Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

The studio looks amazing.

I can’t stop staring around the space and grinning. All the walls are painted, the barre is hung on the front wall, the new floor has been laid, and speakers hung.

The rookies already took off, but the rest of the guys are sitting around on empty boxes and overturned buckets and there are pizza boxes strewn around the floor.

“I better get going.” Cody is the first to stand.

“Yeah, me too.” Tripp gets to his feet as well and hikes a thumb toward Merrick. “This guy has a date tonight and he needs a shower.”

Tripp leans toward his buddy and sniffs, then makes a face that has us all smiling. Merrick is a quieter guy and at the attention, his face pinks.

I hold a hand over my mouth as I finish chewing and then say, “Thank you so much for today. I can’t believe this place. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you guys. Free dance lessons for all your future children.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Tripp says.

“Good luck tonight, buddy!” Brogan calls out to Merrick.

“Oh, hey,” my brother adds like it just occurred to him. “Archer has some cologne you could borrow, maybe. It seems to have worked for him.”

Merrick finally cracks a smile.

“No way.” Archer shakes his head. “I can’t have the whole team smelling like me. Chicks like the way I smell. It draws them in.”

I bust out laughing and Archer smirks in my direction.

“Worked on you,” he says and winks.

“Worried I’m gonna steal your girl?” Merrick asks him. The big, quiet guy glances over at me quickly.

“You are handsome,” I tell him.

I swear his face goes even redder.

But not as handsome as me, right? Archer signs.

“What’s he saying?” Merrick asks. “Is he threatening to kick my ass.”

“Yes,” Archer says at the same time I say, “No.”

Archer and I are locked in a stare off. No one is as handsome as him. Not that I’m going to admit it now in front of all these guys. Is that even something you’re supposed to admit to a guy?

I don’t know. I’ve never been so into someone that the rest of the world seems to disappear, but in a room of attractive and nice professional athletes, the only one I’m interested in staring at is Archer.

“All right. Let’s get out of here before Archer throws a hammer at your head.” Tripp puts an arm around his buddy’s shoulders and leads him out, glancing back at me as they go. “Later, Sabrina.”

“Bye. Thank you again,” I yell as they head out with Cody right behind them.

“I should get out of here too,” Slade says. “I need to make a call to my therapist.”

He turns a playful scowl my direction.

“I swear I thought I warned everyone about the mice⁠—”

“Ahhh.” He holds up a hand, cutting me off. “Don’t say the word.”

His entire body shudders.

“Thank you. Sorry for traumatizing you.”

“I’ve never heard anyone squeal that loudly,” Brogan says.

I stand and hug the traumatized giant. He looks like he needs it. Slade wraps his arms around my back in a bear hug and lifts me off the ground. I squeal, a lot like he had as he ran out of the bathroom earlier.

He finally sets me down and I can take a full breath again.

“The place looks great. Good luck with everything. Let me know when you’re open.”

“I will. Thanks.”

When the big guy leaves, it’s just me, Archer, and Brogan.

I collapse back onto a box next to Archer. My arms and legs are tired. I didn’t even do that much, but I am exhausted.

“Don’t say it,” Brogan says when I open my mouth to thank them again.

“Seriously, look at this place!” A renewed energy surges through me. I wave my hands around. It’s empty, but it’s clean and beautiful and ready for all the plans I’ve made over the years. “This would have taken me months. Maybe longer.”

Archer bumps his leg against mine. “You’re welcome.”

“We’re excited for you. When do you think you’ll be able to open?”

That brings on a whole new set of nerves. “I’m not sure. A month maybe? London offered to design some flyers and other graphics for my website so I can get the word out. Then I just wait and hope people show up.”

As if Archer can feel my anxiousness, he drapes an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his chest. “They will.”

“You should have a grand opening. Food, music,” Brogan suggests.

“Dancing,” I add.

“Exactly.” Brogan points at me.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. “That’s actually a good idea.”

“Of course it is.” My brother makes a face like he’s offended I’d suggest he ever has anything but good ideas.

“More stuff to figure out,” I say, but my excitement grows. Archer drops a kiss to my forehead. It’s nice sitting here with these two, having their support. I never imagined this when I set out to find my brother, but it’s so much better than anything I could have dreamed up anyway.

“Okay,” Brogan says. “I’m going to head home and leave you two to…whatever.”

