Graphically Novel (Love Hashtagged #3) (15 page)

Tori winced. She hadn’t told him, though. She’d said she didn’t want to share him with Riley’s memory. Beyond that, she’d never told him how much she wanted him, or how he haunted her dreams. This was the first time she’d even allowed herself to dwell on the idea of love.

“You never told him.” Riley’s voice was flat.

“I did.” Tori’s defensiveness kicked in on instinct. “Sort of. I said a lot of other things. He could have assumed.”

“Oh, he’s good at that. But never trust him to assume the right thing.”

“Like you’re so perfect?”

Riley held up her hands. “Not even close. It’s an opinion. But if you never told him, you really can’t expect him to know. You can’t expect that from anyone.”

“What am I going to do?” Tori leaned her head back, to stare at the ceiling.

A few seconds later, Riley’s face appeared in front of her, looking down, compassion in her eyes. “I have a lot of opinions, and normally I’d give them to you, but it doesn’t matter what I think. You have to do what you want to do.”

Tori cringed, and the pain inside throbbed as much as it had the day it moved in. She knew exactly what she wanted to do, but it wasn’t practical. Any of it. Especially since she didn’t know if she could trust Archer again.

Archer slumped in his desk chair. He was glad Derrek was on the clock today, watching the front counter. With any luck, he could keep it that way a bit longer. He stared at the paperwork in front of him. He had Gwen draw up a contract. His lawyer looked at it—he’d be paying that bill off for a while—and it was all legit. Except for the bit about the costumes. The details weren’t in the contract. How he got them was up to him. Gwen had offered again to talk to Tori, if he no longer had that option.

But he had to give it another try. He had to call Tori. No, he had to show up on her doorstep again. Not because of the business stuff; they could talk about that later. If there was a chance. He had to… What?

A knock cut through his thoughts before they could build steam, and he looked up. His heart leaped when he saw Tori, and then plummeted at her flat expression.

She wore a denim skirt that only reached halfway down her thighs, and her T-shirt hugged every inch of her torso perfectly. And she was very distinctly keeping her distance, as much as was possible in the small room. The corners of her eyes tugged down. “Can we talk?”

Yes. Definitely yes.
He gestured to a chair. “Have a seat.”

She closed the door and leaned against it, instead of sitting.

“Tori, I’m so, so—”

“Me first.” Her voice wavered. “Please, let me say what I need to. If you really have to interrupt, I can’t stop you, but I need to get this out.”

The empty pit, which had moved into his chest, wasn’t sure what to do. Moan some more about being empty or slink away. He gave her a small smile. “Of course.”

She clenched and unclenched her hand. “I love you.” The words tumbled out in a single blur.

He couldn’t have heard her right. Should he ask her to repeat herself? Was he projecting? He didn’t get a chance to reply.

She stood straighter. “I love you.” There was no mistaking the words that time. They echoed in the tiny box of a room. “It’s not something I can simply cut off. And I know I wasn’t supposed to fall, it was just supposed to be sex, and I did anyway, and it—you mean so much more to me than a couple of tumbles. When I said I didn’t want any ghosts between us, I should have been more specific, and that’s my fault, but I’m telling you now, and I meant it, and I mean this and… Do with it what you will. But I had to tell you.”

The empty pit slid away, something bright taking its place. There was still an ache, but he was pretty sure this wasn’t a bad one. He wasn’t positive—it was a new sensation for him—but he was willing to give it a chance. He was on his feet in an instant, stepping toward her. “You know I love you, too.”

“There’s a problem though.” She held up a hand and rested her palm flat on his chest, and stopped him from closing the distance. The flatness was gone from her expression, replaced with a frown. That didn’t look right. “I miss you desperately, and I love you so much, and I still don’t know how to fix this thing between us.”

The words dug deep. He wanted to argue. Wanted to fall to his knees and insist there was no one but her. He wrapped his fingers around the delicate hand on his chest and pulled it away, not letting go and not stepping closer. A bit of relief joined his frustration when she didn’t yank away from his touch.

