Because You're Mine (20 page)

Enjoy,

K.

CHAPTER one

Thousands of white twinkling lights dangled from the rafters of the old barn, coating the rustic walls with a soft glow. Beautiful center pieces, made up of white daisies and candles, adorned each of the twenty or so round tables surrounding the dance floor, creating the perfect romantic setting. Reckless Heart sang a familiar melody, but I couldn’t remember the name of the song. It rested just on the tip of my tongue.

But that’s how it always was. Any time I was wrapped up in his arms like this, I had trouble thinking…sometimes speaking.

With a skill I never knew he had, he led us around the dance floor slowly. His masculine scent wafted through my nose while his peppermint breath tickled my ear. Arousal flooded between my thighs, and I clenched at the sensual assault.

              “Have you thought about what we discussed?” he asked softly.

Archer’s mouth was so close, every time he spoke…his lips brushed the shell of my ear. Chills rushed down my spine, spreading outward in the wake. “Yes.” One word responses were all I could manage when his hands and mouth were on me.

              “And?” His sucked lightly, nipping then biting at my lobe

              “No.” I said into his shoulder, my nails scraping at the coat of his tux.

              Removing his mouth from my ear, Archer pulled back. Emerald eyes flecked with specks of brown and gold gazed back into mine, freezing me in place. “You better have a damn good reason.”

              His fingers dug hard into my hips, and the look on his face switched from inquisitive to possessive. This side of him turned me on even more…his dominate side. The side of him that always took what he wanted. How the hell I’d managed to keep my panties on around him this long was beyond me.

              Archer and I had been going round and round about this for weeks now. Hell, we’d been playing cat and mouse for months. Stealing fire starting kisses in his office. Finding any excuse to touch each other. The connection was there. It was strong and physical on his part, but for me it was more. A lot more.

              I was in love with him.

              I loved Archer Brooks with a heart that had been broken and shattered so many times, it was a wonder it still beat. It was a wonder that blood was still able to pump through the bludgeoned organ properly after so much damage.

Archer wasn’t built like me. He wasn’t built for love. He’d told me numerous times that he didn’t believe in it. I was starting to believe he never would. I removed his hands from my hips, taking a step back.

Finally able to find my voice, now that all physical contact had been severed, I gave him his answer. “It’s wrong.”

              “That’s your daddy talkin’, and you know it. What do you want, Katherine?” Archer demanded, taking back my step.

              “I want you. All of you. I want you to be
mine
.” I confessed.

              “I will be yours.”

              “Heart and soul?”

He retreated. “We’ve already discussed this. That is not an option.”

              “Then I can’t be what you need. Yes, I want my mouth to touch more than just your lips. Yes, I want to memorize and worship every inch of your body. I am dyin’ to have you inside me. But if I let you in, I have to give you my heart. And I want yours in return. I won’t be just your play thing, Archer. I deserve more than that.”

              “You’re right. You do. I just can’t give it you. The only thing I can offer is my flesh. The rest is non-negotiable.”

              “Then this conversation is over.” Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I swallowed hard trying to hold them back. I had to get out of here.

              With my palm to my mouth, I fought through the swarm of dancing bodies. I felt like I was going to be sick. I knew he would say that in response to my confession. I thought I’d prepared myself for it. But hearing the words out loud only made it hurt worse. He would be my biggest heartbreak, and we’d done nothing more than exchange passionate kisses.

              Bursting through the exit door, I struggled for air. I couldn’t leave yet. Not without saying goodbye to the bride and groom. But first I needed a moment alone. I needed a moment to reflect, and remind myself that I had made the right choice. My heels dug into the soft ground so I removed them. The dewy grass felt good beneath my feet, putting me back on solid ground. I found solace on the side of the barn. I’d never craved a man so much in my life.

Lust
.

It’s one of the seven deadly sins. The bible didn’t call it that for nothing.

Morals and scripture had been instilled in me since birth. Being the daughter of a preacher had not been easy shoes to fill. All of the tattoos and piercings in the world couldn’t cover up what had been ingrained into my heart…into my soul. I was far from a saint, but I still had my faith. With everything that I’d been through in my life, my faith was all I had left.

              Leaning against the barn wall, I looked up. Stars dripped from the sky like rhinestones. The autumn moon hung low, igniting the darkness around it. There had to be a God to create something so beautiful. It was with that unwavering faith, that I knew he had a plan. Sucking in a deep breath, I sagged back into the wall. I turned twenty-eight yesterday. I should be married by now with at least two kids. That was my plan. But instead, I worked at a bar and lived alone. My happily ever after was nowhere in sight.

