Here With Us (The Archer Brothers)

My phone vibrates, and I answer without looking at the caller ID. “Who’s at your house?”

“I don’t know. Are you armed?”

“Of course. Where are you?”

“I’m on the balcony.”

Nate hangs up, and within seconds his car pulls into the driveway, and as soon as he steps out, the other car leaves.

“Did you get his plates?” I ask from where I stand.

“Yeah, Cara’s running them now.”

I head inside and down the stairs to the front door and unlock it for him. While our brotherly relationship is fractured, I trust him when it comes to protecting my family. Nate steps in after I open the front door. “Thanks for coming over.”

“I get it,” he says. “Cara’s on her way. Is that okay?”

“Of course. The guest bedroom is all set up.”

“I don’t think I’m going to sleep much,” Nate says, much to my relief. “It’s probably nothing, but then again, who knows who is still out there?”

“Maybe it’s time we pay our friend another visit.”

Nate nods and stares out of the large picture window in our living room. “Only if we can make sure the cameras are off.” I chuckle and appreciate the way Nate thinks. “Anything hidden?”

I nod. “The usual spots.” I suppose it’s a sad thing to have weapons hidden all over your house, but I’m prepared. If I, or even Nate, needs to defend and protect ourselves, we can. And we will.

“All right,” he says. “Go. I have everything covered here.”

I think about staying, but I know I need to be elsewhere. “EJ’s sleeping. Deefur is in his room.”

Nate nods and keeps his gaze focused. “See you in the morning.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve snuck into Ryley Clarke’s bedroom. I suppose I could’ve called her and told her I’m coming over, but where’s the fun in that? Her parents’ house is much like ours, a fortress of cameras and motion sensors. The only difference is I have the app to shut them off. As soon as I press the button on the app, I sneak around the back of the house to where the guest bedroom is and wiggle the window. Sure enough, it’s unlocked. I slide it up, climb inside and pull the windowpane back down.

“Took you long enough, Archer,” her voice rings out, and I can’t help but smile.

“How’d you know I’d be over?” After resetting the alarm system, I quickly discard my shoes, jeans, and t-shirt and slip into bed with her. She lifts her head and rests it on my arm. Still to this day, this is where she likes to sleep, snuggled into my chest. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of us sleeping this way.

“I had a hunch.” Her hand roams over my chest, and I shiver. “I can’t remember the last time you did this.”

“I do. It was right before I left for the Navy. We made love on your bedroom floor.”

“We thought we were so sneaky.”

“I’m just lucky your dad never walked in. He would’ve shot me in the ass.”

Ryley laughs. I lean forward and kiss her to stifle the noise. I love Jensen, but I wouldn’t put it past him to shoot me for violating his daughter in his house. Ryley deepens the kiss and hitches her leg over my hip. My hand wanders down her back and over her bare backside. I’ve never been so thankful for her lacy thong as I am now. She wants me. Excitement grows when her hand slips into my boxers.

“Ry,” I say her name quietly in between kisses.

“One last time before we’re married.”

I pull away from her. “Do you think after we’re married things will change?”

“I know they will.”

I cup her face with my hand and press my lips to hers before pulling back. “Ryley, I can assure you that what I feel for you now, I will always feel for you. You’re the love of my life, and nothing gives me more pleasure than pleasing you. I’m going to want you more than ever after we are married, more so because you’ll finally have my last name, and to me, that’s the sexiest thing in the world.”

Ryley smiles, but the glint in her eyes tells me my words haven’t done their job to reassure her. They’ve only spurred her desire even more. “Archer, I want you, and I want you now.” She rolls us over and straddles my lap. On instinct, I move us toward the middle of the bed.

“What about your parents? Should we get on the floor?” The thought of making love to her on the floor sort of excites me and brings back a flood of memories from when we were teens and sneaking around.

Ryley laughs. “Their room is on the other side of the house. I doubt they’ll come down this way.”

“They might if you can’t keep quiet.”

“Don’t worry, Archer,” she says as her hand sneaks into my boxers.