Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

This party is wild. Couples are making out in the hot tub, women are topless in the pool, and the booze and weed are floating around freely.

Everyone is having a great time. Everyone except Archer.

We settle into chairs on the rooftop patio. Walker Graham is an asshole, of that I’m certain. Archer hasn’t always been nice to me, but I find myself very defensive of him as Walker raises his voice and leans forward when he asks, “Can you hear me okay or is the noise too much?”

“No need to shout and punish everyone else’s eardrums,” Archer says, grimacing.

“How do we play?” I ask as I scoot closer to Archer. “Is it just like truth or dare?”

He nods, gaze locking onto my mouth. He said he liked my mouth and now it’s all I can think about. That and him placing his against mine.

“So I could just say drink and not have to admit to anything embarrassing?” I ask.

Archer’s lips quirk into a smile. “Sure.”

My stomach flips. This game has me transported right back to junior high and that was not a super fun time for me. I was awkward and taller than all the boys, which somehow made me undatable and unkissable.

“Want to do a test round?” he asks.

When I nod, he asks, “Truth or Drink?”

“Truth.”

He stares at me for a beat. The light from the firepit in front of us dances across his features, and my body warms as much from him as the fire.

“Why did you leave last winter?”

I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me. All those happy, flirty feelings are swept under said rug for good measure. I look away from him and take a long drink of my beer.

It’s not like I haven’t considered telling him and Brogan. I never meant for it to be some secret. It’s just, I don’t know if I’m ready to talk about it. Even speaking to my parents on the phone is still hard. Those months I spent back home with my mom were the scariest of my life. I thought I was going to lose her.

When I look back to Archer, disappointment is splashed over his features. I have the distinct feeling we’ve just taken about ten steps back from this friendly truce and mild flirting we’ve been doing. In an attempt to lighten the mood, I turn it back on him, “Truth or drink?”

His response isn’t immediate, but eventually he says, “Truth.”

“Have you ever made out with anyone in the hot tub over there?” I tip my head to where two guys have one girl sandwiched between them.

Archer’s gaze flicks in that direction but doesn’t linger before returning to me. “Yes.”

“Really?”

His lips flatten and the smallest of smiles pulls at the corners of his lips.

“I had you pegged for more of a private make out kind of guy.”

“With enough booze I’m a make out anywhere and everywhere kind of guy.”

My stomach flips with excitement. I think I’d like to see that version of Archer. This time when I smile at him, he returns the gesture.

“Truth or drink?” he asks. I steel myself for another hard question.

“Truth,” I say.

“Do you want to make out in the hot tub?”

“With you?” I ask, then my cheeks flame hot because now I’m certain that isn’t what he was asking.

“I was just trying to get a gauge on what you’re into. There are a lot of guys here that would love to get you in that hot tub. I’d say you’d have your pick.”

I can’t get a good read on him. Is he flirting with me now or just making an observation?

“And if I picked you?”

We stare at one another, neither blinking. The wind whips my hair around my face, but I don’t make any move to tame it. Around us I’m vaguely aware that the game has started farther down the circle, but neither of us seems to care.

“There you two are!” Brogan says as he and London join us.

Brogan plops down next to me and flings an arm around my shoulders, snapping me out of the thoughts of kissing his best friend.

“Hey,” I say, blinking him into focus. He has a tipsy smile and flushed cheeks. Brogan squeezes me into his chest before letting go and sitting back.

“What have you two been up to?” he asks, then looks from me to Archer. His gaze travels to Walker and he gives us a quizzical look that I think begs the question, why the fuck are you sitting around with this guy?

“Not much.” Archer looks way less affected than I feel. My skin is on fire and my stomach continues to flip as he appears all cool and collected. I’m pretty sure he’s into me. Either that or I imagined the chemistry crackling between us a few moments ago. But I can’t gauge whether he wants to act on it.

London is still standing, but Brogan leans forward to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her down onto his lap. She squeals but falls into him with a smile.

“Not much?” Brogan asks. “It’s a party, dude.”

He shakes his head then turns to me. “I’m sorry I left you with this guy. I told you he was in a slump.”

