Page 60 of Shadow of Spring (Wild Haven 2)

“I need you,” I murmur against Archer’s lips and that undoes him. The frenzy is back. His mouth claims mine once again. I moan into our kiss, and he thrusts in, to the hilt, making me feel so incredibly full. I barely have time to adjust before he moves his hips and slides out before driving back into me. Again and again.

The sounds of our muffled pleasure bounce around the woods. I barely feel the rough tree behind me because all sensation belongs to Archer. I’m being marked from the inside out. By the time we’re done, I might be a different person.

“I’m close,” Archer growls as he releases my lips, coasting his mouth over my cheek and beneath my jaw to suck on the skin there. His hand works between us. I can’t even comprehend how strong he is to hold me up one handed. His thumb circles my clit and my body collapses in on itself and then expands, a combustion of pleasure that rockets through me and leaves my limbs shaking.

“Yes, fuck... God... so damn sweet, so perfect.” Archer grunts and breathes the words into my skin. His hips rock with a few more deep thrusts and then he bites down on my shoulder again, his low groan vibrating against me.

We stay locked like that, breaths harsh, arms tightly locked around each other, for a while. When I finally unwrap my legs from Archer’s hips and he pulls out, we both make unhappy sounds. Like he should stay buried in me forever.

Archer tugs up his pants, which only made it to his ankles, and embarrassment starts to creep in. I have no idea where my pants or shoes are. My mouth parts in question when Archer drops to his knees. I gasp when a cloth presses between my thighs, and he cleans me up. Of course, he has a handkerchief. My hands drift to his shoulder so I can hold myself steady. There's a real concern that I might topple over. I’ve never had anyone take care of me like this and I’m not sure if I’m going to die from embarrassment or an aching heart. I think I feel his lips pressing a kiss to my hip before he stands, but I’m too dazed to know for sure.

I don’t have to worry about finding my stuff. Before I can blink, Archer has my pants and undies in one hand and shoes in the other.

“Can you see in the dark?” My voice is raspy, like I’ve been screaming for hours. I didn’t scream, did I?

Archer chuckles. “It’s not that dark.”

I hum in disagreement. The moon is behind clouds now and it’s even harder to see than earlier. “Maybe your magic allows you to see through the shadows.”

Both of us freeze at my mention of magic, and just like that I’ve brought us crashing back to reality. I want to take it back. Archer’s behind me, helping guide my arms into my coat before he circles around to the front of me. His deft fingers carefully button up my coat before he says anything else.

“Loralei spotted us when we got to the beach earlier. I kept trying to ditch her, but she’s clingy as hell.”

My cheeks flush and I really hope Archer can’t see that well in the dark. Warm, calloused palms cup my cheeks and tip my head back, but I let my eyes fall shut. It’s too intense and intimate to look at him right now. My rational brain knows this is stupid because Archer was literally as intimate with me as possible minutes earlier. Exposing my emotions is a lot harder to do. Even though we’ve taken a big step tonight, I’m still wary.

“It’s fine.”

“I don’t want her. Never have.”

I don’t respond because what am I supposed to say? I'm so jealous and possessive of him that I wanted to pull her hair and shove her face in the sand. I’ll keep that to myself, thanks. The silence stretches between us until Archer hums and presses another slow, drugging kiss to my mouth.

“Will you come home with me tonight?”

If my heart wasn’t already tied up in a little package that I’d handed over to Archer ages ago, it would be his now.

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