by Sam Crescent
“You’re already a pain in my ass.”
“I’m the enjoyable pain, brother. I’ll leave you to get settled. I’m making Kaley’s favorite. Chicken parmesan. I’m going to need for her to forgive me, as otherwise I’ll kick your ass.”
Picking his bag up, Quinn crossed the apartment to the spare bedroom. Before he opened the door, he couldn’t help but take a peek in the other room. Kaley’s room.
Opening the door, he stepped inside then closed it quickly so Dorothy wouldn’t interrupt him.
The room was feminine. The walls were plain white, and the bedding was a light peach color, as were the curtains. The desk held several creams pushed to one side. What dominated the desk was her closed laptop. Beside her laptop was a notebook. He picked up the notebook, flipping through the pages to see lots of notes.
Quinn closed the book, not wanting to take his invasion into her privacy any further. His years as a Seal had taught him to play dirty as well as nice. Standing near the edge of the bed, he closed his eyes, inhaling her floral scent. He moved over to her single bookshelf that was full to bursting with books. He ran his fingers over each well-worn spine. Kaley had always been a reader, a lover of all books. He used to like watching her read with the way her tongue stuck out as she did.
He quickly looked through her collection of books, seeing some more erotic titles amongst the educational ones. He’d not expected her to have any sexy titles, and he liked this side of Kaley. His woman liked to read sexy stories. Quinn could work with that. Did she wish she were the heroine in some of the books? He’d gladly play out all of her fantasies. He would remember the titles so that he could look for them.
Seconds later he left her bedroom and entered his own. The walls were white, and Dorothy had put some blue sheets on the bed. He went to the window to look out over the city. Their parents all lived in a small town in the country where fields as far as the eye could see surrounded them. The city never appealed to him, but he knew how important it was to start up a business within the city. Security was a good business to use all of the skills he’d built up in the Seals.
Once his company was established and Kaley finished her Master’s, he’d be finding them a place back home. Quinn had a business plan that he intended to stick to. He had the money and the contacts, so all he needed to do was see his dream come true. In the last couple of years, he’d dabbled in the stock market, investing in products and companies, which had showed a great return.
He unpacked quickly, then answered the texts sent by his parents before making his way out toward his sister. She was bent over putting a dish into the oven.
“Shut up, don’t speak.” She closed the oven, rubbing at her brow. “You better make sure Kaley loves you. I hate cooking and only ever make sandwiches when it’s my night.”
“You’re making it up to her for not telling her about me?”
“Yeah. You asked to stay here. If you weren’t my brother I’d leave everything up to you.”
“I appreciate you helping me.” He leaned against the doorframe, staring at his frazzled sister. For the most part Dorothy always came across as easygoing. Nothing stressed her, yet this did. “I’m not going to hurt her. Kaley will be safe with me.”
“I know. Don’t go into her bedroom again. She likes her space to be private.”
“I saw the notebook and laptop. What’s that all about?”
“Kaley likes to write. I’ve not been allowed to see any of her stories, but I’ve heard her typing away late at night. It’s what she likes to do.”
He’d be looking at those stories. They were important to her. He could sense it.
“I’m trying to get to know as much of her as possible.” He moved toward the kettle. “She’ll be fine. Stop worrying.” He made himself a coffee, while making his sister tea. She didn’t need anything else to make her skittish.
“I hope you’re right.” She started to move around in circles the watch that rested on her wrist. “Dinner is done. I’m going to get my outfit ready so I can leave quickly.”
“No. I can figure everything out.”
“Good. Quinn, I like the thought of you two being together. Go easy on her. I think she’s, erm, she’s still a virgin. She didn’t pay any attention to the guys in school or in college. I’ve not seen her with anyone. I just want you to be careful with her.”
“I’m not going to hurt her, Dorothy.”
No, he wasn’t going to hurt her. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Kaley. He was going to spend some time with the woman he’d come to love. Kaley deserved to be loved and cherished, and he was going to be the man to give her everything her heart desired.
****
Walking up the steps, carrying the ice cream and a movie, Kaley was exhausted from the long day. She’d gotten plenty of studying in, yet it wasn’t enough to push the thought of Quinn from her mind. Maybe it was because of Dorothy’s strange behavior that morning.
She inserted her key into the door, entering the apartment. The scent of chicken parmesan filled her senses, making her mouth water. Removing her satchel, she set it on the floor.
“Hey, I’m home. I bought some ice cream and that movie you’ve been talking about for the last couple of weeks.” She stopped when she saw three place settings at the small table. “Do we have company?”
She walked into the kitchen and froze when she saw Quinn standing beside Dorothy. He held a bottle of beer. Both siblings turned toward her.
“Hey,” Dorothy said. “Awesome.” She took the tub of ice cream from her along with the movie. “I can’t wait to watch this.
“Hey, Kaley,” Quinn said. His voice was deep, masculine, and he had the power to make her melt.
“Hey.” What else should she say? “Erm, I thought you were, erm, working.” Where were her words?
“I was. I’ve got some time off.”
“Dorothy didn’t mention you coming here.” She looked toward her friend, who conveniently busied herself.
