Releasing Me (28 page)

My heart ricocheted against my chest from his words, his smell, and his close proximity. I grabbed his loosened tie and pulled him into my lips. Our tongues mingled as I unknotted his tie and worked the buttons of his shirt. His hands gripped the top of my legs even tighter as he moaned into my mouth.

After undoing the final button, I splayed my hands over his chest.
“
Take me upstairs.
”

Bending his head down to kiss my neck and suck in my ear lobe, he slid his hands under my butt and lifted me as he stood up in an effortless motion. When he turned to walk to the stairs I stopped him.

“
Wait!
”

Pulling his head from my neck he groaned,
“
Wait? I hurried home to be with you, to touch you, to make love to you, and now you want me to wait?
”

I grinned as I fidgeted with the collar of his open shirt.
“
I thought maybe there was … uh … something you wanted to
ask
me?
”

“
Are you having your period?
”

I smacked his shoulder.
“
No, not that!
”

Then I looked down at the couch and back to him again.

“
Oh, that? Well, now you’ve ruined the moment. Maybe I should save it for another day so it can be a surprise,
”
he said with a grin.

I grabbed his nipple and twisted it.
“
Ouch!
”
he yelled.

“
I’ve
ruined the moment?
”

“
Yeah, now it’s not romantic. Now, last night, it was going to be romantic. You have no idea what I did to make last night perfect … then you had to go off in the car about how miserable you’ve been and then for the grand finale you drove off … IN MY CAR!
”

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I squinted my eyes at him.
“
So … you don’t have anything you want to ask me?
”

“
Top or bottom?
”
he deadpanned as he continued carrying me upstairs leaving
my ring
on the sofa.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Quinn set me
on the bed then remo
ved his shirt and pants. Working my bottom lip between my teeth, my eyes struggled to meet his.

“
Addy?
”

I forced my eyes up as I pulled my legs into lotus.

“
I need you to be clear about something.
”
He reached for the hem of my top and eased it over my head, being extra careful with my left arm. I was braless and his close proximity had my nipples pebbling.
“
As long as I have a pulse, I will need you, want you, desire you…
”
he slipped off his black boxer briefs and squeezed his own hard glutes
“
…and this ass of mine will live in eternal ecstasy if it’s anchored to you.
”

My grin was unstoppable.
“
Show me.
”

Tugging my wool socks off my feet, he uncrossed my legs and crawled on the bed between them as I leaned back. He lifted my feet up and rested them on his chest as he hooked my panties with his fingers and slid them off. Setting my feet back on the bed, he leaned over me and rested his weight on his forearms. Our kiss was slow at first as he sank into me. My muscles gripped him, welcoming every inch. Then, like the gradual progression of a storm, our hands, hips, and mouths gained momentum and raged out of control.

“
God, I’ve missed you,
”
he moaned as he kneaded my breast while his rhythm intensified.

Pressing my nails into his flexed biceps, I wrapped my legs around his waist. He moved his hand from my breast to my butt and gripped it—hard. Approaching my climax, my soft moans turned into needy whimpers until I melted, nearly seeing stars.

“
Oh, Quinn,
”
I purred.

With one last stroke he stilled and squeezed his eyes shut as I felt his warmth fill me.

Breathless, he kissed me, humming in satisfaction. Without breaking our contact, he rolled onto his back taking me with him. I wanted the feeling to last forever.

As I rested, sprawled out on his chest, he combed through my hair with his fingers. The feeling of him still inside me left me wanting more. I sat up on him, without breaking our connection. Just the heated look in his eyes had me ready for round two. When I suggestively wiggled my hips over his, he stirred inside me.

“
God, I love how insatiable you can be,
”
he said, wetting his lips with his tongue as he gripped my hips and guided my movements. Grinding over him, I closed my eyes, savoring the fullness of him hardening inside me. He recovered with sex-god speed and was ready to go. It wasn’t going to take me long; the visual of his ripped sweaty torso under me brought me close. I still had to pinch myself sometimes. The fact that he was with me, and desired me, still seemed like a dream.

