Chapter Sixteen Isla
R eaching over, Quinn eased his hands underneath me to gently lift me into his arms. Although I wanted to protest that my legs worked fine, I kept my mouth shut and snuggled against his broad chest.
Although the pain in my throat and neck was agony, a warmth filled me from Quinn’s protection and care. He’d told me he hadn’t wanted to let me go. More than that, he told me there was no one else he wanted to touch him but me.
When he carried me out the doorway, a hush came over the crowd outside.
“Show’s over. Get the fuck out of here!” Quinn commanded.
Dancers, clients, and Quinn’s men all scattered. After Quinn nodded at one of his bodyguards, the emergency exit door was opened. At the alarm ringing in my ears, I turned my face into Quinn’s neck to escape the noise.
When my lips accidentally brushed against his puckered skin, Quinn froze mid-step. A shudder ran through him. It took a moment before he shook himself out of his stupor.
To my surprise, heat ignited between my thighs at the contact. The intrusive thoughts in my mind wondered what it would be like to lick my way up his scars, planting kisses and tender love bites along the way.
Or to take it even farther by licking down to where they escaped into his shirt’s collar. To worship each and every inch of them. To show him they were a part of his beauty and could never disgust me.
At Quinn’s clenched jaw, I whispered, “Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize to me,” he grunted as he started walking again.
“I must’ve hurt you.”
“Never.” When he stared down at me, lust glittered in his eyes. “It’s me who should be apologizing since the simple touch of your lips made me want you.”
“Why should you apologize for that?”
“Because you’ve just been assaulted. I’m a bastard for wanting more of your lips on my skin.”
“Then I am too because I was thinking the same thing.” At the look of shock on his face, I couldn’t help giggling.
But when desire charged through his expression, my amusement died, and heat burned within me again. Dipping his head, he whispered into my ear. “Soon.”
A shiver shuddered through me at both his words and his proximity to me. After he eased me down on the seat, he reached over to fasten my seatbelt. He flicked his gaze to the bodyguard in the front seat. “You protect her just as you would any member of my family.”
My heartbeat accelerated at his words, and I found it hard to breathe. When I stared up into his beautifully imperfect face, there were so many words I wanted to say. In the end, I could only bring my hand to his cheek. Closing his eyes, he leaned into my touch.
And then the moment ended.
He jerked away and slammed the door. As the SUV started moving, I desperately wanted to turn to watch his retreating form, but my neck hurt too much. Instead, I stared ahead–my hand still tingling from the rough satin of his skin.
I fully expected to spend half the night waiting to be seen at the ER. To my surprise, a nurse was waiting on us at the front desk. Instead of filling out paperwork, I was ushered straight back to a room.
After slipping on a gown, I eased onto the bed. When I lay my head on the pillow I winced. Every movement was agony.
Mabry sat in a bedside chair while two men I’d never seen before stood outside the door. When I turned my head to meet her intense gaze, she gave me a knowing look. “You’ve been keeping secrets.”
I furrowed my brows. “I haven’t,” I whispered.
“You and Mr. Kavanaugh.”
Warmth flooded my face. “There’s nothing to say.”
Mabry snorted. “You’re the worst liar.”
“Okay, fine, we’ve kissed.” I was too exhausted for the level of conversation that would follow if I told her about coming during my audition. Plus, I didn’t want her to think I was some freak.
“From the way he spoke to you and held you, I would’ve wagered it was far more than that.”
“It’s not.”
“But it will be.”
Overwhelmed with the emotions from the evening, I replied, “Yes, it will.”