Risky Pleasures (7 page)

“I’m going to face whatever I have to for you, Delicia,” he said softly.

He hugged her close and listened to her slight snore. Archer made a note to tease her about it. His lids lowered and he went to sleep.

Something woke him in what felt like no time at all. Brown eyes were studying him. Delicia had her hands crossed under her chin, propped up on his chest, and she lay partially on his body. There was an intensity to her study.

Her voice matched her expression. “I’ve been lying here going over the last week. I’m trying to understand why we’re waiting to do the deed. At first, I took you at your word we were waiting for me to be sure about the long term. But now, after earlier, I realise something. It is not me who isn’t sure. You’re the one who is putting up barriers, Archer. I know what I want. I want you. The question now is—do you want me?”

Chapter Five

“With all that I am,” Archer admitted.

“No more of that crap about running because of worrying what my family will think,” Delicia said.

“I wasn’t running,” Archer protested.

She snorted. “You were.”

Archer sighed. “I’ll admit to a strategic retreat. But I’m all in.”

“Be very sure, Archer. I’m stubborn and once I have my mind set on something, I don’t let it go without a fight,” Delicia warned.

“If I ever retreat again, don’t let me go. I want you, Delicia Wright,” he rumbled.

“Good… Ummm…you want to get something to eat?” Delicia lowered her lids partially.

Archer smiled. The fierce warrior was all of a sudden nervous. He stroked a thumb down her cheek. “Yeah.”

Delicia moved to get off him. Archer held her, then arranged her over his body. She gasped as she cradled his erection between her legs. Delicia looked startled.

“Later. After we do the deed,” he whispered.

Delicia wrinkled her nose. “That didn’t come out how I meant it to sound.”

“I like the sound of it. That’s what I’m going to say to you whenever I want you. Let’s do the deed, Delicia,” he said against the side of her neck.

She shivered and moaned. Archer took that as agreement and turned her head, kissing her. She whimpered and sank deeper against him. Archer licked at the inside of her mouth. The kiss was carnal, wet and only stimulated his appetite. He rolled her beneath him and rocked against her panty-covered mound. Delicia dug her fingernails into his shoulders.

Archer pulled back then lifted her up, pulling her burgundy nightshirt over her head. He paused taking in the beauty before him. Delicia breathed harshly, her firm breasts moving with each breath. Her chocolate-coloured nipples were pointed—he licked his lips and resisted the urge to suckle them. Instead, he moved and knelt between her spread thighs, putting his hands on either side of her ice-purple coloured high-cut panties. She raised her hips and Archer pulled them off. At the sight of her bare mound, he growled, leaning down to inhale her scent.

Delicia whimpered, widening her legs. He went closer and licked from the top to the bottom of her slit. She shivered, making little sounds of need. Rising up, he let his eyes move up her body. She writhed on the bed. The flat pane of her stomach had a light sheen of sweat. Her ribs were moving up and down as she breathed and her breasts jiggled with each motion. Her full lips were wet and need blazed in her eyes. Archer kept his eyes on hers as he lowered his head. With his tongue he travelled the same path he had with his gaze. She moaned wantonly with each lick on her satiny flesh, arching as he pushed his tongue into her navel then laved above it. At her ribcage, he nibbled along the skin. The catch of her breath, then her moan, vibrated against his lips.

He nuzzled the underside of her breast teasing his teeth along it. The volume of her pleasure increased.

“Archer… pleas…e…”

He gave her what she requested. Moving up he dragged his teeth along her breast, up to her nipple, then closed over the bud. He suckled it and Delicia bucked. He held her down, taking his fill of her beauty. He slid across to the other nipple and did the same.

“Ar… Pl…Ummm…”

He moved up her neck peppering kisses along the way before reaching her lips. He blanketed her with his body, kissing her fiercely then gritted out.

“Do you have protection?”

“In…” She cleared her throat. “The bedside drawer.”

Archer reached over where she gestured, finding it then sitting back. Archer reached for his briefs pausing when her hand covered his.

“Let me.” Delicia’s voice was husky.

