“Mm-hmm,” was all the jerk said, his grin widening.
“Moving on,” she said, getting the conversation back to important things. Like the case. “Regardless, their behavior was weird enough earlier in the night that I still get the feeling it’s not their scene. So, that begs the question: why are they there?”
They reached the subway station, and Archer stopped at the top of the stairs, turning back to her. “Do you have ways to answer that particular question?”
“Of course I do. It might just take a bit of time to get there.”
His eyes searched hers again. “All right. Will you need another night at Phoenix?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so, unless I need to see them again for whatever reason.”
A pause. Then all that heat he’d been apparently withholding rose in the depth of his eyes. “Do you want to come back not for investigatory reasons?”
She fought off a shiver even though the night was warm. “As a member, you mean?”
He inclined his head. “I could speak to Rhys on your behalf.”
“Thanks, but no. I meant what I said. I really have no interest in watching other people get it on.” The second the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.
Of course, he grabbed onto it and smiled. “Ah, but you certainly enjoyed watching me tonight.”
Her instincts told her to hurry down the stairs and leave this conversation alone, but she knew better. Archer was a friend, one she’d see all the time because of Zoey. They needed transparency. “Listen, I’m going to say something that’s going to puff up your pride, but try to restrain it, will you?”
He laughed out loud, easily, in a way she’d never heard from him before. “I’ll try. Go on.”
She was sure she was later going to regret what came out of her mouth. “Tonight, I wasn’t looking at anyone else in that room. I wasn’t looking at Lottie with Kieran. I wasn’t looking at Lottie touching you. I wasn’t feeling the crowd watching me and getting off on that. I was looking at you.”
He went still. “So, the fantasy of the club itself did nothing for you?”
“No.”
A slow-building smile crossed his face. “I was all you wanted?”
Damn, she’d given him far too much. Determined to get back on top of the power…again, she closed the distance. As he dipped his chin, she grabbed the front of his shirt and tugged him closer. “What exactly do you want here, Archer? Do you want me to tell you that seeing you tonight drove me crazy? That if I close my eyes, all I can see is how fucking sexy you looked? That I want you again, and again, and again?”
Dark eyes held hers, and he gestured her forward with a flick of his chin. “Have at it, then.”
She licked her lips, purposely drawing all his attention to her mouth. She pressed herself against the heat and hardness of his body. “Is that what you want? Do you want me to kiss you again? Fuck you again?”
“It’s a good place to start,” he murmured.
She brushed her nose against his, feeling the need welling up in her core. But to give him this would be to give the game to him. Tonight, he’d won in a spectacular way, but she was already too unsteady on her feet. “Better not complicate things.” And she quickly stepped back.
He grunted. “You are evil.”
She laughed, fully aware of the cold void at the absence of his body. “Sometimes, but we’ve got a job to do. That comes first.” Feeling much steadier and liking the arousal burning in his expression, she headed for the subway stairs.
“Elise.” She froze on the fourth step and glanced back at him to catch his smile. “I’m really starting to enjoy this job.”
She smiled and then finished trotting down the stairs. So was she.
Chapter 5
“I heard you and Elise put on quite the show last night,” Rhys said the following morning when Archer entered his office with two to-go coffee cups in hand.
Archer noted the laughter behind Rhys’ hard gray eyes as he sat behind his huge cherrywood desk in the center of his office, surrounded by bookcases and art. Six foot two, with styled jet-black hair, Rhys came from old money, and he always had an air of authority. Much like Archer had seen in top military officials. But he never wore that wealth in a negative way.
“Heard about that, did ya?” Archer grinned, handing Rhys a paper coffee cup.
Rhys removed the lid of his drink. “When two people practically shake the walls in my club with their lust, yeah, I hear about it.”
Archer remembered every moan, every gasp, every touch Elise gave him. He remembered the passion, the sheer explosion when his hands had caressed her. He couldn’t stop thinking about her perfect mouth and the unforgettable way she’d kissed him. He also remembered her choice to not come back to the club. He thought that would bother him. The club, the eroticism, it had driven his life. But only Elise was on his mind when he woke this morning, and she’d remained there ever since. He had no intention of overlooking that. “She’s quite the woman,” Archer said honestly. “A pain in my ass, most definitely, but I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone like her.”
“She’s a good woman,” Rhys agreed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m pleased Kyle’s fantasy worked out.”
Archer nodded. Kyle’s fantasy had been a long-time coming. Yes, he had requested a male-female-male edging fantasy and asked for Archer, Kieran, and Lottie to all participate. But another one of his requests, one he’d asked for a year ago, but they hadn’t fulfilled until last night, was to ask a brand-new member to do the show right in the heat of the moment. That innocence, excitement, nervousness were what Kyle enjoyed. The thought hadn’t even occurred to Archer until he saw Elise intently watching him. Then he figured he’d kill two birds with one stone. Get what he wanted, which was to feel that rare chemistry he had with Elise, while also fulfilling Kyle’s long-time request. While Elise was in full control of the fantasy and could have walked away had she chosen, Archer was all too glad his instincts were spot on that she’d jump at the chance to finally indulge themselves. “It was definitely for my benefit that Kyle’s fantasy worked out.”
Rhys smirked. “I suppose it is. Is there something developing there between you two?”
“I’m…not quite sure.” Either she simply liked tormenting him with all her teasing last night at the subway and had no plans on letting him have her again. Or, and what he hoped was the case, she was open to seeing where this went.
A pause.
“What?” Archer asked, knowing from a long friendship with Rhys that a pause meant trouble.
Rhys cocked his head and gave a measured look. “Even if things continue casually between you two, I have a few concerns. Two, actually.”
“The first?”
“Zoey.”
Zoey and Rhys were set to get married sometime next year. Archer took a sip of his piping hot coffee before asking, “How does Zoey come into play here?”
“She’s protective,” Rhys explained gently. “As protective as we are about each other, I imagine. As my friend, I’d request you tread lightly where it comes to Elise.”