I rolled over to face him. “You remembered?”
“Of course I remembered.” He growled. “Did you think I was gonna forget your birthday?” He gave me a cocky smirk.
I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for remembering.”
“You’re my girl.” He answered by way of explanation.
My heart swelled. I loved it when he laid a claim to me. It made me feel wanted. I’d never realized how rewarding being in a committed relationship could be, I’d had boyfriends before, but nothing serious. In college I’d focused on my study, and preferred to keep my sexual encounters casual.
Sometimes it was just easier that way.
Since then, I’d been so busy with work, dancing and friends that it had never happened for me, I’d never been opposed to finding love, there was no big dramatic heartbreak in my past that had scarred me for life, it was more a matter of just never having found the right person at the right time.
I looked into Harrison’s caramel eyes and knew I’d found the right person, perhaps the timing might have been questionable, but it had worked out for us in the end. We were here, and at least eighty five percent of the time we were happy.
“Do you want to open your presents?” He asked like an excited little boy.
I giggled at him scrambling off the bed. “You got me a present?”
“Presents.” He emphasized the ‘s’. “Plural.”
I sat up and stuffed the pillows behind my back. I was incredibly eager to see what he’d got for me.
He returned with an envelope, a big shoe sized box and a massive grin.
“Happy birthday.” He told me again as he handed them to me.
He went to pull away but I reached for his neck and tugged him back towards me.
I pressed my lips to his. “Thank you.” I murmured against his mouth.
He tapped my nose. “You might want to open them before you thank me.” He grinned at me deviously and I suddenly felt nervous for what I might find in the box.
I decided to start with the envelope, it looked safest.
I tore it open and glanced up at him; he was watching me in anticipation.
I laughed loudly as I figured out why he was looking like such a smartass.
“Cooking lessons.” I giggled. “What are you suggesting? That I can’t cook?” I asked in mock outrage.
He chuckled. “Woman, I wasn’t suggesting, I was stating a fact, you can’t cook to save your life.”
He was not wrong about that.
“Open it.” He nudged the box closer to me.
He looks nervous.
I undid the ribbon and slid the lid off the box. I gasped. Nestled in the tissue paper was an incredible book, ‘It Ends With Us’ by Colleen Hoover.
I ran my finger slowly over the cover.
“It’s signed.” He murmured.
I couldn’t believe he’d listened to me ramble on and on about this amazing book, I was sure he hadn’t heard a word of it, let alone paid enough attention to buy me my own copy.
I quickly flipped open the cover.
“Happy birthday Quinn, enjoy your day. Ps. your boyfriend is a total babe.”
Signed by Colleen Hoover.
I laughed out loud at the inscription. She had good taste – my boyfriend was a total babe.
“Thank you, I love it.”
I leaned in to kiss him but he pulled back before I could.
“There’s more.” He tapped the side of the box.
I lifted the book out and grinned at the small black Ford Mustang key chain.
“Something to remember it by.” He had a giant shit eating grin on his face.
“You think I was going to forget that any time soon?” I giggled.
I lifted it from the box to have a closer look. A small silver charm swung to the side as I picked it up.
“What’s that?” I murmured, more to myself than him.
My heart thumped loudly as I took in the small infinity charm that he’d attached to the keychain.
I looked back up to meet his eyes, but I didn’t know what to say. I was shocked by his sweet gesture; he wasn’t one to talk about feelings a lot, so this small charm held a lot of meaning to me.
“Harrison… thank you.” I whispered as I crawled towards him and curled up in his lap, still holding the keychain in my hand. “I love it.”
I could feel tears building in my eyes and I tried to blink them away.
When did I get so emotional?
“It’s just a keychain Skippy.” He replied with a chuckle.
“No it’s not.” I replied, tilting my head up to face him. “It’s perfect.”
So perfect.
28. Harrison
I knew I was in trouble when I saw the light on.
I don’t know why I keep doing this…
She’d only just forgiven me for my last disappearance a week ago, now I was going to have to come up with another lie, another apology…
It wasn’t even worth the risk.
Tonight had been a waste of my time. I still wasn’t sure what had possessed me to get up and go out, but I had. Part of me needed to feel useful. Like I was doing something to put a stop to Max and his reign of terror.
“Shit.” I muttered to myself as I approached the front door and slipped the key into the lock.
I crept up the stairs, hopefully that maybe she’d have fallen back asleep by now.
The door was slightly ajar and I could see her sitting up, reading a book in the light of the lamp.
“Hey.” I called softly. “What are you doing up?”
She jumped slightly at the sound of my voice, obviously caught up in her latest romance novel.
“You scared me.” She confirmed, as she shut the book and sat it on the bedside. “I woke up and you were gone.”
I breathed in and out slowly as I approached the bed. “I went for a run.”
“A run?” She frowned at me in disbelief. “It’s two in the morning?”
