Chapter 6

Chapter Six

A rcher

The storm outside is relentless, hammering against the windows like it's trying to tear the place apart. But in here, in the dim glow of the candlelight, everything feels still. Bella is standing by the fireplace, arms wrapped around herself, staring into the snow-covered world outside, her body tense, her mind clearly running miles ahead.

I can feel the tension too, buzzing in the air between us. The pull. It's been there all night, hell, since the moment I walked through the door. Every part of me is drawn to her, every inch of my skin itching to close the distance. I take a step closer, watching the way the light from the fire makes her skin glow, highlighting every curve, every soft edge.

"I can hear you thinking from over here," I say, keeping my voice low, a little rough. There's something dangerous in the way I speak, something neither of us is willing to address just yet.

She turns to face me, lips parted like she's ready to throw up another wall between us. But when our eyes lock, I see it. That spark. That same want that's been driving me mad all night. And it's right there, in the way her gaze drops to my mouth for a fraction of a second, before snapping back to mine.

"You keep looking at me like that," I step closer, my voice dropping even lower, "and I won't be responsible for what happens next."

Her breath hitches. I see the slight tremble in her hands before she crosses them tighter over her chest. "I'm not looking at you."

"Liar." I'm right in front of her now, my hand coming up to brush my thumb across her jaw, tilting her face toward me. I don't let her escape it, the charge between us, the heat simmering just beneath the surface. "You've been looking at me like you want this since the minute I walked in."

She doesn't deny it. Her breath catches, her eyes searching mine, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she leans in—just a little, just enough for me to know I'm not the only one ready to lose control.

I can't hold back anymore. I close the gap, my mouth crashing down on hers, hot and demanding. The second our lips meet, the world outside disappears. The storm, the cold, everything fades until there's only the heat between us, only her body pressed against mine, her hands sliding up my chest, gripping me like she's afraid to let go.

She kisses me back, hard, matching my intensity. There's no more hesitation now, no more pretending we can fight this. I feel her body arch against mine, desperate, like she's been holding back just as long as I have, and now she's done. Done fighting it. Done pretending.

I break the kiss, just long enough to catch my breath. "I want you," I say, my voice rough, full of everything I've been holding back. "Tell me you want this too."

Her eyes are dark, blown wide with desire. Her lips are swollen, her breath shallow, and when she finally speaks, her voice is barely a whisper. "I do."

That's all I need.

I grab her hand and pull her toward the couch, the firelight flickering in the background as we fall into the cushions together. Her body is soft, warm, and everything I've wanted to touch for too long. The need that's been building between us all night finally breaks free, and I kiss her again, slower this time, letting the moment build, my hands sliding up her sides, feeling the heat of her skin beneath her shirt.

She shivers at my touch, and I can't help but grin against her lips. "You cold?"

"Not even close," she breathes, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me down to her again.

I groan as her body moves against mine, her hips arching up to meet me. She's driving me insane, every inch of her pulling me deeper, making it impossible to think about anything but the way she feels against me. I kiss down her neck, tasting her skin, breathing her in. Everything about her is intoxicating, and I'm drowning in her.

My hands roam over her body, slipping under her shirt, feeling the soft curve of her waist, the smoothness of her skin. Her breath hitches as I slide her nightgown higher, and I pause, giving her a moment to stop me if she wants to. But she doesn't. She looks up at me, her eyes burning with the same need that's been driving me crazy since I walked into this inn.

"Don't stop," she whispers, her voice shaky, but steady with desire.

I grin, tugging her nightshirt off and tossing it to the floor. "Wasn't planning on it."

I kiss her again, deeper this time, my mouth moving down her neck, over her collarbone, tasting every inch of her as her hands slide up my back, pulling me closer, her nails digging in just enough to drive me wild.

I can't hold back anymore. I pull my own shirt off, and the second I do, her hands are on me, exploring, teasing, making it impossible to think about anything but how badly I want her.

"Archer…" Her voice is a breathy whisper, and the way she says my name sends a shiver straight through me.

I look down at her, breathless, my hands braced on either side of her, holding myself above her. "Tell me you want this as much as I do."

She looks up at me, her lips swollen, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "I do," she says, her voice stronger this time. "I want this."

That's all it takes.

I sneak a hand over her thigh, rubbing at the heat between her legs. She shrieks and twists away with a laugh.

"You're such an animal."

"Mmm... I like that." I smile and try to go back in for more, but she swipes at my hand and launches herself to the other side of the couch. She crosses her arms over her chest, effectively closing herself off from me, before questioning me about my life. "I have some questions, first."

"Okay," I laugh. "Shoot."

We talk about Copper Mountain, growing up here, and where she's from: New York, a place I've never been and have no desire to visit. She tells me about her family originally being from out east, and how her grandparents rented a house in Copper Mountain for two weeks every summer. After some recent changes in her life, which she doesn't elaborate on, she found herself with an opportunity she couldn't pass up. This place. The Copper Mountain Inn.