“I love you so much, and I would do anything for you. I meant what I said the other night.” He poured all of his sincerity into the words.

The hard lines in her forehead softened, and a smile crept onto her face. She moved nearer to him.

His hope poked its head again and peered around. He pressed forward. “I was wrong. About Riley, about Elliot… about so much. And I want to make it up to you, if you give me a chance.”

“I guess.” Her tone was reluctant, but her seductive smirk contradicted it. She draped her arms around his neck and nudged him back with her body. “If you really want to make it up to me, I know a good way to start.”

He rested his hands at the small of her back, holding her captive. Every nerve in his body came alive, raw from the sudden shift in moods, and looking for an outlet. He dipped his head and kissed her hard, crushing his lips against his teeth, and memorizing each curve and contour pressed against him. They broke apart with a gasp. “You know Derrek’s not that far away, right?” he asked.

“And your point is? What happened to doing anything?”

He nipped at her shoulder. He adored how wicked she was. “I still will. Anything you tell me.”

“I’m aware.” She tilted her head back, giving him easier access to her neck. She sighed when he kissed up the soft skin. “I missed this.”

He had, too. Everything about her, from her soft scent to the sounds that tore from her throat, made him want to strip her down, push her on the desk, and make her scream. But it was more important to draw the moment out and give her whatever she asked for.

She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, scraping his waist with her nails and sending tremors of want through him. “This is in the way.”

He tugged the shirt over his head, not caring when he felt something on it give and tear, and then tossed it aside.

She looked him over, brown eyes appreciative. “Better.” She trailed her fingers along his bare chest, making his pulse scream. With every light kiss she placed on his skin, his cock grew another degree harder. When she flicked her tongue out and brushed his nipple, he thought he might explode.

She stepped back, one corner of her mouth tugged up in a mischievous grin. She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and discarded it. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders in soft waves, caressing the top of a lacy bra.

Gaze never leaving his face, she reached behind her. Seconds later, the cups holding her breasts tumbled loose, and she let the white lingerie drop onto a nearby chair.

He grabbed her fingers and tugged her to him again. He rested his palm on her stomach, and then slid it lower. “I love watching you.”

“Convenient. I love being watched.” Her laugh was light and teasing.

He kissed her again, memorizing every inch of her lips against his. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, and it danced and intertwined with hers. She shifted her weight against him, bare breasts caressing his chest.

He glided his hand up her ribcage. Her skin was smooth under his palm. He cupped a plump mound and kneaded softly. Every whimper tearing from her throat hit a gorgeous note.

She used her body to move him, turning them both until she was behind his desk, back to his chair. She nudged him away, and disappointment washed over him when all contact between them broke. His fingers twitched by his side, begging to reach for her.

She slid her thumbs up her legs, pushed up the edges of her denim skirt, and then bent at the waist, to drag her panties down.

His cock throbbed inside his jeans, straining to feel her when she held the undergarment up. She tossed it on his desk. Never touching him, she whispered in his ear, “I want to feel your mouth on my pussy.”

“Let me taste you, then. He loved hearing her talk like that, and he was ready to drop to his knees for her.

She pushed onto the edge of his desk. She hooked her finger into his belt and tugged.

He tangled his fingers in her hair and yanked her head back, to kiss her hard. Her teeth scraped his bottom lip. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away, coaxing him to kneel.

Tori knew things weren’t all better. She and Archer still needed to spend time cementing their words and rebuilding misplaced trust. But she knew they were both going to try. And the slick want between her legs made a compelling case that feeling him inside her was an important part of the process.

Archer didn’t resist when she nudged him to the ground. When he trailed a finger up the inside of her thigh, it was like he’d plucked a string, and she felt the chord through her entire body.

He grazed her skin with his lips, and she whimpered. “God, Archer.”

He kissed higher, pushing her legs apart as he moved. Her skirt crept up to her hips when she spread for him. He paused short of his goal, making her wetter with anticipation.

“You’re so gorgeous. Every inch of you.” He traced up her slit, his voice lined with gravel.

