Shared

by Lily Harlem

  “Wow.”

  “Quinn and I, like he told you earlier, had become close. I’d spent all that time on his ward and he used to visit me a lot, often only for a few minutes, but sometimes he’d sit and have a sandwich at lunchtime with me, or if he was hanging about overnight to keep an eye on a patient he’d sit in with me and watch TV, we had the same taste in reruns of Star Trek.”

  I let out a groan.

  “Nothing wrong with being a Trekkie,” Liam said defensively. “Anyway, he told me all about the wedding and Gaby and how he was buying a swanky apartment in Manhattan for them to live in after they were married.”

  “They didn’t live together beforehand.”

  “No.” He slid his fingers down my pussy, dipped into my vagina and then pulled back up and carried on with his sensual rotations. “This feeling good, tell me to stop if you want me to.”

  “Mmm, no, it’s lovely, don’t stop.”

  “I won’t,” he said. “Touching you is my new favorite thing to do.”

  I tipped my pelvis slightly and he increased the pressure a fraction. A small groan escaped my lips. “What happened with Gaby?” I asked, fluttering my eyes shut, wanting to concentrate on finding out about Quinn’s fiancée but at the same time quite happy to give myself over to sensation.

  “Quinn had always worried about Gaby’s commitment to his job. She was often angry with him for being late and wouldn’t speak to him for several days if he had to rush back to theater or onto the ward when they were together. She didn’t seem to get it. Said he loved his job more than he loved her, which actually wasn’t true, he was just determined to be the best of the best, and refused to have anyone’s life on his conscience if he left a patient with someone who wasn’t as competent as he was.”

  “Not much has changed then.”

  “No, he’ll never change, at least not until he makes the decision to himself.” Liam paused. “He wasn’t about to do it for Gaby and I don’t think he’d do it for you either.”

  “I wouldn’t want him to. But I would like to see him lightening up a little when he gets free time. His whole posture changed this morning when we walked to get ice cream, he relaxed, not a lot, but a little, soon he’ll get the hang of it.”

  “Yeah, he did well earlier. Anyway, back to the story. I got a clear scan the day before his wedding, after nine months in sodding hospital I was finally allowed out. I booked a flight back for the following week, determined to have some time to enjoy the good parts of the city I’d been to hell and back in. Quinn shook my hand and I wished him luck for the next day. It was then he asked me to be his best man, said he’d forgotten all about it until Gaby had given him the rings to pass on that morning, said he felt closest to me out of everyone he knew and would I mind. Well, of course I didn’t mind, this was the guy who’d just saved my life. I’d have lain down on hot coals for him to walk over my back if that’s what he’d asked of me.”

  “This was the day before?”

  “Yes, so the next day, we stood together at the front of the church, me in a quickly bought suit with the rings in my pocket and Quinn looking like an Armani model. Quinn was twitchy, I’d never seen him twitchy before, haven’t since—he poked at his tie, fiddled with his cuffs, tapped his shoes on the stone floor of the church. We waited an hour. One whole hour, and then Gaby’s chief bridesmaid came clicking down the long aisle in her dress and handed Quinn a letter, from Gaby.”

  “What did it say?”

  Liam sucked in a deep breath. “It said she couldn’t marry him, she felt he was already married to the hospital and would never truly be hers. She said he had to promise to change jobs, go and work as a lecturer or something if he wanted her to walk down the aisle to him.”

  “Which, I’m guessing, he wouldn’t do.”

  “No, and it would have been a crime if he had.” Liam’s voice was firm. “Quinn needs to be operating, saving lives, curing people. His fingerprints are on hundreds if not thousands of scalps, and those people are only walking around on top of the earth and not lying beneath it today because of him.”

  “Poor Quinn,” I said, feeling his pain at being left by someone he loved. “It must have been a horrendous ordeal.”

  “Yeah, it was. He tore the letter in half, dropped it to the floor and stormed out of the church. I followed and let the vicar and Gaby’s family deal with the mess.”

  “Where did Quinn go?”

