The Life She Wanted: A Novel(48)

“We’re still together,” Pandora said.

She recalled when Archie spontaneously added a scene to the play and gave her a peck on the lips, sealing their closeness forever. The kiss had surprised her. She hadn’t thought of that in years.

“We have other people in our lives. Even Virginia has someone, though she doesn’t talk about him.”

Pandora’s throat burned. She felt suddenly thirsty.

“I wouldn’t mind a glass of whiskey.” She pointed at the bottle.

Archie moved to the other side of the desk and handed her a shot. She drank it quickly. Then another. The burning persisted, and he poured her another.

Their hands touched, and she glanced at Archie. She saw something new in his eyes, but it took a moment to recognize what it was. It was something she hadn’t seen before.

Archie wanted to kiss her. She was sure of it.

She wanted to kiss him too. She wanted more than a few kisses; she wanted to make love. Not for the reasons she would likely sleep with Harley in the future—in order to conceive a child. She wanted to make love because they were a man and a woman who were so consumed by desire they couldn’t do anything else. Making love with Archie would restore something to her, it would prove that she was a desirable woman. But Archie never would. He was too good, too honorable.

She reached forward and kissed him. Archie pulled back in surprise. She kissed him again, and this time he returned her kiss.

The kiss felt different from Harley’s. Archie’s kiss was insistent and probing, and a warmth spread between her thighs.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he apologized, moving away.

Pandora picked up the bottle and poured another shot of whiskey. Archie glanced at her in surprise.

“You’re not a good drinker, Pandora,” he said gently. “Haven’t you had enough?”

Pandora swallowed the whiskey. She looked at him squarely. “What if I asked you to make love to me?”

Archie’s mouth dropped open. He gasped in shock. The fork fell on the floor, and he picked it up.

“What did you say?”

Pandora walked to the other side of the study. She turned and faced Archie.

“You heard me correctly. I want you to make love to me, tonight, while no one is here.”

Archie’s brow creased. He put the fork on the plate.

“It’s my fault; I’ve been acting maudlin all day,” he apologized. “What you’re asking is impossible. I’d never do anything to hurt you. And Harley is my friend.”

Pandora’s cheeks colored. In two days, she was getting married, and she’d never break her wedding vows. Tonight was her only chance to know what true passion felt like. Yet she couldn’t tell Archie that Harley was homosexual.

“I can’t tell you the reason, but it would mean so much to me,” she said.

Archie was so handsome. His blond hair flopped over his forehead, and the rolled-up sleeves of his white shirt displayed the golden hair on his arms. The muscles on his shoulders were tight, and his body was long and lean.

“You’re supposed to be getting married in two days,” Archie reminded her.

“I am getting married,” Pandora said firmly. “I would never be unfaithful to Harley.” Her eyes were wide. “It would only be tonight; I’ll never do anything like this again.”

Archie sipped his whiskey. When he gazed at her, she saw the longing in his eyes. It would only take one more kiss to put him over the edge.

She crossed the room and kissed him. His mouth was warm. He kissed her back and then pulled away.

“We can’t do this, Pandora. We’re both drunk and not thinking straight,” he begged. “I’d never forgive myself if you regretted it.”

Archie was right, it was madness.

But she didn’t want to stop. She wanted Archie to take her in his arms, to touch the places that would make her gasp with pleasure.

Didn’t she deserve one night of passion when she was about to marry a man who would never truly desire her? She wanted to surrender herself to Archie.

He stood so close she could smell his shaving soap. She reached up and kissed him again. This time he wrapped his arms around her. A groan escaped his mouth.

“Pandora, we have to stop,” Archie choked out.

She could tell by the heat in his expression that he didn’t mean it.

“It will be our secret,” Pandora promised.

Archie’s eyes traveled down Pandora’s body. His gaze was imploring. He leaned forward and kissed her. His mouth was hungry this time. His hands caressed her breasts. Her nipples stood on edge; a delicious tingling started between her thighs.

“Not here,” he whispered. “Let’s go up to my room.”

Pandora hadn’t been in Archie’s room in ages. It still had the same striped wallpaper and a sitting area near the fireplace. A desk stood by the window, and he had flung his overnight bag on the dresser.

Archie took her in his arms and kissed her. He fumbled with his shirt, and she stopped him and unbuttoned it. It felt strange and exciting to have her hands on a man’s chest. She opened his shirt and pressed her cheek against his skin.

Archie turned her around and unbuttoned her dress. Her slip fell from her shoulders, and she stepped out of her panties. She turned back so she could see his face. His eyes traveled over her naked body, taking in her small, pert breasts, the golden tuft between her thighs.