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ARCHER

O h, God help me. That one innocent kiss is all it takes to make me snap. The sweet way Carlotta pressed her lips to mine, and I’m a goner. All of my self-control disappears and, as she’s pulling away, I stop her, grab her face and kiss the ever-loving shit out of her.

I can’t get enough and, like a man possessed, I deepen the kiss, thrusting my tongue between her soft lips. She tastes divine. Like chocolate and marshmallows, and I can’t stop myself. Drinking deeply, I plunder her mouth, pushing her back onto the floor.

When she moans softly and slides her fingers through my hair, I adjust our positions, moving my knee between her legs. I know I shouldn’t, but I drag her down, placing her center against my thigh and encourage her to move.

“That’s it, sweetheart.” I guide her hips, helping her roll and find the right spot and rhythm that gives her the best friction exactly where she wants it. “Take what you need. Rub that sweet pussy just like that.”

The fact that she’s a virgin and has never done this stuff with another man makes me hard as hell. Her innocence is a huge turn-on and I’m so glad that douchebag she used to date fucked it all up. She’s in my arms now, riding my leg, and I’m going to make her feel so damn good. Make her realize it was worth the wait.

She’s wearing my sweatpants which are way too big for her and I reach down and untie them. Her breaths are coming faster and I decide I’d rather she come on my mouth than in her panties, rubbing against my thigh. She deserves more and I’m going to make sure she gets it.

Shoving my conscience aside, ignoring that little voice telling me not to touch her and to keep my hands to myself, I tug the sweats down. Fuck that little voice. This pussy is mine, I think. Then I move back, taking a moment to look down and admire her. She must think that I stopped because she reaches for me with a soft sound of disappointment.

“Hold on, sweetheart. I’m going to make this even better for you.”

My fingers hook in the elastic edges of her panties and I slowly pull them down to expose her sweet, pink pussy. Everything about Carlotta is delicious and I’m willing to bet she tastes just as sweet as I’m imagining. On my knees, I zero in on those pretty folds then urge her legs further apart.

“Archer,” she hisses, trying to twist away.

“Hold still and open up to me, sweetheart. I’m about to lick you into an orgasm. You good with that?”

I lightly drag my thumb over her clit and she cries out, arching up.

“Yes,” she whispers.

“Good.” Spreading her open to me, I lean down and lick up her wet center, lapping up her juices. “Fuck, you taste good.” Even better than I thought she would.

“Oh, my God,” she breathes, her hands balling into fists, her hips rocking against my face.

I lick her fast then slow, gauging her reactions, trying to figure out what she likes and what gets the biggest reaction. Determined to make her feel the intensity, I languidly circle my tongue around her clit, taking my time and sucking on it until she’s whimpering. Then I spear her with my tongue and rub that taut little clit until she’s practically crying. The moment I slide a finger inside her, we both moan. She feels amazing—so hot and wet, tight and pulsing. I add a second finger, stretching her, making her take me all the way to my knuckles.

“Archer!”

It hits me out of nowhere that I don’t want her calling me by the same name everyone else does. What we’re doing…the places we’re going…it’s just too intimate for her to be using my call sign.

“Damon,” I tell her. “Call me Damon.”

Her hand slides to my head, fingers threading through my hair and pulling hard, and she looks up, locking eyes with me. “Damon,” she rasps.

Hearing her say my name like that, I nearly blow. Forcing myself to maintain control, trying to ignore the throbbing erection in my pants, I focus on her and on bringing her to release. My lips wrap around her clit again and I suck hard, using my tongue to tease and flick.

Carlotta orgasms with a cry, arching against my mouth, and I keep stroking her with my tongue and lightly thrusting my fingers into her slick core, easing her down from the high.

Her hands drop to the floor and she moans a soft, “Oh…my…God.”

I crawl up her body, drop down on my elbows, and kiss her hard, making her taste her own sweetness. “See how good you taste,” I tell her, licking the seam of her lips.

“That was…intense,” she murmurs.

I look into her brown eyes, so full of trust, and suddenly hate myself. I’m such an asshole and I should’ve kept my hands—and tongue—to myself. The temptation was just too strong, though, and I couldn’t resist.

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling like the biggest piece of shit. I want her innocence, crave it on a primal level, but it’s not mine to take.

She frowns. “Sorry? For what? Being the first man to go down on me?”

With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly roll off her and stare up at the ceiling. “I shouldn’t have touched you.”

