The Fall by Sienna Lane, Amelia Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

of watching their pleasantries.
    The waiter glowered at him before turning to Addison. “It won’t be long.”
    After the man left, Addison turned to Archer.
    “What is your problem, Archer? That was so rude!”
    “He’s all but drooling all over you,” Archer remarked.
    Addison stared at him for second before replying, “And why should you care?”
    “You’re right. I shouldn’t,” Archer retorted sharply, careful not to lie.
    Addison shrugged. “Fine.”
    An awkward silence settled in, which Archer broke after a few moments with a sigh. “I’m sorry,” he admitted. “I had no right to behave that way.”
    “No,” Addison agreed, “you didn’t. I appreciate you protecting me, Archer, but you have no right to police who I talk to or what I do.”
    “You’re right,” Archer repeated smoothly, regaining his usual control. 
    The waiter returned again with Addison’s food. He arranged it in front of her and slid a piece of paper across the table towards her.
    “Call me sometime,” he said.
    Addison smiled politely and picked up the paper.
    “It was nice to meet you, Mark.”
    The waiter nodded and began to walk away. Addison was about to shovel a group of fries into her mouth when Archer wrapped his hand around her nape and pulled her towards him.
    Addison seemed too shocked to do anything but oblige, and Archer closed his lips over hers. She opened her mouth in alarm, and Archer took advantage of it, sliding his tongue inside quickly and drawing on hers. He pulled on her lip with his teeth before opening his eyes dazedly.
    The kiss ended as quickly as it had begun. Addison looked up at him, her face flushed and eyes glossy with desire.
    What the hell? Archer thought. What was he doing? He had been convinced that he could withstand the attraction he felt towards Addison, but he needed to claim her. Claim? Archer pulled away, shaken by his reaction. He stood up and grabbed his black jacket, avoiding Addison’s penetrating gaze.
    “I’m going outside. You eat, I’ll get Jake to come and take you home.” Archer snatched the paper out of her hand, and scrunched it up before putting a fifty-dollar note on the table, leaving without waiting for Addison’s response.
    Archer saw the waiter glowering at him from the counter and smiled inwardly before catching himself, strengthening his resolve. He had to put a stop to these feelings.
    Jake arrived within a few minutes.
    “Who’s Addison talking to?” he asked, not bothering with a hello. 
    Archer spun around, and growled when he saw the damn waiter back at Addison’s table.
    “Is it just me, or are guys not as smart as they used to be?” Archer asked Jake distractedly.
    “Is that rhetorical? Maybe you just aren’t as scary as you used to be,” Jake replied with a grin, slapping Archer on the shoulder affectionately.
    “Doubt that,” Archer said, his jaw tight. “Go and watch her. Don’t let her leave your sight. Let me know if that little dipshit tries anything else. If he does, I have a gun and a shovel, and I doubt he'd be missed.”
    “Did you just quote Clueless ?” Jake asked in shock.
    “You watched it about a hundred times in nineteen-ninety five alone,” Archer replied grudgingly. Shaking his head with a reminiscent smile, Jake walked into the diner.
    ***
    Addison was caught between being pissed off, confused, and sexually frustrated. She was furious that Archer had just left her to eat alone and confused at why he had done so. But wow, she thought. She couldn’t help but recognise that his kiss had been amazing. She could still taste him on her tongue, and the wild spices were like nothing she had ever experienced. Her body seemed to be buzzing with electricity.
    Jake walked into the diner. He was dressed in dark denim jeans, black boots, and a white t-shirt. Almost every female’s eyes followed him as he walked towards her. Many of them were scowling at her, clearly remembering the last man she had seated beside her, and