Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Come here.” Somehow, he manages to turn me so that my cheek is on his chest. He wraps his big strong arms around me, and I can’t ever remember a time when I felt more content and safe. It’s been four years, since losing my mom, that I’ve felt safe like this.
Tears prick my eyes, but I blink them away. “Thank you,” I whisper hoarsely.
“Never thank me for giving you pleasure, Scarlett. It’s an honor.”
“A good performance should always be acknowledged.” I try to lighten my own mood.
“You staying?” he asks.
I look up at him. “Do you want me to stay?”
His answer is to reach for the cover and pull it over us.
“What about the light?”
“I don’t want to move. I want you just like this.”
I chuckle and move to turn off the lamp and find my way back to his chest. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep, wrapped in the security of his arms.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Archer
She’s beautiful.
I’ve been lying here for over an hour holding Scarlett while she sleeps, watching her like a creeper. I can’t ever recall a time in my life when I was content to just watch a woman sleep. Scarlett is unlike any woman I’ve ever met. She’s spunky yet soft, and she’s not afraid to ask for what she wants.
I expected her to be gone when I woke up this morning, but I was pleasantly surprised to find her head still resting on my chest. I don’t think either of us moved all night. I’m shocked, really. I’m not used to sleeping next to someone. Not unless it’s my niece Blakely when she spends the night with me. She likes to sleep in my big bed, and who am I to deny my first niece?
Her lids start to flutter, and she opens her eyes. Vivid green eyes, a color I’ve never seen before her, smile up at me. “Hey,” she says in her raspy morning voice. It’s sexy as hell.
“Morning.” I smile and place a kiss on the top of her head.
“Were you watching me sleep?”
No point in lying. “Yep.”
“Creep.”
I tickle her sides, and she laughs while rolling away from me. “I have to pee.” She stumbles out of bed and rushes to the en suite bathroom, grabbing my shirt off the floor as she goes.
I take the opportunity to stretch. My body is stiff from sleeping in the same position all night, but I wouldn’t change it. In fact, I think I could get used to waking up next to someone. My older brothers are onto something.
“Feed me, Kincaid,” Scarlett says as she steps out of the bathroom wearing the shirt I had on last night.
Damn, she looks sexy in my clothes.
“Yes, ma’am.” Tossing off the covers, I climb out of bed much more gracefully than Scarlett did moments before me. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” I say as I pass by her. I smack my hand to her ass for good measure. She yelps in surprise.
“Payback’s a bitch, Kincaid,” she calls after me over my laughter. I shut myself inside and piss, brush my teeth, and forgo a shower to make my guest some breakfast.
“Bacon and eggs okay?” I ask her.
“Coffee.”
I laugh. “I’ll make you some coffee. Bacon and eggs?”
“What kind of eggs?”
“Scrambled or over easy.”
“Toast?” she asks hopefully.
“Yep.”
“Scrambled. With cheese.” She grins.
“Coming right up.” I move to the coffee machine and start a pot before I get to work making us breakfast.
“Do you cook for all of your overnight guests?” she asks, perching her sexy ass on a stool at my kitchen island.
“No. They don’t stay over.”
“Oh, did I break an Archer Kincaid rule?” she teases.
“Nah, I was hoping you’d be here when I woke up.”
“I don’t date,” she blurts. “I know we kind of talked about this that first night, but I’m only here for a year. There is no point in getting attached to someone when I’m leaving town.”
“I know.” I nod. I do know that. It’s not like I want to propose marriage to the woman, but I do like the time that we’ve spent together this far.
I think back to my brother Rushton, and his now wife, Crosby. They were in a similar situation. Crosby didn’t want to get close to anyone because she was afraid her contract wouldn’t get renewed at the elementary school. This, however, is different. We know that Scarlett is only here for a year. Less than that now, and she’s been very open about her dreams of travel photography.
She’s a free spirit. Wild in a sense, and I would never want to hold her back. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other while she’s here. It’s just sex. I’m not one to sleep around, so it would be nice to convince her that we do this while she’s here. When we feel the urge, we call the other and vice versa. No strings, and no looking for someone to scratch the itch as it arises, if you know what I mean.