Afterward, we both remained still on the floor, wrapped in each other's arms. Our breathing was audible and labored, and I nestled my face in the nook of his neck, holding on tightly. He gently combed his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp as he craned his neck to press a tender kiss to the corner of my lips.
"Will you let me feed you now?" he rasped. In response, I tightened my hold around him, not wanting to let go.
"I just want to hold you like this," I whispered with genuine emotions.
"You have me now, okay?" he assured me, but I stayed silent. Sensing my hesitation, he added, "Okay, darling?"
"'Kay," I finally replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper. With a gentle touch, he helped me get up and carried me to a room just down the hallway beside the kitchen area. Pressing my nose to his skin, I inhaled his comforting scent, feeling safe in his arms.
He took me inside a swanky bathroom and carefully placed me on the toilet seat to help me clean up, all the while kissing me with tender affection.
Later on, we returned to the kitchen, where Archer gently set me on the marble-top work table. He shook out a couple of painkillers from my prescription bottle into my palm and quickly prepared refreshing fruit shakes for me.
Opening the oven, he started to bring out an impressive spread of already-made meals and set them on the table. The array of food was delightful and included a flavorful chicken and avocado salad with a tangy vinaigrette dressing, a mouthwatering platter of perfectly seasoned grilled vegetables, a delectable plate of shrimp scampi garnished with fresh herbs and lemon slices, a generous serving of creamy pesto pasta, sprinkled with parmesan cheese, and a fragrant and tender grilled steak, served with a delectable garlic butter sauce. Each dish looked and smelled incredibly inviting, making my stomach growl in anticipation.
As he began to remove the covers from the dishes, I couldn't help but ask, "Are these takeouts?"
"No, I have these chefs that come in ahead of my visits to make sure I have food to eat," he replied with a smile, his voice slightly calmer than before.
"Oh, of course," I said, feeling slightly embarrassed by my assumption. He arched an eyebrow at me with a knowing grin. "What?"
"Nothing," he playfully replied, teasingly brushing his lips against mine before moistening his lower lip in a tantalizing manner, teasingly hinting at the desire that simmered between us. His smoldering gaze locked onto mine as he leaned in again, taking his time to give me a searing kiss, his hands gently framing the sides of my neck. "I love how you taste," he rasped, sending my heart into a frenzy. I couldn't fathom loving him any more than I did at that moment, but somehow, my feelings for him grew even stronger.
"Probably the milkshakes," I excused with a blush, trying to hide my flustered state.
"Seriously doubt that," he replied, looking deeply into my eyes before drawing back to get some cutlery. With a silver fork, he picked up a nicely shredded roasted beef with carrots, green peppers, and diced potatoes and fed me, his hand cupping my chin tenderly. The way he watched me eat almost made me swallow hard, and I savored the delicious food. But his intense gaze made me feel like I was his delectable treat, especially when he wet his lips again.
Unable to resist, I raised my hand to feel his taut stomach, causing him to hitch a breath. Using my legs, I wrapped them around his hips and pulled him closer to stand between my legs. He had changed into grey joggers, and I could see the outline of his pulsating cock. The sight could have been quite intimidating if I didn’t know I could take him.
"It's delicious," I said, my voice coming out sultry as I playfully teased him.
"It better be, they don't come cheap," he replied, jesting. I giggled, enjoying our playful banter. He continued to feed me more food, and we both enjoyed our meal, relishing the intimacy of the moment.
"You know, we could sit down on the couch and eat like normal people," I teased, noticing that we had already finished one bowl, and he was about to open another one.
"We'll have plenty of time to do all those normal things – perhaps when we have children– but for now, let's enjoy our unique quirks while we still can," he said casually. My heart raced, and I could feel my cheeks flush. Did he just mention having children together?
"Are you okay?" he asked, furrowing his brows as if he hadn't just revealed our potential future together.
"I'm fine," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze as I opened my mouth for him to feed me more. Trying to distract myself, I reached for another cutlery to pick up a shrimp and playfully fed it to him. My eyes darted in their sockets, watching him close his lips around the morsel. His phone chimed, interrupting our intimate moment.
