Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
QUINN
He used to leave places just because I was there.
Wow.
I didn’t expect Cherry’s words to hurt, but they did. It was like someone stuck the tiniest needle into my chest. It was sharp and quick, and the pain snuck up on me.
I shouldn’t be upset about this, and I know he apologized, but I still can’t stop thinking about it.
His explanation made sense, but I guess I wasn’t aware of how much I affected him. We weren’t even friends, but here I was coming into his hometown as if my presence meant nothing to these people when it did.
It does.
Miles pulls his truck into his driveway, pushing the button to turn it off.
Neither of us has spoken on the drive home, so when he unbuckles his seat belt, the click startles me. The noise basically jumpstarts me into motion.
“See you tomorrow,” I say as I rush to get out and turn for the apartment .
“Quinn,” Miles calls out, hurrying around the front of his truck.
I pause, turning slowly.
He’s rubbing the back of his neck. A sign I’ve learned means whatever he’s about to say next isn’t easy for him.
“I’m going to take the rest of the night off, and I thought maybe you’d like to hang out.”
Hang out? He wants to hang out … with me.
Not for show, but because he wants to.
“We could do something simple like order a pizza and then drink a few beers on my back porch.”
He clears his throat as he waits for my answer. After our conversation on the mountain, getting to know each other seems to be the route we want to take, but now I’m a little nervous about it.
Do I want to hang with Miles Asher?
Of course, I do.
But he wasn’t wrong with what he said earlier.
I’ll leave at the end of the summer, so what’s the point in getting to know each other better?
Knowing people for a short period of time is something I’m used to, but it’s obvious that it’s not something that appeals to Miles.
“Are you asking me because you feel bad for what was said earlier?”
His face shows zero expression as he thinks over his answer. I don’t want him to invite me to come over just because he feels guilty.
“Yes and no.” He steps closer to me. “I told you that by the time I grew up enough to decide it was stupid not to get to know someone just because they were leaving, I’d already created this thing between us. But I’m standing here right now asking you to give me the opportunity to change that. ”
Well, that was cute. I bite my lower lip to control the smile that wants to take over.
“Oh my god, Quinn, are you going to keep making me suffer waiting for an answer, or are we going to eat food and have some drinks?” He chuckles. “Because if we are doing this, you should know I’m not very patient, and admitting when I’m wrong isn’t easy.”
To that, I let my smile free.
“Jesus,” he groans. “Just come on then.”
I nod and move toward him. “If we are doing this,” I say quietly, mimicking him, “then you should know I like it when certain people boss me around.”
I hear the second groan as soon as I walk away. This one is different from the first one, though.
I like this one more.
“So you’re saying that you honestly can’t pick your favorite place to visit?” Miles asks as he leans back on the patio chair he’s taking up. I’m in the one next to him.
“I know it’s a common question, and most people have an instant answer, but I’ve been to far too many places to choose.”
“Yeah.” He sips his beer. “I suppose the average person has to think of—what, ten or fewer countries they’ve visited in their lifetime, which makes it easy to pick.”
Last I checked, the average person visits eighteen countries in their lifetime, but the last thing Miles wants to hear is random traveling facts.
“Maybe, yeah. I’m not sure how they do it. How about you tell me your favorite place to go and then explain it to me.”
“Oh, I’m the average person? ”
“I mean,” I say and hold both hands up. “That was the term you picked.”
He chuckles, which in turn causes me to smile.
It’s been like this for the last hour. Just easy conversation as we sit outside. To be honest, this right here would have to be a top contender to his question. The way the sun is setting, casting a purple and pink glow over the mountain and the lake below it is breathtaking. Not to mention the halo the colors provide over the lodge.
Gosh. If someone were getting married right now, this would be the perfect backdrop to have.
I snapped a couple of pictures of the view and posted them but didn’t say where I was. If someone follows my page that closely, they’ll know where I am.
Miles leans forward and grabs another slice of pizza. To my surprise, he didn’t fight me on the cheese-stuffed crust and supreme toppings. It’s nothing fancy or crazy, but the cheese-stuffed crust was something my grandma always did, so it felt fitting here.
His attention, like mine, falls to the view.
To be fair, I’m not so sure it’s just the view that’s winning me over right now.
The company definitely plays a role.
Turns out, when we’re not fighting, we get along very well.
