CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
– FIERO –
My lungs are burning as I push my body to run faster.
There are two people fighting in the hallway, one of Cillian’s men I presume and Micah.
He’s punching away as I dodge and pass them to get into the room which holds my future, my life.
The door is open and when I glance inside I only have a split second to act.
There’s only one option really; squeeze the trigger. I do. I squeeze the trigger while at the same time Cillian pulls Quinn up by her hair. The bullet hits, both crumple to the floor, and I lunge for my wife while my heart drops. Did the bullet hit her? Fuck. If it did then...
Another gunshot is fired and I see Floris standing over Cillian, gun in hand. There’s a bullet wound in Cillian’s forehead.
Floris gives me a tight smile. “Just making sure the fucker stays dead.”
My attention goes back to the woman in my arms. Her hair is sticking to her tearstained face.
I gently brush her hair back and croak, “Give me your eyes, little tempest.”
Her lashes stick together when she tries to do what I ask. Her light hazel eyes are filled with dullness.
I carefully stroke her cheek. “You’re okay. Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay,” she grumbles and then those golden flakes spark her eyes. “Bri. Bri is in the bathroom. Tate. Oh my fuck, Tate. He’s dead. Is he dead?”
“Floris?” I grit.
“He has a pulse, doc’s on his way because he was still here. He’s...”
“Here, I’m here,” I hear the doctor state.
I scoop Quinn into my arms and carefully move her to the bed. “Don’t move. I’m going to check on Aubrielle.”
“Bri. She’s my friend and you should call her Bri.” Quinn swallows hard.
The look in her eyes is killing me. Leaning in, I brush my lips against her forehead. With this woman it comes so damn easy to show affection. The change she brought into my life, sparking my interest at first sight and only managing to draw me in more has given true meaning to living.
There’s not just the drive of motivations and goals I had in mind before she swooped in and simply overrode everything with new, unthinkable things life has to offer.
A baby, marriage, starting a family...things that never crossed my mind.
It’s her. I owe it all to her for wanting things I never imagined.
“You’re truly life’s magic. The spark touching a heart to make it beat for the first time, creating life to let you fill your lungs with a fresh chance.” I brush another kiss to her temple; it comes so damn natural now. “I’m becoming quite fond of you.”
Quinn makes a sound that’s probably half a sob mixed with a laugh. A scream rips our attention to the middle of the room where Bri is standing. Her gaze is terror-stricken as she looks at the doctor who is trying to save Tate’s life.
“Police and ambulances are on the way,” Buck states.
Micah moves past him, his clothes drenched in blood and his fists raw. He’s been helping us to fight Cillian’s men.
“Make sure they take Tate first,” I tell Buck. “Go wait outside to guide them up here as soon as they get here.”
He leaves while Micah is standing at the foot of the bed, the hole in his shirt and all the blood lets me know he has a bullet wound in his shoulder. Even if Cillian got past him, he fought hard and delayed him enough for me to get there in time to stop the fucker myself.
Quinn stares at him and I feel the need to say, “Micah helped. Cillian didn’t exactly leave him a choice when he got rid of the man you’ve called a father for all your life.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it tight. Voices ring out down the hall. Police fill the room, disrupting everything once more. Hours pass in a blur between the hospital, giving statements, demanding updates, and eventually I’m able to get my wife into a bed.
Sadly, it’s not home due to it being a crime scene. I booked us a room at a hotel. Tate has been through hours of surgery and the latest update Bri gave Quinn gave us the knowledge that he’s gonna pull through. Micah was treated as well and they are keeping him overnight at the hospital.
I can only stare at my wife’s sleeping face, knowing she’s physically in perfect health. Our baby growing inside her belly is all good, and Cillian is no longer a threat to her, or to me. Archibald has let me know he’s honoring the deal we made.
The past has been cleared to create a path for the future.
It’s wide open and all the new options are giving me hope.
