by Amy Brent
Quinn gave me a bashful look before grabbing the door handle. But she didn’t open the door, not yet.
“I was just coming in downstairs when I heard a crash up here. I came up to see what it was and found…something.”
“What exactly did you find?”
“Here,” She said, offering me the broom and a pair of gloves, “You’re going to need these.”
Dubious now, and more than a little confused I took the broom and the gloves, slipping them on before gesturing for her to open the door already.
She nearly cringed as she did, flinching as if she expected some terrible monster to come charging out after them.
"Quinn, what the hell is in there?" I asked as I crept inside, but I'd barely gotten the question out before I saw it. A slow grin spread across my face that turned into a full belly laugh a moment later. "A possum? All this for a little possum?"
“Just…get it out of here. Please?” Quinn was still standing frozen by the door as if she was afraid to get too close to the thing in case it attacked.
“Don’t worry,” I said, still chuckling, “I’ll rescue the princess from the big bad possum.”
“Very funny, Leo.”
“I thought so.”
I glanced around the room, more worried about falling through one of the open floor beams than the wayward animal, and a moment later found what I was looking for. Grabbing the box, I made my way carefully to the middle of the room where it was hunched, shivering.
“I think you scared him just as bad as he scared you,” I muttered, walking slowly towards him. I set the box on a solid piece of floor beside me before bending down. As slowly as I could I reached forward, at the last minute grabbing the scruff of its neck and got it in the box before it could cause any more damage.
I was still chuckling to myself as I closed the top and carried it back to the door. Quinn cringed as I drew close.
“Can you take it outside? Let it go far, far away from here.”
“It probably has a family close by. Don’t know what it was doing up on the roof.” I shook my head as I walked out, “I’ll be back soon.”
It didn’t take long to drive several miles away from the property, releasing it back into the woods that surrounded the springs and make my way back. I walked inside to find Quinn still upstairs, cleaning up the glass from the broken window. It took me a moment to realize that she was crying.
Normally, I’d run as far and as fast as I could in the opposite direction when I see a crying woman. But seeing Quinn like that, heartbroken and upset, my feet were moving before I’d even made the decision. Towards her.
I kneeled down next to her, careful of the shards of glass and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Hey, sunshine. It’s okay. It’s just a window. We can get a new one.”
“I know. It’s just…it was so beautiful. One of the few parts of this place that were still intact, a part of my family that was still…alive. I know that sounds stupid–.”
"No, it doesn't," I murmured, holding her even closer. "It doesn't sound stupid at all. I understand, and listen, Quinn," I leaned back enough so I could meet her tear-stained gaze, so she could see the seriousness in mine, "I promise I'll do whatever I can to help, whatever it takes to get it fixed."
“It can’t be fixed, Leo,” She whispered, giving me a soft shaky smile, “But thank you. For the promise, anyway. It means a lot to me.”
I just hugged her again before letting her go once more. I glanced around the room. “Well, that beast sure did make a hell of a mess for such a little guy.”
Quinn let out a watery laugh. “Little! The thing was huge. It could have killed me.”
“Yep, I’ve heard of tons of possum related deaths in the area. Tragic, really.”
Quinn elbowed me in the ribs, both of us laughing for a moment before turning back to the shards of glass.
"What's going on?" A new voice echoing in the room had both of us jumping and I turned to see Jonah, still in his work clothes, bright orange vest and all, as he leveled a pointed stare around the room, finally landing on us.
“Jonah! What, uh, what are you doing here?” Quinn stuttered as she carefully got to her feet.
"I had a bunch of materials left over from the job site we just finished up. Thought you could use the leftover paint."
“That’s great! Thanks–.”
“What happened here, Quinn? Looks like an explosion went off.”
"I was working downstairs and heard a noise. It was a possum. It…It broke the stained glass window. The one grandma had made especially for this room." Quinn's voice hitched, still choking back tears but she sounded strong as she continued, "I called Leo and he came and helped get rid of the thing. There's no saving the window, though."
“Sorry about the window, Quinn. I know that meant a lot to you,” Jonah said sympathetically, but then his voice changed, hardening a bit as he spoke again, “Why didn’t you call me?”
“What?” Quinn tilted her head in confusion.
“Why did you call Leo? Why not me? I could have helped you.”
“Oh, well, um,” Quinn’s eyes widened as she scrambled for an answer, “I knew you were at work. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Wasn’t Leo at work too?”
“I was on my break.” I quickly interjected, giving Jonah my best I’m innocent look. Quinn nodded in agreement but Jonah was still looking at us suspiciously as he turned to show Quinn the materials he brought.
I stayed there for a long moment even after they had gone, a jolt of something tripping through me. Part joy, part trepidation, that Quinn’s first instinct had been to call me when she needed help. What the hell did that mean?
But there were no answers for me in the empty room. With a confused sigh, I got to my feet and walked downstairs.
Chapter 17
Quinn
I breathed deep, inhaling the scent of the flowers and herbs that had overtaken the garden patch behind the house. The sun was breaking through the tree line that surrounded the edge of the property casting dappled rays of light that danced amongst the overgrown vines.
