PRE-ORDER!
AVAILABLE: Tuesday, August 26th
Old County is not like a lot of towns. There are no cops, no lawyers, no one willing to take responsibility, at least, not on paper.
Damion Archer controls the town of Old County. He keeps everyone in line. If The Families cross the line, he deals with it. He handles the punishment, and makes sure the civilians of the town walk safe.
Vicki Reid is the only waitress who knows exactly what Damion wants. He is the town hero, who everyone admires, but are also terrified of. There are rules in Old County, and to survive you must follow them.
If you’re a civilian, you’re off limits, unless you decide to join one of the resident families. Then, you become one of them, and a target is on your back. Dating Damion Archer will come at a price, Vicki knows that. But when her mother attempts to sell her virginity, and use her within one of those families, that breaks a rule.
They want Old County, and by taking out his woman, they think they can take him. They do not know who they're dealing with.
“What about the others?”
“They’re all out with friends.”
He nodded. She looked at him, and he stared right back at her.
Vicki didn’t know what happened next. One moment, they were staring at each other, and in the next, she was in his arms, and they were around his neck, and her lips were on his.
Somewhere in the chaos, he’d picked her up and carried her back into the sitting room. She was so pleased she had tidied everything before he arrived.
While they kissed, Damion sat down, and he did so with her straddling his waist. He ran his hands up her back, sinking into her hair, and then down, going toward her ass. She cried out, and he seemed to swallow the sound, as he gripped her ass tightly. His touch drove her a little crazy, and she couldn’t help but moan. It was just a simple touch, but it felt amazing.
She closed her eyes, and in the process, ground her pelvis against his. Doing this made her realize Damion was very aroused. This made her pause, and within seconds, her eyes were open, staring at him. This was fast, and yet she didn’t feel afraid.
He reached out, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “You’re beautiful,” he said.
Vicki didn’t know what to do or say. She just stared at him.
He smiled at her, and this time, she couldn’t help but smile back.
“You don’t need to be afraid when you’re with me, Vicki.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” she said. And then, it dawned on her that he could be playing her to get what he wanted, and she sat back. She was still on his lap, but not sitting quite as intimately.
“What is it?”
“I … I don’t want you to use me. I’m not … I don’t, I’ve never been with a man before, and I don’t want to be with you unless you’re completely serious about this, and it is something you want,” she said.
Her heart pounded inside her chest. She couldn’t believe she had said that to Damion Archer, of all people. This was insane.
He picked up a twirl of her hair and played with the strand between his fingers, and while he did this, he seemed to be so deep in thought. She had no idea what was going on inside his head. Damion was, in fact, a real mystery to her. He could have any woman in Old County. They would all fall for him. Why had he chosen her? She was nothing special, at least, that was what most people thought. He saw exactly how special she was.
“Why are you here?” Vicki asked.
“Because this is where I want to be.”
“Damion, you could have anyone.”
“And yet, I only want you, and that is why I am still here. You’re the only one I want, Vicki. You’re the only reason I’m still here. Trust me, if I didn’t want to be, I wouldn’t be here.” He tucked her curl back behind her ear. “I’m not here for a quick fuck, Vicki. That is not why I’m with you. I’m here for something long-term.”
“But my mom—”
“I don’t give a fuck who your mom is. She has nothing to do with us, and I’m not going to bring her into our shit. She is Thames’s problem now. Not ours. I would never judge you based on what someone else is doing.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Fuck, no. That shit does not work with me.” He ran his hands up and down her thighs. “I’m going to be real with you, Vicki. I want you. I want this. I want to be with you, and I’m not holding back. You and me, this is what I want.”
“I want that too,” she said.
“Good, which means I am happy to wait until you’re ready. I’m not saying dating me is going to be easy. There will be times I’m going to need to leave, because I’ve got shit to do. I’m not going to tell you everything I’m doing either. That is not your problem.”
“I’m not going to give up on my siblings either.”
“Good, because I don’t want you to. I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