“We’re playing Truth or Drink,” I say.

“Wow, it’s been forever since I played that,” London says, excitement sparking in her eyes.

“Well, let’s do it somewhere else,” Brogan suggests.

Yes, please.

Brogan and London stand, but before I can do the same, Archer leans closer to me.

I’m frozen as I wait for his next move. Our faces are inches apart and I can smell the beer on his breath and the cologne that still lingers on his skin.

“If you picked me, I’d consider myself the luckiest guy at this party,” he whispers. A shiver works its way down my spine and his words take a moment to register. By the time they do, he’s standing.

“I need another drink. Anyone else?” Archer asks.

Brogan shakes his head. London too.

“We’ll see if we can find seats on the patio,” Brogan says as Archer starts for the house.

He can’t say something like that and just leave.

“I’ll come with you,” I say quickly and stand on shaky legs.

My face is on fire as I follow Archer. As soon as we reach the steps, I latch on to his arm so I don’t lose him. My heart is thumping rapidly. Neither of us speaks as he leads me inside and even as we pass by the kitchen.

There’s a hallway on either side of the massive living area. To the left, women are standing along the wall outside what I assume is a bathroom. Archer leads me to the right. The noise from the party fades with every step farther down the hall until he pulls me into a dark room at the end.

My eyes don’t have long to adjust. I spot a shelf with sneakers, but then Archer’s hands frame my face and nothing else seems important enough to look anywhere but at him.

He doesn’t kiss me yet, though his gaze drops to my lips. “Are you sure you want this?”

“Positive,” I whisper and nod just in case he couldn’t hear it over the pounding of my heart.

He takes my hand and places it on his left bicep. “If you want me to stop, squeeze twice.”

My brows tug together in confusion.

“In case you say it and I don’t hear you.”

It’s such an oddly sweet thing to be concerned with. Especially considering I’m ready to strip down and do some hot tub role-play.

“Sabrina?” The way he says my name makes goosebumps dot my arms.

“I got it, but please don’t stop.”

As he lunges for me, he lets out a low groan that I feel all the way to my toes. His lips are full and soft, and he doesn’t waste any time before sweeping his tongue into my mouth. No pretense of a chaste, innocent kiss, just a whole lot of pent-up longing. And I am here for it.

His hands frame my face, holding me in place—like I’m going anywhere. I’m exactly where I want to be. Archer uses his hold on me to turn me around and walk me backward until my shoulder blades slam against the door.

He pulls back, gaze dropping to my mouth before he brings his lips back to mine. His hands roam down to the sides of my neck. My pulse hammers against his touch and my body tingles as his lips and teeth graze the same trail as his hands.

I push my hips into his, seeking friction to ease the throb between my legs. Archer groans against my collarbone and presses me harder against the door. He reaches down and hooks a hand around my left leg, lifting it off the ground until my knee rests against his hip. His thumb strokes the inside of my calf as his hard length grinds against my aching core.

“Archer.” His name is little more than a rasp from my lips, but he seeks out my gaze again. It hits me not for the first time how much time Archer spends worrying about everything going on around him. He doesn’t want to miss anything, but he’s constantly on edge that he won’t catch a word or signal because of his hearing loss.

I reach for him, pulling his mouth back to mine. I swallow his moan and instead of giving him one in return, I go with a tactile approach. I slide my hands under his shirt and drag my short nails across his skin. His muscles flex under my touch.

“Fuck, do that again.” He latches onto my neck and sucks while I scratch his chest and abs. He’s seriously cut with muscles that map across his upper body like an intricate design.

The hand he has on my leg inches higher up my thigh until he’s so close to his thumb brushing across my soaked panties that I hold my breath with anticipation.

My phone pings, sounding a lot louder than normal in the quiet, dark room. Archer freezes. I tell him to ignore it by moving into his hand. A whimper leaves my lips as his fingers finally brush against my core.

I don’t know how we got here, but I have never wanted someone’s hands on me more.

His phone goes off next. The vibration hums through his pocket to my hip. He says nothing as his fingers slide over me until he’s cupping my pussy through the lacy material.