  “To a bar. That afternoon was the one and only time I saw Quinn have more than one drink. He got absolutely wasted, and whilst we were drowning his sorrows we came up with the brilliant plan of him coming back to the UK with me. I wanted to go home and he didn’t want to stay in New York, it was too painful for him so it seemed like the perfect solution. When we did some investigating we found a new neuro department had opened in Cardiff so it was our natural choice, and when he came for the interview we saw that these apartments had just been built. So Quinn halted the purchase on his Manhattan place and we pooled finances for this, but he’s still got a small place near Central Park he’s never got round to selling.”

  “So you flew back together.”

  “No, Quinn had to wrap up his cases and hand over, he joined me a couple of months later and here we are, that’s our story.”

  “Here you are,” I said. “And aren’t I lucky to have found you.”

  “I think we’re the lucky ones.” He kissed my earlobe and upped the speed of his fingers.

  I snatched in a breath as the seed of my orgasm began to grow. Liam was touching me just right, just where I needed it. A heat began to bloom inside me that had nothing to do with the hot bubbling water surrounding us.

  “Turn round,” he said in a husked voice. “Turn round and sit on my dick, Ariane. Can you feel how much it wants you?”

  I could, I’d been leaning my back against a metal rod for the last ten minutes as I’d listened to the story Quinn had dodged telling me on our first date.

  Thoughts of Gaby and weddings and Quinn’s demanding job flew from my mind as I sat forward in the water. Liam drew his legs together and I straddled him, ignoring the splashes flying over the edge of the bath. My pelvis clenched in anticipation. The tip of his erection touched my pussy and I spread my hands out on his golden shoulders.

  “You gonna cope with me riding you, big boy?” I teased.

  “Oh, I think I can manage a wild little cowgirl.” He grinned.

  I sank downward, just an inch.

  “Ah, that’s it,” he said. His eyes glazed over and his hands wrapped around my waist. “So hot, so tight, so fucking awesome.”

  “Glad you approve,” I murmured, sliding my hands up his thick neck and cupping his face. I relaxed my thighs farther, sank deeper as the hot water eased his way through my delicate flesh. I took him to the base of his shaft and he groaned deep in his throat. I began a gentle rocking motion that caught my clit deliciously against his pelvis. I pressed my mouth to his. I thought we might kiss but the intensity of the sensations down below meant our lips sort of touched once and then froze a whisper apart. I’d been hovering for this orgasm and now I was in control there was no holding back. It was charging up fast, waiting to take over. The point of no return was rapidly approaching and I barely had to move for it to catch me.

  “Liam, Oh god, Liam, I’m there…already.”

  “Take what you need, baby.” He palmed my breasts. “I’m not going to be far behind.”

  I gently ran my fingers into his hair and tipped his head so I was looking down at him. And then I came, shattered into a million pieces around his glorious erection. I didn’t blink, neither did he, and as my pussy spasmed I felt him pulsating. It had been fast, quiet and intense and we both struggled to catch our breath in the steamy bathroom.

  “I’m falling,” he whispered, pushing my hair from my face with both hands.

  “What do you mean?” I panted.

  “I’m falling…in love with you.” His blue eyes brimmed with emotion and his cheeks gl
owed. “You don’t have to say it back,” he said, tracing a finger over my cheek. “I just learned a few years back to seize the moment. I don’t want to regret not doing or saying things when I get the chance.”

  I juddered in a breath. “It’s okay…” I said. “I—”

  “I just wanted you to know,” he interrupted. “You can do what you want with the information, so long as you know.”

  It was there inside me, already. I knew what he meant when he said falling. The point between fancying someone like mad and really, really caring, wanting to be with them because they made you feel whole. We were on that journey of falling in love, halfway, in the middle, it was a crazy, wild place to be where anything could happen but right now I didn’t want to be anywhere else. “I’m falling in love with you too,” I said with a grin. “It’s great isn’t it?”

  “Sure is.” He kissed me gently, and then the next thing I knew he was scooping me out of the bath and wrapping me in an enormous black towel. It was soft and warm on my skin and smelled of their tropical washing powder. He draped one around his own waist and then set about carefully drying me. I was grateful, I felt exhausted. Sex was a serious workout, especially with two guys’ needs to accommodate.