“It was a split-second decision. I’m not ready to go home. The folks know I’m staying here.” He tipped the beer bottle to his lips, and took a sip.
Get yourself together, Kaley.
“Great. Is that chicken parmesan I smell?”
“Yep. I’m pulling it out of the oven.”
“I’ll go and sit. It’s my favorite,” Quinn said, passing her.
Did he have to get so close to her when he passed?
“This is why you were baking this morning, wasn’t it?” Kaley asked, facing her friend.
“What? I knew he was coming, but I also knew you’d find some reason not to come home. I’m not kicking you out of our apartment while he’s here. What’s wrong with Quinn?”
“Nothing.”
“Good. He’s staying here a few weeks. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Kaley, but you wouldn’t have been here tonight. Please, we’re all friends.”
Dorothy was using the guilt card. Whenever Dorothy begged, Kaley never failed to feel bad for putting her friend in this predicament. Quinn was a nice guy. In all the years she’d known him, he’d never once made her feel unaccepted or uncomfortable. All of her problems when it came to this man were her own.
“Fine. Is there anything you need me to carry?”
“You can take the pasta. Love you.” Dorothy kissed her cheek, exiting the room.
Sucker.
Picking up the bowl of pasta, she walked to the table, placed the pasta down before taking her seat. Quinn had taken the head of the table while she and Dorothy sat either side of him. She could do this. She could get through one dinner without talking.
The two siblings usually talked a great deal while she listened in.
“How’s life, Kaley?” Quinn asked.
“Fine.” She looked toward her friend. Dorothy stared at her expectantly.
You need to get through this dinner.
“It’s going great.”
“You’re working at the library.”
“
She spends all of her time at the library,” Dorothy said, shooting her a glare.
“I work, and I study. I need the library to do both.” The only other element of her life was her writing, which she wouldn’t be sharing. “What are you doing now that you’re home?” she asked, hoping to stop all of their attention on her.
“I’m going to relax. Get to annoy my sister, maybe find a hobby or two.”
Kaley watched him eat, his sensual lips closing around the fork.
“Oh, I forgot. I’ve got a hot date tonight with Scott.” Dorothy got to her feet, taking a quick sip of her water.
“I got that movie for you.” Kaley didn’t want to be alone with Quinn. Not once had she ever been alone with Quinn.
“I know. I’m sorry. I wish you had said you were bringing it home. I wouldn’t have made other plans.” She walked across their apartment toward her bedroom. “You two can get along without me.”
Kaley opened her lips only to close them. What could she say to keep her friend home? She drew a blank.
Coating a piece of pasta in sauce, she lifted it to her lips. The nerves around Quinn came back, and she chanced a quick glance toward him. He stared right back.
“It’ll only be us tonight.”
Squeezing her thighs together, Kaley nodded. “Yes.”
She listened to her friend moving around in her room.
I hate you, Dorothy.
The moment she thought the words, she felt bad. She shouldn’t hate her friend. There was nothing wrong with Quinn.
Minutes later, Dorothy came out of the room, dressed to impress in a tight red dress.
“Do I need to warn this guy?” Quinn asked. The big brother in him was showing through.
“Nope. He’s a good guy.” Dorothy hugged her tight before going to Quinn. “Have fun, kids, and don’t do anything naughty.”
Heat filled Kaley’s cheeks at her friend’s words. Nothing naughty would ever go on between them.
“Have fun,” Kaley said, getting to her feet. The door to the apartment was already closed. She picked her plate up, all of her appetite gone. “If you want to go out, I’ll understand.”
“Don’t you want some company with that movie?”
She stared back at him. “You’ll watch a romance?”
“Sure. I’ve not seen you in so long. It’ll be fun.” He stood, picking up his sister’s plate.
Together they walked into the kitchen. This was the first time they’d been alone together. She put the dishes in the sink, filling the bowl with soap and water. Kaley washed the dishes, hoping he’d leave the kitchen. There was no such luck. He picked up the towel and started to help.
With his size, he made the kitchen feel so small. Licking her lips, she did her best to ignore him, which was so hard to do with him so close. How was she going to survive with him staying with them? She didn’t know how she was going to last the next couple of hours, let alone weeks.
Chapter Three
It took every ounce of willpower to keep his distance from Kaley. Quinn saw she was close to running away. He didn’t like it, yet there was nothing he could really do.
Take your time.
He was a patient man, and he refused to rush her. The moment he rushed her, he’d lose. He dried the dishes, loving the closeness to her. When his cell phone chimed, he took it out to see a message from Dorothy.
If I didn’t leave when I did, she’d find a reason. Be nice to her. x
“I’m always nice,” he muttered.
“Sorry?” Kaley glanced at him.
“Nothing. I’m just talking to myself.”
“Ah, okay.”
They finished the dishes then made their way to the sitting room.
“I’m going to get showered. I’ll meet you back out here and we’ll watch that movie.”
She nodded, closing her bedroom door.
You can run, but you can’t hide, baby.
