Page 46 of Broken Halos
Archie opened the bathroom door wearing only a towel. Droplets of moisture dripped from his wet, tousled hair onto his chest. Archie’s face lit up with a beautiful smile when he saw me waiting for him. “Well, hello there, Golden Boy. Stopped by for an afternoon delight?”
“I love you, Archie,” I blurted. He stiffened and looked at me with wide, unblinking eyes. “Oh my gosh! I’ve totally misread the situation, haven’t I?” I asked in a panic. “You don’t have to say it back, Arch. I…um…please don’t run.” Archie finally blinked but still hadn’t moved from the bathroom doorway. I bolted off the bed when I realized I should be the one running. I started slowly backing away from him like he was a wild animal who might pounce on me any second. “I…um—”
“Don’t you even think about taking another step,” Archie commanded. He pointed back toward his bed, indicating where he wanted me, and I eagerly complied. “You caught me by surprise, Ollie. Let’s not mistake it for disinterest.” I nodded. “I’m going to go back into the bathroom, and we’re going to redo this.”
“Okay.” I nodded again.
Archie stepped back into the bathroom and shut the door. He waited five seconds and reopened the door, except this time, he leaned seductively against the frame. “Hello, Oliver,” he said huskily. “I’m so happy to see you.”
I knew what he was expecting me to say, and I opened my mouth to say it, but the only thing that came out was a ridiculous squeak. Archie’s lips twitched from fighting back the laughter. “You’re looking mighty handsome in your soft flannel shirt. The only place it would look better is on my bedroom floor.” He was trying to get me to relax, and I appreciated it, but I worried the moment had passed us by. “You look like there’s something very important you want to say to me. Is there?”
I could do this. I could do this.“Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”
“You’re quotingFriday Night Lights?”
“Did I say that out loud?” I asked. Archie nodded with a huge grin. “I was psyching myself up again.”
“I didn’t know you were a fan of the show,” Archie said.
“I was mostly in it for Coach Taylor and Tim,” I admitted. “Wow, we’ve gotten way off track.”
“We have,” Archie said, sauntering to the bed. “I’ll seduce the truth out of you, Golden Boy. Tell me what I want to hear.” He placed his hand on my shoulder and pushed back until I lay flat on his bed.
“How will you know I’m telling the truth if I’m shouting it out during sex?”
Archie parted my legs then stood between them. “Because it’s you and you’d never lie to me under any circumstances, nor would you say something so important and impactful without meaning it. So, tell me what I want to hear, Oliver.” He’d switched to using my full name during sexy foreplay.
“Claire has pumpkin pie cupcakes now. I added them to the usual Tuesday order. Do you know that Claire asks me if I want my usual order now? It means I’m there a lot.”
“Is there a point to this rambling?” Archie asked in a bemused voice, placing his hands on my knees.
“Of course, there is. I’m telling you I like Claire and I think I’m going to like her pumpkin pie cupcakes. Did you know I have a rule about not eating pumpkin stuff until November first?”
“I believe you mentioned it once before when I bought a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. You looked like I’d worn white shoes after Labor Day.”
“Is that a rule?” I asked.
“An old one, but a lot of people still adhere to it.”
“Why is the cashmere sweater I ordered for your birthday called winter white?” I asked.
“You bought me a cashmere sweater for my birthday? I wonder what else I can torture out of you,” he pondered aloud, sliding his hands up my legs. “Have you started shopping for Christmas already?”
“No,” I whimpered. “Not for a few weeks.”
Archie’s hands slid up over my hips, up my abdomen and chest, and didn’t stop until he cupped my face as he climbed on the bed to straddle me. I couldn’t look away from the intensity in his green eyes, not even to see if his towel parted enough for me to see his cock and balls. “I love you too, Oliver Knight,” he said softly before lowering his head to kiss my lips. “So damn much.”
I rolled him over and rose above him, framing his face with my hands. “Never in my life did I imagine I’d find someone to stir emotions in me as you do, Arch. I want to cherish you, I want to protect you, and at the same time, I’m in awe of your strength and independence. You’re the reason I never gave up on having a love to call my own. Every broken road led me straight to you.”
“First, it’sFriday Night Lights,and now, you’re quoting Rascal Flatts songs?” he asked with a quirked brow.
“Not intentionally, but it’s a good song, and the words are true.”
“It is a good song, Ollie.”
“Why are we still talking when we could be kissing and—” My words were cut off by an abrupt knock.
“Archie, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Esther said through the door. “Kerry from HUD is on the phone for you…”