse me?” Alora asked in confusion.
“Thank you, for making my baby happy.” Carmen paused, sipping her wine. She shifted so she was facing Alora, her face now all business. “Has Lance told you about his ex-fiancée…”
“That fuckin’ bitch you mean?” Alora spit.
Carmen snickered, “I see he has then. I’m guessing he also told you about my ex-husband?” Alora nodded. “Well, after what my ex and his did to him, Lance stopped being happy. I mean, eyes lit up genuinely happy. You brought that to him. It’s a mother’s dream to see their children happy.” Carmen reached out and took hold of Alora’s hand.
Alora squeezed her hand back, “I promise you Carmen, as long as Lance will have me, I will do everything in my power to make him happy and make him smile.”
Carmen nodded, the seriousness fading, and a smirk formed on her lips, “Good thing you cook. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach after all.”
Alora lost it and began laughing. She turned when she felt Lance come up behind her. Smiling, he lifted her from the chair, sat down and tucked her on his lap. She snuggled into him, placing a kiss on his lips. She looked over to see Alex and Carmen mirroring her and Lance. In that moment, she knew that she was one hundred percent in love with the man who now held her, and she couldn’t have been happier.
Later that evening, Alora lay in bed and watched as Lance clicked off the bathroom light and make his way toward the bed. He pulled back the sheets and slipped in beside her. When he pulled her into his arms, she decided to change things up a bit. Gripping his wrists, she shifted so that he was now on his back with her straddling him. Leaning down it was she who took charge of the kiss. At least for the moment.
“Alora.” He sighed.
Alora leaned down so her lips brushed his ear, her tongue tracing the shell making him shiver under her. “Take me Lance. Take me right now.”
“Yes ma’am.” Lance growled a second before she was flipped onto her back.
As the moon rose higher, Alora gave herself unconditionally to Lance. Heart, body and soul.
Chapter 16