He wasn’t put off by her lack of enthusiasm. Quinn didn’t linger in the shower or in his room. Within ten minutes he was out in the sitting room. He closed the curtains, turning the light off and only allowing two lamps to cast a low glow over the room. When the room looked perfect, he walked into the kitchen, taking out the chocolate ice cream from the freezer. He grabbed bowls, spoons, and some other candies for them to munch on.
Returning to the sitting room, he saw Kaley coming out of her room. She wore a set of shorts and a shirt with a teddy bear on the front. There was nothing sexy about her attire. He imagined her in sexy silk lingerie, and his cock began to thicken.
Patience.
Quinn placed his prizes on the table, taking a seat on the sofa. With the way he’d moved the television, she’d have no choice but to sit with him.
“Cute PJs.”
She didn’t say anything.
Glancing over, he saw her cheeks were bright red. He could do better than that.
Kaley took hold of the DVD, putting it into the machine. She clearly didn’t have a fucking clue that the shorts rode up showing her ass off to perfection. He wanted to be those shorts. They were so tight, nuzzled against her pussy.
She handed him the remote, taking a seat on the other end of the sofa. He watched her put her feet up underneath her, keeping as much space between them as possible. In control of the remote, he allowed the trailers to run. They both laughed at several comedies coming out in the fall.
“I can’t wait to watch that one,” Kaley said.
“I’ll take you to it. It’ll be a date.”
He made sure he didn’t make any sign that it was more than two friends getting to know one another. Quinn really wished he knew why she was so shy and nervous around him. It wouldn’t matter soon. He wasn’t going to give her a choice about being with him. For over six years he’d denied himself the pleasure of being around her.
The movie started playing. Ten minutes in, he leaned forward, moving a little closer to her as he did. He scooped ice cream into their bowls, sprinkling more candy. Moving a little closer, he handed her a bowl.
She took it. Their fingers brushed across each other, and he wanted there to be more. Sitting back in his new position, he ate his ice cream, watching the movie.
She sat next to him, and by the end of the movie, he had his arm across the back of the sofa and they were almost touching.
“Are you ready for bed? What did you think of the movie?” It was only a little after nine. Dorothy had sent him a text asking how it was going. He ignored the text and concentrated on the woman beside him.
“No. It was a good movie, boring in places,” she said.
He chuckled. There was no real action. Quinn flipped through the channels.
The only movie he found was a scary one. He liked scary movies, so he left it on that channel. His cunning plan worked as within minutes she was clinging to his arm. Quinn moved her up the sofa so she was leaning against him with nowhere else to go.
“No, you stupid woman, don’t go outside alone,” Kaley said.
Quinn chuckled, staring down at her. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, nor was she wearing a bra. Her breasts were pressed against his arm, making him very aware how free she actually was.
Grabbing the pillow next to him, he placed it over his rock-hard cock. The sweatpants he wore didn’t do well for hiding an erection.
He lay his hand down to rest on her thigh. Quinn wanted her to get used to him. Her skin was silky smooth to the touch. Gritting his teeth, Quinn counted in his head, using all the techniques he remembered as a Seal to gain control over his emotions.
She buried her head against his shoulder. “I hate this.”
The movie had started out fun with her rubbing against him, but now it was pure torture. Kaley was so close to him, yet he couldn’t do anything to relieve the ache building inside him.
When the movie ended, Dorothy walked through the door looking a little flushed. He glanced toward her.
“Hey. What’s going on?” Dorothy flopped down on the chair. “Wh
o moved the television?”
“We were watching a horror film.” Kaley released him, getting up from the sofa. He closed his eyes as she bent over to grab the empty ice cream tub and bowls. The shorts rode up, revealing the bottom of her curvy ass.
She left the room, leaving him to his sister.
“She doesn’t have a clue about the shorts, does she?”
“Kaley’s not very aware of herself, no. Have fun?”
“Until the horror movie, yes.” He ran a hand down his face. How was he going to make it to his bedroom without embarrassing himself?
“Why? I thought guys liked to watch horror movies. Oh, that’s right, they don’t. It’s just a lame ass attempt to get us women close to them. Shame on you, brother.”
He saw Dorothy was laughing at him.
“I’m going to head to bed,” Kaley said, coming back into the room. She stretched out, thrusting her tits into the air.
Torture, pure torture.
“Night.”
His patience wasn’t going to last long if she behaved like that.
****
For the rest of the week, Kaley was surprised by how much fun she had with Quinn. Dorothy always had a good excuse to be out of the apartment. They spent a great deal of time cooking or watching movies. When she’d brought him the ingredients to make a stir-fry, a dish she’d never tried before, Quinn took the lead, creating a delicious meal that was fit for a restaurant. The movies varied from romance to horror. Her favorite were action movies with lots of guns. She noticed many of the romance and horror movies had a lot of sex. The moment the lights went down and the clothes came off, she got more nervous as she became more aware of Quinn.
He never moved, and she always wondered what he was thinking about.
She looked down at the books on the trolley that had been returned that day at the library. Martha was training someone new back at the front counter. Kaley liked working at the library. It was usually quiet. They rarely had rowdy children or problems.
Walking through the history section, she placed the books about the Second World War onto a shelf. She tucked some hair behind her ear as she looked down to see what was next on her trolley.