As I slowly regained consciousness, two things became apparent: I was no longer in the elevator, and I found myself enveloped in the warm embrace of someone who felt and smelled like Archer. I became aware of the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest against my back, and I couldn't ignore the intimate proximity of his warm, throbbing presence against my bum.
"Archer…" I whispered, feeling relief wash over me as I recognized his presence. "
Yes, babe," he rasped, his voice filled with concern. I attempted to turn and face him, but a sharp pain shot through my head, causing me to wince. "Stay still. I'm right here," he reassured me, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my shoulder.
"I want to see you," I whispered, determined to catch a glimpse of him. He started to move away, but I quickly reached out, gripping his shirt to keep him close. With a clenched jaw, I managed to turn my head in his direction, and a sharp breath escaped me when our eyes met. Archer's amused grin made me blush, embarrassed at my desperate need to be physically close to him.
"Hey," he said in a low, deep tone, his hand reaching up to stroke the side of my face. He looked incredibly handsome, dressed in a fitted shirt that accentuated his toned physique. The top buttons were undone, and his sleeves were folded up to his elbows, revealing a glimpse of his tattooed torso and forearms. His neatly trimmed beard highlighted his tanned skin, and his long hair was pulled back in a man bun. My fingers itched to touch him, but I resisted the temptation, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.
"Hey," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, overwhelmed by his presence.
"You know, if you wanted to see me, all you needed to do was call. You didn't have to cause an explosion," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes that made it hard for me not to smile.
"So, it was an explosion?" I asked, feeling a sense of tired resignation.
"Yes, but don't worry, there were no casualties, at least none that we know of yet. It's all over the news," he reassured me.
"I'm sorry you felt the need to show up…" I began, my voice tinged with a mix of frustration and hurt.
"What?" he rasped, sounding bemused.
"You pretty much told me the only reason I am allowed to reach out was if I got pregnant," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. I immediately regretted my bluntness, and I tried to downplay it with a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"I believe what I said was that I would want to be the first to know… as it should be," he clarified, giving me a keen scrutiny. "But you never called."
"Yeah…" I said, feeling a lump forming in my throat.
"It's probably for the best, Adele," he said, his tone softening as if he could sense my pain, and I didn't like that. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and I quickly looked away.
"Yeah," I whispered, trying to hold back the tears.
"Adele?" he called gently, lifting my chin with his finger to make me look into his eyes. "Believe me… you don't want me, babe, nor my offspring…"
"I got the message the first time, Archer…" I replied, my voice slightly shaky as the tears began to spill down my cheeks. "How did you find out about me?" I asked, desperate to steer the conversation away from the emotional topic. I didn't want to delve into the painful reality of not getting pregnant and the hours I had spent crying in the bathroom when I saw my period. It was a vulnerable subject, especially when he was so close to me, cuddling with me.
"Chad saw the news and remembered you mentioning that was where you work," he explained, his hand gently stroking my temple.
Relieved and grateful, I let out a sigh. "Thank you... for being here," I said sincerely, appreciating his concern and the fact that he felt the need to come to my side.
"Of course, Adele. I wouldn't have stayed away," Archer replied, his eyebrows furrowing as he gave me an intense, searching gaze.
I couldn't meet his eyes, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. "A moment back there in the elevator… I thought… I thought Mark was there to get me," I admitted, my voice wavering with emotion.
"Adele..." he began, but I interrupted him, not wanting to dwell on the vulnerability I had shown.
"I know. I know," I said, trying to brush it off with a self-mocking laugh. "I hit my head and got confused. It felt so real like my brother was coming to rescue me like he always did. I really miss him…. And…" I added, mustering a smile but not daring to look into his eyes.
"I am not Mark but I am here," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. He pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me, and I found comfort in his embrace as I laid my head on his chest.
"Thank you," I whispered, shutting my eyes as I nuzzled against his chest.
"You don't need to thank me, Adele," he rasped, his fingers gently stroking my hair.
"How bad is the explosion? Did they say what triggered it?" I asked, trying to distract myself from the overwhelming emotions.
"I think they are still investigating," he replied, "And by the way, the company should probably compensate you for being the most hardworking staff they have," he teased.
I couldn't help but give him a playful smack on the chest. "Don't make me laugh," I said in mock admonishment, but the corners of my lips curled upward.
He chuckled and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. "I'm just glad you're safe," he said softly. And that warmed my heart.
"Whatever you were working on must be very important," Archer remarked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
"It was. I was trying to find a solution to a problem... I suppose all my samples are destroyed now," I replied with a sigh, thinking about the work that had gone up in smoke, quite literally.
"What was it? It sounds important," he inquired, showing a keen interest.
"We don't talk about our projects, sir, especially to someone who might be a potential rival," I said in jest, trying to lighten the mood.
"Wow, hardworking and loyal... I hope they appreciate what they have in you. Maybe you should come partner with me..." he suggested, and I couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
"Partner with you? You see what I mean?" I said, amused by his proposal.
"Would it be so bad? To have your own company, doing your own projects at your own pace?" he asked, his tone serious now.
I tried to raise my head, realizing he might actually be serious about this idea. He gently cupped the back of my head, helping me support myself enough to look into his eyes.
"You are serious?" I asked, feeling a mix of surprise, bemusement, and excitement.
"I am. I have the funds, and you have the expertise. Why can't I be your silent partner?" he proposed, his gaze unwavering.
"Archer..." I said, my mind racing with possibilities. The idea of having my own pharmaceutical company was both exhilarating and daunting, but having Archer as my partner would mean he'd be a significant part of my life. However, he had already made it clear that we couldn't be together romantically. It meant we could be in each other's lives but not as a couple. The realization made my heart ache.
"I want you to be safe and happy," he said softly, his words lingering in the air. I couldn't help but interpret them as those of a friend or someone connected to my late brother, rather than someone expressing romantic feelings for me. My heart constricted painfully, knowing that our paths were meant to diverge.
As I tried to gather my thoughts, I looked into Archer's eyes, searching for any hint of what he truly felt. But his expression remained stoic, revealing nothing beyond his concern for my well-being.