The garden was more weeds than flowers now, but I could see some bright pink and red blooms peeking out from beneath the brush. And over there, a patch of yellow roses that still clung stubbornly to life.
It filled me hope, and fierce happiness, seeing that resilient bloom. Just like me. A survivor. Blooming despite everything else. I leaned down to smell the fragrant petals, breathing deep and let out a startled squeak at the feel of hands on my hips. I glanced behind me, grinning as Leo pulled me close.
“Hey, sunshine.”
“Hey back.” I was still smiling as I turned my head back to meet his, kissing him with all the joy and sweetness that filled me. We still had a long road ahead, but I felt confident. I could make this happen. I had to.
"I saw you out here from the window and I thought, mmm, now that's a flower that I'd like to pluck," Leo whispered the words roughly in my ear and I laughed, low and sweet before turning in his arms.
“I should get back to work. Only three and a half months left before Jonah’s deadline.”
“You’re gonna work yourself to death if you keep going like this, Quinn. Take a break. Relax,” His breath was warm against my ear and it sent shivers racing down my body, pooling thick and wet between my thighs, “I can help you relax.”
“I’ll just bet you can.”
I looped my hands behind his head, pulling him in for another kiss, this one slower, more sensual as he drew me deeper under his spell. All it took was one touch, one taste, and I was lost.
He picked me up in his arms and I held on tight to him, our mouths never separating as he laid me back down on a nearby patch of grass. I barely noticed the overgrown wildflowers surrounding us. Every atom in my body was only focused on him. There wasn’t room for anything else.
I gasped as his hands danced down my sides and he took advantage, his tongue sweeping inside my mouth t
o tease mine. I drew the kiss even deeper, pulling him down on top of me but after a moment he was moving again.
Leo’s mouth drew a teasing trail of soft kisses across my jaw and down my neck, making me writhe beneath him as a sweet languorous feeling filling my body until it felt like I was moving in warm honey.
I blinked my eyes half open at the feel of his warmth leaving but the heavy-lidded look he shot me heated me back up again. He started at my feet, easing off my boots before sliding his callused palms back up my calves, the back of my knee, the sensitive skin of my thighs. Leo didn't stop until he reached the button of my shorts, unbuttoning them with an infuriating slowness before sliding them down my hips.
Piece by piece he stripped me. His brows were furrowed in concentration and his dark eyes drank in the sight of every new inch of skin that was revealed as I lost my top, and then bra, and finally the little lace scrap of panties until I was completely nude beneath him.
I reached out to return the favor but he stopped my hands.
“Well, that’s not fair,” I pouted, “You get to see me naked. I should get to see you.”
“Not yet, sunshine,” Leo said on a hoarse chuckle. He looked up at me, wicked and so handsome it hurt, “I’m dying for a taste of you.”
I grew even wetter at his words, gasping as he bent down. He trailed kisses all over my body like I was the feast and he was starving. My shoulders, down across my chest. He paused to give special attention to my nipples, lathing them with his tongue until they were hard points before moving on.
He didn’t leave any patch of skin untasted as he continued his kissing, adding hungry nips as he made his way further south. This time he didn’t stop until he was wedged between my thighs as I writhed beneath him.
“Hell, Leo. You’re killing me.” My words were strained as I hitched my hips, begging silently for more.
He shot me a sinful grin, “Not yet, sunshine.”
His hands slipped underneath me, pulling me even closer to his waiting mouth and he didn’t give me a moment’s warning before his tongue swept over me, drinking me in. I threw my head back as the pleasure exploded over me.
Instinctively, my hips moved, trying to get closer to him or pulling away I couldn’t tell but Leo held me still as he lapped at my clit, every lick like an electric shock to my system. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, all the air in the world had evaporated and all that was left was Leo and his wicked mouth.
I groaned, long and loud when he thrust one finger inside my quivering pussy. A moment later he added another, all the while his tongue was still torturing me with wet lashes against my most sensitive bundle of nerves.
He pumped his fingers deep inside, just leaving them there as his mouth devoured me. The sudden lack of motion was driving me insane and I knew I couldn’t take another moment.
In one quick movement, I had my hands at his shoulders, pushing him onto his back as I straddled him. No more teasing. I wanted him and damn it, I was going to have him. Now.
“Hell, sunshine. If you wanted me all you had to do was ask,” Leo drawled, smirking up at me.
"I want you," I said softly, and Leo's grin slowly faded, replaced by a heat so intense it burned me. We were both tearing at his clothes then, desperate to get closer, to get rid of any barrier keeping us apart.
I barely waited to push his jeans and boxers down far enough before I was straddling him again, my thighs on either side of his and in one smooth move, I sank down on top of him. We both threw our heads back at the slow slide, the friction as his thick erection filled me to the brim.
I stayed there for a moment, feeling him stretching me, taking every hot inch as my muscles clenched deep inside, drawing him even deeper. And then I started to move.
Head back, eyes closed, I arched my back and rode him. My hips bruised against his as I slammed him inside me. Over and over, my pussy swallowed his cock, the sensitive muscles spasming with every slide until we were both breathless and desperate.
