And still it wasn’t enough for him. His burning need drove him onwards in an all-consuming desire to possess every inch of her. He wanted to drown in her, to taste every last hidden secret on her deliciously sinful body, maybe then and only then would he finally be able to quench the raging fire that threatened to consume him.
The precariousness of their location toyed at the peripheral edges of his consciousness and yet armed with that knowledge he was still unable to pervert his course of action. All reasonable sanity had fled leaving him at the mercy of the overwhelming desire for the woman he held in his arms.
Slipping both hands beneath the hem of her top, he glided and caressed his way up over the taut muscles of her abdomen, her skin feeling like liquid gold beneath his touch. Continuing the ascent he stroked her body feeding his addiction until his hands finally reached the firm peeks of her breasts. His fingers opened wide engulfing the generous mounds. Kneading them passionately in a grasp driven by his insane desire he claimed her lips once more as she moaned her pleasure, her hips grinding against him in response to the dizzying heights he was dragging her towards. Her actions begged for release.
“Not yet,” he growled his voice hoarse from the effort of denying his own desperate need. This wasn’t about him, this was about his desire to make Darla burn for him as he did for her. This was about his overwhelming need to hear her scream his name as she found that singular most exquisite form of release.
Quinn pressed her forward and Darla registered the hard contact of the counter top as it chilled the bare skin of her stomach, the cool surface a welcome relief from the burning trail of intensity he had left in the wake of his seductive assault. The change in temperature sent shivers coursing down the contours of her flesh alerting her every waking nerve to the ecstasy of his touch.
Looking down at her exquisite form he drank in the sight of her honey hued back. His passion filled eyes raked the length of her body from the seductive curve of her waist to the generous swell of her hips. The white lace panties that had ignited his fire now fully exposed to his hungry stare.
Gently his hands skimmed the path his eyes had just left trailing across her flawless skin, her broken gasps of pleasure driving him ever onwards. Contouring his body to hers he brushed featherlike kisses across the silken skin, his lips and his tongue working in symphony towards fulfilling his quest to tasting every inch of her delectable body.
Inching further down, his hands gripped her hips, skimming lightly across the triangle of white lace covering that most ultimate of prizes. He supressed a smile of triumph as her body bucked in response to his torturous caress. An intense groan of wanting emanated from deep inside her as he continued his relentless descent, bringing his hands back around to caress the outer edge of her well-toned thighs. She wanted him that was clear. But did she burn as he did?
Sinking to his knees Quinn trailed kisses back up her thighs to the perfectly sculpted curves of her rear grasping them firmly as he kissed the small of her back. He continued the torturous mapping of her body, his hands gliding back down across the back of her legs to the indented curves of her knees. Brushing his hand along the insides he noted her lack of resistance as the pressure of his touch parted her thighs granting him the access that he needed.
The scent of her arousal engulfed him, filling his demon senses. It was clear she was ready for him, all of him. Her body responded naturally in its eagerness to take him deep inside. Empowered by the knowledge that she now burned for him like he burned for her his hand ascended the inside of her thigh slowly edging closer to the small tormenting triangle of lace, the last remaining obstacle between him and the beckoning depths of her core.
Quinn artfully increased the pressure of his touch, instantly rewarded by her sharp intake of breath.
“Oh God…please…” she whispered, gripping the counter top with her fingers. Her hips moved against his palm grinding out a demanding rhythm of unsuppressed longing, an aching surge begging for release from the torment of his expert touch.
Supressing a triumphant smile at her wanton response he kissed his way back up her body without easing the pressure of his hand on that most sensitive of areas.
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered between kisses, his voice thick with his own desire.
Unable to form the words her reply was an aching moan.
“Tell me!” he demanded nipping gently at her delicate skin, increasing the relentless pressure of his hand.
“I want…I… oh god, I need…you!” she gasped as a flood of pleasure raced to the very depth of her core.
A triumphant growl escaped his lips at the same moment that he moved the lace panties aside his finger finally reaching the moist entrance to her hidden depths. His thumb brushed her swollen nub producing a surprisingly wanton growl from between her lips. As she turned her passion drenched face to him Quinn was left reeling at the glorious sight of her. Never had he wanted anyone more. Fighting for breath he knew he had to have her. Now!
Gasping his name Darla caught her lip between her teeth and closed her eyes as a wave of sensation consumed her in the wake of the exploding climax that racked her body. So intense was the feeling, such basic needs as breathing was completely lost to her.
Quinn was left helpless, unable to do anything but stare in awe and amazement as her pleasure consumed her. Fuck this woman was perfection itself! Never had he witnessed such raw beauty. With his fingers still buried deep inside her he experienced every rippling sensation as her body found its release.
“Quinn!”
So engulfed in the moment Quinn almost believed he had imagined the distant calling of his name from deep inside the house.
“Quinn?” Maisey’s voice repeated the call now just beyond the kitchen door.
“Fuck!”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Wrenching abruptly away from Darla’s prostrate form, Quinn crossed the kitchen in quick angry strides, inhaling deep lungful’s of cleansing air. Sanity demanded he clear his head of the madness that had possessed him. Raking his hand through his hair he couldn’t help but notice how readily it shook.