He moved his hand. She sat up, legs on either side of his hips, and tugged his briefs down. He moved to kick them off. Delicia kissed his lips and he moaned as she covered his erection and began jacking it. Her fingers stroked along the hand that held the condom then she took it from him. Breaking the kiss, she lowered her head, smoothing the latex over his burgeoning shaft. Archer shuddered at the feel and sight of her hand on him.

He gripped her wrist then pushed her back on the bed, covering her body with his own. In one stroke, he impaled her. Delicia groaned loudly, shaking uncontrollably. Her pussy clenched around him. Archer gritted his teeth at the sensation, struggling for control.

“Do the deed.” Delicia’s demand filled the air.

His control disintegrated and he thrust deeply into her. Going faster and faster. Her wild cries and movements matched his. They were in sync, moving towards the pleasure. Her nails dug into his back as she held him close.

“I neee… Del…icia,” Archer moaned, unable to get deep enough.

“Archer.”

She undulated her hips and slid her hot hands down his back to cup his ass and pull him deeper into her—he arched. Delicia tightened around him and wetness coated him. His balls went tight and he roared as he came. Delicia matched him spasm for spasm. He kissed her, swallowing her moans as she shivered. Delicia stroked along his back and Archer relaxed against her as she made soft noises over him, calming him.

Finally able to speak, he said, “Breakfast soon.”

“When you wake up.” Delicia chuckled.

“I’m not going to sleep,” Archer slurred.

“Uh-huh.”

He didn’t even know when he gave in to sleep.

* * * *

Archer surreptitiously slid his foot closer to Delicia, where she was sitting on the other end of the couch. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes as he pretended to read a book. Delicia seemed to be engrossed in her own novel. He moved his leg closer then jerked as Delicia turned in a burst of movement and sprang until she was on top of him.

“Did you need something, Archer?” She smirked.

“You weren’t reading,” he accused.

“With you trying to be sneaky? Of course not. Is there something I can do for you?” Delicia straddled him.

Archer could think of a whole lot of things. Although they’d been having sex over the last two weeks, he still couldn’t get enough of her. Every time they went somewhere, it was all he could do to wait until they got to one of their houses to have his way with her. Their breakfasts at The Enchanted after her shifts had taken on a whole new dimension. They ate leisurely, torturing each other into a sensual frenzy. Then went to one of their houses to relieve it. If it was one of his days to work the garage he would have to leave. The men had commented on his big goofy grin and his extra energy. They had no clue it was the idea of seeing Delicia that motivated him to finish so he could meet her. The weekend they’d planned for their overnight hiking trip was coming up in about three weeks—he couldn’t wait to have her by the hot springs.

He kissed her leisurely, building the fire. Delicia moaned, grinding against him slowly. The phone ringing shattered the air. Delicia pulled back.

“Crap.” She reached over his shoulder and picked up the phone. “Yeah…oh, Arissa.”

Archer kissed along her face, not really paying much attention. Delicia yanked his hair.

“Let me ask Archer?” Delicia covered the phone. “Quit that. Arissa is inviting us to dinner. She wants us to meet someone.”

“Me?” He was confused.

“Yeah, you. I told her about us. So is tonight good?”

“Sure,” he said cautiously.

“No retreat,” she warned.

Archer frowned. “I wasn’t going to. Why don’t you invite her over here? We can get some groceries and make dinner.”

“You mean I can.”

“No, we can.”

“You can cook?” Delicia asked dubiously.

“Of course I can. Why would you ask that? I’ve made us breakfast a few times.”

“We’ll that was just breakfast. I’ve always cooked dinner.”

“You get kind of possessive of the kitchen when you cook. I thought it best not to get in the way.”

Delicia scowled. “I do not.”

“You do,” he said.

“You do.” A voice on the phone echoed his.

Delicia glanced at the phone then put it to her ear. “Sorry, forgot you were there. Come over for dinner. Archer and I will cook.” She paused then said, “I do not get possessive of the kitchen… Fine, I’ll wait until you come and we can all cook together so I can prove it. Seven o’clock.”

She hung up then threw the cordless on the centre table.

“I don’t get possessive when cooking.” She pouted.

“You do, but it’s cute.” He kissed her wrinkled nose.

“Cute?” she said in disbelief.

