Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Quinn stopped in the middle of the bathroom, Scout pressed against his chest, her smile like a damn beacon from heaven. One he’d follow anywhere because he’d meant what he’d said. He couldn’t survive without her.
The thought sobered him, the past few months replaying in his head. The reckless chances he’d taken. The times he’d charged in without backup because part of him wanted to join her. If Scout hadn’t found him on that old logging spur…
She frowned as he set her on her feet, her palm landing on his chest. “Hey, are you okay?”
He worked up a smile. “Fine. Why?”
“The color just drained from your face.”
“Just thinking.”
She smoothed her hand along his torso, skirting the worst of the marks. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?”
He chuckled. “And here I thought a tumble between the sheets would take the edge off those violent tendencies.”
“I recognize the look. I’ve been seeing the same one in the mirror for months.” She inched closer. “Talk to me.”
“I’m fine. Really. I’m just really glad you found me. That I’ve got you back.”
She frowned. “That doesn’t sound ominous at all.” She studied him for another thirty seconds, eyes narrowed, mouth pursed tight. “Did something happen recently?”
“Yeah. I lost the woman I love. Went on a bit of a spiral.”
Her mouth twitched, and he knew he’d already said too much. “How much of a spiral?”
“Are we gonna shower or just say fuck it, and sleep?”
“Quinn.” She moved with him when he stepped toward the shower. “Is that why you were visiting Brea? Because that’s been nagging in the back of my mind since the other night. Before Bralorne, you’d just taken a few weeks off with me, and you’re too dedicated to take more that quickly.”
He clenched his jaw, debating how much to tell her when the damn truth just slipped out. “Let’s just say, it wasn’t really a choice.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was told to reconsider my new policing style or get a new job.”
Scout coughed, staring at him, eyes wide, a bit more white than usual showing. “Noah put you on leave?” She looked away, and he could see all the pieces sliding together. “That’s why you haven’t asked to contact your detachment. They aren’t expecting you back any time soon.”
“Not for another week. Minimum.”
“Shit. What the hell were you doing?”
Quinn released a weary breath. “What do you think? I was hurt. Angry. And I let it color how I did my job.”
Her eyes softened, a few more tears pooling in the blue depths. “You took risks. That kind that could have gotten you killed.”
“Scout…”
“But not with others because I know you, Quinn, and you never would have risked someone else’s life. But yours…” She scrubbed her hand down her face. “God, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I should have broken ranks. I should have told you. I?—”
He kissed her. Slid his hands into her hair, stepped into her body and slanted his mouth over hers, drinking in whatever else she was going to say because she was spiraling. Going down into an abyss that would steal part of her soul, just like it had taken his.
Except she’d stolen it back. Rescued him. Made him whole when he thought he’d be nothing but broken pieces for the rest of his life.
Scout’s hands landed on his wrists, holding him tight when he eased back, rested his forehead on hers. “I know why you did that.”
“Because you’re beautiful, and I’m so fucking in love with you I can’t see straight?”
Her eyes widened as her chin quivered. “We’ll go with your answer.” She swallowed, coughed, then nodded toward the shower. “Are we cleaning off so I can bring you to your knees or are you really tapping out on me?”
“Never.” He held her in place when she tried to shift. “We’re okay, right? And I’m not talking about the sex. I mean us. What I just said. Knowing I went off the rails. We’re good?”
“Other than making me love you even more…” She smiled. “We’re good. Better than good because you’re mine, Mountie. Best make peace with that.” She licked her lips. “Now, get that ass in the shower so I can do filthy things to you before I say fuck it, and just do them right here.”
“Were you always this bossy?”
He laughed when she shoved him, moving over to the shower while she grabbed a couple of towels. Steam billowed from the steady stream of water a minute later, the heat easing some of the tension in his shoulders as he stepped beneath the spray and gathered her against his chest
Scout melted into him, head resting beneath his shoulder, hands palming his back. Each soft breath tickled his skin as he placed his chin on her head, put this moment into memory. He’d been serious. She’d saved him the other night, and not just his life.
She’d saved his soul.
Scout hummed against his pecs, dropping a kiss on his chest before easing back, staring up at him, eyes bright, a sexy smile curving her lips.
She grabbed some soap and lathered his skin, each swirl of her hands reigniting the need pooling in his groin.
