Holding You

by Jewel E. Ann

  “Easy there, killer, she’s mine,” Quinn warned with a half grin.

  Chase set me down and grabbed my left hand zeroing in on my ring finger. “Not yet, big bro. She’ll be mine within a week, once she realizes it’s the younger Cohen who has the stamina to keep a sexy goddess like herself thoroughly satisfied.”

  Quinn grabbed Chase’s neck from behind and led him to the car. “Get in and drive before I bust your cocky young ass.”

  Chase laughed and winked at me. Quinn opened the back door to the white Audi A6 and we both got in.

  “Mom’s car, huh?” Quinn asked.

  “Yep. Addy would have had to ride on your lap if I’d have brought mine.”

  Quinn squeezed my upper thigh. “Probably would not have been safe.” Then he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “However, I’d love nothing more than you riding on me.”

  Chase faked a cough. “Uh, I heard that.”

  Quinn grinned. “Good, then you’ll know by Addy’s shade of red that she’s a very satisfied lady.”

  I went from pink to bright red. “Enough! Jeez, what is this, embarrass Addy day? You two are acting like a couple of horny competitive teenagers.”

  Chase winked at me through the rearview mirror. He was such a flirt. “How long are you two staying in Valencia?”

  Quinn looked at me because our itinerary was on a need-to-know basis for him.

  “Just a few days,” I answered.

  “Oh really? Where are you off to next?”

  Quinn looked at me while he answered, “Addy won’t tell me. This trip is all her planning. She wants to surprise me.”

  “Let me get this straight, Addy’s in control?” Chase looked like someone just told him the world wasn’t round. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  Quinn leaned in and kissed my neck. “Me neither,” he mumbled into me.

  The heat of his touch caused my whole body to respond. I crossed my legs to ease the pressure, but I couldn’t do anything to hide my hardened nipples straining against the thin cotton fabric of my white and hot pink floral sun dress. The low-cut back and halter tie didn’t allow for a bra, which was regrettable and embarrassing at that moment.

  As if he sensed my thoughts, Quinn’s focus dropped to my perky peaks, and his eyes widened as his smile met his eyes. I hated how responsive my body was to his every touch; it made for some very uncomfortable situations.

  *

  Chase pulled into a gated community. It was getting too dark to see much detail of the houses but they looked modest and well kept. We pulled into the house where we would be staying, which was actually Elena’s sister’s. She too was widowed and Elena had been staying with her since Quinn’s dad died. Chase stopped next to a silver Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren. I assumed the two seated sports car must have been his. Quinn offered his hand to help me out as Chase retrieved our luggage.

  “You in that damn piece of material you call a dress is not the distraction I need when we’re about to see my mother,” he whispered in my ear as he adjusted himself.

  “Well, as long as you keep your hands to yourself, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Chase headed to the door with his arms loaded as Quinn grabbed the rest. “We’ll give my mother a quick hello then take our luggage to our room and correrse.”

  I gave Quinn a funny look.

  “Ah, got you on that one. Think more vulgar definition. ‘To get off, or orgasm.’”

  “You really should write for Hallmark, babe. The words that flow from those sexy lips are so romantic,” I quipped.

  “Addy!” Elena yelled as we approached the door.

  She wrapped me in her arms and squeezed me so tight my lungs begged for air.

  “Elena, so lovely to see you in person again.” I dropped my purse and hugged her back.

  “Nice to see you too, Mother.” Quinn feigned hurt that she acknowledged me first.

  “Si, si, mi hijo mayor.” Elena released me and Quinn pulled her in under his arm for a hug while he still held a suitcase in his other.

  “¿Cuándo vas a casar con ella?” Elena asked Quinn with abundant enthusiasm.

  When are you going to marry her? I pretended not to hear her comment and instead looked around the foyer attempting to appear fascinated with the decor.

  “What the hell, Mother? You know she speaks Spanish,” Quinn complained.

  I risked a glance at Quinn with a meek smile on my face.

  “We’re going to take our luggage to our rooms and, uh, freshen up before dinner, okay, Mother?”

