Until You're Mine (18 page)

Love
.

Like a living breathing thing, desire shifted and love ran prevalent, dominating every inch of my mind, body and soul.

NO!

My mind screamed.

MINE!

My heart proclaimed.

“I love you,” I confessed around the shell of her ear.

“Archer,” My name echoed throughout the room, over and over until it was merely a sated prayer on her lips.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I drove harder, fucking her with long solid strokes. “I. Fucking. Love. You.” I punctuated every word with thrust after thrust until we both fell apart in each other’s arms.

Resting my head on her shoulder, I fought for the strength to hold us both up. “You’re mine.”

I can’t remember when I’ve smiled this much. Completely consumed by her, I didn’t want her more than an arm’s length away. Over the next several days we either stayed at my place or hers, talking, laughing, learning. There were still things I wasn’t ready to discuss, but she’d been patient and understanding, just like she always was. Against my greatest resistance, she’d barged in and saved me, giving me the courage to love again. I still couldn’t believe it. After all this time, I was finally ready let go of the past.

Our flight left for Vegas the next morning, and I had full confidence Holden could handle opening, closing, and any other minor issues that might come up while I was away. I would only be a phone call away. Still, I was nervous as fuck.

“Arch,” Holden greeted, walking through the door of my office.

“’Bout damn time,” Taking a seat at my desk, he sat down across from me propping one ankle on his knee.

He laced his fingers behind his head and tilted his chair back with a cocky grin. “Damn, I missed you.”

“How was the trip?” I couldn’t stop my mouth from twitching. My cousin was far from the man that showed up on my doorstep all those years ago, strung out and lost. He’d come a long way. I gave him shit constantly and rode his ass hard, but it was all because I gave a damn.

“We spent
a lot
of time in bed. What’s up with you?” Holden asked, cocking that signature Brooks’ brow.

“Not shit.” I shifted in my chair, pulling up the work schedule on my laptop.

“Not shit huh? Somethin’s up. You look…
different
.”

“I got a trim the other day.” I retorted, refusing to meet his accusing glare.

Holden moved forward, resting his forearms on the edge of my desk and tilting his head. “Naw, that’s not it,” he paused before his eyes lit up. “Katy,”

Motherfucker.

It was hard enough talking to her about my feelings. Fuck if I was
exploring
this shit with him.

I rolled my eyes, returning my attention to the screen. “Here’s the schedule. The bar and kitchen are fully stocked. There’s a small delivery coming Tuesday morning around ten, but other than that...”

Holden’s deliberate stare held the corner of my eye. “Have you told her yet?”

“Told her what?”

Christ, what’s with him today?

“’Bout Megan,”

“Yes, I told her asshole.”

“Everything?”

“Listen, I need you to run this shit right here. I’ll tell her everything on a need to know basis. And right now, I’m telling you what
you
need to know. Got it?”

He was pissing me off. Hell, I’d barely scratched the surface with the whole ‘married’ bit. Wasn’t that enough? I had every intention of telling her everything else. I just had to figure out how without her walking away.

Thankfully, the relentless son of a bitch conceded. 

After I finished giving him the rundown of what I expected while I was away, we walked up front. Katherine and Maddie were in deep conversation at the end of the bar and I spotted Cannon talking with Cora across the way. I threw a hand up to stop Holden. “That fucker has a serious attitude problem. I told him you’re in charge for the next few days, so if he gives you any shit whatsoever, you let me know,”

“Got it,”

“Awe hell, you’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me,”

“What?” Holden looked at me confused then followed my glare. 

Alexis Davis stood at the entrance, scanning the bar. Nobody had seen or heard from her in months. A blessing, considering the shit pot she’d stirred before her mysterious disappearance. By all accounts, this was typical behavior for her. The woman was a real piece of work. I would even venture to say Alexis was worse than Megan, but if push came to shove, I think Megan would eat this bitch for lunch. A cold shiver rippled down my spine.

Vicious fucking bitches.

“This could get ugly.” Holden warned, looking over at the girls who had already marked the predator.