Bright lights like fireworks flashed behind my eyelids and my mind was nothing but a red haze centered solely on the spot where our bodies merged together. Pleasure so intense it was almost pain swept through me, stealing the last of my breath from my lungs as I cried out Leo’s name.
The orgasm shook my whole body, taking me along for a ride as Leo continued to thrust, waiting out my pleasure before grabbing my hips and flipping us over without ever losing contact.
Suddenly I was on my back, still reeling from the pleasure as he lifted my legs, bracing them against his shoulders before shooting me a dark, heated look.
“Baby, you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Leo gasped the words on a deep groan as he took me again, the new angle making me cry out in pleasure even as my climax still echoed through me.
“You’re not too bad yourself,” I managed, and he let out a gravelly chuckle but it faded fast as he pulled almost all the way out my body, only to ram home again.
“I’m going to make you come again, sunshine. You ready for that?” The sinful words sent chills racing through me, “I want to feel that sweet pussy of yours come all over me. I want to feel you come while I’m buried so deep inside you you’ll never forget the way my cock feels, taking you, filling you up.”
Leo punctuated every word with his body, thrusting as he spoke and it was enough to have me trembling beneath him once more. He didn’t stop. He didn’t slow down. He moved his hips like a piston, taking me harder and faster until all I could feel was the sharp pleasure at the end of each thrust and the sweet slide of friction before he was buried deep again.
This time, it hit me like a ton of bricks, my orgasm slamming into me, sweeping through my body so fast I couldn’t think. My pulse pounded in my ears, my pussy clamped down like a vice on Leo’s erection, holding it where it was nestled deep inside me.
A second later, I felt him shudder over me, his cum erupting inside me, and it sent off another wave of aftershocks that drew out for a long moment while we both clung to each other.
I was still shaking as he collapsed on top of me, I breathed deep, inhaling and drawing his unique scent deep into my lungs before he rolled onto the grass next to me.
Our fingers were twined together and Leo drew our clasped hands to his lips, laying a soft kiss on my knuckles before laying back, eyes closed, a small satisfied smile playing around the corners of his mouth.
I didn't realize I wore the same smile on mine but as I looked over at him, exhausted and happy, it grew even wider. Pleasure arced through my body in aftershocks as the sun-drenched us both, the grass underneath me cool and damp. Perfect. The moment was perfect. I wanted more moments like these. A hundred more.
Before the thought had even registered, I was turning my head, opening my mouth, the words falling out into the air between us.
“What are we?”
Leo cracked his eyes open, glancing at me sideways. His voice was stilted when he finally spoke, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, what are we? What is…this?” I gestured between us, a part of me already regretting the questions as I watched Leo’s expression shutter closed and his eyes dart away.
“This is what it’s always been, sunshine. Fun.”
“Fun?” I repeated his word and it felt alien in my mouth, “Just fun?”
Leo froze beside me, growing stiff as a board before leaping to his feet.
“I, uh, I gotta get back to the bar. Stella said she needed help with…something.”
“Okay, sure. That’s fine.” I said softly, not believing either of our lies. “See you later?”
“Yeah, later.” And then he was gone. The sunshine that had warmed my skin just a moment ago now felt icy and cold and I hurried to put my clothes back on before racing inside. Work. That’s what I needed. Maybe if I work hard enough I’d be able to forget the look on Leo’s face. I could only hope.
Chapter 18
Leo
“Stella, can I get another beer?” At least, that’s
what I thought I said. Judging by Stella’s look, it might have come out a bit more slurred that I’d planned. But she must have still been able to understand it because a moment later she plopped another pint of beer in front of me before shaking her head.
“Are you going to drink your whole paycheck today, stud? Because you’re doing a pretty good job of it so far.”
“Just keep ‘em coming, sweet thing.”
“Your flattery is no good here, Leo. You know that.”
“I do. And I can’t tell you how disappointed that fact makes me.”
Stella snorted, still shaking her head as she slapped her towel at the bar top. “Uh huh. I bet you’re real heartbroken about it.” She was still chuckling to herself as she walked to the other end of the bar, taking orders and making drinks.
It was a shame. Her company had kept the thoughts at bay for a minute. I glared down at the beer in front of me. That was supposed to be the alcohol's job but damned if it didn't seem to be working. In fact, the more I drank, the harder it was to ignore Quinn's words. What are we? What is this?
And then my own answer. Fun. I snorted into my beer. Fun didn’t even begin to describe what they were. But then what the hell did? What was the right answer? Because I sure as hell didn’t have it.
I could still see Quinn’s face, the way her smile had faded like a flower withering away. I wanted to see that happiness again. I hated the fact that I had chased that smile away. I knew I was squarely to blame. But damned if I knew what to do about it.
I took another deep pull of the cold beer but it did nothing to still the restlessness inside me. Not the type of restlessness that normally tugged at me, demanding that I move on to the next place, pushing me away from a place.
This time it was different. Instead of running away from something, it was pulling me towards something. Like a magnet was planted deep in my chest, drawing me back to it again and again. Drawing me towards Quinn.