Chapter 21: : Chapter 21

“How are you settling in, Ser?” Ezra asks me as he holds a beer bottle that he definitely stole from Archer’s fridge. I wonder if he even realizes that Archer rarely drinks beer. I’m pretty sure Arch keeps his fridge stocked just for Ezra.

“Honestly, the biggest adjustment has been coming to terms with the fact that you are supposedly some big, fearsome, rich CEO,” I tell him, my eyes trailing over the ratty superhero T-shirt and the black shorts with literal holes in them he’s wearing. “You truly are a whole different person at work, and it’s really shocking. You have no idea how tempted I am to take a photo of you and send it to the whole company.”

He glances down at his clothes and bursts out laughing as he sinks down on the sofa. I join him and pull my legs up, a smile on my face. “I see you’re doing just fine, then,” he says, lifting his beer bottle to his mouth. “I was worried since I’ve been away so much, but you seem okay.”

I nod, my thoughts turning to Archer. “Archer has taken me sightseeing in my free time, which has really helped me settle in,” I murmur, my mind drifting to all the places he’s taken me to in the evenings and on weekends when Ezra isn’t here. I didn’t think I’d want to do anything that’d remind me of Theo, but Archer managed to turn the to-do lists I made with Theo in mind into something that’s ours.

“I’m glad he’s been there for you in my absence,” he says, and I instantly begin to feel guilty for the secrets we’re keeping. “And how has work been?”

“The workload is heavy but in the very best way. I’m learning so much, and I’m honestly having a really good time.”

Though truthfully, a lot of that has to do with Archer too. It’s the secret text messages and the way he’s pulled me into an empty meeting room twice now simply to kiss me. I wasn’t sure if I’d be okay working with Theo, but Archer makes it all bearable. I’m still dreading having dinner with Theo and Kristen, but even the thought of that doesn’t torment me as much as it did when Theo first mentioned it.

“Serenity,” Ezra says, his tone grave. I lift my face to look at him, my heart instantly beating a little faster when I find him looking at me with a conflicted expression. “I’m honestly really happy that you’re enjoying working at Serenity Solutions, but I want you to know that I’d support any career you chose to pursue, no matter what it is. Mom might not understand, but I worked as hard as I did so you wouldn’t have to. You can do whatever you want, and I’ll have your back. If you want to pursue painting, I’ll make it happen.”

I stare at him in disbelief, my heart overflowing with tenderness.

“Think it over,” he adds. “I’m serious. You’re incredibly talented, so don’t let Mom’s words and opinions deprive you of your dreams.”

I nod, my heart racing. What would he do if I told him that I’m The Muse? The few times I’ve heard him talk about my work, he’s berated it and called it vandalism. If he realized I never truly stopped painting and which route I took, he’d be so disappointed in me.

“For fuck’s sake,” Archer says, startling me as he walks into our living room with an amused look on his face. My gaze roams over his tight white tee and lingers on the gray sweats he loves wearing at home. He knows I can’t resist him when he’s dressed like that, and when his eyes meet mine, there’s a hint of provocation in them.

He yanks Ezra’s bottle out of his hand and plops down on the sofa next to me, his thigh brushing against mine. “How the fuck do you keep getting into my house so unobtrusively? I didn’t even fucking hear you.” His arm wraps around the back of the sofa, the edge of his thumb resting against my shoulder.

Ezra simply grins and reaches over, stealing his beer back. “I’m a man of many skills,” he says, shrugging as he knocks the bottle back.

Archer turns his face to look at me, his eyes lingering on my lips for a moment too long. He tears his eyes off me and drapes his free hand over his lap. “Do those skills include putting on the game?”

Ezra rolls his eyes and turns the TV on, his attention rapidly stolen away by the football game. All the while, the only thing I can focus on is Archer and how close he’s sitting. Ezra didn’t bat an eye at it, but my heart hasn’t stopped racing.

I wasn’t sure what it’d be like for the three of us to hang out since Archer and I started sleeping together, but everything seems the same, except for the way my body is responding to Archer’s proximity.

I almost breathe a sigh of relief when Ezra gets up during a commercial, telling us he needs to check on something for work really quickly before disappearing.

The second we hear the door to his home office click closed, Archer reaches for me, his hand wrapping around the back of my neck as he pulls me closer. “Fucking finally,” he whispers, before his lips meet mine. I whimper a little, my hand balling in his T-shirt as I kiss him back, my movements urgent, desperate. He parts my lips, and a soft moan escapes the back of my throat when he kisses me in that way that just steals away all my thoughts—deeply, leisurely, like I have his full attention, like there’s nothing but me.

We’re both panting when he pulls away, his forehead dropping to mine. “Couldn’t resist,” he whispers. “I can’t have you sitting next to me looking so fucking irresistible without getting a taste of what’s mine.”

“The feeling is mutual,” I whisper back. “You knew what you were doing when you walked in here wearing those sweats.”

He grins as he grabs my hand and places it over his erection, making me feel just how hard he is for me from one single kiss. “And what’s that?”

“You were tempting me.”

“Did I succeed?”

I squeeze his cock, my breathing erratic. “Definitely.”

He chuckles and leans in, kissing the edge of my mouth. “Good,” he whispers. “Sneak back into my house later, darling. I need you.”

I nod, and he grins as he turns his face to kiss me. “Ezra will be back any second,” I remind him, pulling away a little.

He sighs and leans back moments before Ezra enters the room, and I pull my hand to my chest in a rush. Archer smiles as he throws his arm back over his lap, hiding his erection as my brother takes his seat in time for the game to resume.

He glances at us, but there isn’t a hint of suspicion in his eyes. Even so, a new kind of guilt rushes over me. There’s so much at stake if Archer and I ever got caught. We need to be more careful.