“I’ll take care of her…you make sure those two stay put.” Nodding in agreement, we parted ways. 

Alexis licked her lips, eye fucking every inch of me as I approached. The bitch had no shame. “The fuck are you doing here, Alexis?”

“Stalking my prey,” Her eyes raked up and down my body again.

“That dog won’t hunt.” I informed her.

She took a step forward…her eyes sharp and intent. My skin crawled when she placed her hand on my chest. “Aren’t you even the least bit curious as to what all the fuss is about?”

Stepping back, her hand fell from my chest. “Not a chance in hell,”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Katherine hissed beside me. 

Awe, fuck.

“Just here for a good time. Don’t worry- last I heard you didn’t have a man to steal, so chill the fuck out.” The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This bitch was cruel.

“You’re fuckin’ with my man now. Why don’t you go find another bar to troll your used vagina, nobody wants you here.”

Alexis stepped up to Katherine, looking her up and down with so much disgust it made me take a protective step closer. Their faces were only a foot apart. “I’ve been dying to ask you, how does my pussy taste? Luke said it was the best taste in the whole fuckin’ world. What do you think?”

It all happened so fast. I never saw it coming until the palm of Katherine’s hand collided with the side of Alexis’ face with a resounding smack. Cannon appeared out of nowhere and thank fuck he did, because as soon as the shock of the slap registered, she was set to pounce on my girl. I jerked Katherine out of reach while Cannon restrained Alexis.

“You fuckin’ bitch, who do you think you are?” Katherine yelled past me as I walked her backwards. Looking down, I saw a furious fire glowing in her eyes. “Let me go, Archer. I wanna fuckin’ kill her.”

Damn she was hot as fuck when she was riled up. Who was this woman? I mean, I knew her, but did I really know her? She had all these layers. I discovered something new after every peel. Good wholesome girl on the inside, fucking siren on the outside, and a whole lot of incredible in between.

I looked over my shoulder at Cannon. “Ban her ass.”

With a curt nod, he escorted Alexis from the building.

The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.

~Hubert H. Humphrey

“I can’t believe I slapped her. I’ve never hit anyone in my life. My hand still stings.” Archer leaned down, kissing my angry red palm. “Why’d you pull me away?” I pouted. “I was just about to open up a can of whoop ass.” Knowing damn well I was not. Archer let out a big belly laugh and I did my best to hide my smile. “What? I could’ve taken her,”

“No way in hell I was gonna find out,” he smiled.

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever,”

“I’m gonna go check on Cannon.” Archer said, kissing the top of my head. “Be right back.”

“I’m so fuckin’ jealous right now. I wish it would’ve been my hand across her face or my fist to her throat. Ugh, I was on my way to fuck her up but...” Maddie shifted her irritated eyes toward Holden and crossed her arms. “
Someone
held me back.”

“Babe, you really think we would let it get that far?” Holden shook his head, his blue eyes glinting with amusement.

Maddie scoffed, focusing back on me. “He would’ve got a swift kick to the nuts if she would’ve put her hands on you,” I smiled.

My girl always had my back.

Holden wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and kissing her cheek. “You fuckin’ wish.”

Maddie’s face flushed, shoving him away from her. “Get the hell away from me, Holden. I’ll be ready to go soon. Give us girls some space.”

Releasing her, he gave her ass a hard smack before he smiled and walked away.

“What’s up with you two? I sense some tension and it’s not sexual.” I asked, rubbing my tingling palm against my jeans.

Maddie hoisted herself up onto the stool and exhaled an irritated breath. “No, we’ve had enough sex to last a lifetime over the last two weeks.” She looked down at her twisted hands. “Holden wants kids,”

I sat on the stool next to her. “You want kids too right?”

“Well yes, but not right now. Shit Katy, we just got married. Don’t get me wrong, I love him more than anything in this world. He’s the only person I can see as the father of my child, but I don’t think I’m ready to be a mother yet. That’s another thing we disagree on. I suggested we have one and go from there. He wants four. What man wants four damn kids? My man, that’s who,”