by Cari Quinn
“I’m sticking around.” I held out the arm I hadn’t cuffed to the bedpost and waited until Slater grabbed it, pulling me into a hug so vigorous I thought he might pull out the frame entirely. I also nearly poked out Abby’s eye accidentally with my elbow.
“Actually, I think I’m moving to Yonkers,” I added once he’d pulled back.
Abby gave me a quizzical look. “Oh, really? What could possibly be there?”
“The woman I love more than my life,” I said and watched her face soften like ice cream melting in the sun. Some of that might’ve been wishful thinking on my part.
“Is that all?” she questioned softly.
“That’s all. Any objections to that plan, Ms. Sinclair?”
She shook her head and flung herself into my arms. “Just one.”
“What’s that?”
Her dazzling grin left me dazed. “That your pesky brother always calls before coming over.”
Slater’s rich laughter eased away some of the knots of tension in my gut. The ones in my chest…well, nothing would improve them but time and effort.
I was good at putting in the work.
“Speaking of pesky brothers, I’m going to leave you two lovebirds alone now that I know things are on the right track. I may not be violent by nature, but, trust me, if you hadn’t gotten your shit straight, I would’ve thrown down.”
“Oh really?” I chuckled and glanced at Slater over Abby’s head. I was pretty sure nothing had ever felt so perfect as having my woman in my arms again.
“Really. There’s just one more thing.” His Adam’s apple jerking up and down was the only warning I got of what he intended to say next. “You wanted to know why I picked Jen and me up and moved clear across the country without leaving a forwarding address?”
Just like that, some of the pleasure and relief inside me dimmed. “No. I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. I did that so they couldn’t find us if and when you didn’t come back whole. To a dumb frigging kid who’d just lost both his parents and idolized his big brother, that made perfect sense. If the military couldn’t find us, they couldn’t tell us you were gone.”
Warmth wound its way through my chest, loosening the knots I’d been sure were soldered in place. “Slater—”
“I love you, man, and I’ve been proud of you since the day you told us you wanted to become a SEAL. I couldn’t have been more proud. I was just selfish enough to want my best friend back home safe where he belonged.”
Emotion clawed up my throat, snatching away any planned speech I could’ve come up with. So I went with the truth, plain and simple. “I love you, too, man. You and Jen and Abs are my world. I mean that.”
“I get that now.” He was already opening the door. “We’re good, brother. And we’re going to be better. I just wanted you to know where we stand before I grab my soundproof headphones and go back to blasting Yanni. Night, kids.” Smiling, he pulled the door shut behind him.
“Yanni?” Abby asked.
“He’s kidding. I hope.”
She laughed and snuggled against me. “You really want to move to Yonkers with me?”
“I really do. If you have room.”
“I’ll make room. Hey, we made this tiny-assed twin bed work.”
“True that. And I want to make it work again soon.” I waggled my eyebrows then blew out a breath. “I want to get the baby’s dates put on my arm with my parents.”
“Oh, Liam.”
“Birth and death for him or her. We’ll estimate conception date if we aren’t sure.”
Abby bit her lip, her eyes welling up. “Seriously, that’s enough already. I’ve used up my tear allotment for one day.”
Then her gaze landed on my partial sleeve, and, from the way the tears spilled over, I figured she’d seen my new chord tattoo.
“You got this for me?” she whispered, tracing the fresh ink.
“Yes. Because I damn sure don’t know anything about music. You’ll have to teach me.” I glanced at the empty nightstand and frowned. “Uh, there’s one more thing you’ll need to teach me as well.”
“What’s that?”
“How not to lose the keys to the handcuffs. Fucking A.”
Her laughter was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. “I don’t know. This might work out to my advantage.” She leaned forward and slid her arms around my neck, lining up our mouths until her breath fluttered over my lips. “I love you, Liam Walsh. I never stopped. Not for a minute.”
“That’s good.” I forced myself to exhale. “That’s real good.”
“We made a lot of mistakes.”
“We did. This time, we won’t.” I tucked her fingers into a fist and kissed her knuckles. “I promise you with everything I am that you can count on me. I’m not going anywhere.” I cast a dubious glance at my cuffed wrist. “Literally.”
Giggling, she canted her head, her reddish-gold hair falling over her shoulders in sexily tousled waves. No one was as beautiful as my Abs.
Mine. Thank God.
But there was one more thing I needed to make clear. I stroked my thumb over the back of her hand and cleared my throat until I could speak. “I would’ve wanted our baby, Abs. With all my heart.”
“I know that now.” She gave me a misty smile, and I had to fight not to wrap her in my arms and never let go. “Wanting to put the baby’s dates on your body proved it to me, if I’d had any doubt after I saw the look in your eyes when I told you. I didn’t.” She squeezed my fingers. “I just regret I didn’t tell you years ago.”
“I regret so much, too.” I tipped my head against hers and absorbed the feeling of her breath against my cheek. “We’re lucky enough to get a fresh start, and I’m damn well going to take advantage of it.”
“Speaking of taking advantage, do you think his headphones are really soundproof?”
I laughed and reached for the button of my jeans. “Let’s find out.”
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author CARI QUINN pens sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When not writing, she’s usually watching men’s college basketball or playing her music too loud. Sign up for her new newsletter at www.cariquinn.com or join the Word Wenches on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/
Dear Reader,
Hello! Thank you so much for picking up Hot Ink, an amazing anthology that includes two of my favorite authors, Carrie Ann Ryan and Sidney Bristol. I hope you enjoyed it! My story, TAKEDOWN, is part of my New Adult MMA series, Tapped Out, that begun with the novel SHADOWBOXER and will continue with SNEAK ATTACK and ON THE ROPES, coming soon.
This is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a book! If you enjoy edgy New Adult romance, check out my NA rock star series, Lost in Oblivion, co-written with Taryn Elliott. Our latest entry in the series, TWISTED, releases December 2nd and is up for preorder now! It features Jazz, Oblivion’s spunky drummer, and Gray, the band’s co-lead guitarist who is hiding a huge secret.
If you’d like to keep up to date on my upcoming releases, please click HERE to sign up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/DCaLb or visit my co-authored reader group with Taryn Elliott on Facebook, the WORD WENCHES: https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/ We’d love to have you!
Stay warm…or better yet, while reading books like these, stay hot!
XO,
Cari Quinn
www.cariquinn.com
Also from this Author
Twisted (with Taryn Elliott)
Rock, Rattle and Roll (with Taryn Elliott)
Rocked (with Taryn Elliott)
Seduced (with Taryn Elliott)
Drawn Deep
Proving His Worth
Guarding His Heart
Protecting His Assets
Shadowboxer
Tempted By His Best Friend
No Romance Required
Nailing His Target
Jingle Ball
Dirty Distractions
Love Bites
Melt
Need Me
Test Shot
No Flowers Required
Cowboy Lust
Virgin Territory
Heart Signs
No Dress Required
Unwrapped
Hot Text
Bad Kitty
Provoke Me
Insatiable
Reveal Me
Personal Research
Ex Appeal
Full Disclosure
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
About the Author
Also from this Author