Chapter Twenty-Three Isla
W hen we pulled up outside The Copley Plaza hotel, my eyes bulged. “The gala is here?”
“Yes,” Quinn replied.
I practically bounced in my seat with excitement. “It’s famous! I’ve seen it in so many movies, but I’ve never actually been inside.”
“Tonight’s your big chance.”
With a grin, I said, “I can’t believe I’m going to a gala, least of all one at The Copley Plaza.” I grinned at Quinn. “I really feel like Cinderella now.”
He winked at me. “We’ll have to watch out for your shoes tonight then.”
Shane opened the SUV door, and Callum stepped out first. Flashbulbs began to go off all around him. It was at that moment that I realized we were going to have to walk some sort of red carpet. At the thought of all the people staring at me, I froze.
“Isla?” Quinn questioned.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I’m not someone famous or wealthy. I don’t belong.”
“You’re a smart, beautiful woman who has every right to be at this gala,” he murmured into my ear.
Quinn’s words gave me the extra jolt I needed to move forward. When I started out of the SUV, Callum held out his hand to help me. “Thank you,” I murmured.
“You’re welcome.”
Quinn quickly exited the SUV and appeared at my side. He reached for my hand and squeezed it. Then he began leading me up the carpet and into the hotel.
Although I initially plastered on a smile, I became more comfortable in my own skin, and as time wore on, my smile became more genuine. Once we reached the lobby, I felt completely at ease. As Quinn introduced me to people, I shook their hands and made small talk.
I don’t know how long we spent making the rounds. By the time we sat down for dinner, my feet were aching, and my throat was parched. I reached for my water glass and downed it in several long gulps. Once it was empty, I started on the champagne.
“You were a pro back there,” Quinn mused.
“Really?”
He nodded. “After the initial hiccup, I was afraid you might run screaming before we got into the hotel.”
“I just needed a minute to get my bearings,” I argued.
“You’re a star. Everyone wants to know who the beauty is with the beast.”
I gasped. “They are not saying that about you, are they?”
He threw back a large gulp of whiskey. “Tonight it’s about my personality, not my appearance.”
“I don’t want them saying it about either,” I huffed as I stared daggers down the table at the other guests.
Quinn’s fingers came to my chin to pull my attention back to him. “Are you going to fight for my honor, Little Dove?”
“I most certainly am.”
Amusement twinkled in his blue eyes. “It’s always the little scrappy ones you have to watch out for.”
“Damn straight.”
The first course was served then, and I parlayed my knowledge learned from Pretty Woman to use the appropriate fork. Quinn turned to his neighbor to talk, which was some form of etiquette we were supposed to uphold.
So, I turned to the man beside me. “Good evening,” I managed.
He eyed me contemptuously before going back to his salad. Not willing to let him write me off, I asked, “What is it you do?”
“I’m a retired neuroscience professor from Harvard.”
My eyes lit up. “How interesting. I’m in graduate school for microbiology at MIT.”
The man cut his eyes from his plate back to me. “ You are a microbiologist?” he questioned.
“I am.”
“MIT must be admitting anyone these days.”
Gritting my teeth, I replied, “Just those with a 4.0 and a 38 on the ACT. Well, at least that’s true in my case.”
He snorted contemptuously. “I’m sure your looks had nothing to do with it.”
My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Although my parents had ingrained in me the necessity of turning the other cheek in situations like these, I found myself unable to do so. Maybe it was because of feeling helpless after my attack, but I wasn’t going to take any man’s bullshit.
“You arrogant blowhole!”
Quinn’s attention whirled from his conversation to me. “Isla,” he warned.
“Do you know what he said?”
“Keep your voice down.”
I smacked my napkin on the table. “I don’t need to sit between two patronizing jackasses, thank you very much.”
After rising out of my chair, I hightailed it out of the dining room. I searched for the bathroom before disappearing inside. I’d started over to the sink when I caught Quinn’s reflection behind me. “You can’t be in here.”
“What the hell was that about back there?”
“Just leave me alone.”
“Do you know who that man’s family is?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t care who he is. If he’s so important, he should’ve had better manners than to insult his dinner companion.”
Quinn swept his hands to his hips. “What are you talking about?”
“He said that since I attend MIT, they must be admitting anyone. Then he said my looks must’ve had some bearing on my being admitted.
Quinn’s eyes darkened. “He said that?”
“Yeah, he did.” I jabbed my finger into his chest. “But you know what? I don’t care about that arrogant prick. What I do care about is how you didn’t even stop to see what was wrong. You just admonished me like I was a child acting up.”
With a repentant look, he jerked a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Isla. I keep fucking up when it comes to you.” Shaking his head, he replied, “I don’t know how to be soft and tender.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Well, you’re going to have to try harder. I know this is all still new between us, but you need to have my back always, even if I’m in the wrong.”
“You’re right. And I’m truly sorry.” He reached for my hand and brought it to his lips. “Please forgive me, Little Dove.”
“Actions speak louder than words.”
“Regardless of who he is, I’ll go right now and demand that he apologize to you.”
“You will?”
“Aye, I will. I’ll have words with any man who makes you feel less of the goddess that you are.”
“Don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t.” He brushed his lips against mine. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Instead of demanding his apology, could you beat his pompous ass?” I suggested.
“Perhaps something less violent?” His hand came to my breast. “Maybe more pleasurable.”
“That’s how you want to make things right?”
“Can you think of a better way?”
“Here?” I squeaked.
Quinn nodded. “But to punish myself for the way I treated you, only you get to come.”
“I’m listening,” I replied.
Without answering, Quinn walked over to the bathroom door. To my surprise, it had an inside lock. At the sound of the click, a shiver went through me. It intensified as Quinn stalked over to me. “I need to taste you, Little Dove.”