He nips my bottom lip and then locks onto me with his dark hazel stare as he slips one finger under the side of my panties.

“Archer,” I say his name quietly, but he doesn’t miss it.

Or the loud ringing of my phone again.

“Should you check that?”

“Definitely not.” A shaky laugh leaves my lips. He’s making lazy circles an inch away from where I want his fingers most. He just keeps staring like he has all the time in the world until I pull my phone out. It stops ringing as I say, “It’s Brogan.”

Archer’s phone starts going off again.

“One guess who that is,” he says. He lets out a small sigh as he slowly sets my leg back on the ground and then pulls out his phone. He taps out something, presumably a text to my brother, and then pockets it again.

“We’re out of time, Cinderella.” He tips my chin up with two fingers and presses another kiss to my mouth, humming like he’s in pain as he pulls away.

He takes my hand then holds it up, staring at my wrist. “You lost your charm.”

It takes me a second to realize what he’s saying, but when I glance at my bracelet, the ballet slipper is gone.

“Oh.” I’m still dazed from the kissing. Kissing I’d like to repeat. “It’s okay. It was just an old, cheap bracelet.”

He nods and starts to pull me back out of the room.

“Wait.” I stop and grab on to his arm so he can’t keep going. “That’s it? What about us?”

“Right now, I need to get you back to Brogan. Your brother is worried someone has coerced you into a promiscuous situation.”

My lips curve up slowly.

“This probably shouldn’t have happened.” He reaches forward and tucks my hair behind one ear. His fingers brush my cheek and along my jaw before they drop.

“Because of Brogan?”

“He is my best friend in the whole world. My brother in all the ways that matter.”

“I get that, but…” I trail off because I’m not sure what argument I want to make. This isn’t a big deal? I might die if you don’t put your hands back underneath my skirt?

It occurs to me maybe he isn’t quite so into this as I am. Maybe this was just a drunken party make out to get himself out of his dry slump.

“We should get back before he comes to find us.” He starts again, but I reach for his arm and stop him. Again. He’s wearing a cocky smirk. I’m sure I’m doing great things for his ego right now, literally stopping him from leaving my side. Then again, he’s probably used to this. He has to be. Archer is seriously hot. His slump isn’t for lack of willing participants.

He steps to me and brushes his lips over mine again, then steps back.

“I left because my mom is sick,” I blurt out.

The smirk on his face slowly falls and his brows tug together.

“She was diagnosed with breast cancer in December. I went back home to be there for surgery and chemo.” I drove her to doctor’s appointments and kept her company when she was too sick to leave the house.

“Fuck, Sabrina. I’m sorry. I had no idea.” His mouth pulls down at the corners as a flash of sympathy crosses his face.

I nod, smashing my lips together and swallowing around the emotion trying to clog my throat. I’m not sure why I’m telling him all this now. Maybe because I don’t want him to think the worst of me anymore.

“They caught it early and it hadn’t spread. She was lucky.” I was lucky. I can’t imagine not having her in my life. I need her too much still.

“Why didn’t you tell Brogan?” he asks quietly.

“We’d just connected and were still getting to know one another. Also, I didn’t think. I packed up my car and I drove home as soon as I found out.”

He nods, giving me a smile that’s filled with sympathy and understanding, but maybe still a little disappointment too. “I get that, but it’s been months.”

I hear the unspoken question. Why haven’t I told him in the months since I found out?

“You’re the first person I’ve told outside of Olivia. It just…” I swallow. “I was scared and talking about it made it all that more real. Then too much time went by, and I worried about how he’d react to me not telling him. And the truth is I still hate talking about it.”

“I understand.”

“You do?”

“Of course. Brogan will too. Family is everything to us. That’s why he was so hurt. You’re his family now too.”

A pang of guilt hits me square in the chest.

So you don’t think I’m a terrible human and an even worse sister? I sign the question instead of asking it out loud. Somewhere along the line, his opinion of me started to matter.

One side of his mouth quirks up. He shakes his head before he says, “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I did, it’d be a whole lot easier.” He stares hard at me. “Come on. We better go.”

This time, I don’t stop him.