Page 84 of The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

Archer’s gaze flicked down to the bare skin above her towel and back to her face.

‘I was thinking that that wasn’t nearly enough.’

‘Really?’ Her voice was embarrassingly breathy, but Archer still hadn’t let go of her arms and he was so close Iris felt dizzy.

‘Was that your way of trying to end things between us, Iris? Bang out a quick one and we can move on with our lives because if it was?—’

‘No,’ she responded before she could think. ‘No, that’s not what I want.’

Archer’s lips curved into a relieved smile. He moved closer until her back was against the wall.

‘Whatdoyou want?’

‘I’m not sure.’

He frowned and moved to back away, but Iris wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close again.

‘Iris, if you want to stop, we’ll stop. I never meant to pressure you into any of this.’

She reached up and brushed a chaste kiss on his lips. ‘I do wantthis.I want this physical thing between us. A lot. Trust me.’

Archer let out a small chuckle, but he was waiting for her to go on.

‘But … I don’t know about anything else … and I don’t want to hurt you or Olive. I can’t make you any promises, so ifyouwant to stop, we’ll stop.’ She held his gaze and in that moment she wished she could make him a promise, but she still just didn’t know about any of it. About if this was a life she even wanted for herself.

‘Thank you for being honest with me,’ he said, his mouth brushing against hers as he spoke. ‘Just physical is just fine with me.’ His mouth had moved down to her neck and he licked the drips of water from her skin.

‘Are you sure?’ Iris gasped.

‘Very sure.’ He ran his fingers along the top of the towel. He raised an eyebrow in question and Iris nodded, happy to be heading far away from this conversation and into safer territory.

Archer gave a gentle tug and the towel slid down her body and puddled at her feet. He groaned, his hands grazing along the curve of her waist and over her hips. His eyes were dark, drinking her all in.

‘Last time was far too quick.’ He scooped her up in his arms and she gave a little squeak of surprise. ‘This time, I plan on savoring you.’

Iris clung to his shoulders, not sure she would survive whatever he had in mind, but very excited to find out.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

Archer laid her on his bed, her towel long forgotten.

‘I’ve been picturing you like this for weeks.’

Iris smiled. ‘I hope I’m living up to the fantasy.’

‘Far exceeding, actually.’ Archer shucked his T-shirt and crawled up her body, planting a searing kiss on her lips. ‘You’ve been so fucking tempting, Iris. Like some kind of siren.’

Iris crinkled her nose. ‘Don’t sirens lead sailors to their deaths?’

Archer’s mouth was on her neck now, sucking and nipping the delicate skin. ‘Something like that.’

‘Well, I don’t go in the ocean, so you might need to come up with a different mythical creature.’

Archer’s head popped up. ‘You don’t go in the ocean?’

‘Nope.’

‘You grew up in a beach town.’