“Oh, my God! Seriously?” She sits up, looking at me like the ferocious woman that she is. “Stop playing this hot and cold game with me. It’s confusing and I don’t understand how you can want me one minute…how you can do what you just did…and then push me away the next second.”

“We can’t get involved any deeper,” I insist stubbornly. Somehow, some way, I have to figure out how to be around her and not let this powerful chemistry between us explode into something I can’t handle. I’ve always been so focused, so strong, but Carlotta has the power to shatter all that with one kiss.

“Why?” she challenges me, eyes narrowing.

Such a feisty little thing. My thoughts instantly turn to Caitlin and how I failed her so epically. It’s not something I want to talk about, so I merely shrug a shoulder and say, “I don’t do relationships.”

It seems like the easiest excuse to give her because I know it’s not what she wants to hear. I’ll protect her, but that’s it. Nothing further can happen between us sexually. No matter how much my dick is arguing for the chance to sink into her sweet pussy, I have to think with the correct head.

“Don’t lie to me, Damon . Just admit you don’t want me. Not really.” Before I can say another word, she gets up and runs straight out the front door, slamming it behind her.

Dammit! She doesn’t have any pants or shoes on, just a pair of socks. Hell, because of me, she isn’t even wearing panties. And it’s way too cold out there. Gritting my teeth, I grab my coat and race out after her. But she hasn’t gone far, just to the edge of the porch, and I see her shoulders shaking.

Fuck me. I made her cry. The sliver of a heart that I have left constricts painfully. “Carlotta, I’m sorry,” I say in a low voice. Moving up behind her, I lay my coat over her shoulders. “Please don’t cry, sweetheart. I can’t bear it.”

She sniffs then swipes a hand across her face as she turns around to face me. “I don’t understand you. One second you seem to want me and the next you don’t…because of my brothers? That’s so fucking lame.”

“It’s more than that,” I tell her. “I don’t want to get into it, but I need you to understand this is about me and my issues. You’re perfect, sweetheart. I’m the one who’s a fucked-up asshole who isn’t worthy of your virginity.”

She draws the coat closer, pulling it around herself, and shivers. “I disagree. My virginity is a gift and I can give it to whomever I choose. I choose you, Damon.”

Fuck me. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? She’s so damn sincere and I want her more than anything. And to turn her away…well, it would just be cruel and a devastating blow to her ego.

Before I can comment, she raises a hand. “Sorry if I’m being too forward, but I feel something with you, and I thought you felt it, too. Clearly, you don’t. I just have terrible luck when it comes to men. My only boyfriend—and I use the term loosely since it only lasted three months—cheated on me. He didn’t want me, so I guess I’m not surprised you don’t, either.”

“Carlotta—”

“No, it’s fine. But can I ask you a question?”

“Anything.”

“Am I that undesirable? That unloveable? What’s wrong with me that I’m still a virgin at twenty-five?”

“Nothing is wrong with you,” I state firmly.

She snorts in disbelief.

“The truth is I desire you very much. More than I should,” I admit.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Sweetheart, I sucked and finger fucked you into an orgasm twice in the past twenty-four hours and there’s so much more I want to do. It’s taking all of my self-control to not rip your clothes off right now.” Stepping closer, I wrap my fingers around the edges of the coat and pull her closer, straight into my arms. “Please, don’t doubt yourself because you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”

She tilts her head back, looking up at me, her eyes so full of disbelief and innocence. “Then why don’t you want me?”

“I do,” I grit out, tugging her closer and pressing a hard kiss against her forehead. “I’m just not the man you need.”

“I do need you, Damon. I want you and I choose you . Even if that means only one night.”

I pull back and search her face. Is she serious? Because if she’s capable of sharing one blissful night and not expecting more then how the hell can I say no to that? Fuck, I’m standing on a slippery slope and I can feel myself sliding.

I’m going to cave in to her. It’s inevitable.

“I don’t want you to doubt yourself because I want you badly. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone,” I whisper. “But I need you to understand and agree that whatever happens here stays here. Once we’re back home, we go our separate ways.”

“With amazing memories.”

“Yeah. But I need you to be sure, Carlotta.”

She pushes up onto her toes and presses her lips to mine. “I’m sure, Damon,” she tells me in a low voice.

That final reassurance whispered against my mouth casts the last of my reservations into the wind. Reaching down, I scoop her up and turn, walking back into the cabin. Tonight is going to be a night that neither of us will ever forget.

I will make sure of it.