“Yep. Are we going to Lewis’ for groceries?”

“Nope. Arissa and her mystery guest are bringing what we’ll be cooking. We’ll be cooking together,” Delicia replied.

“Hmmm.”

Delicia tapped her fingers on his chest. “Stop thinking about it.”

He knew the comment of being possessive was on her mind.

“Well it is bugging me. I didn’t know I got that way. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You never asked.” He shrugged.

“It’s a boyfriend’s job to point these things out. It’s in the handbook,” Delicia said.

Archer kissed her fiercely. Delicia moaned into his mouth. He pulled her tight against his erection, pulled out of her mouth and licked along her bottom lip. He met her gaze.

“What was that for?” Her voice sounded thick.

“You called me your boyfriend.”

“Hell, if that is all it takes to get you going then I’ll call you that all the time,” she promised.

Archer laughed.

Delicia enjoyed the sound and feel of his laugh. His massive chest shook where she lay on him. Archer sobered and his eyes got that glint she had come to know so well.

“You wanna do the deed,” he said in a decadent whisper.

Her pussy flooded in readiness for him. Delicia didn’t reply, at least not verbally. She leaned away pulling down his short pants and briefs, baring his big cock. Raising her housedress, she moved her pussy against his erection.

“You naughty woman. No panties. If I had known that I would have already had you,” Archer said.

“I like being prepared,” she whispered.

Delicia pulled a condom out of the pocket of her housedress and smoothed it over his cock. The heated flesh of his shaft was like silken steel. Rising up slightly she rubbed the spongy head of his erection along her slit. Delicia moaned as Archer’s groan shivered along her skin. Moving forward, she lined him up and rocked forward taking him inside her. Archer gripped her ass.

Delicia moved back and forth against him, his hard length set off pulses of pleasure up her spine. She rocked faster and faster. Archer slowed the motions.

“Slower…deep…like that,” Archer urged.

She struggled to move faster but he held her effortlessly, controlling her movements. The slow, measured, controlled thrust was driving her crazy.

“Archer…pl…ease…more. Damn you.” She whimpered.

He chuckled, a wicked sound, moving even slower. He undulated his hips setting off a blaze of heat. Gasping, Delicia ran her fingers to her nipples, plucking at the tight buds.

“Play with them. Feed them to me,” he ordered.

She leaned over, cupping his head with one hand and using the other to hold her breast to his lips. Archer suckled the nipple hard. The contrast between that and him having her made her shiver. He bit down on her bud and Delicia moaned loudly as she came, trembling against him. Archer’s fingers tightened and he shuddered, coming with her. He continued to suckle her nipples as he rocked inside her. He collapsed back, relaxing. Delicia fell forward against him. He nuzzled the side of her face and kissed it gently. They lay there, calming slowly.

“I need to make a trip to my house. How does some homemade ice cream for dessert sound?” Archer said.

“Okay,” Delicia agreed.

“In a little while.”

* * * *

Delicia went around Archer, putting down the plates as he placed the glasses on the table. She grabbed the utensils and they finished readying the table together. She stood back and observed the table. It was laid with one of her favourite settings—cream plates with a blue and green mosaic pattern around the edge. Green wine glasses. A cream-coloured cloth covered the patio table and utensils sat next to napkins that matched the tablecloth. In the centre was a shallow earthenware bowl that served for the centrepiece of wildflowers they had picked up on the way back from Archer’s house. The ice cream maker was ready to make the dessert.

“It looks nice, Delicia.” Archer put his hands on her shoulder.

“It does. Thanks for helping.” She turned and kissed him softly.

“Why are you so nervous?” He draped his arms over her shoulders, hugging her close.

“I’m not.”

Archer didn’t say anything. Delicia sighed and put her head against his chest.

“It’s our first official dinner party we are hosting together,” she admitted.

“Why is that important? It’s just your sister.” Archer sounded baffled.

“I know. I’m being silly,” Delicia said.

She couldn’t admit the truth. She really wanted Archer to see that her family was just like everyone else. That he had no reason to think they would not accept him. He hadn’t brought it up again, but she didn’t want anything to ruin what they had.

Maybe this was a bad idea.