24
Married
A lex came in a little while later with a couple of bundles of wood. He put them in the iron log rack near the fireplace. “Quinn?” he called not seeing her in the kitchen or living room.
“I’m up here,” she called down from the loft.
Climbing up the wood ladder that was attached to the kitchen wall, he stepped off into the loft and saw Quinn sitting on the old tufted love seat with books surrounding her. When She looked up at him, her big brown eyes were filled with childlike wonder that almost knocked the wind from his lungs.
“You have the most amazing library up here!” she gushed.
“Aye,” he said, moving a couple of books to the trunk coffee table to sit down beside her. “Most of them came with the cottage,” he said. God, the lass was lovely when she was excited about something.
“Wow, that’s a pretty sweet deal. I’ve been sifting through the greatness. Did you know you have A Christmas Carol ?” She grinned from ear to ear.
Alex was struck at how her face lit up in pure pleasure. Without thinking, he reached out and moved a stray strand of hair that had fallen forward against her rosy cheeks. He didn’t think about it; he just did it. His hand lingered, and he allowed his knuckles to gently brush against the soft skin of her cheek.
The subtle sound of her breath hitching caused desire to tug at his senses. Reeling, he dropped his hand away. Her eyes had dropped to the book in her lap, and he noted she seemed to grow uncomfortable. It made him question whether she’d wanted his touch and was disappointed or whether he’d made her uncomfortable touching her at all. It was a subtle touch, but they both seemed to recognize its intimacy.
“Sorry,” he grunted leaning away from her.
Quinn felt confused. This was the gentle side he kept tight to himself. God, but when he unlocked his chains, she melted. But you shouldn’t be melting Quinn, she reminded herself. He’s married. Or perhaps divorced. Not knowing meant Alex Mackenzie was off-limits.
“Are you married?” she blurted, peering into his stormy blue eyes.
“What?” The question took him off guard. “No, of course no’.” He ran his hands over his face, and he looked almost remorseful. “I am no’ married lass, rest assured, but I’m no’ looking for anything either. I dinnae mean to give ye the wrong impression.”
Quinn searched his eyes and realized there was truth there. So he wasn’t married, but then what about the woman in the picture? She couldn’t make sense of it. And for a guy not looking for anything… God, for a split second sparks were flying. The intensity of his gentle touch scorched her. Couldn’t he feel that too?
Alex leaned back and ran a hand over his clean shaven chin. After an awkward silence, Quinn took a breath and opened the book in her lap, believing him that he wasn’t married. She was even more curious about what his deal was, but she chose to leave it be. For now.
“We should read it,” she said, gesturing to the little red book. Without giving him a chance to respond, she flipped it open and began aloud, “’Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.’”
The sun was setting, and the light in the cabin was dimming. They’d been sitting in the loft for about an hour as Quinn read. At first, Alex thought he should put some space between them again, but the cottage wasn’t big and he couldn’t keep avoiding her. Once she began reading, he decided that sitting with her and listening wasn’t such a bad thing. The truth was he loved A Christmas Carol , having watched many versions of it, but he had never read the book itself. He found himself relaxing and getting into the story. Quinn’s voice was animated but at the same time calming. The only problem was that he kept getting mesmerized by her full pouty lips as she read. Reminding himself that he was immune was quickly becoming an asinine strategy when it came to resisting the lass. Everything about her was taunting him, provoking him much like the ghosts taunting Scrooge into changing his ways.
“’Stave Two. The first of three spirits.’”
“Maybe we should take this downstairs, and I can get started on making us some dinner,” Alex suggested.
“Mm, good idea. I could definitely eat,” she responded. With the book still in hand, she stretched her arms up over her head.
His police-issue sweatpants and hoodie never looked so good. They were big on her, but when she stretched, everything seemed to pull a bit tighter on her in all the right places.
Inconveniently, that was when he remembered that her bra and panties were in the bathroom and not on her personage. His eyes drew to her well-endowed chest, pushed out proudly as she arched back with a satisfied groan. How easy it would be to yank up the hoodie and free those delectable breasts. Shite, he needed space. Now. He stood up and moved to the ladder to climb down and get himself out of the loft that now felt way too small. Christ, it frustrated him that even blowing his load in the shower had done little to curb his carnal desire.
To his chagrin, she came down right after him, and he got a prime view of her curvy sweat pant-clad ass as she made her way down the ladder from above him. God help him.
Alex quickly busied himself with preparing dinner. Opening the fridge, he pulled out some steaks.
“Can I help?” Her voice was sweet as she sidled up alongside him at the countertop. Was she trying to torture him? His cock stirred at her nearness. For a moment, he imagined bending her over the countertop exposing that tempting ass to him so he could… Bloody hell, what was wrong with him?
He did not want her help. What he wanted was for her to get the hell away from him so he could stop feeling this way. Unfocused, undisciplined. Like he was out of control. Fuck. It was all wrong. In two years, he hadn’t been tempted by anyone as much as he was right now, and he didn’t like it. If she would just stop getting so close to him.
“I got this,” he murmured, intentionally avoiding her gaze.
“You’re sure?”
“Aye,” he growled impatiently. “Ye’re just in the way.”
Quinn bristled at his abrupt response. “Right. Got it,” she said tight-lipped, and he could hear the hurt in her voice.
A piece of him knew he should apologize. But what could he say? I just need you to get the hell away from me so I can stop imagining fucking you! Christ.
