Page 185 of The Archer Brothers

“How’d you know I’d be over?” After resetting the alarm system, I quickly discard my shoes, jeans, and t-shirt and slip into bed with her. She lifts her head and rests it on my arm. Still to this day, this is where she likes to sleep, snuggled into my chest. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of us sleeping this way.

“I had a hunch.” Her hand roams over my chest, and I shiver. “I can’t remember the last time you did this.”

“I do. It was right before I left for the Navy. We made love on your bedroom floor.”

“We thought we were so sneaky.”

“I’m just lucky your dad never walked in. He would’ve shot me in the ass.”

Ryley laughs. I lean forward and kiss her to stifle the noise. I love Jensen, but I wouldn’t put it past him to shoot me for violating his daughter in his house. Ryley deepens the kiss and hitches her leg over my hip. My hand wanders down her back and over her bare backside. I’ve never been so thankful for her lacy thong as I am now. She wants me. Excitement grows when her hand slips into my boxers.

“Ry,” I say her name quietly in between kisses.

“One last time before we’re married.”

I pull away from her. “Do you think after we’re married things will change?”

“I know they will.”

I cup her face with my hand and press my lips to hers before pulling back. “Ryley, I can assure you that what I feel for you now, I will always feel for you. You’re the love of my life, and nothing gives me more pleasure than pleasing you. I’m going to want you more than ever after we are married, more so because you’ll finally have my last name, and to me, that’s the sexiest thing in the world.”

Ryley smiles, but the glint in her eyes tells me my words haven’t done their job to reassure her. They’ve only spurred her desire even more. “Archer, I want you, and I want you now.” She rolls us over and straddles my lap. On instinct, I move us toward the middle of the bed.

“What about your parents? Should we get on the floor?” The thought of making love to her on the floor sort of excites me and brings back a flood of memories from when we were teens and sneaking around.

Ryley laughs. “Their room is on the other side of the house. I doubt they’ll come down this way.”

“They might if you can’t keep quiet.”

“Don’t worry, Archer,” she says as her hand sneaks into my boxers.

Famous last words.

The second we connect, my eyes roll back in my head. My hands tug at the hem of her shirt and lift it over her head. Ryley’s head falls back as I cup her breasts. When her nails dig into my sides, I submit and let her guide us. It’s crystal clear that Ryley needs this from me. For us. And maybe it’s because we’re doing this on the sly, but the sensation of being inside of her right now is nothing short of extraordinary.

When we’ve come down from our natural high, we lay on our sides and look at each other. “Why did we wait so long to get married?” I ask her.

“I don’t know. I ask myself the same question.”

I shake my head and wish like hell I had an answer. “We’ve lost so much time.”

“The time would’ve been the same, Evan. I think what happened to us would’ve happened if we were married or not. It’s not like we were chosen because we hadn’t tied the knot. Nothing would’ve changed. You still would’ve been gone, and I would’ve lived six years as a widow. The time we have now is what’s important. We’ve built a life, and it’s a beautiful one.”

I let her words sink in and know she’s right. I doubt anything would be different in our lives. “I suppose we’d still be getting married today if . . .” my words trail off. I can’t bring myself to say the words. To this day, I hate that I had to reclaim my life.

“See, it’s meant to be.”

“Meant to be from the moment I hit you with the football.”

Ryley laughs. “I’ve never been so thankful to my parents, then in that moment, for raising an Army brat.”

“Me, too.”

* * *

I’m out of the house before the sun rises. Ryley and I stayed up all night, talking about the past and the future. We want more kids, and she’d like to start trying soon. I’m on board with the trying part. It’s the kids’ part I’m unsure of. Right now, I feel like I struggle with EJ and parenting. He does what I ask, but I feel like we are missing the father/son connection that I desperately want. I was close to my dad and Jensen. He and I have a great relationship, but I see how EJ gravitates toward Nate and can’t help the jealousy that creeps in. Nate deserves credit though and has tried to limit his time with EJ for us to strengthen our bond. My fear is that if Ryley and I have another child, and I’m there from the beginning, what will EJ think? The last thing I want is for him to feel left out.

When I get back to the house, I find Cara sitting at the bar in our kitchen. “Good morning,” I say as I head to the coffee pot and pour myself a mug. I don’t wait for it to cool before taking a much-needed drink of the caffeine.

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