Until You're Mine (26 page)

My head was pounding by the time we stood up to leave. “I need to use the ladies room before we go,” I whispered to Archer as we left the room.

“Down that hall to the right,” he pointed out before kissing my temple. 

“Thanks for everything, Kevin.” I heard him say as I walked away.

“My pleasure, Mr. Brooks. Although, next time you get married, I strongly suggest we have a pre-nup in place. It will save a man of your wealth a lot of headache and money.”

Archer laughed. “Trust me…that will never happen again,”

My heart sank and my eyes burned with tears as I rounded the corner, running right into…
her
.

Shit.

I tried to side step her. I did not want a confrontation, especially here. “Excuse me.” I said to the floor but those nude heels stepped with me each time I moved.

“He’s scraping the bottom of the barrel I see?” My watery eyes shot to hers. “Guess that’s understandable, when you’ve had the best, you can only downgrade from there.”

I was not prepared for this. I had expected Archer to be with me at all times. Now here I was all alone and nothing or no one to defend me. I tried to step around her again, but she grabbed my upper arms. “Get your fuckin’ hands off of me.” I said it a little louder than I meant to. But damn it, I was sick of being kicked around by all these ruthless ass women.

Megan immediately dropped her hands, looking around. I straightened my spine, lifted my chin and took two steps forward.  “Your words can’t hurt me. No matter what you say, it won’t change the fact that I love him and he’s mine now. You can’t hurt him anymore.”

Her head jerked back, irritation twisting her lovely face. “Nothing huh? So he told you that he physically abused me the entire time we were married? And he…” Angry heat swept through me along with an overwhelming need to stake my claim, and make this evil bitch understand.

I took another step closer, pinning her to the wall with my threatening glare. “Abuse? Is that what you call it? Because I call it
fucking
. And yes, he told me
everything
about you.”

He hadn’t told me
everything,
but he told me enough to know that she was completely full of shit. That she’d taken incriminating photos after their bouts of intense sex, and even photo shopped several others. She not only broke his heart but wounded his pride. What she accused him of was disgusting and appalling, and if she thought for one second I would believe her over him- she was out of her fucking mind. My faith in him, and our love, told me all the truth I needed to know. “You may have won the battle sweetie, but you didn’t win the war. I won his heart. It belongs to me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect it.”

“Katherine,” My heart raced as he stalked toward us, his hard impassive scowl set firmly in place. I inhaled a deep breath and collected a step back. 

Was this really happening? My worst fear coming true right here in this damn hallway.

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes,

smart enough to profit from them and

strong enough to correct them.

~ John C. Maxwell

When I turned the corner and saw my future staring down my past, my heart leapt in my fucking chest. My good girl had the vicious snake trapped, and the words falling from her mouth may have been spoken in anger, but they were wrapped in fucking love.

“Archer,” The fear in her voice made my gut twist in agony. I had to get her out of here. After hearing and watching her spit venom back in Megan’s face, my cock twitched to show her and my mouth watered to tell her.

MINE.

Without a glance to Megan, I wrapped my arm around Katherine’s waist, pulling her toward the exit. “Time to go, baby,”

Two steps later, she struck again.

“Yes, go back to your miserable life in the sticks while I count your money, Archer. Thanks for everything by the way.”

In the past, the treachery and vindictiveness in her voice would have me screaming mad and ready to spit nails. But today I smiled. Yes, I actually fucking smiled. It was a satisfying, relieved smile that lit my goddamn soul on fire. I looked to the source of my overwhelming happiness, finding the strength I needed to truly let her go. I was not about to give this woman one more second of my time, or Katherine’s, for that matter.

I looked at Megan one final time, wondering how in the hell I ever loved this woman, but thanking the good Lord above I did. Because had I not…

“Thank you,”

“For what?” Megan spat.

“Because of you, I know what true love really means. Because of you, I found
the one
. And because of you, I can fuckin’ appreciate it. ”

With a loud and dramatic huff, Megan turned on a heel and walked away…taking with her the burden I’d carried for so many years.

Good fucking riddance
.

I didn’t even wait for Megan to turn the corner before I pounced. My mouth devoured hers and we were all tongue and hands and desperate hungry breaths. “God, I love your mouth.” I confessed against her lips. “I love your mind,” I added. “But most of all,” I stopped all movement. “I love your fuckin’ heart.”

“Archer,” she breathed, clasping at my neck.

“Yes, baby,”

“Take me home,”

“With fuckin’ pleasure,”

My grandmother used to say, time flies when you’re in love. And she was right. The next several months had flown by, and for the first time in my life, I was willing time to slow down. I wanted to savor these moments, and my incredible life with her.

Immediately upon returning from Vegas, Katherine moved in. The sun rose and fell with her. She had to be the one I made love to in the morning, and the one I fucked goodnight. Anything else was not an option.

She wholeheartedly agreed.

Some days I can hardly believe I survived without her. Her sacred kiss and soothing touch were the only two luxuries I needed in my life anymore. Oh, and the beautiful secret she was now carrying. The knowledge that my baby, our child, was growing inside of her made my heart ache with so much fucking love. It’s true, love hurts…

Hurts so fucking good.

I took another sip of my beer, looking around the decorated back yard. Katherine had planned a surprise party for my birthday. I don’t know how the hell she pulled it off without me knowing. I’d been spending more time at home with her over the last few weeks, allowing Cannon, of all people, to take on more responsibility at the bar. Still, I had no clue until I arrived back here two hours ago from a Grizzlies game with Holden.

“So who’s the pussy now, huh?” Holden and his relentless teasing had been nonstop for months now. I had to give him credit. He gave as good as he got.

Reluctantly looking away from the love of my life, I arched one brow. “That all you got?”

Holden grinned around the rim of his bottle. “So when are you handin’ over the rest of your nuts?”

“Soon,”

“Soon huh? Well, don’t wait too long…she might realize what an asshole you are and kick you to the curb.”

“She already knows. That’s why she loves me, shithead.”

Laughing, he slapped the back of my shoulder. “Happy Birthday, asshole.”

“Thanks pussy.”