Jeez’ two more minutes! Two more minutes and he would have lost his last shred of control; taking her right there for anyone to see.
Straightening his clothes and adjusting himself more conspicuously he kept his back to Darla, knowing if he dared risk even a quick glance back all would be lost. Nothing in this world or any other would stop him from dragging her to his room and finishing what they had started.
Bracing himself with a finale steadying breath he ploughed through the kitchen door, colliding with Maisey in her haste to find him.
“Well hi there sugar. Thought we’d lost you for a minute you’ve been gone so long,” she smiled stepping back slightly to see him more clearly. “I don’t ‘spose you’ve seen Darla have you? Only she’s not up in her room…”
Maisey’s voice trailed off just as Darla entered the room behind him. Flicking an astute glance back and forth between the two, their body language confirmed all there was to say; added to the murderous glare of anger in Quinn’s eyes and the veiled trace of passion in Darla’s it all pointed to one thing.
“Darla I’m so glad I found you,” Maisey said with genuine warmth disguising the anxiousness she felt. “Mama Grace wants to get things underway if you feel you’re ready to join us.
“You might wanna think about putting some goddamn clothes on first instead of parading around half naked.” Although keeping his eyes fixed on Maisey it was obviously clear from the cold tone in Quinn’s voice that the statement was directed at Darla. “Wouldn’t want someone to think you were an easy target now would you?”
Seeing her flinch at his cruel sarcasm Maisey felt a rush of empathy towards her. Whatever had taken place in the other room it was now clearly over. Shut down and cut off by Quinn’s cold detachment and from the looks of her, Darla simply wasn’t handling it well.
Stepping around him in a deliberate effort to avoid al
l contact, Darla smiled apologetically at Maisey before hurrying from the room. Maisey silently watched her retreat, certain she was out of earshot before spinning on her heels, confronting the arrogant man before her. “Do you want to tell me what the hell you’re playing at?” she hissed between clenched teeth, her eyes flashing with anger.
“Don’t fucking start Maisey; you don’t wanna mess with me the mood I’m in,” Quinn drawled, his condescending attitude riling her further.
“You don’t scare me Quinn. I don’t know what kind of twisted game you think you’re playing but I happen to really like…”
“Game?” Quinn snarled stepping closer; his menacing demeanour partnered by the pulsating twitch in his jaw. “You think this is a game?”
Refusing to be intimidated by his menacing behaviour Maisey stood her ground. “Kinda looks that way to me. You telling me it’s not?” she asked raising a questioning brow.
Quinn defiantly held her stare for several long seconds before finally releasing a tired sigh. “Fuck!” He raked his hand through his hair once more, suddenly feeling wearier than he really should. Heavily dropping his large frame into one of the chairs he pressed his fingers against his temples. “You wouldn’t understand.”
Slipping into the chair opposite Maisey lent forward and placed a comforting hand on his knee. This was so unlike Quinn, she had never seen him this troubled before. He was always one for keeping things close to his chest, so much so that cold detachment was his idea of normal. Sarcasm was his usual form of defence sprinkled with an occasional aggressive outburst, so for her to now see him like this was really quite disturbing.
“Why don’t you try me? You never know, if you were to indulge in a little human concept called ‘talking’ I might actually be able to help. Surely it’s worth a shot.”
Quinn scoffed. “Yeah right, so how do you propose I explain it to you when I can’t even understand it myself. Jeez’, she’s a fucking breather for Christ sake.” Remembering who he was with Quinn quickly added, “No offense.”
“None taken,” she said brushing the insult aside. “But you need to start realising Quinn, we’re not all bad.”
Raising tormented eyes to hers Quinn shook his head. “You know it’s not that simple for me. I have so much supressed hatred inside, so much anger and pain over what happened. You tell me how I just let that all go? Forget what that animal did to them?”
Maisey felt his pain and understood where it came from. “No-one asking you to forget, but we all have to learn to live with our past. It’s what makes us stronger. Where you’re going wrong sugar is you’re punishing an entire race for the twisted actions of a few. What Tristan Storm did to your family was heinous beyond compare, but we are not all like him and his puppet followers.”
Quinn’s past was no secret to her. She knew what fed his hatred of humans and what drove his thirst for revenge on a man called Tristan Storm and the group behind him known to the agency simply as The Circle. Part of her could empathize with how he felt but his hatred had driven and isolated him for too many years. And now, with Darla, whatever was going on between them, it was clearly tearing him apart.
This was a whole new side of him that was raw and unpredictable. What he was suffering now wasn’t anger it was torment. Somehow, the incomparable Darla Gray had achieved in doing what no other woman had done before her. Evoking an emotional response from the cold hearted Larson Quinn. The problem was how unstable would those emotions leave him?
“Quinn if you have any feelings for her, no matter how slight they may be,” she added hurriedly preventing the denial before he could voice it. “Then you need to be honest with her, because if the look on her face just now was anything to go I can assure you she is just as mixed up and confused about this as you are. You might also want to consider telling her just exactly what you are.” Resting his chin on his hands Quinn rolled his eyes upwards. “Yeah I can just imagine how that conversation would go. We all know how her kind judge demons, plus I’m not really sure if I’m ready to let her go if she was to take it bad.”