I shrugged and looked down at my feet before answering her. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Her eyes studied my face, looking for answers.
“Is everything okay Harrison?” She asked quietly, tears threatening to spill down her face.
“Hey.” I moved into her. “Please don’t cry.”
I’m such an idiot.
“I’m sorry.” She mumbled. “I don’t know why I’m crying.” She spluttered out a laugh. “I don’t even cry.”
I held her tight against me, rubbing slow circles on her back.
“I didn’t know what to do when you weren’t here. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry.” Guilt ripped through me. I was putting her through this, for what?
Tonight was nothing.
I shouldn’t have left her.
I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t leave Quinn like this again… not unless it really mattered.
“I’m here now.” I comforted her, pulling her down to the bed. “Just let me shower and we’ll get some sleep okay?”
She nodded and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
I felt her eyes on my back the whole walk across the room to the bathroom.
I rested my hands on the bathroom sink and looked myself hard in the eyes.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Why can’t I let this go?
I knew I should have stopped this a long time ago. Long before this mess with Max. But I couldn’t… all it took was one look at those innocent people in those court rooms and my resolve crumbled.
What kind of man would I be if I didn’t help?
***
I woke with a sleeping Quinn still in my arms. She’d already fallen asleep when I got back to bed last night and I’d sat and watched her sleep peacefully for nearly an hour, guilt threatening to overwhelm me.
I knew I should just come clean and tell her, but the risk of her running was too great.
I was a greedy bastard. I wanted everything.
&nbs
p; “Good morning.” Her sleepy voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Good morning babe.” I kissed her forehead.
She smiled at me and I felt the guilt rip through me again.
I don’t deserve her.
“I’m sorry again about upsetting you last night.” I told her quietly as I pulled her in closer, tucking her head under my chin.
She laid half on top of me, tracing light patterns over my chest.
“I overreacted.” She placed a kiss to my jaw. “Let’s just forget it.”
She hadn’t overreacted, not in the slightest… but I was too chicken shit to tell her that.
I had to admit, I was confused with her response. I’d let her down, only a few days earlier. She knew I was keeping something from her, but I’d asked her to trust me.
Is that what is happening here?
Was Quinn trusting me?
“Deal.” I tipped her face up to look at mine. “I can think of much better things for us to do anyway.”
Her stare turned heated and she began to rub herself against my thigh.
Shit yeah.
My woman was always ready for me.
29. Quinn
I still had no idea what to make of last night. I hadn’t said much to him, because I already knew he’d tell me not to worry, and then ask me to trust him. I didn’t want to fight with him, so it was easier to just act like I believed his story. I knew it was a load of shit… I just couldn’t figure out what he was really doing out there in the middle of the night.
I’ll worry about it later.
I perched myself on the edge of his bed and slipped my foot into the thigh high stockings I was wearing to work today. I pulled them up over my ankle and slowly slid the silky fabric up my calve muscle and over my knee. My hair fell loosely over my shoulders and tickled at my bare back. I repeated the process on the other leg.
I was startled by Harrison clearing his throat from the doorway.
I smiled as I drank his appearance in. He was wearing nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms, slung low on his hips. He was leaning against the doorframe holding a bowl of cornflakes. I couldn’t see inside the bowl, but I knew that’s what was in there. He’d eaten the same breakfast every day that I’d stayed.
“Jesus Quinn.” He growled.
“What?” I stood up and clipped the suspenders together on my thighs.
“Fuck.” He muttered.
I looked back up at him. The burning desire in his eyes took me by surprise – I’d only finished with him thirty minutes ago.
“I’ve never had a woman use putting clothes on as foreplay before.” He growled as he set his bowl down on the set of drawers.
“Foreplay?” I smirked. “I’m just dressing for work.” I insisted. “I swear.”
I knew that look he was giving me. I’d learned that look pretty bloody quick.
He wants me.
“Not anymore you’re not.”
I took a deliberate step back, away from him. “No way. I’m running late already thanks to you and him.” I pointed accusingly at his crotch.
“You and I both know that there’s only one way this is going.”
He was right. Seeing him prowl towards me like that was one hell of a turn on. But it didn’t mean that I had to make it easy for him.
As if I have a choice.
We both knew he was the boss in the bedroom. If he wanted it, he took it, and I gave it, willingly – more than willingly. I found myself begging for it. Every other area of our relationship we gave and took. No one wore the pants as such. But when it came to sex, I was more than content with how he played it.
Arrogant and in charge.
“Give it up Quinn.” He murmured as I moved back from the bed
He prowled towards me, following my steps back until I hit the wall with a soft thud. I gasped at the gleam in his eye as he caged me against the wall.
“Well, well, well.” He grinned. “Quite a compromising position you’ve found yourself in Miss Pierce.”
I was standing in front of him in my underwear, thigh highs and suspenders.
“I’ll be late.” I whispered, not really caring anymore.
“Put your heels on.” He instructed, releasing me from his cage.