  Elena kissed Quinn on the cheek. “Fine, but don’t be too long. I don’t want the first meal I make for Addy to be cold.”

  As I followed Quinn toward the stairs I grabbed Elena’s hand and gave it a warm squeeze. “I’m sure it will be wonderful. We’ll be back down in a few minutes.”

  “Need help with anything up there, bro?” Chase called with a devilish smile.

  “Nope, nothing I need your help with,” Quinn threw over his shoulder without looking back.

  *

  Our room was the last one down the long ceramic tiled hallway. I leisurely made my way down the hall, stopping occasionally to take in the beautiful framed art that so elegantly adorned both walls.

  “Addy!” Quinn called from the bedroom door, his look impatient.

  I knitted my brows in confusion. “What?” I mouthed.

  He jerked his head toward the bedroom. I sighed and picked up my pace, making a mental note to ask Elena about the black and white sketch of Don Quixote.

  As soon as I reached the threshold to the bedroom, Quinn grabbed me and closed the door behind us. His mouth eagerly captured mine as his hands tangled through my hair momentarily before untying my halter straps.

  I moved my face just enough to throw out a few quick words. “Quinn, what are you doing? Your mother and Chase are waiting on us.”

  His mouth moved to my then naked breasts as he lifted me up and moved us to the bed. “I know, that’s why we have to be quick.”

  He glided my dress up over my legs and hooked his thumb under my panties just under my hip bone. I tilted my pelvis to allow him to slide them down. I wanted to put up more of a fight on the matter, but Quinn was my drug and in that moment I couldn’t think past him being inside me.

  I worked the buttons on his jeans as he sucked and nibbled my hard nipples. He used one hand to push his pants down just far enough to free his erection. Then he hooked the same arm under my knee, hiking my leg up as he slid into me. His other hand massaged my breast and his mouth overtook mine. We kissed hard and deep, swallowing each other’s moans, and we thrusted our hips together in a frantic rhythm.

  Quinn found his release first and started to pull out while I was still teetering on the edge. I grabbed his ass and dug my nails into his firm flesh. “Not yet,” I whimpered.

  He gave me his damn cocky grin but obliged me by thrusting his hips into me a couple more times as he thumbed my swollen clitoris, sending me to the island of euphoria. I bit his shoulder to suppress the scream that was dying to escape my throat.

  He pulled out and stood to pull up his pants and straighten out his shirt. “Damn, baby, you’re insatiable.”

  I glared at him as I slipped my panties back on. “Wouldn’t be a problem if you weren’t so incorrigible.” I sneered, but I couldn’t entirely hide the satisfied look on my face.

  He stretched his V-neck T-shirt to the side exposing deep bite marks on his shoulder. “You marked me, baby, you’ll pay for that later.”

  I was horrified. I couldn’t believe I did that to him and I also couldn’t imagine what he meant by “paying for it later.” Was he going to bite me? He tied my dress around my neck as I lifted my hair. When he finished he kissed my exposed shoulder then nipped at it with his teeth, releasing an iniquitous growl.

  Elena was setting the food on the table just as we entered the kitchen.

  “This looks amazing, Elena,” I gushed.

  “Oh my, I hope you
like it. There are three different kinds of homemade vegan cheese with flax crackers and sliced apples. Then the large bowl is creamy cashew kale with chickpeas, olives, and julienned bell peppers and carrots.”

  Quinn pulled out a chair for me then sat at the end of the table to my right. Chase sat across from Quinn and Elena was opposite me.

  “Well, did you two get all freshened up?” Chase asked giving a quick wink.

  “Yes, we did, but Addy was quite hungry …” Quinn rubbed his shoulder smirking at me “ …so we didn’t take too long.”

  Smart-ass.

  “What are your plans while you’re here in Valencia?” Elena asked.

  Quinn shrugged his shoulders while chewing a big bite of food.

  “It’s a surprise. I have some travel plans for us over the next two weeks and apparently, much to everyone’s amazement, Quinn is being a good sport and patiently waiting for the next reveal.”

