One True Thing by Piper Vaughn Read Free Book Online Page B

talking easily, and when he suggested we
    get out of there and go somewhere quieter, I didn’t
    hesitate to say yes. He paid our bill, and we left.
    I liked that he curled an arm around my waist
    and pulled me into his side as we walked. He had
    several inches on me, and he was broader too, but
    he didn’t tower like Gary had. He made me feel
    small, but not in a bad way. In the same way that
    Erik did, as if I were something to be protected.
    Maybe it was girly of me to want that feeling, but I
    did. It was one of the things I loved most about
    Erik. He wasn’t some big, tough guy, but he made
    me feel safe.
    I knew it was after midnight on a weekday,
    but I didn’t want the date to end. Archer hadn’t
    mentioned whether or not he had to work in the
    morning, but my shift didn’t start until one. I
    would’ve been more than happy to hang out in a
    diner for another hour or two, chitchatting over
    coffee. I figured that was what Archer wanted too
    and didn’t resist when he pulled me into the
    shadowy entryway of one of the businesses we
    were passing and crowded me back against the
    door.
    He crushed his lips to mine, and I melted into
    it without a thought. I’d been wanting it since the
    first day I’d seen him, hadn’t I? I didn’t see any
    point in resisting, and even if it wasn’t as electric
    and explosive as I’d hoped it would be, it was still
    nice. Maybe even more than nice. His lips were as
    soft as I’d imagined, and, Lord, did he know how
    to kiss. But next thing I knew, the slow, deep
    kisses had turned to him sucking on my neck, and
    the fingers that had been digging sexily into my
    hips were suddenly yanking at the zipper to my
    jeans.
    “Hey,” I said, trying to pull back a little.
    “Hey, we’re in public, remember?”
    Archer groaned against my throat and kept
    working at my fly. “I’ve been nice.”
    I reached down to still his hands. “You have
    been, and I’ve had a great time, but I… I don’t
    want to ruin it, okay? Let’s just go get some
    coffee.”
    Archer lifted his head, looking puzzled. “I
    don’t get it. I mean, what’s the problem? I want
    you. I can tell you want me. What’ll be ruined if
    we fuck?”
    I felt my cheeks warm under his gaze. God,
    the way he was looking at me, like I was some girl
    who wouldn’t put out on prom night when he’d
    shelled out the cash for the tux and a limo. Was it
    really that uncommon for a guy to want to wait?
    “Look,” I said carefully. “I like you. But I
    don’t really do hookups, okay? I loved kissing you.
    I could kiss you all night. Just… not the rest of it.
    At least not right now.”
    He stared at me for a few seconds, then
    nodded slowly. “Okay.”
    I threaded my fingers through his and pulled
    him close for a quick kiss. “Wanna go find a
    diner? Get some pancakes maybe?”
    Archer cleared his throat and untangled his
    hand from mine. “You know, maybe we should
    call it a night, actually. I have to be at work by
    nine.”
    “Oh.” It was my turn to be confused. He’d
    seemed plenty willing to stay out ten minutes
    before. Why the sudden change of heart? But
    then… ten minutes ago he hadn’t known the night
    would end without him getting laid, had he? I hated
    to think of him as that guy, but the playful,
    lighthearted flirtation we’d had going all evening
    had vanished in the last few moments, and I
    couldn’t think of any other reason to explain why.
    “Sure.”
    He hailed me a cab and deposited me inside
    with a brief hug and a murmured “I’ll call you.”
    I had a feeling that meant I’d never hear from
    him again.
    Asher
    I WAS standing in line for a latte a few weeks after
    my last argument with Archer. It had been quiet for
    a while, mostly because we rarely saw each other.
    He’d been going to work, which I was more than
    grateful for. I guessed the real story would be
    getting rent out of him when the time came. I
    wasn’t looking forward to that.
    The line shuffled forward, and I