Chapter 20
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KNOX HEAVED A SIGH of relief when they finally landed stateside. Holt had pulled some strings, getting the entire team on a military flight. That wasn’t standard practice, but given Quinn was an American citizen who’d been taken hostage, the U.S. government stepped in.
After a long flight, including a stop to refuel along the way, he wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep a good twelve hours or so.
Preferably with Quinn. He’d held her in his arms in the home in Kabul.
She’d awoken, trembling, and only after he’d held her close had she drifted off once more.
The fact that she trusted him to watch over her while she slept was humbling, especially after what she’d been through.
Some women might be fearful of men after that, but she’d willingly turned to him again and again.
Quinn had called her parents before boarding the flight home. She swore her dad had wanted to fly overseas himself to escort her back, but she’d assured him she was safe with Bravo Team. Then Knox had gotten on the phone himself, speaking with the man.
Hell.
It felt like Quinn was already his, even though the reality was far from that.
Still, she’d remained close at his side on the long return home.
The team had all returned to Shadow Security, the other men having a quick briefing with Holt.
There’d be plenty of time for Quinn to update their boss, so in the meantime, Knox had helped her into his big SUV, eager to get her home.
Once she was settled in the passenger seat, Knox rounded his vehicle, climbing into the driver’s side. When he caught sight of Quinn sitting beside him in the moonlight, he stilled. Despite it all, she looked beautiful—dark eyes, long glossy hair, and those full lips he loved.
“What?” she asked, a pretty flush creeping over her cheeks.
He smiled. “I like having you here. I hate the circumstances, but hell, you don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to have you here like this—in my life.”
She looked surprised for a beat then smiled back. “Same. This wasn’t exactly how I envisioned it either, but yeah, it works.”
His gaze briefly roamed over her. “And I like you in my clothes,” he muttered. “Maybe a little too much.”
Quinn laughed. “I thought men preferred women to be more scantily clad.”
His lips quirked. “I mean, sure, who’d be opposed to that?” he joked. “You’d look good in anything. But you wearing my things? It kind of feels like you’re mine.”
She didn’t deny it, just looked directly into his eyes. Knox’s heart thundered in his chest. He had half a mind to lean over and kiss her, but he wanted to get her safely home. She’d been through hell, and the parking lot at Shadow Security wasn’t quite where he’d imagined their first kiss.
Fifteen minutes later, he was pulling into her apartment complex. There was no traffic at the late hour, and for that, he was grateful.
“You’re coming in, right?” she asked, suddenly looking nervous.
“Of course I am,” he assured her.
“At least Holt got some of my things back—my house keys were inside my bag. My phone is long gone, but oh! There’s my car!” she said excitedly, pointing across the lot.
Knox’s lips quirked. Quinn was cute as hell, not that she’d want to hear herself described in that manner. “Yep. He arranged to get the car out of the impound lot for you.”
She sucked in a shaky breath, clutching onto her bag. “I was stupid to leave it there running on the street and follow Adam down the block.”
Knox hesitated. “Maybe next time you want to chase after a known terrorist, just shoot the guys or me a text instead. I was worried as hell about you,” he said, his voice thick.
Tears smarted her eyes, and Knox quietly cursed. “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said, reaching over and taking her hand. He lifted it to his mouth, brushing his lips across the back in a soft kiss.
Quinn smiled at him, swiping away her tears.
“You ready to go in?” he asked.
“More than ready. I’m exhausted. It just feels surreal to be back home. And no one knows what happened to Adam. It’s not like I expect him to show up on my doorstep, but—” She cut off, and Knox watched as she pulled herself together. “Let’s do it,” she said.
“I’ll come around and help you out,” he told her.
Knox climbed out of his SUV, happy as hell to be back in Seattle with Quinn at his side.
His gaze scanned the lot anyway, out of habit.
He noted that Holt had left Quinn’s car directly under a lamppost. She lived in a garden style apartment, with stairwells leading up to each floor.
The area was quiet and serene. Safe. Except Knox knew as well as anyone that danger could find you anywhere.
After he opened the passenger door, he reached for Quinn’s hand. When their fingers touched, her hand sliding into his own, he stilled, shocked by the rightness of it. He didn’t let go, just guided her across the parking lot like she really was his.