  “Amazing indeed.” Elena grinned. “I’ve never known Quinten to patiently wait for anything. He always found his hidden birthday and Christmas presents within a day of them being purchased.”

  Quinn wiped his mouth then squeezed my leg. “Everything about Addy is worth waiting for.”

  Elena looked at me and I knew tears were building in her eyes. I looked at Quinn before she pulled me into a big bawl fest. He winked at me as I squeezed the hand he had placed on my leg.

  We finished dinner with casual, easy conversation. “Dinner was amazing, Elena. You have a gift.”

  “It was nothing. My gift is being able to follow directions. I’m not at your caliber of effortlessly and confidently creating my own recipes, but I’m glad you enjoyed it, dear.” Elena’s smile was genuinely warm and I felt a special bond with her.

  “It was wonderful, Mother, but it’s been a long day, so if you don’t mind I think we’re going to head off to bed.” Quinn stood then pulled out my chair for me.

  “Are you sure I can’t offer you some tea, Addy?” Elena added.

  As anxious as I was to have Quinn all to myself again, I wanted to spend more time with his mom, and it was the perfect setup to my first birthday surprise for Quinn.

  I didn’t get up. “That would be lovely, Elena.”

  Quinn’s look was of shock and complete disappointment.

  “Go on up to bed, babe, I’ll be up in a little while.” I smiled and batted my eyelashes at him. Had we not been in the presence of his family, Quinn would have thrown me over his shoulder and hauled me off to bed because no was not an answer Quinn accepted without an argument.

  “Fine, but don’t be too long.” He gave me a warning look then sulked upstairs.

  “It’s time for me to head home too.” Chase kissed Elena, then me, before leaving us alone.

  I didn’t want to keep Quinn waiting too long, the memory of that night at Mac and Evan’s still fresh in my mind. I did, however, want a little alone time with Elena.

  *

  “Blueberry pomegranate tea sound good?” Elena called from behind the counter.

  “Perfect.”

  She brought back a beautiful glass teapot with a bamboo handle and two double layered glass tea cups.

  “I’m glad we have a few moments alone,” she said while pouring the tea into our cups. “How much has Quinn told you about Lucas, his father?”

  I wasn’t expecting our conversation to go in that direction. “Just that he died from injuries sustained in a car accident and uh—”

  “Did he tell you about his drinking?”

  “Yes, and that’s the reason why he doesn’t drink?”

  Elena nodded her head but was looking off to the side in thought. “Lucas was the love of my life. He worked hard to provide for our family, and once we moved to the United States he had a lot of opportunities to make money. Years back he had some legal issues with one of his businesses, and after years of litigation he lost … well … let’s just say a lot. It was hard on our marriage because he wouldn’t open up to me and then he started drinking. The drinking led to infidelity. Our children suffered too much, but Quinn had the most to deal with. He never wanted to be in business with Lucas, but when his father wasn’t sober enough to run his companies, Quinn had to step in and help. After Lucas died it was Quinn who dealt with the lawyers. He’s still dealing with the mess his father left behind.”

  She wiped a stray tear away. “He did it for me and Chase and Alexis. He takes care of all of us and …” Several more tears fell to her cheeks. “Quinn thought his father walked on water for so many years. He wanted to be a brilliant businessman just like him, but the women and the alcohol severed their relationship. Quinn doesn’t drink, and for that I am grateful, but the women …” she reached over the table and took my hand “ …he swore he would never settle down, never marry, and never have a family because he feared he was too much like his father. But, Addy, he loves you and I hope he doesn’t get scared and run, but I want you to know that Quinn is a good man. He is not his father and I hope if he tries to push you away you will fight for him.”

  I blinked away the tears that pooled in my eyes. “My past is jaded too, but I love your son. I can’t promise more than one day at a time, but I won’t go down without a fight, okay?”

  She gave me a beautiful smile; it was the same as Quinn’s. I honestly couldn’t promise her forever with Quinn, but he was waiting for me upstairs and in that moment he was my whole world.

  The clock read five minutes past midnight. It was officially Quinn’s birthday and I was ready to give him his first of many presents. I hugged Elena and told her goodnight.