  “You want me to ring out for pizza?” Liam asked suddenly.

  “Sounds great,” I said on a sigh.

  “I can’t be bothered to cook. I think we just need to collapse on the sofa and veg out, watch a film or something.”

  “Perfect plan.”

  Liam dragged on his shorts and went to dial for a Hawaiian and a pepperoni, and I pulled on a fresh thong and grabbed the Saltrock t-shirt he’d been wearing earlier. It hung to my knees and smelled of Liam’s tangy aftershave mixed with the divine scent of his skin. I scooped the cotton into my hands and sniffed deep. Then I tutted and smoothed it over my breasts. What was I doing? I was falling faster than I thought.

  We pigged out on piping hot pizzas spread across the table in the lounge watching an old war movie. As the sun began to dip toward the sea, Liam popped a beer and plonked a cushion on his lap.

  “Come here,” he said, tapping the plump material.

  I moved toward him, feeling stuffed full of food, and dropped my head on his lap. I was suddenly overwhelmed with exhaustion, and when he began to play with my hair, looping the long strands through his fingers and tugging ever so gently, I felt myself drifting off, slipping into that dreamy place of contentment and satisfaction.

  I must have slept a few hours, because when the sofa dipping at my feet caused me to open my eyes, the sky outside was twinkling with stars.

  “Hey, you,” Quinn said, lifting my ankles onto his lap. “You look worn out.”

  “Hi,” I said. “How did it go?”

  “Had to go back to surgery, but he should be okay now, it was a straightforward enough procedure.” Quinn began to rub his fingers around my foot, a deep touch that didn’t tickle, it soothed and caressed. “You’ve worn Liam out.”

  I lifted my head. Liam had dropped his neck back on the sofa, fast asleep. “Mmm,” I said. “Guess I did.”

  “You’re good for him.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re good for me too.” He bent his head and lifted my right foot to his mouth. He gently kissed my big toe. “You smell of coconut,” he said, kissing his way to the next toe.

  “Hmm, coconut bubble bath,” Liam muttered and then yawned loudly. “What time is it?”

  “One.”

  “One in the morning, fuck!” Liam jumped up. “I was supposed to be conferencing with Japan an hour ago. Fuck, fuck.” I dragged myself out of his way. But before darting from the room he bent and feathered a kiss on my lips. “Still falling,” he said with a grin.

  I matched his smile and then reached for the glass of water I’d been sipping earlier. “I think I’ll head to bed,” I said to Quinn.

  “Want company?”

  “I want you to hold me.” I looked him in the eye. “Like you said you would earlier if you hadn’t needed to rush off.”

  “Then that’s exactly what I’ll do.” He stood, pulled me up and squeezed me close. “I’m going to hold you all night long while you sleep in my arms.”

  Chapter Seven

  I woke with my body tangled with Quinn’s. His breathing was regular and slow, still in a deep sleep. I opened my eyes to his chest and then glanced up at the clock. Eight.

  “Quinn,” I said shifting to look at him. His eyelashes were so long they shadowed his cheek and his stubble was a thick, dark shadow coating his jaw and neck. “Quinn, what time do you need to get up?”

  “Mmm.”

  I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Quinn,” I said quietly. “It’s eight o’clock.”

  His eyes pinged open. “Shit,” he said, sitting bolt upright and sliding to the edge of the bed.

  “Hey,” I said, wrapping my hand around his wrist. “You’ll make yourself dizzy.” He pulled from my grip and jumped up, scouting around for his pager.

  “I’ve got rounds at 8:30, I need to get going.”

  “Quinn,” I said, sitting up and pushing my hair from my face. “Who’s in charge of the neuro ward?”

  “I am.”

  “So.”

  “What do you mean, ‘so’?” He bent to retrieve his trousers from the floor and scooped up his socks.

  “So ring and say something’s come up, you’ll be doing rounds at 9:30 today instead.”

  I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because…”

  “Because nothing, you were in theater ’til gone midnight, you’re entitled to some rest. You make the call, I’ll go run the shower.” I slipped from beneath the covers and peeled Liam’s t-shirt over my head. “If you’re quick I might still be in there,” I said in a voice thick with meaning.