“I’ve never been to your place,” he commented as they headed toward her building.
“It’s about time you came over,” Quinn joked.
He chuckled, silently cursing himself for not having ever made a move.
Everything was easy with Quinn. She was sexy, fun, and easy to talk to.
Sure, he was doing her a favor of sorts now, not bringing her back from a date, but there wasn’t a damn chance he’d let one of the other guys drive her home.
He was protective of her in a way that surprised him.
Knox knew for certain, however, that his life would be less bright without her in it.
He didn’t think he’d truly breathed a sigh of relief until they’d safely landed back in Seattle.
When they walked into her apartment, Quinn flicked on the light switch, sucking in a deep breath. “Damn, it’s good to be back. I need a drink,” she announced. “Do you want a beer?”
“Sure, sounds great,” he said, his eyes quickly sweeping over her space. It was neat, as he’d expected, with feminine touches. It even smelled faintly like Quinn, and he felt his pulse quicken. “Are you hungry? I could order us some food.”
“Not really. You?”
“I’m surprisingly not very hungry,” he admitted.
“I’m exhausted more than anything but really need a few minutes just to decompress.” She glanced over at him, suddenly looking shy. “Will you stay here tonight? With me?”
Knox stilled. He didn’t want to leave her but would’ve done whatever she asked. “Of course I will,” he said, his voice husky.
The smile she shot him was everything.
Quinn crossed to the fridge to grab the beers, and he watched her hips sway as she moved.
Even in his sweatpants and tee shirt, he could see her curves.
When she’d walked out of the bathroom back in Kabul, her breasts pressed against his tee shirt, nipples pebbled, he’d instantly grown hard.
She was gorgeous, sexy, and sweet—everything he’d dreamed of.
Knox frowned as he saw the red marks on her wrists now as she held up the drinks. She still hadn’t healed—of course she hadn’t. They’d only just found her.
“I’m okay,” she promised, noticing where he was looking.
She walked right up to him, handing him a beer, and he chuckled. “This too close?” she teased.
“Course not,” he said, his voice husky and low.
“Bottle opener,” she said, suddenly looking flustered. Damn, she was cute. Knox crossed the kitchen, grabbing the magnetic bottle opener off her fridge. He opened his beer, handing it to her, then opened the second.
“Cheers to being home,” she said, clinking her bottle against his.
“Amen to that,” he said, taking a long pull.
Quinn took a swig of hers as well, and her lips around the longneck gave him all sorts of ideas. She had a gorgeous mouth, pouty and full, and the idea of her lips wrapped around his dick, sucking him off, had fueled all sorts of his fantasies.
Everything about this woman was sexy.
She needed to recover from her ordeal though, and he had zero intention of rushing into things.
Quinn dragged him into her living room, and Knox went along willingly.
She was so much smaller than him, it was funny for her to pull him along.
Knox knew without a doubt he’d happily follow wherever she wanted him to go.
He briefly looked around the space—neutral tan sofa, paintings on the wall, lamps, throw pillows, and other girly stuff.
It was neat and clean but cozy. She also had an impressive big screen TV mounted on one wall.
“We need to get you a new cell phone,” he said, the thought suddenly occurring to him.
“I’ve got an old one around here somewhere,” she told him. “I can probably switch my number to that one for now.” She shrugged. “What can I say? I like the newest technology.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the least,” he said, sitting down on her sofa and stretching his long legs out. She was an IT whiz. Of course she appreciated shiny new toys.
Quinn shocked him by sitting right beside him on the sofa, leaning against his side.
She grabbed a throw blanket, pulling it over herself and getting comfortable.
He helped her adjust the blanket, suddenly a flash of doing just that in bed crossing his mind.
Sure, he’d love to eventually make love to her, but he liked taking care of her, too.
He wanted to make sure she was happy and safe, always.
Once they were settled, he realized how damn tired he was. Having Quinn at his side felt good.
“Let’s just rest here a few minutes,” Quinn said. He loved that she was as comfortable as he was.
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” Knox wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders, pulling her closer. She was still wearing his clothing, they’d barely gotten back, but sitting on the sofa with Quinn in his arms made it feel like everything was damn right in the world.