Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
I lie in bed tossing and turning. Every time I close my eyes, I see the face of the woman in the testing area. Her deep brown eyes stare up at me while strapped to that dreadful table, and tears stream down her face as she begs me to save her. She may be alive at this moment, but as soon as she recovers, they'll inject her with the virus again. She's destined to be the Sanctuary's test subject until they kill her. And I don’t know how to save her without putting other people in this mountain at risk.
I didn't have the heart to tell Noah and River about what I saw today. I wanted them to have one more carefree night, which means Ryland doesn't know either. The torment of keeping this secret is eating me alive. My imagination runs wild with visions of my unsuspecting boyfriend being dragged out of his bed and away to the testing area. They bind his tattooed arms to a gurney as he fights against the restraints. Someone in a surgical mask stands over him with the dark purple blood of a Z in a syringe. It plays over and over again until I’m nauseous.
The red numbers on my alarm clock read 1:47 a.m. Sleep is eluding me, and only one person can offer me the comfort I need to surrender to my fatigue. I need to see his face, to know he's safe. Then I can come home and rest easy.
With my mind made up, I jump out of bed and grab black clothes from my closet and a pair of running shoes. I pull my light brown hair into a ponytail and place a black beanie over it. I look like I'm ready to rob a bank instead of checking in on my boyfriend, but it will work. There is no reason that anyone should see me sneaking around at this hour.
I slide out of my room, and with care, close my door behind me. Tiptoeing down the hall, I come to a stop at the sound of creaking and a deep moan. I scrunch my face and shake my head. So much for not waking up my cousin, it seems like Noah is busy doing just that. Not wanting to dwell on the thought, I hurry to the front door.
A late winter storm has hit the mountain, covering it in snow again. I shiver against the cold winter breeze and pick up my pace. The neighborhood is silent, only the flickering streetlamps giving any sign of life. With my head down, I keep to the shadows and make my way to the north end of the mountain.
Double checking that no one is watching me, I open the door to the apartment complex and step inside. I opt for the stairs instead of taking the elevator, figuring they will give me a chance to get away if anyone notices me. The door to the top level creaks as I step into the hallway.
I can’t help but look for any signs that something is off—scuff marks from kicking feet on the wall or a door kicked in. It’s not until I’m standing in front of his apartment that I feel an ounce of relief, but my anxiety is far from cured.
I slip my hands in my pockets and shift side to side. If I knock, it will have to be loud enough to wake him up, and if I do that, his neighbors might check what the ruckus is about. But I don't have to knock since the doors to the residences don't lock.
I pace back and forth, gnawing on my bottom lip. Oh my God, I'm such a creeper.I'm going to walk into my boyfriend's house and watch him sleep. I don't even know what I'm going to say to him if he catches me. Hey, just wanted to make sure you’re alive. The potential embarrassment is not enough to stop me.
As quietly as I can, I open the door and step inside. All the lights are off in the living area except for the dome light over the oven in the kitchen. Two military jackets lay draped over the back of the couch and two tumblers and a whisky bottle rests on the coffee table. I smile at the thought of him and Aiden unwinding after a long day.
I tiptoe down the hall until I reach Ryland’s closed door. If I open it without his permission, I'm officially a stalker. Actually, the minute I came into the house I reached that status. Fuck.
“What are you doing?” whispers a low voice with a slight brogue.
I jump, and before the yelp leaves me, Aiden's hand covers my mouth.
I pry his fingers from my lips and smack his bare shoulder. “You scared me to death,” I hiss.
“Imagine how I feel. I'm getting up in the middle of the night to piss, and there's someone dressed as a robber sneaking in through our front door.”
My cheeks heat and I run my palms over them. “I wanted to check on Ryland.”
“Are you sure this isn't some sort of sexual fantasy being acted out? Because I won’t judge you for the kinky stuff you like.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“It’s not like that.”
He turns to go back into his room and says over his shoulder, “Too bad. I would’ve joined in if you wanted. We could’ve had fun.”
“You're such a perv.”
Aiden stops and wrinkles his forehead. “Hey, Quinn. Knock before you go in. He's been on edge lately, and you don't want him throwing you into a chokehold.”
“Thanks,” I mumble and tap my knuckles on the door, but there's no answer, so I crack it open. “Ryland?”
He lies on his stomach with his head resting on his folded arms. The blankets are kicked away from his body, exposing the top half of his round ass. His full lips are slightly open as he breathes deeply, and the longer hair on the top of his head stands on end. I imagine this is what he looked like as a little boy safely tucked into his bed in Giran.
I press the door shut with a gentle click and slide to the ground. I yank the beanie from my head and pull out the hair-tie, letting my hair fall around my face. Bringing my legs to my chest, I rest my chin on top of my knees. He looks peaceful, and I can't bring myself to wake him. I want to sit here and watch him sleep for a bit and then I'll go.
Gratitude washes over me as I watch the steady rise and fall of his back. He's healthy and safe, and for tonight, he's sound asleep in a warm bed. Every night should be like this for him, and it would have been if he didn't come after me. Knowing how much he gave up has a conflicting mixture of happiness and sadness bubbling within me. The emotion is too much to hold in, and I use the sleeve of my jacket to wipe away my tears. When my vision clears again, Ryland is staring at me.
“Quinn?” he says in a groggy voice.
“I needed to know you were all right,” I whisper.
He rolls to his side and holds a hand out to me. “Come sleep with me.”
