“I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.” Her attempt to side step him failed, and she blew out her breath. “Let me go, Archer.”
Reaching between them, he took her hand and held it against his shoulder where his Keeper tattoo was branded on his flesh. The action brought an instant flash of recognition in her eyes, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. “You know how this all works, Sienna. Without you, our elemental powers are useless. But without us, your elemental powers will weaken. You will weaken.” His voice clouded with a thick emotion he couldn’t prevent, and he swallowed. The very thought of something happening to her sent his entire body into a rip-roaring rollercoaster of anger, misery, and denial.
“Archer, stop.”
“No. You need to get how serious this is.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“By your actions tonight, no. I don’t think you do.” She tried to break away but he grabbed her wrists and held them between their bodies. “If you’re hell bent on risky manoeuvres, then we’re all at risk. And I’ll be damned if our parents died for nothing.”
“Don’t you think I feel that, too?” she cried, her voice trembling as her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Every damn day is a reminder of them, of Sarah, and I blame myself. I keep losing people, no matter how hard I fight for them.”
He gave a mocking laugh of disbelief and yanked her towards him. “You call this fighting? All I see is you running away and taking stupid risks. You’re a bloody Beckham witch, Sienna, so start acting like one!”
“Why do you think I loathe using my powers? You’re all I have left and I almost destroyed you and although we have no proof, I’m pretty damn sure it was magic that killed our parents.”
“It wasn’t the magic that killed them, Sienna!” he yelled, frustration whipping away his usual control. “It was Warrick’s parents!”
His words snapped her into silence and she blew out air and closed her eyes. A single tear trailed down her cheek and everything inside Archer twisted. “We don’t know that for sure.”
“Smoke, fire. They won’t stop, Sienna,” he said, lowering his voice. “The Bennett brothers have vowed to protect you. Why hide? Why’ve you resisted us for the last two years?”
Her eyes blazed something sharp, and she looked away, swiping away the fallen tear.
“Tell me.”
She shook her head. “Now’s not the time for that conversation. It’s been a long night.”
But he refused to let it go. He’d waited two years for an explanation, and now seemed like the perfect time. “Why did you run?”
She became still, and he felt the fight lessen. “You know what would’ve happened if I’d stayed.”
“Say it,” he said softly.
“No.”
There was a subtle shift of energy between them as their gazes met in an unyielding challenge. Two unmovable forces, a lifetime of history, and undeniable passion hung between them.
“Say the words, Sienna,” he insisted softly.
“You know why.”
“Say it.”
She didn’t reply, but didn’t have to. He saw the raw longing in the depth of her green eyes, conflicted with sadness, full of wanting.
Archer stared at her lips, caught by the urge to lay claim to them, and tried to push aside the vague voice that screamed a familiar warning at him. They’d been down this road before. Almost. And look where the hell they’d ended up.
But his universe shrank around him the moment her gaze fell to his lips.
Throwing caution to the wind, his mouth came down on hers, avid and hungry, and everything else fell away.
Except her.
An instinct older than civilization yelled at Sienna to run, but her whole body started tingling the moment Archer’s mouth touched hers.
Instead, she gave in to the tender pressure of his lips, and tangled her fingers in his hair.
The kiss that followed was so intense and rocked her world in a way that unnerved her.
His clever hands were all over her, deliciously rough against her flawless skin, and her girlie tingling instantly turned into insatiable throbbing. Exotic little fires of need kindled inside her and she pressed herself into him, demanding more.
It had been a long time since she’d felt like this.
“I’d hoped things had changed,” she groaned between kisses.
He smiled against her lips. “Have they?”
She shook her head.
“Damn right they haven’t,” he said, nibbling her neck. His mouth moved across her cheekbone, along her chin. He dropped soft kisses across her jaw and into her neck, and she hung her head back to give him full access.
“I’ve never stopped wanting you, Sienna.”
His words, whispered against her ear, sent her imagination racing, and she smiled in anticipation. She hungered for more and clung to him as he took control of her body and overpowered her senses. His stomach pressed against her in a way that sent her libido roaring and brought an instant flush to her cheeks.
Raw primal need took over, destroying all rational thought, and with a swift motion, Archer hitched his palms against her lower back and hoisted her against him.
Her legs came up around him in reflex response and she sought out his mouth, needing the onslaught of delicious kisses only he could give her.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, plundering her mouth with his.
He kicked the door closed behind him and took three strides toward the kitchen counter. With a quick swipe of his arm, he sent the fruit bowl scattering across the floor, before placing her seated on the counter top.
His raw, masculine aura of power and strength was overwhelming.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” Archer said softly between kisses, sliding his hands under the hem of her shirt to cup her hips and pull her closer.
“We really shouldn’t be doing this.”
He tipped his head back long enough to give her a slow, predatory smile before capturing her mouth with his again in a kiss so heated, so exciting, that she almost squealed with delight.
The man was built for speed, sex, and pleasure. The thought made her entire body burn, and she threw her head back with a soft sigh.
The sound of the kitchen door opening across the room sent a vague warning through her, but she ignored it.
“What the hell?”
Sienna’s eyes flew open and she pulled back to stare at Archer. He drew in a deep, aggravated breath and tilted his head toward the kitchen door. “Your timing sucks, brother.”
Sienna blinked, trying to catch her breath and find her senses. She felt like a whirlwind had ripped through her – a whirlwind of pure masculine heat and sexiness.
With a quick glance past Archer’s body, she saw Ethan walk further into the kitchen. Like his brother, he was tall and muscular, but had a lightness about him that Sienna had always loved. He wore his sandy brown hair in shorter spikes, the casual look suiting his carefree personality. Usually, his striking blue eyes were filled with laughter and kindness. Tonight, the Ethan that stood glaring at