The words were sweet and full of innuendo, and they made her sex throb. She rested her weight on her palms and wrists, leaning back. “Please?”

He caressed the soft skin of her thighs with his thumbs and flicked his tongue over her vulva. She gasped at the sensation. He licked higher, but never to her swollen center.

“You’re such a tease.” She forced the words through clenched teeth. “Suck my clit.”

He complied, wrapping his lips around her sex. He licked the sensitive nub, each bump sending another wave of pleasure through her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and ground against his face.

Her climax built but evened off before she reached the peak. She gasped and slid against his attention. She should hold out longer, but she didn’t have the patience. “I’m so close,” she panted. “Fuck me with your fingers.”

He nudged the edge of her opening, prodded it with two fingers, and then shoved them inside. She threw her head back, biting her bottom lip to keep from crying out. She thrust against him as she came, orgasm tearing through her and pussy clenching around him.

His attention slowed, and he pulled away. She tugged him to his feet and kissed him hard, tasting herself on his lips. With his still slick fingers, he sought out her breast. Pinching the nipple. Slid off.

With his other hand, he tugged back her head. His gaze locked on hers, something dark and seductive raging underneath. He growled, “My turn.”

Her lower gut clenched at the combination of the threat and promise, and she nodded. He squeezed her tit, and her sex perked to life again, still tender but wanting whatever he had in mind.

He sucked hard on her neck, teeth scraping the skin, sending chutes of pain and pleasure through her. When he finally let up, he slid his mouth to her ear. He nipped at the lobe before talking. “I’m so hard right now, it hurts.”

He pressed between her legs until her mound rested against his jeans and the hard length underneath. “And I want to bury my dick inside you and then pound you until you forget anyone exists besides us. Until I have to swallow your cries as you come.”

The power behind his words, and every forceful syllable, made her still-tender opening beg for more. “Fuck me.”

He chuckled and put enough space between them to undo his jeans. She scooted her hips to feel more, when he brushed the head of his cock along her slit. He reached her opening and forced inside her without further warning.

She gasped at the sensation of being spread apart so abruptly, and she pushed hard against him. He rested his hands at her hips, digging his thumbs into her as his slow rhythm built into something fast and frantic.

He hooked his hands under her legs and lifted her knees, pressing them to her chest. She had to lean all of her weight on her hands to keep her balance. Every time he drove inside her, he bumped her G-spot.

“Jesus, Archer. You feel so good.” She slammed her ass against his hips as another orgasm built inside.

He dropped her legs. He pressed his chest against hers, and he sought out her breast again. He rolled her nipple between his fingers, and his lips brushed her ear. “Come for me.”

He pressed his lips to hers as he pounded her hard, pinching the swollen flesh of her tit. The combination of sensations filled her head and climax swept over her. She screamed into his mouth as she came, his kisses muffling the sound.

He didn’t let up in his rhythm, drawing out her climax. He settled both hands on her hips again and kissed along her shoulder. His grunts echoed through her skin. He sank his teeth into her flesh, and the new sensation made her opening clench around his cock.

He pounded one more time and slowed to a stop as a shudder ran through him. He kissed the bite marks on her shoulder and neck, panting as he spoke. “I think I left a mark.”

. “Good. Something for me to show off.” She slouched forward against him when her arms threatened to give out

He looked up and locked his gaze on hers, a smile threatening to split his face. “God, I love you.”

“And don’t you forget it.” The words sent a new kind of warmth through her, and she returned the grin.

“Never.”

* * * *

Tori brushed a hand over the back of her skirt, making sure it was hanging straight. Not that the maid costume covered very much of her behind. It hinted at what might be underneath without revealing anything.

She gave the contents of Archer’s fridge one last glance, before swinging the door shut. Extra gallons of milk and cartons of cream lined every spot. In the month since they officially hooked up, life had been a whirlwind of insanity.

She didn’t mind the sex part of the bedlam, or really any of it, but it did make her head spin. She made costumes, he hired waiters and waitresses, and together, they managed to spend a large chunk of Gwen’s loan on things like licenses, converting one of the middle-floor apartments into a commercial-worthy kitchen, and turning one corner of his comic shop into a café.