              “There you are. What the hell are you doin’?” My heart took a nose dive as Archer stalked toward me. He’d removed his tie and coat. His crisp white button down had two buttons undone at the top, gifting me with a peek at the tan skin beneath. Hovering over me, he stared down into my eyes. The moon hanging above his head was like a halo, casting a shadow across his hardened face. He looked like a dark angel
.
             

              “I wasn’t done with you yet.” he said, resting his hands on both side of my head.

              “Well, I’m done with you. No more kissing, touching. None of that. You can’t just take what you want leaving me with nothing, Archer. I’m not built that way.”

              One hand found my cheek while the other found the back of my neck. “I know that. I know exactly how you’re built.” His solid thigh rubbed between my legs, sending warmth to dampen my panties.

             
Oh God.

              He always did this. He completely dominated me. He overloaded my senses until I was unable to make a sound, make a rational decision or form a coherent thought. As I said before, it was amazing that I had not succumbed to this temptation before now. He continued to weaken my defenses with every encounter we had. Pretty soon, I would not be able to fight him off. Deep down, I was almost certain that I didn’t want to.

“What do you want from me, Archer?” His hand shifted, gripping my neck tighter.

              “I want those sexy legs spread wide while I bury myself deep inside your hot pussy. I want this sweet mouth wrapped around my cock while I pump in and out, taking my pleasure as I see fit. I want to own and dominate every inch of your body, Katherine. And it will happen. I won’t stop until you’re mine.”

              His words sent a shiver of heat to rock down my spine. Greedy lips found mine as I was pulled under, swept away in the powerful current that was Archer Brooks. Fighting to break free, I shoved at his chest. It was like pushing against a brick wall. His hands fell from my face and in one swift move, Archer shifted his leg. He clasped both of my wrists in his large hand, pinning them above my head.

              “I’m tired of this shit, Katherine. I can’t take it anymore. I want you so fuckin’ bad, and goddamn it, I know you want me to. I can fuckin’ smell it.” His deep voice sounded like he was gargling gravel. I loved it when he talked to me this way. His feral eyes flickered with desire just before his lips found mine.

              Scorching heat licked every inch of my body. Archer held my hands firm while his other hand slipped beneath the hem of my dress. Removing his thigh, his fingers rubbed the silk of my panties. Another wave of heat rolled through me.

              “Just as I thought…soakin’ fuckin’ wet.” He rubbed hard back and forth. The friction of his fingers rubbing against my pulsing clit had my legs spreading wider.

              “That’s it, baby. Open for me. Let go. I can give you so much pleasure. Do you want my fingers inside of you?” His grip on my wrist tightened when I gave consent.

There was no way I could stop him now. I didn’t want to. The rebel in me didn’t want to.

              Archer pulled my panties to the side. Two strong fingers stroked back and forth against my aching flesh just before he buried them deep inside of me, pushing a gasp from my mouth.

              His touch.

              His breath on my face.

             
Incredible.

              “Fuck,” Archer plunged deeper, dragging his fingers in and out of me slowly. “So fuckin’ hot. I can’t wait to bury my cock here. I fuckin’ dream about it. I dream about it every night, you lying beneath me while you’re in my bed…at my mercy. I wanna make you scream, baby. I wanna hear you beg.” His fingers thrust harder as he whispered dark promises against my lips. I breathed them in…unable to do much else except take what he was giving me, or let him have what he wanted.

              “Tell me, Katherine. Tell me you want that too. I wanna hear it from your sweet lips.”

              “I want you.” All rational thought had escaped me, along with all inhibition.

              He released his hold on my wrist. My hands found purchase on his shoulders, while his free hand found the bodice of my dress, pulling it down. With the bunched up fabric resting beneath my breasts, Archer dipped his head. With his fingers still thrusting in and out of me, his hot mouth covered my nipple. He sucked and twisted the tortured bud with his lips and teeth, pushing me further and further to the edge.

              “I want to taste every inch of you. I think I’ve waited long enough.” He removed his fingers, dropping to his knees before me. Pushing the material of my dress up my thighs, his mouth found my center. He pulled one leg to rest on his shoulder. My hands dove for his dark locks, tugging and scraping frantically. He licked and sucked until my body submitted to the pleasure he was giving me. With a quiet moan and his name on my lips, I came hard and fast against his mouth.

Standing, he fixed my disheveled dress, pulling the hem back down and the bodice back up. His hands smoothed down my torso before they cupped my cheeks.

              “This body is mine. Understand?
Mine
.” Archer declared.

His dark green eyes held a possessiveness that had me trembling in my spot. If only he felt this possessive about my heart. Nodding, I gave him the response he wanted. I was too weak to argue, too weak to fight.

He pulled another soft kiss from my lips. “To be continued.” he promised before he let me go and walked away, taking my heart with him.

Thank you for reading.