Archer’s chest shakes with laughter, and he lets his arm fall away from my shoulders so we can stand to say goodbye to Brogan. I hug him tightly, thanking him a dozen more times until he laughs.

Archer hugs him next in one of those side hugs where they slap each other’s backs.

“See you at home.” Brogan lifts a hand over his head to wave as he walks out of the studio.

I turn and place my arms on Archer’s shoulders. “I bet you’re anxious to get home too.”

“Nope. I’m exactly where I want to be.”

“Exactly?” I ask, leaning closer to brush my lips over his.

“You could have on less clothes, but otherwise, yeah.”

Laughing, I pull back. “I want to take some pictures of all the work we got done for my mom and then we can go.”

While I walk around with my phone, snapping photos from every angle, Archer stacks up the pizza boxes and cleans up all the trash leftover from today. After the speakers went up earlier, Archer hooked up his phone to play music. Rock, of course.

I send my mom a text with all the photos attached and then put my phone in my purse. I’m standing with my back against the barre, still taking it all in, and completely in awe.

“Okay. I’m ready,” I say but don’t move.

Archer walks over to me.

“What made you want to open a dance studio anyway?” he asks, circling my waist and pulling me away from the barre so he can slide his hands down to my ass.

“My mom was a dancer. She even did some shows on Broadway before they adopted me. Then she got a part-time job at a little studio so she could be home with me. She took me with her while she taught pretty often. I loved being there with her. When I was a kid, I couldn’t think of anything better than owning a studio where I could dance any time I wanted.” I laugh lightly. “I still can’t.”

“That’s cool.”

“The wild thing is I probably wouldn’t have done it if my mom hadn’t gotten sick.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. It’s a lot of work and scary. The space is almost done now, but I could still fail. The kids could hate me, or I could not make enough money to pay the rent. There are so many unknowns still and I’ve never been big on taking chances like that.”

“You won’t fail. You’re braver than you give yourself credit.”

“Maybe, but if things hadn’t happened like they did, I probably would have kept working at Lilac Lounge and applied at other studios to teach instead of opening my own right away. That would have been safer.”

He moves his hands up to frame my face. I love his hazel eyes, the way they spark with different colors depending on his mood. Right now, they’re almost green. “You are an incredible woman, Sabrina. This studio is going to be a success because of you. It doesn’t matter how you got here. You still did it. You should be proud of that. I know your parents will be. And your brother. You won’t even need an advertising budget with Brogan. He’ll be telling anyone and everyone that will listen.”

“And you?”

His hands drop to my shoulders. “I might sign up just so I can come watch you dance.”

“You want to watch me dance?” I ask because I’m not sure any guy I’ve dated has ever said that. I mean, sure, sometimes they’ve seen me dance sort of incidentally out at clubs or parties together, but that isn’t really the same thing.

“Definitely.”

“Maybe we could dance together.” I let my finger glide over his chest as I move, circling around behind him.

He stays still, but I feel his body tense as I slip my hands under his T-shirt. His skin is warm and his muscles contract as I let my palms roam.

Archer turns slowly to face me. I take a step back and slowly start to move to the beat of the music playing over the speakers. He tracks every movement I make. It’s exhilarating. My hair is messy, and my clothes are splattered with paint, but he looks at me like I’m the sexiest thing he’s ever seen.

My fingers curl around the hem of my long T-shirt and I pull it up, inch by inch, then let it fall.

He finally reaches for me, fisting my shirt and tugging me to him. His mouth crashes down over mine and he kisses me hungrily. It’s short but leaves me breathless and my heart racing.

I step back and dance a few steps of a routine I choreographed ages ago. I’ve always loved to dance, but my skin tingles with anticipation as he watches me. For weeks I’ve imagined what it would be like to do this in my very own finished studio, but this is better than anything I fantasied about.

I don’t dance for very long before the need to touch him and feel his hands on me is too strong to resist. I move back to him. His kiss this time is slower, unhurried, but just as rough. I press into his body, loving the way I can feel just how turned on he is by me.

My hands slide back under his shirt. I’m obsessed with his chest and stomach. If I’d been asked what body type I was into before, I would have shrugged the question off, but that’s because I didn’t know this existed. If I weren’t running my fingers over the ridges of muscles in his stomach, I’d think they were airbrushed on. They’re too perfect. Hard-earned, sculpted, and so sexy.

Archer’s hands move to my neck, reminding me how much he likes it when he can feel the vibration of my noises. I want to know what else he likes.