I walk to the edge of the bed and reach down to remove my shoes and socks. “How much should I take off?”
His green eyes darken. “All of it.”
I lower the zipper of my hoodie and let it fall to the floor. My unsteady fingers grip the bottom of my sports bra, and I pull it over my head, discarding it with my jacket. Feeling a little braver, I smirk as I lower one side of my leggings, giving him a glimpse at my hip bone before pulling it back up. “All of it?” I ask.
“You're a tease,” he says with a sexy crooked smile, and for a second, all my worries vanish.
I laugh, giving in and removing my last item of clothing.
He gives me a once over and a nod before lifting the sheet and welcoming me into his bed. I scoot in with a sigh when my naked skin meets his. With his head propped up in his palm, he runs his finger over the side of my cheek. He stops mid-stroke, his eyes going wide.
His body goes tense, on full alert. “What happened?”
The stinging went numb hours ago, and I forgot it's even there. But I’m sure that in the dim light he can see the blue and purple bruise.
I shake my head, wanting to purge the image of my father backhanding me out of my mind, but the entire day comes crashing down on me. The tears return with a constant flow, streaming into my hair.
His touch is gentle but rage burns in his eyes. “Who did this to you, Quinn?”
“William,” I croak.
Unadulterated anger rattles his body, and he pulls me to his chest. “I'm going to kill him. I’m going to fucking kill him.”
I believe him. It's a promise of retribution for the crimes committed against me. This isn't what I wanted things to come to. We just need to leave and never look back. But nothing I say will change his mind tonight, so instead, I opt to make him forget. “You can save slaying the dragons for tomorrow, Prince Charming. Right now, I need you.”
He looks at me with his eyebrows knitted together.
I slide my hand around the back of his neck and pull him closer to me. “This is when you kiss me and make me forget everything but you.”
His face softens, and the sparkle reignites in his eyes. “Anything you want, it’s yours.”
His mouth brushes so gently against mine that it tickles. Each kiss is perfectly designed—slow and precise. A pull on my lip and the coaxing stroke of his tongue set a blazing fire within me. He takes his time kissing my tender cheek and sweeping his mouth over the river of tears on the side of my face, collecting them with the tip of his tongue. My heart flutters at the reverent way he loves me, kissing away my hurt and replacing it with the joy only he can give me.
His eyes glide over my face while the fingers of his free hand trace over each curve—my hairline, the slope of my nose, my lips, and the bend of my neck. I reach up and pull on one of his chestnut strands resting on his forehead and watch as it bounces back into place. Taking my hand into his, he kisses the pad of each of my fingers before intertwining them with his and laying it on his chest.
“How is it possible that I can love you more today than I did yesterday, and I'll love you even more tomorrow?” he asks.
“I've wondered the same thing about you,” I say, cuddling closer to him. “Some days, I feel like I'm reaching my capacity and then it budges one more inch. I tell myself the worst thing that can happen is it spills over and others we love get to reap the benefits of it.”
He smiles, his heart pounding against his chest. “Mark my words, Quinnten. One day, I'm going to marry you. We're going to build a spectacular life together in the middle of this chaos, and there won't be a single day I take your love for granted. Not a single one.”
Another oath, but this one is bound by an unrelenting love which can withstand trials, disease, and even death. It's unbreakable—able to bend with the test of time and still maintain its strength. It might be the only perfect thing in our world.
I roll on top of him and pin his hands above his head. Staring down at him, I say, “I look forward to our forever, Ryland.”
“I have a feeling I know what forever feels like,” he says, lifting his hips so his hard cock presses against the apex of my legs.
“Do you?” I roll my hips and run my wet center along the length of his shaft.
“Just in case, remind me,” he breathes, arching into me.
I sit up and grip his cock. Keeping my eyes on him, I slide the head through my slit, paying special attention when I reach my clit. My need takes hold, and I ease down on him.
He grabs my hips as I slowly rock against him, watching me through hooded eyes. I take him deep, and he whispers my name. It sounds so sweet, but I want raw, real. I won’t be satisfied until he has lost himself in my body.
The need for more has me sliding his hands up my body until he cups my breasts. His thumbs glide over my hard nipples until they ache. My fingers join his tugging and pinching until I can’t catch my breath.
“Fuck. You’re so gorgeous. Keep riding my cock just like that, love.”
I set a steady pace and leave him to play with my breasts. My fingers slide between my legs, seeking my throbbing clit. Ryland watches as I bring myself closer to release.
I hate to let go so soon, knowing that once tonight is over, we'll face our hardest challenge yet. All I want is to savor his touch, let it drive away the fear of what’s to come. But I can’t hold back when he makes me feel so fucking good.
“Ryland,” I moan as my body shudders around him, trying to pull him in deeper, needing him to consume every inch of me. And he does. I forget where we end and begin, and all I know is the pleasure of coming on his cock. His neck arches displaying each cord that runs its length as he pulsates inside of me. We keep moving until every drop is spent.
I collapse on top of him with labored breaths. I’m not ready to let him go, so I wrap my body around his. He holds me just as tightly, drawing lazy designs along my back.
“I’m going to get you out of here, Quinn,” he says against the top of my head. “I’ll never let him lay another hand on you. I promise.”
I don’t know how to respond, so I nod as another tear slips across my cheek and lands on his chest.
If anyone will keep me safe, it’s Ryland. He will always be the one who helps me chase away all the monsters.