Maybe a little too well.
“Do you know where you’re headed after Lovers?”
I grab my beer bottle and swirl the liquid as I think over the answer. Most people see only the travel side of my life—they don’t see how it’s also my job.
“I’ll receive an email soon to let me know.”
“An email?”
He couldn’t hide the surprise on his face if he tried.
“Yep. ”
“You let someone else decide for you?”
“When they are paying me, yes.” I let out a chuckle.
“What now?” he asks, turning to face me and ready to dive into the topic of my life. “This is going to sound stupid, but I thought you traveled for fun.”
“Most people think that. And at times I do, but most of the travel I do now is contracted. I travel, take pictures, and share their business or whatever they need on my accounts, and they pay me for it.”
“That’s a real job?”
I hold my hands up. “It’s mine.”
He studies me for a moment.
“So your on-the-go-lifestyle isn’t by choice?”
“It was at first, but now, it’s because I signed paperwork that said I'd do whatever they needed.”
“So even if you want to do something different …”
“I have contracts to fulfill.”
He rubs his chin. “I don’t know if I could do that. Not knowing what’s next. I always know what’s next. I like the structure and the routine. It makes me feel like I have control.”
I nod. “I like those things, too, but it’s different because my routine is not staying in one place too long and my structure is that I don’t get too attached.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, this weird feeling consumes me.
Sadness mixed with fear.
Is that what's wrong with me?
Do I not want that life anymore?
If I decide to change my career, I could lose everything. Where would that leave me?
What would I do to make money?
I clear my throat, nodding to the tire swing I’ve had my eye on since we sat down .
“I haven’t been on one of these in years.” I stand quickly, almost skipping all the steps as I put some distance between us.
I’m enjoying myself so much, and I don’t want to keep bringing the vibe down by talking about leaving and where I’m going next because I don’t know any of those things.
I take hold of the rope and put one leg at a time through the tire. Once I wiggle to a good spot, I start to kick my legs.
Forget the tire swing—I can’t even remember the last time I went swinging at all.
The warm evening air brushes my face as I move faster.
God, even the swing is in a position to take in the view.
It’s so peaceful.
“I think you might be the first person to actually use this,” Miles says, stepping up next to the tire.
He leans against the tree, crosses his ankles and watches me.
I let out a laugh.
“Really? And here I thought you and your six-foot solid frame came out here nightly to have a little fun.”
His head falls back on a chuckle. “Maybe I’ll have to start.”
“Or maybe I’ll be over here hogging this spot all to myself. I mean, shoot, Miles, look at that view. I think I might be obsessed with it.”
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “It was actually one of the reasons I chose to build a house right behind the shop. It’s not ideal, considering I had to make my own street, but this view was hard to pass up.”
“I think it was the right choice.”
“Me too.”
I lean back, trying to get my legs to pump a little harder. Suddenly, Miles groans.
“Okay, first-timer, let me push you.”
“No. I don’t need help,” I say a little too quickly.
The last thing I need right now is Miles touching me .
It’s not often I get nights like this. One where I don’t need to be anywhere but right here.
“Let’s see how high this thing will go,” he says right before he gives me the first shove.
I squeal and he laughs.
I come back down, and he pushes harder.
My grip tightens on the rope as I fly higher and higher with each push.
“I swear to god, Miles, if you push me so high that the rope breaks or I fall out, all the progress we made tonight will be gone.”
I swing back to him.
“Poof,” I say when his hand touches my back again. “Vanished.”
As I come back down, he grabs the tire, jerking it to a stop and spinning it until he’s standing in front of me.
“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?”
His eyes lock onto mine for a split moment before they flash to my lips.
My heart instantly races.
Did he just think about kissing me?
We don’t do that.
He doesn’t do that.
He looks away quickly as if he’s having the same internal conversation.
I let out a breath.
It’s time for me to go. Two beers are enough for me to do something I shouldn’t.
I start to pull my legs out in the most graceful way possible when Miles grabs the swing.
“Wait.” One of his hands drops to my thigh.
My chest rises and falls quickly. He looks like he’s at war with something now .
He licks his lips and then brings his other hand to my face, cupping my cheek and stroking my bottom lip with his thumb.
I think it’s safe to say that kissing me is at the top of his mind, and if he chooses to do it, I’m not going to stop him. It might not be the best choice to make, but making bad choices seems to be our thing these days.
