“You don’t understand,” I said softly. “Tonight, there are no Rules.” I leaned in to kiss him again.
“What do you mean?” Quinn asked, avoiding my kiss and shifting his body to put a few more inches of space between us. I could almost hear the questions running through his mind. I knew it was unfair of me to deny him an explanation as to why it was okay for us to be with each other tonight, but I didn’t want to talk about it. We had this one night together, and I didn’t want to waste what little time we had left dodging questions I wasn’t permitted to answer anyway. I sighed, trying to come up with something that would end this conversation as quickly as possible.
“Quinn, I’m so tired of explaining myself and having to justify my actions. Right now, I just want to be with you. I need to be with you.”
Denying Quinn the opportunity to protest further, I leaned over and teased his earlobe with my tongue. He inhaled slowly and held his breath. My lips traveled to his neck, nipping it tenderly with my teeth. I could feel his body reacting to my touch. Another groan escaped his lips; I kissed him again, but he still hesitated. Not giving up, I playfully brushed my lips against his as my hand wandered down his chest and his stomach until I reached the waistband of his boxers.
Instantly, Quinn grabbed my hand to stop me. I jumped back slightly, stunned by his quick response. We both froze and stared into each other’s eyes, waiting to see who would make the next move. He chuckled suddenly.
“What?” I asked, unaware there was any humor to be had in this moment.
“Never in a million years would I have imagined myself as being the responsible one in this type of situation,” he said, still chuckling. “Especially with you.”
“Well, I’m asking you to be irresponsible tonight.” I kissed him, never breaking my gaze. “Please don’t fight me on this,” I begged. “Not tonight.”
He closed his eyes momentarily as if to mentally weigh the pros and cons of what I was asking him to do. I leaned over and kissed him again. In one swift motion, he maneuvered me onto my back. I could feel the full weight of his body bearing down on me. His face was barely an inch from mine. I could feel his breath on my face, and it made me crave him even more.
He stared at me with such intensity I almost had to look away, but I was too mesmerized by the blue flames dancing within his eyes. I had seen that look before; I knew it meant Quinn wanted me.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1. Starstruck
2. Baby, It's Cold Outside
3. A Guilty Conscience
4. Road Trip
5. Blindsided
6. Head On
7. Rude Awakening
8. My Life Examined
9. Hindsight is Twenty-Twenty
10. Time Keeps Moving On
11. You're a Shepherd—Not a Superhero
12. One Big Happy Family ... and Cousin Eli
13. The Rules
14. My First Assignment
15. A Case of Mistaken Identity?
16. Immaculate Recuperation
17. The Daily Grind
18. I've Been Made
19. Time to Meet the Parents
20. Shell-Shocked
21. The Big Reveal
22. Reunited
23. A Walk in the Park
24. Our First Date
25. Life With Quinn
26. Homeward Bound
27. Family Matters
28. The Winds of Change
29. Forget Me Not
30. Breaking Up Sucks
31. On the Rebound
32. Redemption
33. Hark! The Herald Council Calls
Excerpt From Book Two: Peace of Mind
Borrowed Heart Page 40