“
I’m so close,
”
I breathed out as I continued to work my hips over him.

Gripping my right hip tighter with one hand, he moved his other to my abdomen and slid the pad of his thumb across my clit. Then, biting his lower lip, he rocked into me causing me to explode. He found his release at the same time, and I circled my hips and clenched him.

“
Fuuuck!
”
he growled while his thumb continued to press into my clit, milking every last sensation from my body.

*

The rhythmic harmony of our breaths
finding a steady pace again was the lone sound that filled the room. I was tired, but not ready to go to sleep. All I wanted was to feel our naked bodies spooned together all night.

“
Do you have something you’d like to ask me?
”
I asked in my sweetest, I-just-gave-you-two-amazing-orgasms voice.

“
Do you want to go again?
”
he replied with a cocky edge to his voice.

Dumb-ass!

“
Fine, then at least tell me what plans I ruined last night,
”
I mumbled.

“
Oh, you mean the restaurant I rented out just for the two of us at the price tag of … a small fortune? The grand piano that was brought in to be played by a well-known pianist whose name I will never reveal. Or do you mean the mountains of flowers, daises, and of course lavender roses that were scattered throughout the entire dining area. Oh, and by the way … I gifted your organic vegan truffles to the waitstaff.
”

“
You’d better be kidding me,
”
I said in disbelief, yet the stabbing sensation to my heart told me he was serious. He had planned the most romantic proposal on the most romantic night of the year and I squashed his plans.
“
Then why did you act so distant in the car? Why did you ignore me and let me get all worked up?
”

“
I wanted to throw you off a bit, so it would be a bigger surprise. I love getting you all worked up then shocking the hell out of you. Unfortunately, you turned the tables on me last night.
”

“
Jeez, you must have been pissed,
incredibly
pissed.
”
I felt punched in the gut.

“
It was the first time I slept in the guest bed, so yes, a little pissed.
”

I turned to face him, going for the innocent doe eyes.
“
Will you ever forgive me?
”

“
Eventually.
”
He smiled. His expression turned serious.
“
So you’re miserable living in New York with me?
”

Exhaling, I focused on his chest as I traced his muscles.
“
Definitely not you, just here. Don’t get me wrong, I’d live in a cardboard box on the street with you if that’s where I had to live to be with you. I miss Chicago or maybe I just miss the feeling of home. I dream about a wooded acreage just outside of the city with wildlife, lots of privacy, and a small meadow of wildflowers. I dream about porch swings in the morning and a fire pit for roasting marshmallows in the evening. I imagine bird houses, wind chimes, and large blooming lilac bushes in the spring.
”

“
And how many kids do you see running around in your meadow of wildflowers?
”

He completely surprised me with his question.

Glancing up at him, I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.
“
If they’re yours, then at least a dozen.
”

“
If they’re mine?
”
he said in a firm voice.
“
Who else’s would they be?
”

Giggling, I kissed his chest.
“
You never know … Tom from the front desk has been giving me the eye since I gave you head in the parking garage.
”

“
Christ! What is Tom … sixty, seventy years old?
”

“
Some women like older men … they’re more mature and
experienced.
”
I laughed, admittedly crossing over into the ridiculous realm.

“
Yeah, Tom’s
experienced
with taking his medications three times a day and pissing every ten minutes because his prostate is so damn old.
”

I laughed until the moment passed. We held each other in silence for a while, and just as I was starting to drift off to sleep Quinn spoke.

“
Do you ever wonder if your attack had anything to do with your parents?
”

“
No,
”
I answered while I yawned.

“
How can you be sure?
”

“
Because I’m still alive.
”

“
Yeah but—
”
he tried to argue.

“
But nothing … my parents were targeted because of what my dad did many years ago. If that person wanted me dead, I’d be dead. It was an act of revenge and they got it. If anyone truly believed I was in danger, I would have been put into witness protection by now. You need to let what happened to my parents go. I have. And as for my attack … it was random, some idiots, probably high and in need of money for more drugs. This is New York City after all.
”
I reached around and clenched his firm butt.
“
I hope after tonight when you look at me you can envision me naked on top of you instead of left for dead in the snow.
”

He peeked under the sheets.
“
I think I can conjure up a few new images.
”

*

I woke up early the next morning. Surprising
ly, Quinn was still in bed so I quietly made my way downstairs. When I turned on the light the ring on the couch caught my eye. I picked it up and started to slide it on my finger.

