Mine for a Moment

I look up from my position on the sofa when my front door unlocks, my heart beginning to beat just a little faster when Serenity walks in. She has no idea how much I’ve been enjoying having her live with me. In just a handful of days, I’ve been treated to countless sights of her all rushed and gorgeous in the morning, only for her to somehow become even more beautiful by the time she walks into the house in the evening. Her hair somehow becomes more unruly, everything about her coming undone in the most captivating way.

She doesn’t know it, but I’ve been taking my work home with me every day lately, so I can make sure I get home before she does and steal a few moments with her. Having Ezra around has been tougher than I expected. He just seems to be everywhere—I haven’t even been able to sneak into bed with Serenity at night, because each time I walk out of my guest room, he wakes up.

“Hi, darling,” I murmur, drinking her in.

Her whole face lights up when she smiles at me, her gaze darting around the room. “Are we alone?” she asks as she walks up to me, hope blossoming in her beautiful hazel eyes.

I nod as she places her knee on the sofa between my legs, her hands wrapping around my shoulders as she leans in and kisses me. I groan as I grab her waist and all but tackle her onto the sofa, covering her body with mine. “Fuck,” I mutter against her mouth. “I missed you.”

Her leg hooks around mine, her hand sliding up from the back of my neck and into my hair. “I missed you more,” she says in between kisses, her touch as impatient as mine.

She gasps when I move my lips to her neck, kissing her in that spot that makes her shiver. “How was your day, baby?” Her hand slips underneath my shirt, and I smile against her skin. I love that she craves physical connection as much as I do. “I saw Mark giving you some shit today. I’m all for giving you responsibility and opportunities to grow, but that doesn’t mean he can offload his work on you. If he does even one single thing that you don’t like, let me know, and I’ll fire him.”

She laughs and pulls back a little, and I push myself up on my forearms so I can look at her. “He hasn’t done anything wrong, Archer,” she says, her tone placating. “Stop looking for excuses to fire Theo and Mark. I’m pretty sure this is the fourth time in as many weeks that you’ve mentioned wanting to fire either of them.”

My heart skips a beat at the sight of that smile of hers. “Fine, maybe I just don’t like the way they’re always looking at you. I need to find a way to make leering at my girl a fireable offense.”

She cups my face, and the way she looks at me makes my heart overflow with something I can’t quite define. It isn’t anything I’ve ever felt before—it’s warm and overwhelming and entirely terrifying. “Your girl, huh?” she murmurs.

“Yeah,” I whisper instantly, leaning in to brush my lips over hers. “Mine.” She sighs happily in the moments before my mouth descends on hers, and I can’t help but smile. This kiss is different. It’s slower, more intentional. Her back arches, and she tilts her head as she brings me in closer, parting her lips for me.

By the time I pull away, we’re both panting. “This is the best part of my day,” she whispers. “These little moments, when it’s just the two of us.”

Her eyes fall closed when I kiss her cheek and then the tip of her nose, before moving to her forehead. “Mine too,” I murmur, wishing she understood just how much peace she brings me. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. Simply holding her in my arms roots me in the present, makes everything but her fade away.

“I wanted to ask if there’s anything I can do to help you with the international roll-out plan.” Her fingers brush over my temple gently. “I feel like you’ve been working late every night, and I know there probably isn’t much I can do, but if I can lighten your load just a little bit, I will. Maybe I could help with admin?”

I shake my head, my heart warming. “Darling,” I murmur, leaning in to kiss the edge of her mouth. “I’m only working late because the thought of you all alone in my bed keeps me up at night. I keep having to distract myself from thoughts of what I’d do to you if your brother weren’t cockblocking me at every turn.”

She laughs, and I just stare at her, mesmerized. “He’s the worst. I really miss spending our evenings in bed together,” she admits. “I love having your skin against mine and the way you look at me right before you push into me.”

My cock instantly begins to throb, and she grins as she rolls her hips underneath me provocatively, her back arching. “Fucking tease,” I groan, spreading her legs farther. Serenity’s breath hitches when I slowly drag my index finger across her inner thigh, loving the way her gaze darkens.

“Wet,” I whisper as I push her panties aside. Her head drops back when I push two fingers into her, curling them in that way she just can’t resist. She moans my name beautifully, and it does something, makes me fucking feral. There’s nothing that makes me feel better than hearing her say my name like that.

“Please,” she whispers, rolling her hips. “It’s been so long, Archer. Please. I need you inside me.”

I bite on my lip as I reach for my slacks, and as if on cue, I hear my door unlock. “Fuck,” I groan, rolling off her in a rush, involuntarily crashing to the floor in the process.

She sits up in alarm and tidies her clothes, her gaze roaming over me to make sure I’m okay. I throw her a reassuring look as I sit up on the floor, annoyed Ezra came home so early.

“What are you doing on the floor?” he asks as he walks in, and I take a deep breath as I stare up at my ceiling, praying for patience.

I’ve lived with Ezra for years before this, but somehow, the two weeks he’s been here have been completely fucking unbearable. “Thought I saw a stain on the rug,” I lie.

“I’m sorry,” Serenity says, amusement dancing in her eyes as she rises to her feet and begins to tidy the blanket she bought for the sofa and the countless cushions we bought in Morocco. “If there’s a stain, it was probably me. I’m trying to be careful, but I just keep getting paint everywhere.”

I bite back a smile and continue to look down in search of a stain we both know doesn’t exist, hoping my cock calms the fuck down soon. “It’s fine,” I murmur eventually. “I think it’s just the rug’s pattern.”

I look up, only to find Ezra staring past both of us, at the painting supplies I moved out of the guest room and into the corner of the living room earlier today. His expression is conflicted, haunted, and fresh guilt crashes through me.