"You should know, I'm not really looking for a relationship right now."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise as I glance at her. "Oh?"

"I'm not interested, I just don't have time. I'm worried that all of this just feels..." She gestures between our bodies pressed together on the couch. "Very relationship-like."

"We're just two people enjoying each other's company. Don't overcomplicate things." I run my thumb along the soft angle of her jaw.

"Okay," she murmurs, locking eyes with me and her gaze darkening slightly. I know that look. It's the telltale sign that tells me she wants me inside of her.

"So we're just friends who hook up, right?" The way she says the word so softly on her full lips makes me want to kiss her senseless.

"Sure, city girl, whatever you want." My breath hitches as my shaft twitches and hardens beneath my jeans.

I stop talking when she sits on my lap, straddling me. Her body is pressed against mine, her curves causing my breath to hitch. I feel a throbbing in the base of my spine as she grinds against me.

"Thank you for understanding," she says, before claiming my lips with hers. My hands wander under her skin, feeling every inch of her back. I unhook her bra and am greeted by her full breasts, begging for attention. I take one into my mouth and she moans and moves against me, driving me wild.

"You're so sexy, baby," I tell her as she grinds against me. I use my hands to push her breasts together, teasing her nipples with my thumbs. She throws her head back in pleasure and I take the opportunity to taste more of her skin.

"I bet your pussy is dripping wet for me," I growl before slipping my hand between her thighs. My fingers find her slick heat and I thrust them inside, eliciting moans from her lips. I continue to pump and swirl my fingers until she's writhing above me.

"Yesss," she hums and bucks against me, desperate for more. I bring my fingers to my mouth, savoring the taste of her juices before continuing to pleasure her with my hands.

"I've been waiting all day for that," I whisper before diving back in for more pleasure-filled kisses.

Her eyes widen as her hand travels up her own body to pull on her nipple.

"Fuck, baby," I growl, watching her tug. I quickly clean my fingers and move with lightning speed, pushing her down onto the floor, my body hovering over hers. Unzipping our jeans and pulling them off, aligning myself to thrust into her. The head of my raging cock breaches her entrance before I pause.

I want to just plunge in without warning, not giving us time to think twice. I need to be inside her, pumping away, chasing my orgasm. But I know what I'm working with - I'm bigger than average. I don't want to hurt her.

But then she wraps her long legs around me and begs me to fuck her.

In an instant, I'm pushing my hard-as-steel cock straight into her. She arches and groans as I move my lips down to her nipples, one hand supporting me over her body while the other is wrapped around her waist. I pump away as she moans and claws at my back, the pain only adding to the pleasure.

"Jesus Christ, you're so hot and tight. Your cunt grips my cock like a goddamn fist." My hips grind against hers, circling to stimulate her clit. With each thrust, I clench at the flesh of her ass and lift her into me, hitting that perfect spot inside of her that has her coming undone beneath me.

And it works just like I thought it would—she lets out a string of cuss words as she comes around my dick.

"Aww, your pussy feels so good milking me, baby. It's pulsing and pulling my orgasm out of me." I dip my head down to kiss her as I continue to pound away until finally releasing into her. Only after do I remember that we didn't use a condom.

My mind races as I slow my thrusts, realizing the gravity of our actions. I haven't been with a woman in a long time so I didn't even think about protection, but going bare with her feels amazing.

"Are you on birth control, sweetheart?" I ask, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. Her body writhes beneath mine, still lost in pleasure from our lovemaking.

Her eyes slowly open and a smirk appears on her lips.

"Little late for this question, isn't it?" She teases with a playful glint in her eye.

"Jesus, sweetheart." I run my hand through my hair and carefully withdraw from her. "If you're not, I'm fine with that. More than fine. I told you, you're already mine. You have been since the moment I walked through the door. I can see it in your eyes, you know it too. Truth is, I'd love nothing more than to put my babies in you. You'd be so fucking hot carrying my child."

"Oh–well, I hate to disappoint you then, but I'm on birth control," she murmurs with a smile on her face.

"Too bad." I lean back against the couch with a knowing smirk.

"Do I need to worry about you being clean?" She sits up and holds her nightshirt to her chest as she studies me.

"I'm clean, baby. I haven't been with a woman since I was in high school." I look up at her and notice a small frown forming on her face.

"Oh, well I've only been with one other person," she breathes. "It's been a very long time."

"You've only been with one other person besides me, sweetheart?" I'm surprised and impressed. She's so beautiful, she must be fighting off the men.

"Yeah." She whispers the word in a soft voice.

"Jesus, if I'd known, I would have been gentler or..." I trail off.

"You wouldn't have slept with me?" She tilts her head to the side, curious about my answer.

I let out a laugh at her expression, a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "I wouldn't say that." I grin mischievously and reach for her breast, playfully tugging on her nipple.