No, let her think he was an arse. That was a better option. He needed a little space. She could be mad at him. Perhaps it was safer that way.
He could feel her eyes boring into him as he purposefully ignored her and continued gathering ingredients.
“I’m going to lie down for a bit. Is it okay if I go in your room?” she asked, and he could hear the apprehension in her voice.
He nodded curtly without looking up.
Quinn made her exit, feeling irritated at the return of Cold Mean Cop. It had all been going so well…or so she thought. What had changed from in the loft to coming down to make dinner? She was dumbfounded and disappointed. Bear plodded in behind her as she walked into Alex’s bedroom.
“Come on boy,” she encouraged him onto the bed with her, and he happily obliged, cuddling up next to her. Alex might hate that she was here, but at least Bear liked her company.
Quinn absently stroked Bear’s soft ears. There were moments when things were so easy between them. She even found that she liked their time together, but then he’d get all cold and mean again. It was frustrating. She wondered how much of the way he was with her had to do with the woman in the photograph. He’d said he wasn’t married, and she believed him. He had no reason to lie, and somehow, she just felt like she could take him at his word. But what was his story? None of it made sense to her.
Quinn bit her lip. It didn’t help anything that she was very attracted to him, and it seemed that he was to her too. But if he wasn’t married, why did he seem to fight their chemistry? They were stuck alone in this cabin. How bad would it be to have a fling? The thought sent heated tingles straight to her core. Don’t go there, Quinn , she chided herself.
Maybe his reluctance had something to do with the woman and kids in the picture. Perhaps they were dating, and they were the woman’s kids from before him? Except the toddler had a definite resemblance to Alex. She rolled onto her side pulling the thick cozy duvet around her. A terrible thought came to her. What if he was widowed? Had something happened to his family? The thought alone made her heart sad for him. Could that be it? Her thoughts eventually turned lucid as she drifted to sleep.
With time to think while he prepared the food, Alex started to feel bad for how he’d behaved. She didn’t deserve his wrath. It wasn’t her fault that he couldn’t seem to get a grip on his base urges. As much as he didn’t want anything to happen between them, he realized that it was ridiculous that he couldn’t just enjoy her company with no strings attached. She wasn’t so bad to have around if he was honest. Minus the damn horny thoughts that barraged his mind, but he could keep that in check. He needed to keep that in check. Perhaps a few extra showers would be required over the next couple of days to help keep his sex-starved cock quiet. Lord help him.
Having a clearer mind, he allowed himself to appreciate that he’d have some company for Christmas. Even if it was Quinn West. She still talked too much and made him crazy, but he also kind of enjoyed her company. He liked that she’d busied herself today baking. If she could make the most of being stuck here together, he could too.
Dinner ready, Alex strode into his room where Bear popped a lazy eye open from the bed. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow. Quinn looked cozy curled on her side, blankets pulled around her. She must have drifted off. She lay with her hands slid together and tucked under her cheek. He’d tried so damn hard not to notice her loveliness, but as he looked down at her now, he was almost taken aback. God, she was achingly beautiful.
Awareness and desire collided in his body. It seemed an unrelenting combination. He should’ve turned and walked back out of the room. Gone to take another shower. That would have been the wise thing to do. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed beside her. Those innocent big eyes opened, sleepily landing on him and a sweet smile touched her pouty mouth.
“Hi,” she said softly.
Christ, she was irresistible. He shouldn’t have done it, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He reached down and ran his hand over her hair that lay across the pillow, letting the silky strands slip between his fingers. His resolve slipped away faster than steam from hot coffee. His eyes slid to her face as she watched him with those big curious brown eyes lined with thick sooty lashes. Her rounded cheeks narrowed as they rode up to her temples giving her the look of a magazine model. Her nose was pert and adorable and God help him, those lips. Berry pink, full, and pouty. They practically begged to be kissed.
And he wanted nothing more than to taste them, take them in his, conquer them, and kiss those lips that had given him grief since he first saw them…surrender to them. Without thought, he cupped her jaw in his hand and ran his thumb over those soft plump lips. She allowed him to. Her innocent brown eyes were fixed on his, and he could see desire growing in them. His cock thickened, begging for her. That mouth of hers had taunted him since the moment she’d stepped out of her car the day he’d given her the defunct ticket.
Unable to stop himself, he leaned down closer to her, and a rush of pleasure hit his groin as her eyes widened in anticipation. His eyes dropped to her beckoning sinful mouth, and her rosy pink lips parted, ready, longing to be kissed.
Every fibre in his being wanted to plunder those full lips and give her what she desired. Like Santa’s reindeer hurdling through the sky on Christmas Eve, Alex was helpless to stop himself, and his mouth dropped to hers. The touch of her full warm lips against his set every nerve ending in his body on fire and need roared through him as intensely as the torrential winds whipping around outside the window.
Despite the light touch of his lips on hers, the hitch of her breath nearly scorched him. He wanted to reach up into her thick auburn hair and pull her firmly against him, to open those sweet torturous lips with his and taste her.
The blissful sigh against his mouth as her lips parted slightly for him, allowing him to kiss her more deeply, made him feel feral, and he knew he had to stop. Now. He pulled back from her, refusing to play with fire—refusing to lose the control that he clung to like a thread of Christmas tinsel. Giving in and kissing her how he wanted to, letting his tongue touch hers, the thought alone made his cock jerk painfully. Giving in to his hunger would open floodgates that were never meant to be opened. God but pulling back was a herculean feat.