Then his hand drops from my face and from my leg.
“Thanks for coming over tonight,” he says.
I only nod and force a smile.
He starts nodding, too, never taking his gaze off mine.
The tension in the way he looks at me is almost unbearable.
I break the connection and start to get out again, but Miles stops me again. This time both hands are on my face as he crashes his lips to mine.
His hands are so big that when he slides them back just an inch, his fingers are threading through my hair and gently tugging.
The action makes me moan, which causes him to deepen the kiss. His tongue slips into my mouth, dancing with mine as I reach for him.
This stupid fucking swing is in the way, so I break the kiss, slink through the tire, and stand up straight.
Miles is grinning at me but doesn’t waste any time before he kisses me again. This time, his hands slide to my hips as he backs me up to the tree. He leans his body against mine, his erection pressing into me, and I let out a gasp against his mouth.
This is happening. This is really happening.
Miles Asher is kissing me, and I don’t want him to stop.
But of course, he chooses that exact moment to do just that.
He steps back in a rush, his fingers touching his lips as he studies me.
I’m breathing hard as I watch him back.
He smirks .
“Come on,” he says and takes another step back. “Let me walk you to your door.”
I nod, unsure what I’m supposed to say.
When we get to my apartment, I find myself praying that he kisses me again, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he grabs the handle and slides the door open for me.
“Go inside before I kiss you again,” he says.
I turn to tell him he should kiss me, maybe even come inside, but he holds a finger to my mouth.
“Go. Inside. Now. Please .”
I smile against his finger.
“Only because you said please,” I say, finally finding my words. I slip through the doorway, close it, and head down the hallway to my room, where I look back. He’s still standing there, only now he’s got a hand flat against the side of the apartment and his head is down as if he’s debating changing his mind.
That kiss just changed everything between us.
We both know it even though we have no idea what it means, but whether it’s tonight or another night, I know for certain it won’t stop here.
So why stop now?
To save him the trouble of having to make another choice right now that he will clearly be conflicted over later, I return to the door.
He looks up, relief in his eyes as I bite my bottom lip.
I slide the door open, and he rushes in like a man deprived.
His lips are on mine as he closes the door behind him. I hear the lock.
“Are we sure we want to do this?” I ask, breathless.
He sighs, then runs a hand through his hair as he steps back. “You’re right; it’s not our thing.”
“Right. We argue. That’s our thing.”
“And fake date. ”
“Right.”
We just stand here, nodding like a couple of bobbleheads.
He’s not leaving, and I don’t really want him to leave, so …
“How much did you drink?”
“Two beers. I’m fully aware of what’s going on here right now. What about you?”
“Same to all of the above.” I bite my lip, and that must be his undoing. He rushes me, his lips claiming mine once more.
“This doesn’t change anything,” I say, letting him walk me backward to the bedroom.
“It’s just one night,” he adds.
“One night, that’s it.”
“We give in to this attraction and call it good, finish our agreement, and part ways.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
The terms are settled as soon as we reach my room.
Miles reaches down to the hem of my shirt and rips it over my head.
“Fuck,” he growls, his eyes locking on my lace bra. “I’ve thought about the day I’d get to see these, but hell, the lace that’s letting your pink nipples play peekaboo is even better than I dreamed.”
“So, take it off and see them bare,” I say before I can change my mind.
I want him to touch me. I want him to own me. Whatever he wants to give me right now, I’m going to take it.
“Fuck,” he groans again. “I’m so hard for you that if you keep saying things like that, I’m going to come in my jeans, and I don’t want to do that. Not until I get between your legs and taste how sweet you are.”
Oh, lord. I’ve never been with a man who talks like this.
“Tell me what to do,” I whisper, and he pauses .
“You want me to boss you around?”
“In bed, yes,” I smirk. “Please.”
His eyes close, and the noise that comes from the back of his throat is as much a turn-on as the way he’s holding my hips.
Like there’s nothing that could make him let go.
In an instant, those hands slide down my legs, grip the back of my thighs, and lift me.
I squeak as I wrap my hands around his neck to hold on.
He turns and presses me to the wall, his hips thrusting forward as his hands busy themselves unclipping and removing my bra. Then his mouth sucks on my right nipple, hard.
“Oh, god,” I breathe and claw at the back of his head to find some kind of relief.