"Good, then it doesn't matter."

"It just doesn't seem like . . ."

"What doesn't seem like what? Just say it, Archer." She's goading me; she already knows what I'm trying to say.

"You fuck like a wild animal, baby. It doesn't seem like you've only ever been with one person."

"Oh...thanks, I guess?" She flashes a sly grin that lights up her whole face and accentuates her flushed cheeks from the recent orgasm.

"Quit giving me that look."

"Yes, boss."

"I like that attitude." I grab her arm and tug her back down towards me, taking her lips in a sensual kiss.

"I'm sore, already. You fucked me into submission." She giggles, a sound that's music to my ears and makes me smile uncontrollably.

"Be careful, sweetheart." I playfully smack her ass. "We can get kinky if that's what you want."

"Ow, oh my God." She jumps up and rubs her ass cheek. I laugh and wink at her before pulling her back down for another kiss.

I curl her into me, wrapping her in my arms as the fire flickers with warmth.

"Tell me about where you came from—the city, your family," I say. She plays with the soft edge of a knit blanket.

"There isn't much to say. Dad's an alcoholic, mom makes excuses for it. It's hard to talk to them, they're always asking for money or guilt-tripping me for not visiting more often. I try to keep my distance."

"I'm sorry about that, sweetheart." I offer.

"It's okay. It's my life, it's what I grew up with," she says calmly. "So when I say I have no family, I mean it."

"No friends missing you?" I push, desperate for any information from her.

"Not really," she replies, her tone distant. "I don't really get attached to people."

My mind races, trying to make sense of her words. It's odd for someone to not form attachments. I lean forward and place a soft kiss on her shoulder.

"So you have no family, no friends," I mumble, "and so you moved all the way out here alone?"

She hums in agreement, the firelight dancing in her eyes.

"Well, I'm glad you did," I tell her with a grin, running my fingers along her soft skin. "Things were getting boring around Copper Mountain."

She waits a beat before speaking again, still avoiding eye contact. "Tell me about your family."

"Well, my dad was an electrician too," I begin, watching the flames lick the logs in the fire. "One year, right before Thanksgiving, there was a storm. One of the worst we'd had in years and everyone was caught off guard. Sometimes these storms just come out of nowhere," I trail off, playing with a strand of hair that falls across her neck. "Ninety mile per hour winds–dad went fishing out in the lake, it's not even a big lake, but the waves were wild enough that the boat capsized and we lost him…"

"I'm so sorry," she murmurs so softly that I can barely hear her.

"It was hardest on my mom. I was fifteen. We lost her too that night. She just couldn't cope with losing him. They were high school sweethearts. I remember catching them dancing in the kitchen late at night to old band music. They didn't see me, but the way he held her in his arms, so gentle and caring, showed that he knew she was fragile. And she was. I didn't realize it then, but after he was gone, she just... disappeared. She's older now, living with her sister in a big house down at the end of main street. She has lots of friends and stays busy, but the loss of my father changed her."

"Archer..." Her soft lips form my name. Somehow, it feels comforting to open up to her. She reaches up and caresses my cheek with one hand. My eyes close as I absorb her sympathy. It's been years since I've spoken these words; only people in town know what happened.

"My brothers and I tried to hold everything together for her, but it was never the same."

She simply nods before curling up against my side and wrapping an arm around my waist lovingly.

"My mom is beautiful. She has dark hair, long and always worn in a ponytail. When I was young, I loved to play with it," I say as I run my fingers through her hair, lost in the memory.

"I would love to see pictures sometime," Bella says.

"Mmm..." I hum, a small smile forming on my lips as I think about showing her snippets of my childhood. "I'd like that, sweetheart." I trace my thumb across the bow of her lips.

I hope I won't regret opening up to her. I'm not sure what we are or if our relationship will ever be more, but it means something to me that I'm sharing this with her. It's been a long time since I've opened up to anyone.

"What are you thinking?" She finally asks.

"Not thinking anything but how nice this is," I catch her gaze and speak honestly. "You're pretty good company to be snowed-in with."

She giggles then turns over and throws an arm around my neck, her nightgown slipping down her body to reveal the top of her breast.

"Mmm," I groan and run my fingers along the smooth skin now on display. "You're a damn vixen, sent to steal all the come out of my balls, sweetheart."

Her laugh cuts the heaviness in the air after all the talk about our families.

"I don't know if it's smart for me to be with you like this, but hell if I want to be smart," I mutter before trailing my tongue along the top of her breast.

"Archer..." she moans softly, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I turn her face towards mine. I want her to know that I'm giving her something that no one else has. Because whether she likes it or not, I'm getting more tangled up in this woman with each passing moment, and not just because of her beautiful body that I can't keep my hands off of. There's so much more that draws me to her, and in that moment, I realize just how deep I'm falling for her.