“
Don’t even think about it.
”

“
Shit! You startled me,
”
I screeched as I turned.

Quinn walked toward me wearing only his black boxer briefs. Grabbing the ring, he slid it onto his pinky finger. It didn’t even fit past his first knuckle.

“
Are you serious? You no longer want to marry me?
”
I asked in disbelief.

He chuckled as he slid his arms inside my robe pulling me into him.
“
Oh, I’m going to marry you. I’m just not going to reward your bad behavior.
”

“
So what exactly do you call last night?
”

“
Courting.
”
He smirked as his hand slipped into the back of my panties.

“
Oh, so now you’re courting me?
”

“
Hell no! I’m letting you court me.
”

I grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand out of my panties.
“
I am
not
courting you,
”
I huffed as I marched into the kitchen.

“
Maybe you should ask
me
to marry
you
,
”
he suggested with a sly smile.

Turning on my heel, I fisted my hands on my hips and shrugged my shoulders.
“
Fine. Will you marry me?
”

He clenched his hand on the back of his neck and rubbed it as he pursed his lips and looked up at the ceiling.
“
I’ll think about it.
”

I squinted my eyes at him before turning and grabbing the electric teapot.
“
You’re a real shit,
”
I grumbled.

Quinn’s phone rang before he could respond. He grabbed it off the counter.
“
Yes?
”

He was silent for several minutes. Whoever called had a lot to say.

“
Fucking unbelievable. God! I wish this would just go away.
”

I grabbed two glass tea cups from the cabinet.

“
Set up another meeting with Cove’s attorneys.
”

The sound of glass shattering stopped his conversation.

“
I’ll have to call you back,
”
he clipped.
“
Don’t move, baby. What happened?
”

Shards of glass were scattered at my bare feet. Quinn hopped up on the island and grabbed me, lifting me from the mess.

“
Sit here,
”
he said as my feet dangled from the counter. He slipped on his shoes and grabbed the broom.
“
How’d you drop both glasses?
”
he asked while sweeping up the mess.

“
Uh, I don’t know … they just … I just …
”

After he finished sweeping up the glass, he scooted my legs around so my feet were over the sink.

“
Let me wash off your feet in case you have any small slivers of glass on you.
”

I nodded.

He dried my feet then helped me off the counter.

“
Baby, what’s wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost or something.
”

Rubbing my hands over my face, I shook my head.
“
No, I’m fine. I guess I just startled myself when they slipped out of my hands. Uh … who was on the phone?
”

“
It was my dad’s business partner. Remember I told you about the legal issues my dad was dealing with?
”

I nodded.

“
Well, his partner is still trying to keep their investments and reputation untarnished, even though it’s way too late for that. My dad knew it years ago, that’s why he’s no longer living.
”

“
You said Cove’s attorneys. What is Cove?
”

“
The name of their corporation, it’s the abbreviation for Cohen-Vessey. I hate to rush out, but I need to get showered and head into the office.
”
He kissed my cheek and jogged up the stairs.

Grabbing my stomach, I rushed to the hall bathroom and vomited. My whole body shook. Then, reaching for the sink, I pulled myself up and splashed cold water on my face.

Deep breath
…
I am peaceful, I am strong.

Easing the toilet seat down, I turned and sat on it with my elbows on my knees and my head resting in my hands. I don’t know how long I sat there, but when I heard the tap of Quinn’s shoes on the stairs I shut the door and locked it.

A few minutes later he knocked on it.
“
I’m leaving, baby. You okay?
”

Taking a deep breath, I fought to steady my voice.
“
Yeah.
”

“
I’ll call you later. Maybe we can go to dinner,
”
he called as his voice faded the farther he moved from the door.

“
K,
”
was all I managed.