This woman before me has changed my life and showed me there’s so much more than a legacy, running a business, and everything else that used to be my main priority.
Living is something we control, not the factors pulling at us at every turn.
A soft sigh flows over her lush lips. I lean in and close my eyes when my lips touch hers. The soft touch makes me moan and I press harder to feel her mouth against mine. Her fingers slide into my hair, and she opens her mouth, letting her tongue tease mine in a rush of pleasure.
I groan, feeling all of my blood heading straight to my cock. Heated chemistry ignites and emotions are turning our kiss into a fierce connection. A unique experience heightening every single touch.
Pulling back, I tell her, “The need to be inside you is so damn overwhelming, but for sure as fuck not what you need right now. Rest. I’m gonna go grab a cold shower.”
She reaches out and grabs my arm. “No. Please. I want this. I want you. After everything that happened today...especially after everything that happened today...I want to feel. The way my body reacts when you touch me? Nothing compares. Possibilities seem endless, pleasure creates chances, and the hope I once had has shown me some dreams do come true.”
My heart skips a damn beat as I regain my seat on the bed next to her.
“I don’t mean I ever thought of you as my husband or would fall pregnant when I still have one year in college left.
” A gorgeous blush stains her cheeks. “I’m simply saying you don’t always get what you want while life manages to create opportunities for new dreams to become reality, ones you never thought you wanted.
..and I’m babbling. Just kiss me again because I was really, really enjoying our first kiss. ”
I throw my jacket off and rip my shirt open, buttons fly off and I couldn’t care less. I’m wrestling with my belt when Quinn strips away her nightgown. The sex we had before today flashes before my eyes and while I crave the same hunger, the feelings running through me are completely different.
I slide between the covers and feel her soft body against my naked skin. Fully touching and still it’s not enough. My mouth fuses with hers, while her hands gently roam over my back. My hips move and her legs widen to give me the access I need.
The warmth of her pussy connects with the fat head of my cock, easily sucking me inside with one thrust. We both swallow each other’s groan. Perfection is created through us. I now understand the term “made for each other” because it reflects exactly what’s going through my head right now.
Each thrust inside my wife feels like a step closer to our hearts beating as one. This isn’t sex to gain an orgasm that gives you pleasure. No, it’s the gift of pleasuring the person who gives you the same in return.
Our kiss turns sloppy when I speed up my thrusts.
Her pussy strangles my cock as if it’s a lifeline I need to hold onto.
I curl my arms around her shoulder, keeping her under me so damn tight it fuses our bodies together as one.
I can feel each breath she takes, every clench of her pussy pulling me with her into the bliss our bodies are creating together.
She rips her mouth from mine and moans, “Fierooooo...ooooohhh.”
Pleasure gives beauty, that’s all I can think of when I stare down at my wife who is completely captivating me as she orgasms. My own orgasm hits and her name might tumble over my lips, but at the same time it’s imprinted on my heart.
It might not be love that’s between us, but it sure as hell is a foundation to get there.
We’re both struggling to breathe and I regretfully pull out of her to roll to the side and take her with me. Quinn snuggles close and places her head on my chest. I wrap my arm around her and close my eyes. Her breathing slows and I know she’s fast asleep within the next few minutes.
I’m tired as hell and yet I feel myself smile. Happiness is a feeling I’ve never really thought about. It’s a gift you get when everything is how it should be, even if things don’t work out as planned.
From here on out I’m going to make a commitment to live life however it’s flowing.
Storms hit, rain falls, wind blows, and yet every damn morning the sun comes up to hit your face with its warmth, even if it’s hiding behind the clouds.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not ready for the day or not, it fucking rises anyway.
Life gives you the elements you get to work with, and it’s up to you to mold them into solid ambitions to achieve things you never thought possible. Because in life there are no do-overs when a moment has passed.
And let me tell you...you want a lifetime worth of memories when you’re old and gray. Well, for damn sure I want it, along with a dozen grandkids, or more...much more.