"Is everything okay?" I inquired as he furrowed his eyebrows while reading something on his phone.
"Yeah, just my dad…. He's here in Duport to meet with a business partner and wants me to join him tomorrow," he explained.
I recalled his father, Victor Donovan, the imposing man I had seen during the standoff when I pretended to be Archer's nurse. Archer had never let me meet him personally, but I had glimpsed him and his wife from afar. The only character I had met in his family was his step-sister Jessica, and I would avoid her if I could help it; she was a strange one.
"Would you like to meet him?" Archer asked, pulling me back to the present.
"What?" I stammered, slightly surprised by the invitation.
"Would you like to meet my father? I could arrange lunch tomorrow for the three of us if it's okay," he said, holding my gaze with his intense eyes.
"I would love to meet him, Archer," I replied, smiling up at him.
"Good," he responded with a smile and continued to feed me. "I'll have Chad drive you to your place tomorrow to pick up a few things and come back here… I don't know when your car will be delivered, so you'll have to settle for mine for now…"
"Umm… how long do you intend to stay here in Duport?" I inquired.
"I haven't decided yet, but it's clear you prefer living here, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, because of work…" I replied.
"But now that you have an option, would you prefer to pick another town?"
"No, I will…. Are we still on that partnership thing?" I asked, trying to grasp the implications of our conversation.
"Of course, you'd love to continue to work, right?"
"Yeah…" I said, my mind racing with the unspoken message. Archer was talking as if we were more than just a couple; it felt like he was talking about our future together, as a married couple. I swallowed nervously.
"Yeah…" I replied, trying to process the unspoken message that seemed to hang in the air. It felt like he was making plans for a future beyond just a romantic relationship, and it both excited and scared me.
"Then it's settled. I have someone who can help you choose a location, handle all the legal stuff, and assist you in establishing the business. His name is Henry Street. He's really good and has worked with me for close to six years now. He's well-versed in the city rules and policies; he's a lawyer."
"T-That sounds great, but Archer, I still have to inform my former employer that I'm leaving and…"
"That shouldn't be a problem; Henry can handle all the legal stuff," he assured me. He moved away to pour himself a drink, returning with a fruit wine for me. As he touched the cold bottle against my inner thighs, I gasped and flinched, feeling the sensation shoot up my spine. Leaning in closer, he peered into my eyes and said, "You wanted me, Adele, right?"
"Arch…" I swallowed, distracted by the cold bottle he was teasingly rubbing against my skin, sending tingles of arousal through me as his fingers traced up between my legs.
"Now, there are some rules you'll have to comply with, darling. As my woman, you can't work for anyone else, but if you must, you'll have to be your own boss. You can't drive yourself; we'll have a chauffeur and security details. I'm going to need to know where you are and where you're going at all times…" he murmured, his words both thrilling and overwhelming, as he asserted his protective and possessive desires over me.
"That sounds pretty intense," I tried to jest, but he didn't laugh.
"Do you have any idea how much I am worth, my Adele?" he rasped, and I released a shaky breath, wondering what I had gotten myself into.
"I gave you plenty of time to change your mind – eleven months, three weeks, two days, and eight hours to be exact – but you didn't, and now we're doing this, and there's no going back," he asserted, his tone serious and resolute.
"As long as you want this too…" I said, my voice filled with sincerity and affection.
"More than the air I breathe, my darling," he rasped, pulling me closer to the edge of the table, his grip firm on my thighs.
"Then I am in, Archer," I said, my voice catching with the overwhelming happiness surging through me.
"I hope so, Adele," he replied, and I couldn't help but notice a hint of uncertainty in his tone. There was something he knew could be a deal breaker, something that might make me back off from our relationship. Though I was apprehensive about what it could be, I knew my love for him was strong enough to weather any storm.
'Please, God, don't take this from me,' I silently prayed, hoping that whatever secret he held wouldn't shatter the newfound happiness between us.