“I’m still mad at you,” I claimed, my voice wavering.
“Angry sex is very hot.”
“I thought you were going to deny yourself?”
With a smirk, Quinn replied, “I am. I plan to devour your pussy while you angrily moan and pant.”
Before I could protest, his massive hands gripped my waist before hoisting me up onto the marble countertop. He then brought his hands to my calves before sliding up my thighs, bunching the fabric of my dress up. Cool air hit the tops of my heated thighs.
All the while the ache between my legs grew. I bit down on my lip when he knelt before me. “I’m on my knees in front of you like the queen that you are.”
“You promise not to hurt me again?”
He nodded. “Only pleasure.”
I knew it was a ridiculous request, and he couldn’t truthfully promise to never hurt me again. But I decided to let it go. Staring down at him, I commanded, “Make me come.”
A groan erupted from deep in Quinn’s chest. His fingers instantly went to my aching center. He rubbed them over my soaked thong. “Mm,” I whimpered.
When he thrust two fingers inside me, I gasped, and my head fell back against the mirror. He swirled them inside me, curling them to rub against my g-spot. “Quinn,” I murmured.
“My name on your lips is a fucking siren’s song. It drives me crazy.”
“You’re…driving…me crazy,” I panted, as I turned my head to the side against the mirror.
“You’re taking my fingers so good. Maybe I should add another.”
“Mm, please.”
My walls stretched at the addition of a third finger, swirling and plunging within me. To meet the plunges of his fingers, I thrust my hips up as well.
Over and over.
My eyes pinched shut as pleasure enveloped me.
Just as I reached the edge, Quinn’s fingers slid out of me. “No! Please don’t stop!”
“Easy, Little Dove.”
Quinn jerked my thong to the side before dipping his head. His tongue licked up my seam, causing me to cry out. I could barely see him through all the fabric of the dress, but I sure as hell could feel him.
He buried his entire face in my pussy. He sucked and licked my labia, leaving little love bites in his wake. As his nose rubbed against my clit, I thrust my hips up, desperate for more friction. My chest heaved, and I panted like a wanton woman.
“Please, Quinn,” I rasped.
His response was to thrust his tongue inside me. It swirled and flicked inside my center. After searching for his head through the fabric, my fingers connected with the strands of his hair. I gripped him for dear life as I pressed him further against me.
It was then his teeth grazed my clit, sending an orgasm charging through me. My thighs shook with the intensity of the pulsing of my walls around Quinn’s tongue. My head banged back against the mirror as I rode out wave after wave.
“Quinn!” I shrieked as I clawed at his scalp. I was probably hurting him, but at that moment, I selfishly only cared about my pleasure.
The second orgasm I’d ever been given by a man was life-altering. I’d been amazed by the first, but this put that one to shame. Fuck. What would it be like when his cock was buried inside me, not his tongue?
When my walls finally stopped clenching, my eyes fluttered open. I stared down at Quinn who was still between my legs and was smiling up at me. “Thank you,” I rasped.
He chuckled. “You’re very welcome.”
With a wince, I extricated my fingers from his hair. “Did I hurt you?”
“In the best fucking way.”
Quinn then rose to his feet. He reached behind me to grab a handful of paper towels. After wetting one of them, he cleaned my center along with my inner thighs. Then he dried my wet flesh. “You do aftercare well,” I remarked.
Quinn snorted. “I can’t believe you even know what that is.”
“I’ve read about it in a few books.”
“I should’ve known none of the pussies you fucked would’ve done it to you.”
I laughed. “Very true.”
Twisting around, I grabbed a few paper towels of my own. “Bend down,” I ordered.
Quinn did as I obliged. With his face inches from mine, I began to clean myself off of his face. Considering he still had people to speak with, I also grabbed some of the scented lotion off the tray with soaps.
His brows creased at the sight of the bottle. “What the feck are you going to do with that?”
“We can’t have you going out there smelling like me. It’s already going to be suspicious with how long we’ve been gone.”
I rubbed some of the citrus-smelling lotion on Quinn’s cheeks. “I’d rather smell like you.”
A flush entered my cheeks. “You are such a caveman.”
When I finished, Quinn reached for my waist and eased me down onto the ground. After checking my appearance in the mirror, I felt I looked mildly flushed, but not thoroughly fucked. Quinn unlocked the bathroom door and held out his hand to me.
As we started back in the dining room, I expected every face to turn towards us. Thankfully, everyone was too self-absorbed to realize we’d been gone, least of all to speculate what we had been doing. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised since it seemed like typical rich people behavior.
Quinn pulled out my chair. Once I sat down, he turned to the prick. “It’s good to see you again, Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel had the audacity to smile at Quinn. “Same to you.”
As Quinn’s expression turned menacing, the smile began to slip from Nathaniel’s face. “If you ever dare to condescend to my girlfriend again, I’ll knock the self-righteous smirk right off your lips.” Tilting his head, Quinn asked, “Understood?”
Nathaniel shrunk down in his seat. “Understood,” he replied.
“You’ll do good to remember Isla is an intelligent woman who rightfully earned her spot at MIT.”
“Of course.”
After giving him a tight smile, Quinn leaned over and kissed my cheek. Then he nonchalantly retook his own seat just in time for the last course to be served.
I fought to keep the grin off my lips as I placed my napkin in my lap. To my surprise, Nathaniel said, “So you’re in graduate school?”
“I am.”
“What is your focus within microbiology?”
Although I could’ve been a major bitch and ignored him, I continued the conversation. From time to time, I’d feel Quinn’s hot gaze on mine. Each time I turned to look at him, he merely nodded his head at me.
Between the orgasm and the words he’d given Nathaniel, he was more than forgiven.