  *

  Quinn was passed out on the bed by the time I made it upstairs. Part of me regretted staying downstairs with Elena for so long but it was a conversation we needed to have. It was Quinn’s birthday but it seemed more like mine when I took in his naked body covered by the sheet at his midsection. He was the most delicious eye candy. I still had to pinch myself. It was ridiculous that such a perfect body was for my pleasure and mine alone. Even in a relaxed sleeping state, his muscles looked flexed and sculpted. I itched to run my hands over his day’s worth of stubble, or to feel it between my legs. His full, cherry red lips were slightly parted, and his high cheek bones and thick, dark eyebrows framed his sleepy eyes and long, full lashes. Quinn didn’t mention his mother’s faux pas about getting married and I was glad, but there was a part of me that wondered where Quinn imagined us in the future. I, like Quinn, had sworn off marriage years ago. But was he a game changer for me? Was I for him?

  I removed my shoes and tiptoed into the bathroom. I fixed my hair, added a little lip gloss, and rubbed jasmine oil over my body before I slipped into black satin and lace thong panties and a fitted nighty that had see through lace over the breasts and just below my navel, with hot pink satin flower embellishments bordering the lace. The elegant four poster bed was perfect for my plan. I had two long pieces of black satin that I used to tie Quinn’s arms to the posts. Quinn was a heavy sleeper which played in my favor. I crawled up between his legs and pulled the sheet off of his midsection exposing all of him. I dug my fingernails into his firm inner thighs, and as soon as he started to stir I wrapped my lips over the head of his length. I didn’t want to get his hopes up; this wasn’t going to end like it did in the parking garage. His groggy eyes opened in confusion as he tugged, to no avail, to free his hands.

  “What the hell?” Even his voice was groggy.

  I sucked hard on his length, stroking it at the base with one hand. He was instantly hard in my mouth. I popped off, licking my lips.

  “Happy Birthday, babe.” I sat up and straddled him allowing his eyes to take in my scantily clad body. “Does my Quinny like?” I ran my hands up his chest then brought them back down raking my nails over his skin just enough to elicit a heavy moan but not hard enough to leave marks.

  He nodded his head then turned, taking in his tied up arms and then back at me again. “Fuck, baby, what are you doing to me.”

  “Any. Thin
g. I. Want.” I crawled further up his body. “I’d better make sure these ties are secure.” I straddled his head as I leaned forward to check the knots. He lifted his head off the bed, but my sex was just out of reach. I heard him take in a deep breath inhaling my scent. I lowered just enough to let his nose graze the thin patch of silk and lace at the front of my thong. He sucked in another breath and flicked out his tongue, swiping my sensitive flesh on one side of my string.

  “Mmm, again,” he hummed.

  I slowly dipped my hips back down lowering my center to his face again, but lingering a little longer allowing his tongue to dip under the material enough to brush past my clit. “Ah … “ I moaned.

  I wanted to perch on his face and let his wicked tongue bring me to a mind blowing orgasm, but it was his birthday and I wanted it to be a new experience. I scooted down his body again to straddle his legs just below his erection.

  “Aw, baby, come back up here …” he licked his lips “ …you know you want to, and I fucking love the taste of you.”

  I smiled as I reached for a container I set on the bedside table. Removing the lid, I dipped my finger in it then slowly sucked it off.

  His breath caught then another moan escaped from deep in his throat. “What is that?” he asked as his butt flexed lifting his hips a little.

  “Edible body chocolate, organic and vegan of course.”

  I dipped my finger in it again and brought it to Quinn’s lips. He opened his mouth but I smeared it on his lips instead. I leaned into him and licked his top lip as his tongue traced his bottom. I continued to suck and lick his lips before I dipped my tongue into his mouth to taste him. The chocolate was good, but it was Quinn that I craved. I smeared more chocolate around his nipples and over his abs. My tongue seductively lapped over every inch of his chest. Quinn became more restless as I hummed with each stroke of my tongue.

  His erection twitched, becoming impatiently harder with each passing moment.