  I saw his eyes travel to my breasts, my nipples were hardening rapidly in the cool air after the warmth of the bed. Quinn really was a tit man and I watched with satisfaction as he swept his tongue over his bottom lip, he was thinking about it.

  “Now I’m not so sure how good you are for me,” he said, leaning over the bed. “But go get that shower running, and if you’re not still in there when I get back I’ll smack that ass of yours ’til it glows pink.” He reached out and cupped my breasts. “Or maybe that’s what you want, Ariane.”

  I shivered at his touch and his words. He kept saying he wanted to spank me, perhaps I should give it a go. “Hurry up,” I said, climbing off the bed and turning my face so he couldn’t see the flush of carnal excitement on my cheeks.

  I scooted into the main bathroom, which had a plus-sized, walk-in shower, tugged off my thong and flicked on the water. I’d just had time to brush my teeth and step under the jet stream when Quinn strode in, stepping out of his boxers as he walked.

  “Hey,” he said, curling his corded forearms around my wet, naked body. “You’re such a naughty girl, making me play hooky.”

  “So make it count,” I said, sliding my palms up the long, lean muscles that lined his spine. “Because I can’t imagine you’ll do it very often, even for me.”

  “Oh, I’m going to make it count all right.” He flashed a sexy, arrogant grin and pressed his big body against mine. He pushed me against the cool tiles of the shower wall and loomed over me. Beads of water dripped from his brows and his eyes held a sinful glint.

  The next thing I knew he’d stooped, hooked his hands around the back of my thighs and slid me upward. I wrapped my legs around his waist and curled my arms around his neck for balance. His mouth hit down, hard and hungry, impatient and needy and I gasped at the desperation in his kiss. His dense stubble scratched my chin, the burn made me want him more, it made me realize what raw masculine power I’d released. Could I handle it?

  His chest heaved against mine as his breaths became rapid, his wet coils of chest hair clouded my nipples and I felt his unyielding cock prodding for my entrance.

  “You’re a temptress,” he said ti
ghtly. “Too fucking tempting by far.” In one hard plunge he thrust into my wetness. I cried out but he muffled the sound with his mouth. The sudden invasion was all-consuming—there was a bite of pain, but still I felt my pussy throbbing for him, pulling him in farther.

  His hands splayed out on my butt cheeks and he began to pound in earnest as water poured down on us, he pounded as though he would never stop, he pounded as though if he did stop he would die. He threw his head back. The tendons on his neck pulled taut and his lips stretched thin. I kissed, sucked and bit my way along his wet, angular shoulder as he shunted into me over and over. Licking, nipping and tasting his skin.

  Just when I thought we couldn’t get any wilder, any more animal-like, he fucked me even harder. There was nothing gentle about the way his big body was taking what it wanted from mine. But I didn’t care, my climax, a big, blinding climax, was hovering within reach, one more sharp thrust of his hips, one more bury of his cock and I’d be there. I’d explode into a million tiny pieces.

  I scrabbled for the back of his neck, tipped his face to mine. A rainbow of colors played in the pouring water and danced in his feral eyes. “Goddamn you’re amazing,” he gasped just before our lips fused.

  His strokes suddenly slowed, but somehow they felt longer, harder, more powerful. His muscles turned to granite as our wet skin slid perfectly against one another, increasing the bliss with each tiny connection of his rock-solid body against my soft one.

  “Don’t stop,” I wailed as the perfect pinnacle of pleasure exploded within me. “Quinn, don’t stop.” It was as if every nerve I possessed was being fucked into oblivion. The overwhelming spasms in my pussy and my clit were radiating outward, upward and through to my very core. My scalp buzzed and my toes tingled. It was as if he was part of me, we were so deeply connected.

  He gave a final, almighty buck of his hips and held me trapped tight against the tiled wall. Then he spurted into me. Over and over his cock pulsed as his hips jerked against my inner thighs. A groan ripped from his chest that was pure Neanderthal and echoed around the glass shower cubicle.