My fingers move to the front of his jeans. He lets out a gruff noise at the contact that makes my lips curve into a smile. I unbutton him and pull the zipper down so I can slide my hand around him.

He nips my bottom lip in response, urging me on. I work his jeans and boxer briefs down, so I can get to more of him. When his cock springs free, my pulse rockets. He’s thick and hard. He makes the sexiest noises as I explore him, stroking his hot, velvety length.

The way he kisses and feels makes my core throb. With one hand, I push him back against the barre and drop to my knees in front of him.

“Oh fuck,” he says as I look up at him and bring my lips to the crown of his cock. I lick and tease the tip before slowly taking him farther into my mouth. His hands stay on the sides of my neck. His thumb strokes along my pulse point.

“That feels so good. Oh fuck. I love it when you dance for me.”

I laugh lightly around him, then hollow out my cheeks, sucking as I glide up. I pop off him and he glides his thumb over my lips.

“You take me so good.”

If his words were meant to make me want him more, then he is successful. I take him back into my mouth and all the way back to my throat. He lets out a low growl of approval and one of his hands moves to the back of my head. He wraps my ponytail around his hand and takes over, moving me exactly how he wants me.

I glance up and we lock eyes. His are filled with the same desire I feel thrumming through me. When I think he’s about to come, he lifts me onto my feet and crashes his mouth down over mine.

My breasts are sensitive as they press into his hard chest and when his hands slide into my shorts, I’m soaked and aching.

He pushes the fabric down. He briefly stops kissing me to squat down and pull my shorts and panties to my ankles. I step out and he presses his lips to one calf. He does the same for himself, stepping out of his jeans and boxer briefs.

The anticipation, standing there with the cool air hitting my pussy, makes my stomach flutter with nerves.

Archer grabs his wallet out of his jeans and gets a condom. He looks at me, as if making sure I want this.

I nod and my lips quirk up as I say, “Dance with me?”

A wide smile lights up his face as he brings the foil packet up to his mouth and tears it open. He takes out the condom and covers himself.

“Who knew I was such a fan of dancing?” He trails kisses up the column of my neck. “Don’t forget. Squeeze twice if you ever want me to stop.”

I’m lost to the sensation of his mouth and the graze of his teeth.

“Sabrina?”

“Got it,” I say.

He turns me around facing the window. We taped them off earlier with a clear plastic sheet that blurs the night outside to paint, but it’s still a thrill as I think about how anyone could see us like this.

His mouth continues to drop kisses along my shoulder and spine. His hands move under my shirt, coming up to cup my breasts through my bra. But when I let out a moan, he moves one hand to my throat. I do it again and again, letting him feel my desire for him.

When he finally lines up his cock at my entrance, I’m dripping for him. He lifts my right leg, and I use the barre to prop it up. This is one way I never imagined using the barre.

He pushes his thick length into me slowly. The anticipation mixed with how good he feels has my pussy clenching around him and my orgasm building already.

I want this feeling to last forever, but I’m too eager for more. I push back into him until he’s completely buried inside me.

“Goddamn, baby. You’re so tight it’s hard to move.”

I turn my head so I can look at him. He takes the opportunity to swipe his mouth over mine.

“Want me back on my knees instead?” I ask with a smirk.

He growls. “Later.”

Then he picks up the rhythm, driving into me hard and steady. The hand under my shirt tweaks my nipples and the one on my throat presses just hard enough to capture all the vibrations of my moans. When I’m close, and barely able to hold myself, he takes over clutching me to him as he brings us both over the edge.

My orgasm seems to go on forever and he doesn’t stop until he’s wrung it all out of me. He kisses my shoulder as I bring my leg back down to the floor. Even with both feet on the ground, I feel like I’m made of jelly.

“Be right back.” He steps away from me and comes back a minute later with a wet paper towel.

“You braved the mice for me?” I ask as he cleans me up. There’s something incredibly intimate and sweet about it. But also, I just want him all over again.

“Anything for you.”

“Anything, huh?” I place my hands on his chest as I study his face. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer than I have.”

“Speaking of…” He trails off and clears his throat. I get hit with nerves. What an intro statement to leave me hanging on. Has he been secretly stalking me for years? Did I meet him once and forget about it? No, definitely not that. I’d remember him. He aims a boyish smile at me. “Will you go on a date with me?”