He moves to the other breast, and it only makes me scratch at him more.
When he’s had enough of me like this, he lowers me to the bed. I expect him to move me to the middle or crawl over me, which is what I want. I so badly want to feel him against me. I want to know how much I turn him on. Is it as much as he does me? I need to know.
Instead, he drops to his knees, tugging my legs until my ass sits at the edge of the bed.
“Lift your hips,” he commands, and I obey.
He peels my clothes from my body until I’m bare in front of him.
He spreads my legs wide and then hums.
“You look so pretty soaking wet for me. Did I do that to you?” he asks and then blows on me.
It sends a shiver through my body, and I swear I could come without him touching me. Just knowing he’s looking at me and talking to me this way … fuck. It’s so hot.
“Answer me,” he says, removing his hands from their task of holding me open to him .
“Yes!” I shout, desperate for him to touch me again.
His hands return and slowly, on each inner thigh, slide closer and closer to where I want his mouth.
Finally, he puts me out of my misery. That first lick sends my hips shooting off the bed.
He chuckles, actually chuckles, as one arm comes up to rest over my hip bones, driving me back to the bed.
I can’t focus on anything, and I swear my vision goes black as his tongue works me over. Up and down, flicking faster and faster.
“Holy shit, I’m close,” I breathe. “So, so close.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, a finger joins his mouth, and I sit up on the bed as my orgasm shoots through my body.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I scream as every inch of my body buzzes with life. My hands instantly grip my breast, and I squeeze, letting this pleasure take its time.
I’m still catching my breath when my gaze connects with Miles’s. The look on his face is new for me. His eyes are heated, and his jaw is tight as if he’s clenching his teeth together.
“Watching you touch yourself as you came was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I let out a nervous laugh and cover my eyes with my hands.
“I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard,” I admit.
“Good.”
He stands up, and that’s when I see that his hand is gripping his cock, moving slowly up and down in a twisting motion. I must have been on such a high that I didn’t even notice him pushing his jeans and briefs to the floor.
Shit, he’s huge.
Long.
Thick.
Smooth .
And the bulging veins.
Why is that so hot to me right now?
“How about instead of sucking that bottom lip into your mouth, you?—”
I don’t give him a chance to finish. I slide off the bed and fall to my knees in front of him. I think I want this more than he does.
The moan that he lets out the moment my lips touch his head gives me the fire I need to give it my all.
He didn’t hold back with me, and I’m not going to do it with him.
One hand wraps around the base of his cock while the other gently cups his balls. I read this in a romance book once and always wondered if it was really as effective as they wrote it to be. No harm in trying new things, right?
“Fuck, fuck, holy fuck,” Miles says and then blows out a breath. His fingers lace through my hair, but they don’t tug. “Wow. I … you …”
His lack of words makes me pump faster and suck harder.
“Dear god, I’m going to come in less than a minute from your perfect fucking mouth, Quinn. Don’t stop. Whatever you do, please. Don’t. Stop.”
And I don’t.
“I’m there. I’m there,” he says and attempts to pull back. I grip his butt and hold him in place, swallowing every last drop.
“Fuuuuuuck.”
His hips slowly still, and I pull my mouth off him.
His dark gaze is pointed down at me.
“I stand corrected. The sight of you on your knees with my cum glistening off your lips is my new favorite sight.”
I lick my lips, and he groans, yanking me up.
“Jesus, Quinn. If you were trying to make a point that you’re better at oral than me, you win. ”
“Good.” I smirk and then turn to find my clothes. I wasn’t aiming for that, but a little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Especially when it comes to Miles.
I step into my panties and grab a shirt from one of the dresser drawers. Miles watches me the entire time.
I don’t say anything and neither does he, but he does finally pull up his boxers and jeans.
Then he rubs the back of his neck as if he isn’t sure what to do next.
To save him the pain of thinking of what to say, I beat him to it.
“So, see you in the morning, boss.”
The expression on his face morphs from unsure to cocky.
“Yeah,” he says slowly with a small growl and takes a step toward me. He cups my chin and presses his lips to mine, hard with dominance. “Just once isn’t going to be enough for me.”
And he turns and walks out of the room.
As soon as I hear the sliding door close, I cover my face with my hands and fall back onto my bed.
Oh. My. God.
What have we done?