He didn’t move, admiring the way she snagged her bottom lip, her breathing already increasing.
He loved that about her.
That his pleasure spurred hers.
She took her time, massaging his muscles a bit, the water splashing around them. “You’re larger than before, and that’s saying something. How many hours have you been putting in the gym?”
He shrugged. “As many as I could when I wasn’t working. The harder I pushed, the more exhausted I was, and the easier it was to catch a couple hours each night.”
She paused, soap suds bubbling up from beneath her hand, before she continued. “Sleeping’s the hardest. Can’t shove it all down when you’re not in control.”
“This Finch asshole been keeping you awake?”
“Not Finch. Missing you. I’ve just been lying here, wishing… berating myself for not having the strength to seek you out.”
He placed his hand over hers. “I’m sure the general didn’t make it easy.”
“Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. I know that now. And I won’t let you down again.”
“You didn’t let me down.” He sighed then laughed. “I’ll make you a deal. You cut yourself some slack for being put in an impossible situation, and I won’t dwell on all the stupid things I’ve done in your absence.”
She snorted. “In other words, make peace with the past, and move forward.”
“Let’s not go completely crazy. We both know neither of us is making peace with anything. At least, not until Brea’s back, and I’ve had a chat with Gus, but I’m up for moving forward.”
She stared up at him for a few moments, then smiled. “Deal.” She gave herself a quick rinse, before placing the soap on the ledge. “Now, I believe I warned you about what would happen when I’m on my knees.”
He hooked her elbow. “I might only have one more round in me before I’ll need a bit of a rest.”
“Then, I guess I’ll get your chest as a pillow before you wake me up and ravage me once you’ve recovered.” She grazed his ribs, slowly went to her knees. “Be a good sport, and take your punishment.”
Quinn shifted, shielding most of the spray as he gathered her hair, holding it back from her face.
Scout gazed up at him through thick lashes, most of the blue hidden behind her lust-blown pupils.
She trailed her fingertips down his torso, tracing the ridge of muscle by his hip before landing on his thighs.
She tilted her head, sizing him up as she leaned forward and blew a heated breath across the tip.
His damn dick spiked up toward his belly, staying there for a moment before she encircled him with her hand, bringing him level with her mouth.
After a smile, she smoothed her lips over the head, slowly sinking down his length.
Dead.
That’s what he’d be in exactly sixty seconds. Between the heat and the pressure of her mouth and watching her work him…
He tightened his grip on her hair without meaning to, tugging at the strands out of sheer need. Scout paused with him nudging her throat, eyelids fluttering as if she was just as far gone, just as overwhelmed.
Quinn panted through clenched teeth, wondering how he was already so fucking desperate when they’d just finished.
Just had his mind blown. Yet, there he was, standing beneath the spray, Scout on her knees, a minute into her seduction, and he wasn’t sure he’d last another.
Make it long enough to even ask her if she wanted a different ending.
If, maybe, she didn’t want to wait for him to recover.
Though, based on the fire raging beneath his skin, she could get him primed, again, from nothing more than a touch. His name whispered on a ragged plea.
Scout bobbed down, stealing his next breath, daring him to deny her hold over him.
That she could get him off in record time.
That hair trigger he’d teased her about.
Not that she seemed concerned with how quickly she’d make him cave, teasing him with a few passes before sliding off, licking and nibbling until he pulled her hair, again.
She arched a brow, shifting back on her heels. “Something on your mind, babe?”
Damn, she was gorgeous. Soft curves atop strong muscle.
The way her dark hair set off her blue eyes.
But her beauty wasn’t just on the outside.
Her honor. Her determination. She was gorgeous in every way, and he’d spend the rest of his life showing her how lucky he was that she hadn’t left him standing behind his truck.
He thumbed her cheek. “You’re a damn tease.”
“Am, I? Didn’t seem that way when our roles were reversed.”
“And I’m paying for that oversight now. Though, maybe I should hike you up on my shoulder, take you back into the room and return the favor.”
“Someone’s a poor loser.”
“Am I really losing, though?”
She laughed, the lilting sound like music. A reminder of what he thought he’d lost. What he could still lose if he didn’t have her six. “Fine. No more teasing. And yeah, I still expect you to pounce on me after you recover. I’ve slept enough, I don’t need any tonight.”
“Not true, but…”