In about half an hour, they were opening the doors on their new venture. She’d be waiting tables. Riley and Zane had volunteered to help, except they’d be in their school uniforms from Riley’s comic signing. Tori thought about doing the same, but she liked the excuse to wear the frilly maid outfit.

Nervous excitement churned in her gut. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard, filled it in the sink, and downed the water in a single swallow.

As she set the glass on the counter, a pair of hands rested on her hips. Archer kissed the outside edge of her ear. “Hey, gorgeous. Here alone?”

She couldn’t hide her grin at the cheesy line. She spun, pulling his hands back to her hips as soon as she was facing him. He’d opted for street clothes, and she didn’t blame him. He had a lot more to cover than tables.

She ducked her head, hoping it looked playful and shy at the same time. “My boyfriend was here, but he abandoned me.”

He pressed closer, positioning his foot between hers. “I can’t fathom the logic there. How did he take his eyes off you long enough to leave? Especially in that outfit. Or out of it.”

The light teasing pushed away her tension. It was corny, but it was fun. “Are you trying to get me out of my clothes?”

He traced a finger down the side of her cheek. “Will it make you forget about this missing guy of yours?”

“I don’t know.” She drew her finger along the edge of her neckline. “I don’t even know what kind of kisser you are. And you’ve got a lot to live up to. He’s a pretty good kisser.”

He raised his eyebrows, and his lips twitched with a smile. “I’m better.”

“Prove it.”

He dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers, barely making contact. His hand rested at the back of her neck, holding her captive, and he deepened the kiss. She groaned and slid against him as every inch of her came alive.

They broke apart, but he kept her back pressed to the counter, his gaze locked on her face. “Well? Can I replace the schmuck who abandoned you?”

“Sorry. Thing is I really love him, and a kiss isn’t everything.”

His expression went flat. Had she pushed the teasing too far? His hands found her hips again, and she gasped when he lifted her to sit on the edge of the counter.

“How about this, then?” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small, black box.

Her pulse leaped. A whisper in the back of her head asked if this could possibly be…

No. It couldn’t. Could it?

“Tori”—his tone was quiet, but even—“you mean the world to me. I love you so very much, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, in life or business.”

Her heart hammered in her ribcage with each word and sentence.

“And I know sometimes I’m an ass, and sometimes I’m a pain to deal with.” He opened the box.

Her mouth twisted in amusement at what was inside. He was going to babble if she let him. She leaned forward and kissed him hard. “Spit it out.”

He gave a nervous laugh. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” Her reply came out softer than she intended. “Yes. Absolutely yes,” she said with more strength. She kissed him again.

He slipped the ring on her finger. It was green, plastic, and had a lantern shaped symbol in the middle. “I want you to be there to pick out your ring, so this is a stand-in.”

She held up her hand, admiring the plastic trinket. “I love it. I can’t wait to show it off.”

He nudged her legs apart and slid between them. He held her close. “Now can I see you without the dress on?”

She laughed and used her body to push him back, as she hopped off the edge of the counter and stood again. She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “We have a café to open.” The green plastic seemed to glint in the kitchen light. “Besides, I have to show off and brag.”

He pushed up the edge of her skirt and traced the elastic of her panties, sending a pleasant chill through her. Damn it, why did they have places to be?

He ran his mouth up the side of her cheek. “I’ll behave for now. But don’t plan on keeping the dress on for long, after I lock the doors tonight.”

She laughed and pushed him back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

THE END

~*~

If you’re looking for more cubicle dwellers and geek love to warm your heart and scorch the pages of your e-reader, check out the first #GeekLove series, Version 2.0, starting with
Denial of Interest
.
No one can stay on top forever, and calling what Zach Johnston’s biggest competitor did to his company a hostile takeover doesn't do it justice.
No-lube violation
is more accurate.

Keep reading for a free sneak peek of
Denial of Interest.

~*~

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