“She’s been so damn sketchy lately, but this is her final straw. I’m firing her ass tomorrow,” she scoffs.
“Babe, don’t make any rash decisions. Maybe she was just being friendly and I took it the wrong way. I’m not Southern bred.”
She rolls her eyes. “You don’t need to be. Everyone knows there’s a fine line between friendly and tryin’ to steal another woman’s man. She made you uncomfortable, and that doesn’t sit right with me.”
I grab her wrist and pull her to my chest. “Even if that was her intention, it’d never work. I’m too madly, crazy, and stupidly in love with you.”
She sighs, then finally smiles. “Fine, but I’m at least having a chat with her. Make sure she knows I’m aware of what she said to my man. Then if she pisses me off again, she’s gone.”
I chuckle, then tilt up her chin. “Another reason I adore you so much.”
I swipe my tongue between her lips and taste her sweetness.
“Maybe you can show me just how much,” she taunts.
“Always got your mind in the gutter, don’t ya?”
Once our food is ready, we sit at the couch and eat. Everleigh puts on another episode from Only Murders in the Building, and I contemplate how I’m going to tell her about the text message and picture I got today.
“This show just gets crazier and crazier,” she says when it ends. “Also, that was the best steak and potatoes I’ve ever had.” Everleigh smiles, wrapping her arm around me and colliding her lips to mine. “Thank you.”
“I need to tell you something.”
She straightens, and that wrinkle between her brows appears. I hate making her worry, but I promised not to keep any secrets from her, good and bad.
“What is it?”
After a moment, I explain what I got from the unknown number. Then I show her the screenshot I saved and she mutters a few curse words.
“Now that you’ve given me a description of her, if she comes near me, I’m using my Taser.”
“Babe, you can’t just tase anyone with jet-black hair.”
“Tase first, ask questions later,” she counters.
I chuckle, pulling her onto my lap. “She’s just trying to intimidate and piss me off, but all it does is bring us closer.”
“So what you’re saying is, orgasms are the way to get revenge.” She pops a brow, rocking her body against mine.
“That’s exactly right.” I lift my hips and push my bulge into her.
Everleigh moans as she grinds into me, then slowly slides off. I give her a look and ask what she’s doing.
“I got a little surprise for you today…” She pulls a small container out of her pocket and pops it open.
“What is that?” I ask hesitantly.
She flashes a wicked grin, then slips something onto her tongue.
“Everleigh…”
She reaches for my zipper and pulls out my cock. I lose all train of thought as she steadily strokes me. Lounging back on the couch, I give her all the access she needs and groan when she slides her tongue around the tip.
“Fuck, baby. That feels so—”
Everleigh wraps her mouth around me, and a gush of cool air hits me.
“Holy shit.”
Everleigh continues, stroking and lightly sucking. “You like it?”
“I’m…conflicted. What did you just eat?”
“A Listerine strip. When I researched it, they suggested letting it dissolve all the way first and then sucking you off.”
“I’m sorry, but did you say you researched it? Where?”
She smirks and shrugs. “Reddit.”
I chuckle as she resumes her delicious assault on my dick. As I fist a hand in her hair, the intensity builds and another guttural groan escapes me. The cool air feels strange yet pleasurable, and I kinda like it.
“Shit. You do that so well,” I hiss through my teeth. Everleigh sucks me deep and releases with a pop before swirling her tongue along the tip. “I’m so close, baby. Remove your shirt,” I demand.
Everleigh whips it off, and I lick my lips, thinking about tasting her nipples. “So beautiful.”
She increases the pace, her hand twisting up and down my cock, and soon my balls tighten. Everleigh re-positions herself on her knees as I moan out my release. I spill all over her creamy breasts and watch in delight as she licks some off her finger.
“You’re naughty as hell,” I breathe out. “Can’t wait to return the favor.”
“Mmm…” She waggles her brows. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
Later that night, after I’ve given Everleigh three orgasms and snuggled her to sleep, my mind wanders back to the threatening messages. I hate that I’m not only putting Annie and Everleigh at risk but other people I care about too. Tyler knows about Krystal, and I’m sure the others do too, but I’d hate to have to tell them this on top of it. They have kids, and me being here could cause them real harm.
Though I think Krystal is trying to smoke me out, she could be serious. Regardless, I’m not going to cave into the fear because that’s exactly what she wants.
As I try to calm down so I can fall asleep, I get a motion alert from one of the cameras. It happens sometimes and usually ends up being a stray cat or squirrel, but it’s detected on three of the cameras within seconds.
Quickly, I open up the app to see what caused it, but whatever it was, it seems to be gone. I check the other cameras just in case and notice a shadow at the corner of the house moving away. Though I can’t tell what it was.
I release a deep, ragged breath, and my paranoia kicks in.
Fuck, I’m never gonna sleep now, but I’ll hold Everleigh and protect her until the day I die.
Chapter Eleven
EVERLEIGH
TWO WEEKS LATER
I roll over in bed, and Archer’s awake, scrolling on his phone. Birds are chirping outside, and the sun is shining through the windows. It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day for Noah and Katie’s wedding. I can’t believe it’s already June.
“We should probably get going,” he tells me. “Katie said we needed to be at the chapel before three, and I know you’ve gotta get dressed.”
I groan, snuggling in closer and stealing his warmth. “It’s barely ten.”
“And I know how much time you need to get ready for big events.”
I groan with a sigh. “Fine, you’re right. But I have something I need to take care of first.” I dip below the covers and between his thighs.
His hand reaches toward me as I peel his boxers down. I lick from his balls up to the tip before taking him in my mouth. The sound of his groans empowers me. Right now, this man is crumpling under my touch, and I’m living for it. A few seconds later, he’s uncovering me as I kiss up his stomach and meet his mouth. With strong hands, he grips my hips, then rips off my panties. The pain mixes with pleasure as I lower myself onto him.
Immediately, our bodies melt together, becoming one. We start slow, kissing and touching each other until our movements grow more greedy. A few moments later, Archer rolls me onto my back and secures my wrists above my head.