Maisey must have revealed her surprise at his unexpected confession prompting Quinn to come up with a quick but viably excuse. “Have you forgotten she’s still top of Redemptions most wanted list?”
Maisey fought to hide a smile. “Well I think you’re wrong about her. She‘s spent her short time here with a pixie; a lycan and a vampire add a seer and a redhead who speaks directly to God and I would say she’s handling things remarkably well under the circumstances.” Maisey became serious once more. “You should trust her Quinn. I think she might surprise you yet.”
“I seriously doubt it,” he sneered not ready to admit that Maisey was probably right.
Slowly rising from the chair Maisey nodded towards the door. “Well, how about for starters we go find out who’s after your girlfriend, then we can take it from there.”
Quinn’s face darkened under his thunderous glare. “She is not my girlfriend!” He spat, emphasizing each word.
Maisey giggled mischievously as she left the room leaving Quinn cursing beneath his breath, more determined than ever to get to the bottom of things. Perhaps then Darla could be moved on and life could return to normal. But somehow even he knew the reality of that would be nigh on impossible. Dragging himself from the chair he remembered something he needed to get from the kitchen before joining the others.
Darla joined the others in the main dining room- an open-plan area which led off from the entrance hall- awkwardly sliding into the seat next to Mama Grace as directed. Quinn was the last to arrive, his brooding glare instantly finding her in the room full of people.
Still not fully recovered from their earlier encounter, her skin flushed with embarrassing recollection of her wanton response to his touch, the effects of which she was still very much aware of as he took the empty seat beside her, placing a tall glass of iced water on the table before her.
Leaning back in the chair seemingly unperturbed by recent events, he draped his muscular arm across the back of her chair surrounding her in his heavenly scent.
Risking a cursory glance in his direction she was rewarded with a raised brow and a knowing smile.
Darla barely managed to suppress a groan. What the hell was I thinking allowing it to happen?
But there in lie the problem. Where Quinn was concerned she wasn’t able to think. Whenever he was around her it seemed passion and desire overrode all common sense leaving her vulnerable and at the mercy of her own unleashed desires. In all her married years with Alistair never had her body responded with such fevered abandonment. Never had she experienced such intense pleasure with nothing more than the use of his mouth and fingers. God only knows what would have happened had Maisey not interrupted them.
And in the kitchen no less!
Where were her barriers when she needed them? Why after relying on their security for so long were they failing her now?
Misreading the anguish on her face Mama Grace reached out and took her hand. “You mustn’t fret child, everything will be just fine. The truth will reveal itself.”
The irony of such a young woman calling her ‘child’ was not lost on Darla. It didn’t make sense but then nothing about this crazy mixed up world did.
“I suggest we begin.” Mama Grace announced, gaining the undivided attention of the others before smiling reassuringly one last time at Darla. “I will need to be touching you for this to work.” She raised their joined hands. “This is fine but you will need to hold tight. If our hands should separate, then so will the connection. Ready?”
Darla nodded suddenly feeling incredibly nervous but determined not to reach out for Quinn, no matter how much she needed to feel his support.
Mama Grace closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders trying to loosen any tension before becoming still. Silence descended over the room. Her voice sweet and clear spoke the evoking words.
Ancient of the afterlife clear my mind of thought
I humbly beseech yo
u to reveal the answers sought
Ancients of the afterlife let the mists of time unfold
I humbly beseech you for your knowledge to be told
Her head dropped forward to rest lightly against her chest and her breathing almost completely stilled as if she was sleeping. The rest of the group waited in silence.
A few moments pasted with nothing and then Mama Grace inhaled a long deep breath, her head rising in slow motion. Slowly opening her eyes those seated around the table were almost blinded by the intensity of the light that projected out from the two pure white glowing orbs.
When she spoke her sweet melodic voice had vanished without trace, and in its place was a collection of four maybe five powerful voices all speaking in perfect unison.
The land between all others will open its portal wide The purest of all souls numbered 999 will fall Blood to be drained on the darkest day A Loss of such innocence to fell the gates of heaven A sacrifice will be its own reward
A collected gasp resounded from the small group. Mama Grace slumped forward limp and unresponsive, whilst Quinn exploded from his seat with such force as to send his chair falling to the floor. A string of obscenities gushed from his lips. Darla sat in stunned silence wondering what it all meant.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered more confused than ever. “Did any of that make any sense to anyone?” As far as she was concerned Mama Grace’s words had been random and vague.
“There is no goddamn way that it’s her.” He now prowled like a caged animal, anger rolling off him and permeating into the room. “This can’t be happening. Not to her! Someone has seriously fucked up big time.”
“It’s her Quinn.” Mama Grace wearily lifted her head looking tired and drained. Reaching for a glass of water with a trembling hand she drank deeply desperately in need of every last drop. “You know as well as I, the ancient seers don’t get things wrong especially not on this scale. She most definitely is the one,” she sighed heavily, her voice a raspy whisper despite having finished of the water.
Redemption - A Darla Gray Novel Page 18