I narrowed my eyes, but complied, strolling over to the closet, giving him his first glimpse of the thong I was wearing.
“Jesus Christ.” He muttered.
I bent down seductively as I reached for my heels and slipped them on.
“You keep that teasing up Quinn and I’ll have to do something about it.”
A shiver ran over my skin at his threat. I suddenly had a deep desire to misbehave.
I stood upright, heels in place and turned to face him.
“Perfect.” He praised me.
I wiggled my ass in response.
He’d stripped his pajama pants when my back was turned and stood only in a pair of black briefs.
He prowled towards me again, pinning me to the spot with his stare. He reached down under my ass and hoisted me into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist out of habit. He backed me up against the door frame.
“You trying to get me all riled up Skippy?” He growled, his stubble scraping roughly at the skin under my ear.
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
He nipped at my earlobe, dragging it into his mouth, sucking and nibbling on it.
I gasped. He knew that was my weakness. It turned me on beyond belief.
“What do you want?” I moaned as he repeated the action on my other earlobe, his erection pressing into my belly.
“You.” He replied. “Bent over the side of the bed.” He instructed as he set me back down on my feet.
I complied, slipping around his body and heading for the bed on shaking legs.
He slapped my ass as I passed him and I shuddered, already wanting more.
I didn’t know it was possible for a man to have an immediate effect on me the way he did, but when he decided he wanted me, I was ready for him.
I folded myself over the side of the bed, my ass in the air and waited.
I could hear him behind me, but he was yet to touch me again. Excitement coursed through my veins.
“Stop squirming.” He ordered.
I froze. I hadn’t even realized I’d been doing it.
“Do you want me Quinn?” He asked from somewhere behind me.
“Yes.” I breathed. Saying that I wanted him was the understatement of the century. I’d never wanted a man more than I wanted him.
I needed him to touch me.
“Do you want me to touch you Quinn?” he asked as his fingers lightly brushed my hip.
“Yes.” I moaned.
His hand landed firmly on my ass, just hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to leave a mark.
I’d never been spanked before Harrison had come into my life, and I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it.
A deep moan escaped my lips.
His fingers roamed the edge of my thong, pulling it to the side. His hands gripped my waist as he pushed himself inside of me.
“Harrison.” I groaned.
I loved it when he fucked me like this. He was so deep.
He thrust in and out and I pushed back against him, taking him in as far as I could.
Neither of us stood a chance.
I came quickly and he followed with a guttural moan only seconds after.
He collapsed on top of my body, panting for breath.
“Now I’m really late.” I giggled.
He nipped my shoulder with his teeth as he pulled out of me.
“It was fucking worth it.” He growled as he flipped me onto my back and kissed me deeply.
“Go clean up and I’ll drop you off.”
I watched him stroll away, his tight body glistening with a fine layer of sweat towards the bathroom and sighed.
That man is too sexy for his own good.
***
“Does Law ever go running in the midd
le of the night?” I questioned El as we ate our lunch in her office.
She frowned. “Um. No. Why?” She looked at me like I was crazy.
“I woke up last night and Harrison was gone.”
She tilted her head to the side. “What do you mean he was gone?”
“Well that’s the thing… I’m not sure. I woke up at half past midnight… he didn’t come back until two. He told me he went for a run.”
“That’s odd.”
I nodded in agreement.
“You don’t think he’s lying do you?”
Is he lying to me?
“I know he was lying to me. He’s got tells. He better not keep doing this to me El… I don’t know what the hell’s going on with him, but he disappears one more time and I swear I’m walking out.”
“Did you ask him?” El asked, her blue eyes watching me, taking in every word I was saying, and all the things I wasn’t saying simultaneously.
“Yeah. That’s when I got the ‘I went for a run’ story. I fell asleep while he was taking a shower.”
“You might be overreacting.” She added with a knowing smirk.
“Possibly.” I agreed. “Hell, if he wants to go running in the night, then power to him, but I know he lied to me and I want to know why. He’s hiding something from me El and I’m tired of being in the dark.”
“Did you fight again?” She asked.
I shook my head. “No.”
I didn’t want to tell her that I’d let my emotions get the better of me. I wasn’t the girl that cried because she was on her own for a couple of hours – that wasn’t me. Harrison Hunt was breaking down my defenses bit by bit and leaving me vulnerable. I wasn’t sure how to handle it.
“Really?” She asked in disbelief. “The two of you had something go down and didn’t fight about it?”
I narrowed my eyes at her even though she was right. We fought like cats and dogs. But they were nothing fights… just silly little arguments that always got resolved quickly.
It’s not a big deal.
“Yes, the two of us had a conversation without fighting. Shocking, I know.” I replied sarcastically.
She raised an eyebrow at me. “It is shocking. You two are all sex and fire. I don’t know how the hell you make it work.”
Hunted (Love like Yours Series Book 3) Page 13